Feast of the Sacrifice in Djibouti
In Djibouti, Eid al-Adha is both a Muslim festival and a paid public holiday. The country’s official gazette lists it as two consecutive nonworking days, while celebrations include early prayer, family visits and shared greetings.[1][2]
Meaning and date
Eid al-Adha, also called the Feast of the Sacrifice, recalls Abraham’s willingness to obey God’s command to sacrifice his son; in Islamic tradition, a sheep was sacrificed in his place. The festival takes place in Dhu al-Hijjah, the month of the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.[3]
Djibouti’s holiday calendar places the observance on 10 Dhu al-Hijjah. Because this date follows the Islamic calendar, its Gregorian date changes from year to year.[3]
A paid public holiday
Djibouti’s official gazette identifies Aid El Addha as two consecutive days among the country’s paid, nonworking public holidays. The Labour Code says such holidays are set by law or regulation; its provisions cover workers under the Code, while public employees are governed separately.[1][2]
No substitute or observed days are listed. The gazette text establishes the consecutive holiday days, but does not specify a general rule for moving them when they coincide with another day off.[1]
Prayer and family visits
Djibouti’s presidency has described Eid prayer at specially arranged sites early in the morning, followed by visits among relatives and friends and the exchange of traditional good wishes. Reports describe these practices in both the capital and the country’s interior regions.[4]
The presidency has also described people wearing new clothes, visiting one another and sharing meals and refreshments.[5]
Planning around the holiday
The two-day public holiday can affect ordinary work schedules. Check directly with a service or business before travelling or arranging an appointment.[1]
Prayer and family visits are part of the reported observance, but no fixed public timetable is provided.[4]
Frequently asked questions
Is Eid al-Adha a day off in Djibouti?
When is the holiday observed?
Are substitute days provided?
No substitute or observed days are listed. The gazette order does not explain a general substitution rule.[1]
Will banks, shops and transport operate normally?
Shops and transport operators set their own hours, so check with them before you travel. Check opening hours with government offices and banks before you go.[1]
Sources and references
Sources used for Feast of the Sacrifice (Eid al-Adha) in Djibouti:
- Arrêté n° 80-0931/PR portant rectificatif de l’arrêté n° 77-347/PR/MI du 4.10.1977 règlementant les jours fériés, chômés et payés en République de Djibouti.- Journal Officiel de la République de Djibouti
- Loi n° 133/AN/05/5ème L portant Code du Travail.- Journal Officiel de la République de Djibouti
- Eid al-Adha- National Library of Israel
- La commémoration de Aid Al-Adha placée à Djibouti sous le signe de la joie et de la fraternité- Présidence de la République de Djibouti
- Le Président Guelleh s’acquitte de la prière de l’Aid Al-Adha, au milieu de ses compatriotes- Présidence de la République de Djibouti