<a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/2023/06/20/when-is-eid-al-adha-2023/" target="_blank"><b>Related: When is Eid Al Adha 2023?</b></a> Private sector workers will enjoy a six-day break for <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/gulf-news/2023/06/18/saudi-arabia-declares-start-dates-for-hajj-and-eid-al-adha/" target="_blank">Eid Al Adha</a>. <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/travel/2023/06/20/last-minute-eid-staycation-deals-in-dubai-abu-dhabi-hatta-ajman-and-ras-al-khaimah/" target="_blank">Staff will be off</a> from Tuesday, June 27, until Friday, June 30, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation announced on Monday. Work will resume on Monday, July 3. The <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/government/2023/06/11/eid-al-adha-2023-holidays-announced-for-public-sector/" target="_blank">holiday dates for the public sector</a> were announced earlier this month. The annual Hajj pilgrimage will begin on June 26 with <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/government/2023/06/11/eid-al-adha-2023-holidays-announced-for-public-sector/">Eid Al Adha</a> falling two days later, Saudi Arabia confirmed on Sunday evening. The announcement came after the crescent moon, which heralds the start of <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/heritage/what-and-when-is-eid-al-adha-in-the-uae-1.758088">Dhul Hijjah</a>, the 12th and final month in the Islamic calendar, was sighted. It meant Dhul Hijjah began on Monday, allowing for the start dates of Hajj – which falls on the eighth day of the month – and Eid Al Adha, which commences on its 10th day, to be determined. Hajj will begin on Monday, June 26, with Arafat Day on Tuesday, with Eid Al Adha celebrations beginning on Wednesday, June 28. Millions of Muslims travel to Makkah to perform Hajj each year, with many also heading farther north to the city of Madinah. All Muslims able to do so are required to make the Hajj pilgrimage to Makkah at least once in their lifetime. <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/gulf-news/saudi-arabia/2021/07/11/the-month-of-hajj-a-muslim-pilgrimage-and-the-first-10-days/">Hajj </a>and the other four pillars of Islam form a foundation of life for Muslims. The annual pilgrimage takes place during <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/heritage/2021/07/12/hajj-2021-why-the-entire-month-of-dhu-al-hijja-is-holy/">Dhu Al Hijja,</a> the last month of the Islamic calendar and lasts for about four to six days. More than two million Muslims are expected to take part this year, in a return to pre-pandemic numbers. <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/lifestyle/things-to-do/2022/06/28/eid-al-adha-2022-22-things-to-eat-shop-see-and-do-over-the-long-weekend/">Eid Al Adha</a> means “festival of the sacrifice”. It coincides with the <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/gulf/saudi-arabia/all-you-need-to-know-about-hajj-in-2021-1.1236014">Hajj pilgrimage to Makkah</a>. The sacrifice the holiday commemorates is explained in the Quran, which tells of how the Prophet Ibrahim was asked by God in a dream to sacrifice his son, Ismail, as a test of his faith. June 27: Arafat Day June 28 to 30: Eid Al Adha July 21: Islamic New Year September 29: The Prophet Mohammed’s birthday December 2 and 3: UAE National Day