This year, Eid al-Adha is likely to be a four-day holiday for residents of the United Arab Emirates. This sacred festival usually depends on the sighting of the moon. However, with the help of astronomy, one can predict in advance when this Eid-ul-Adha will be.

According to the Islamic calendar, Eid-ul-Azha is celebrated on the 10th day of the month of Zbilhaj. According to Ibrahim Al Jarwan, chairman of the board of directors of the Emirates Astronomy Society, the first day of Eid al-Adha this year could be July 9 (Saturday) according to the English calendar.

The Dubai-based Khaleej Times reported on Monday (May 23rd) that Arafat’s day, the day before Eid al-Adha, is also a holiday according to the UAE’s official calendar. As such, this year the Emirati people can enjoy four consecutive Eid holidays from the 9th to the 12th of the month of Zbilhaj.

In the English calendar, Eid holidays can be from July 8 (Friday) to July 12 (Monday). In other words, the three-day holiday of Arafat Day and Eid al-Adha is not adding any weekly holiday to government and non-government employees in the UAE.

In keeping with Saudi Arabia, fasting in the UAE started on April 2 this year. The next day, that is, April 3, fasting began in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia and most of the Asian countries. Later, in view of the sighting of the moon in the month of Shawwal on May 1, the countries of the Middle East including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr on May 2. And the next day Eid is celebrated in Bangladesh.

As a result, if July 9 is the first day of Eid-ul-Azha in the UAE, the festival may be celebrated in Bangladesh from July 10.