Qatar has announced a 5-day holiday for Eid al-Adha 2025. The official holiday will extend from Dhu al-Hijjah 9 to 13, according to a recent cabinet decision that was published in the Official Gazette. The decision includes ministries, other government agencies, and public bodies and institutions.
The holiday begins on the ninth day of Dhu al-Hijjah, also known as Arafah Day. Public holidays in Qatar are significant, with the Eid al-Adha holiday being a major observance.
Certain holidays, like Qatar National Day, celebrated on December 18, will remain designated public holidays despite annual changes in the holiday calendar.
Holiday Details
The Eid al-Adha 2025 holiday in Qatar is a significant event in the Islamic calendar, marked by a five-day public holiday. This year, the official holidays will begin on the 9th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, also known as Arafah Day or Arafat Day, and will continue until the 13th day of Dhu al-Hijjah. This period is a time for Muslims to come together, celebrate their faith and engage in various religious observances.
The timing of Eid al-Adha is determined by the lunar cycle and the sighting of the crescent moon, which signals the start of the new lunar month in the Islamic calendar. In Qatar, the moon-sighting committee is responsible for confirming the sighting of the moon, typically on the 29th day of the preceding month. If the moon is sighted, the following day is declared the first day of the new month, and Eid al-Adha is celebrated on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah.
During this public holiday, all government agencies, public institutions, and ministries in Qatar will be closed, allowing families and friends to gather and celebrate. The holiday, also known as the Festival of Sacrifice, commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son Ismail (Ishmael) in obedience to Allah. This act of faith and obedience is central to the celebrations.
Muslims around the world, including those in Qatar, observe Eid al-Adha with various festivities and religious practices. Traditional foods are prepared, gifts are exchanged, and families come together to strengthen their bonds. A significant aspect of the holiday is the act of sacrifice, where many Muslims sacrifice an animal, such as a sheep, goat or camel, as a symbol of their obedience to Allah.
What is Eid al-Adha?
Eid al-Adha is a major religious festival in the Islamic calendar. Muslims celebrate this occasion, also known as the Festival of Sacrifice, by remembering how Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) demonstrated total obedience to God by preparing to sacrifice his son Ismail (Ishmael). Islam uses this event to remind believers about faith and obedience through spiritual self-sacrifice.
There are two key holidays in Islam: Eid al-Fitr, which signifies the completion of the Holy Month of Ramadan; and Eid al-Adha, which follows the completion of the annual Hajj pilgrimage. Although Eid al-Adha has no direct relation to the Hajj Pilgrimage, it falls a day after the completion of Hajj and therefore has significance in time.
The day of Eid al-Adha falls on the tenth day in the final (twelfth) month of the Islamic Lunar Calendar; Dhu al-Hijjah. The day this celebrations fall on is dependent on a legitimate sighting of the moon, following the completion of the annual Holy Pilgrimage of Hajj.
