Feast of the Sacrifice (Eid al-Adha) in Mauritania

A paid, nonworking legal holiday

Mauritania’s Law No. 92.018 lists El Adha among the country’s legal holidays. It says legal holidays are nonworking and paid, making the day a statutory day off for workers covered by the law.[1]

The law does not set out an automatic substitute day when a holiday falls on a weekend. It does allow the president to declare other days or parts of days as holidays by decree in particular circumstances, with the decree specifying whether time off must be made up or is paid.[1]

Lunar timing and the Hajj season

Eid al-Adha falls on 10 Dhu al-Hijjah, during the month associated with the Hajj pilgrimage. Because the Islamic calendar is lunar, the Gregorian date changes each year. Mauritania’s national commission observes the crescent and announces the beginning of Dhu al-Hijjah; its announcement also specifies when the Eid prayer will take place.[2][3]

Prayer and sacrifice

Eid morning includes a communal prayer and sermon. Official reporting has recorded large congregations at Nouakchott’s Ibn Abbas Mosque, while reporting from Aïoun describes prayer in a public square outside the regional mosque. These accounts show that the setting can differ by locality.[2][4]

The sacrifice, or udhiyah, is a central rite in Mauritanian Eid observance. A sermon reported by the national news agency described it as a religious rite for those able to perform it, and said the period for slaughter extends over the three days of Eid after the prayer. The same sermon urged cooperation, kindness and tolerance.[2]

Markets and practical arrangements

In the lead-up to Eid, Nouakchott’s livestock market is a major focus of activity. A report by the Mauritanian news agency described sheep arriving from inland regions and noted work connected with the seasonal trade, including livestock sales, butchery, transport and delivery. This is a documented example of preparations in the capital, not a guarantee that every market or service follows the same schedule.[5]

The legal holiday provides for a paid day off. Travelers should check local opening and service arrangements; Eid prayer and market activity can affect local routines.[1][2][5]