Saudi Arabia: Dhul Hijjah Moon Sighted, Eid al-Adha on May 27, Day of Arafah on May 26

Key Takeaways

• The Dhul Hijjah moon was sighted on Saturday, May 17, making Monday, May 18 the first day of the month
• The Day of Arafah falls on Tuesday, May 26 — the holiest day of Hajj 2026
• Eid al-Adha will be celebrated on Wednesday, May 27

The crescent moon of Dhul Hijjah was sighted on the evening of Saturday, May 17, marking the official start of Islam’s holiest month.

With the moon confirmed, Monday, May 18 becomes the first of Dhul Hijjah, and the full calendar for Hajj 2026 is now set.

Day of Arafah — Tuesday, May 26

The ninth of Dhul Hijjah is the central day of Hajj 2026. Pilgrims gather on the plain of Arafah outside Makkah for the wuquf — the standing — which is the pillar around which the entire pilgrimage turns.

For Muslims not performing Hajj, fasting on this day carries one of the greatest rewards in the Islamic calendar.

Eid al-Adha — Wednesday, May 27

Eid al-Adha falls on the tenth of Dhul Hijjah, the day after Arafah. Muslims across the world observe the occasion with the sacrifice of an animal, Eid prayers, and celebration with family.

For pilgrims in Makkah, it marks the beginning of the final rites at Masjid al-Haram (Grand Mosque) and the Jamarat.

Ayyam al-Tashreeq — May 28 to 30

The three days following Eid — the eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth of Dhul Hijjah — are known as Ayyam al-Tashreeq.

Pilgrims remain in Mina during this period, completing the stoning of the Jamarat before returning to Makkah for the farewell tawaf around Masjid al-Haram (Grand Mosque).

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