Al Ain Marks Eid Al Adha with Prayers, Festive Lights and Holiday Closures
Al Ain City welcomed Eid Al Adha with coordinated preparations spanning prayer logistics, public decorations and government service adjustments. The UAE's General Authority of Islamic Affairs announced prayer times across the country, placing Al Ain worshippers at the mosque for 5:45 am. Across the city, nearly 1,400 lighting units transformed 98 kilometres of roads and intersections into a colourful festive display while government offices and licensing centres were closed for the holiday.
🪔 Eid prayers announced at 5:45 am for Al Ain
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments and Zakat in the UAE, known as AWQAF, announced the official Eid Al Adha prayer times for the year 1447AH, corresponding to 2026AD, for all emirates of the country. Residents of Al Ain City were called to Eid prayers at 5:45 am, the same time announced for Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman. The prayer schedule reflected the country's geographic spread, with Abu Dhabi set for 5:51 am, Umm Al Quwain at 5:44 am, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah at 5:43 am, the Eastern Region of Sharjah at 5:42 am and the Al Dhafra Region at 5:56 am. In Dubai, more than 937 mosques were confirmed as fully prepared for the Eid morning prayers, with the Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities running its Muezzin Al Fareej initiative to recite Eid takbeers and raise the adhan inside mosques. In Sharjah, 698 mosques were designated for Eid prayers. Of these, more than 90 were selected to deliver the Eid sermon in multiple languages catering to non-Arabic speakers, with the confirmed languages including Urdu, Malayalam and Tamil, directly reflecting the large South Asian communities across the UAE and ensuring worshippers from the Indian subcontinent could follow the religious proceedings in their native tongues. [1]
🎉 Al Ain adorns 98 kilometres of roads for Eid
Al Ain City Municipality completed extensive Eid Al Adha decoration works across the city, installing nearly 1,400 lighting units along 98 kilometres of major roads and intersections. Project manager Engineer Moza Al Muhairi said the decorative lighting was designed to blend festive Eid greetings with visual elements drawing on Al Ain's natural character, and that the project used environmentally friendly and energy-efficient lighting technologies chosen for their calm and visually comfortable effect. The scale of the installation was intended to transform the city's main thoroughfares into a welcoming festive environment for the holiday. Separately, Dibba Al Hisn Municipality announced it had activated an integrated operational plan for Eid Al Adha focused on public health and safety, as well as the readiness of the city's facilities and markets for the surge in visitor activity typical of the holiday period. As part of its plan, the municipality expanded the operational capacity of its municipal slaughterhouse to accommodate Eid sacrifices under veterinary supervision and in accordance with approved health standards. Municipal inspection teams were also placed on heightened duty to monitor food safety and market conditions throughout the holiday period, ensuring public welfare was maintained as the city welcomed a larger than usual number of visitors and families. [3]
🗳️ Free tolls and licensing closures for Eid week
Abu Dhabi transport authority Q Mobility announced an Eid Al Adha concession package for road users across the emirate. Darb toll gate charges at four major gates — Sas Al Nakhl, Al Maqta'a, Rabdan and Al Saadiyat — were suspended entirely from Monday 25 May through Friday 29 May 2026, with standard toll charges resuming on Saturday 30 May under the approved schedule. The Al Qurm and Ghantout toll gates remained in operation throughout the holiday period, continuing to charge Dhs 4 per crossing around the clock. Public parking across Abu Dhabi, excluding multi-storey car parks, was also made free of charge for the five-day holiday window, with standard rates returning from 30 May. For motorists with licensing needs, Driver Licencing Centres across both Abu Dhabi and Al Ain were closed for the full Eid holiday from Monday 25 May through Sunday 31 May 2026. The closure applied specifically to the main Driver and Vehicle Licencing Centre in Al Ain City, along with all other centres in the two emirate regions. Normal operations at all centres were scheduled to resume from Monday 1 June 2026, in line with the post-holiday return to regular government service hours. [5]
Sources: [1] Gulf Today · [3] Gulf News · [5] Gulf Today