The Day of Arafat is scheduled for Sunday, June 16, and the Emirates Astronomy Society reports that the next day would usher in a three-day public holiday in the United Arab Emirates.
The Emirates Astronomy Society's chairman, Ibrahim Al Jarwan, revealed that the organization also believes that Thursday, June 20, will probably mark the conclusion of Tashriq and the Hajj season.
Five days off from work
If the prediction comes true, citizens in the UAE will have five days off work in a row when combined with the weekend.
Emirates Astronomy Society
According to an update from the Emirates Astronomy Society, Saturday, June 8 is when Dhu al-Hijjah, the month in which Eid Al Adha falls, will begin. This comes after a forecast that Thursday, May 9, will mark the start of the upcoming Islamic month of Dhu al-Qi'dah.
The date of Eid Al-Adha
The Islamic lunar calendar's Day of Arafat, which commences the Eid Al Adha festival, occurs on the ninth day of Dhu al-Hijjah.
Dhu al-Hijjah is the last month of the Islamic lunar calendar, and Eid Al Adha is traditionally the start of the Hajj, or month-long journey. There is a need for public holidays during this time of year because Muslims commemorate this period all across the world.
Eid Al Adha falls on the third day of the week-long Hajj.
In the UAE, Eid Al Adha was celebrated over a six-day weekend last year.
In the United Arab Emirates, long weekends and public holidays are declared at the start of the Gregorian calendar year. However, since many of the holidays are Islamic in nature, they are subject to the lunar cycle and cannot be confirmed with absolute certainty until much closer to the date.
For instance, it wasn't until the 29th day of Ramadan that the duration of the holiday for Eid Al Fitr was determined this year.