Overview
- IACAD’s public crescent-sighting event, which is scheduled for Sunday, May 17 at Jebel Nazwa, will guide the UAE’s official call on the start of Dhul Hijjah, Arafah Day, and Eid Al Adha.
- The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources set public-sector holidays for May 25 to 29, with work resuming June 1, and Sharjah’s four-day week turns that into a 10-day break for many staff.
- Dubai’s KHDA said private schools close May 25 to 29 and reopen June 1, while Sharjah’s SPEA set May 25 to 28 for private schools, creating a 10-day stretch when weekends are included.
- Regional astronomers and Pakistan’s SUPARCO forecast the new moon on May 17 and point to Dhul Hijjah beginning May 18, placing Arafah Day on May 26 and Eid Al Adha on May 27, subject to official sighting.
- Final dates rest with national moon-sighting committees that validate eyewitness reports, a process that blends astronomy with tradition and shapes travel, exam timetables, and holiday plans for families.