Arafat Day in Libya
Arafat Day, called the day of standing at Arafah in Libyan announcements, is declared a public holiday in Libya through government decisions. It falls on 9 Dhu al-Hijjah, the day pilgrims gather at Arafat during Hajj, and immediately precedes Eid al-Adha.[1][2][3]
Official holiday in Libya
Libya’s Law No. 5 of 2012 sets official holidays according to an attached schedule and allows the legislative authority to add holidays or change their duration. Government decisions have applied the law by declaring Arafat Day a public holiday. For example, a 2025 decision named the Day of Arafah a holiday across public institutions and facilities, alongside the Eid al-Adha holidays.[1][2]
The 2025 announcement exempted institutions and facilities providing urgent humanitarian and security services. It also said employees working during the holiday would retain the right to compensation under the applicable labour law. Because the annual announcement sets out the dates and any operational exceptions, check the relevant notice for the year you plan to travel or arrange business.[2]
Date and religious meaning
Arafat Day is the ninth day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the final month of the Islamic lunar calendar. During Hajj, pilgrims travel from Mina to the plain of Arafat, where they spend the day in prayer and repentance. The standing at Arafat is a central rite of the pilgrimage; Islamic tradition also associates the plain with the Prophet Muhammad’s Farewell Sermon.[3]
The lunar calendar means the day moves through the Gregorian calendar over time. In Libya, official announcements use the name “standing at Arafah” and identify the date of the public holiday. Arafat Day comes directly before Eid al-Adha, which is declared as a separate holiday period.[2][3]
Observance and practical planning
Arafat Day’s religious significance is connected to Hajj in Saudi Arabia, while the public-holiday status in Libya is set out in Libyan government announcements. The Saudi municipal Hajj guide describes pilgrims gathering at Arafat for prayer and repentance and says Muslims around the world mark the day with fasting and prayer.[3]
For residents and visitors, expect public institutions covered by the annual decision to be closed, subject to stated exemptions for urgent services. The announcements reviewed here do not establish a uniform schedule for private shops, banks, schools, or transport, so opening hours and service arrangements should be checked with the provider. Arafat Day sits immediately before the Eid holiday period, so verify the full official schedule when planning appointments or onward travel.[2]
Frequently asked questions
Is Arafat Day a public holiday in Libya?
When does Arafat Day fall?
It falls on 9 Dhu al-Hijjah, the day pilgrims gather at Arafat during Hajj. Its Gregorian date changes from year to year because it follows the Islamic lunar calendar.[3]
Are offices, banks, shops, and transport open?
Public institutions and facilities named in the annual decision are generally covered by the holiday, with urgent humanitarian and security services exempted in the cited 2025 decision. Check with banks, shops and transport operators for their hours.[2]
Sources and references
Sources used for Arafat Day in Libya:
- Law No. (5) of 2012 on official holidays- DCAF Legal Databases
- الدبيبة يصدر قراراً بتحديد عطلتَي الوقوف بعرفة وعيد الأضحى لهذا العام- Libyan News Agency
- Balady Atlas | Mapping Hajj- Balady Atlas, in collaboration with Méridien