Riyadh/Abu Dhabi/Ankara/Doha, May 17, 2026: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Türkiye and Oman on Sunday confirmed the sighting of the Zil Hajj crescent, announcing that Eidul Azha will be observed on May 27, with Arafat Day falling on May 26.
According to official announcements, the Islamic month of Zil Hajj will begin shortly, marking the commencement of key Hajj rituals in the holy city of Makkah.
The Hajj pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam, is among the world’s largest religious gatherings and involves a series of spiritual rituals performed over several days in and around Makkah in western Saudi Arabia.
Pilgrims arriving from across the globe will begin their journey with the Tawaf, circling the Holy Kaaba seven times, before moving to Mina, a valley located outside Makkah, where they will spend the night in designated tents.
From there, pilgrims proceed through a sequence of rites central to the Hajj, which culminate on the Day of Arafat, widely regarded as the most significant day of the pilgrimage.
Eidul Azha, also known as the “Feast of Sacrifice,” commemorates the Qur’anic account of Prophet Ibrahim’s (AS) devotion and willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to Allah, a test of faith that was divinely replaced with a ram.
The festival is observed by Muslims worldwide with congregational prayers, family gatherings, and acts of charity. A key tradition includes the ritual sacrifice of livestock, with meat distributed among relatives, friends and those in need, reinforcing themes of generosity and social solidarity.
