Saudi Arabia announces Friday October 26 as the 1st day of Eid al-Adha

Eid holidays confusion clears: Saudi announces Eid dates

By StaffPublished Tuesday, October 16, 2012
A Saudi government committee meeting on Monday night for moon-sighting announced that Thursday is Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha will start on Friday after it could not sight the moon.
Since the moon was not sighted, Tuesday is the last day of the Islamic month of Dhul Qidah and Wednesday will be the first day of Dhul Hijjah month.
“There was no evidence the moon was sighted…hence Thursday is Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha will start on Friday,” Sabq newspaper said, quoting committee sources.
In Egypt, newspapers reported that Al Azhar Mosque, the country's top Islamic authority, announced that Eid would start on Friday.
More than two million Muslims are expected to converge on Saudi Arabia from many countries to perform the annual Haj (pilgrimage) next week.
Earlier this morning, there was a lot of confusion among UAE residents over Eid dates and about their holidays. Government sector employees in the UAE are now likely to begin their Eid break on Thursday October 25, until Sunday, October 28. Public sector employees will return to work on Monday, October 29.

Yesterday, rumours started floating among UAE residents as a media outlet reported that Saudi Arabia had announced Wednesday as Arafat Day, and Thursday, October 25, as the first day of Eid Al Adha.

Nevertheless, there was no official announcement from the UAE government as of Tuesday morning and the official Saudi news agency, Saudi Press Agency, had not announced Eid dates as of Tuesday morning.

Private companies and UAE residents were thrown in to confusion by rumours about the Saudi announcement, given that an earlier statement by the Dubai Fatwa department had Eid on October 26.

“I can't decide if I can take a short trip to Egypt as our holidays aren't confirmed yet,” says Ismail Sawalha, an Egyptian employed in one of the UAE's public sector companies. Ismail is not the only one who can't plan his break because of this lack of information, and a number of residents are hoping that even if the exact Eid dates can only be confirmed closer to the occasion, the government can announce the holidays at least a couple of weeks in advance for them to avoid last-minute rush.
Some Dubai-based companies have done away with the confusion and announced a five-day break for their employees in advance.

Speaking to Emirates 24|7, Kunwal Preet, who works in a Dubai-based FMCG said: “We received an email from the HR at the beginning of the week, declaring an Eid break from Thursday, October 25 until Monday, October 29. I cannot comment on the reasoning behind it, but its a relief for all us whose travel plans hung in the balance of the announcement.”

Earlier, Dr Ahmed Abdul Aziz Al Haddad, Mufti, Managing Director, Fatwa Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities, Dubai, said the first day of Eid Al Adha for the year 1433 Hijri and 2012 AD would likely be Friday, October 26, which corresponds to the 10th of Al Hijah.

Dr Haddad wished the Rulers of the UAE and Muslims across the world on the occasion of Eid Al Adha