The Islamic calendar’s biggest festival, Eid Al-Adha, is locked in for 2025, and governments across the Gulf are already rolling out their official holiday plans. Known as the Feast of Sacrifice, this sacred holiday commemorates the Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to obey God’s command, a story that resonates deeply with millions. It’s a time of prayer, charity, and communal feasts, often marked by the ritual sacrifice of livestock. For 2025, the dates are crystal clear, drawn straight from authoritative announcements and aligned with the lunar Hijri calendar.
Mark your calendars: Eid Al-Adha is slated to begin on the evening of June 5, 2025, with celebrations kicking off in earnest on June 6. The holiday spans three days, running through June 8, but some countries are stretching the public break to cover workweeks. In Kuwait, the government has declared a five-day holiday for the public sector, starting with Arafah Day on June 5—when pilgrims gather at Mount Arafat near Mecca—and continuing through June 9, a designated rest day. Work resumes on June 10. The United Arab Emirates is eyeing a similar window, with predictions pointing to June 5 through 9 as the official days off, though final confirmation from UAE authorities is still pending. Saudi Arabia, home to Islam’s holiest sites, has pegged June 6 as the likely start of Eid Al-Adha, based on astronomical calculations tied to the crescent moon’s sighting.
These dates aren’t guesswork. They come from meticulous lunar observations and official statements, like Kuwait’s Cabinet decree issued on April 29, 2025, which laid out the public sector’s holiday schedule. The Hijri calendar, unlike the Gregorian one, hinges on the moon’s phases, so dates shift roughly 10 days earlier each year. Arafah Day, the pinnacle of the Hajj pilgrimage, always falls on the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah, with Eid Al-Adha starting the next day, the 10th. For 2025, that aligns with June 5 and 6, respectively, as confirmed by scientific projections and government planners.
The holiday’s timing matters beyond the spiritual. It’s a logistical juggernaut—schools close, businesses shutter, and travel spikes as families reunite. In countries like Kuwait and the UAE, the extended break means packed airports and bustling markets, where livestock sales for the ritual sacrifice hit fever pitch. The announcements also give employers and workers a heads-up to plan ahead, especially in the public sector, where the long weekend offers a rare chance to recharge.
For Muslims worldwide, Eid Al-Adha 2025 will center on June 6 to 8, with Arafah Day on June 5. Kuwait’s public sector holiday runs June 5 to 9, resuming work on June 10. The UAE anticipates a similar schedule, pending official word. Saudi Arabia’s calculations point to June 6 as the start of Eid.