Eid al-Adha in Tanzania
Eid al-Adha, also called Eid El-Hajj or Id-el-Haj in Tanzanian official sources, is a one-day public holiday under the Public Holidays Act. Its date follows the Islamic calendar, and Tanzania’s law provides for presidential changes to the holiday schedule by proclamation.[1][5]
Meaning and place in Tanzania
Eid al-Adha is the Muslim Feast of Sacrifice, observed on 10 Dhu al-Hijjah and associated with the Hajj pilgrimage. It commemorates Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice in obedience to God.[5]
Tanzania’s public-holiday schedule recognizes Id-el-Haj as a national holiday. In Zanzibar, the Wakf and Trust Commission Act assigns the Commission responsibility for coordinating national Idd prayers and Idd Baraza gatherings, giving the holiday a formal public and religious role there.[1][4]
Legal status and work
The Public Holidays Act lists Id-el-Haj as one public holiday each year. The President may declare an additional public holiday or substitute another day by proclamation. The Act also allows a government department head to open offices and require staff to work on a public holiday when considered necessary.[1]
For employees covered by the Employment and Labour Relations Act, an employer must pay double the employee’s basic wage for each hour worked on a public holiday. The provision addresses pay when someone works; it does not guarantee that every workplace will close.[2]
How the date and observance work
The holiday falls on 10 Dhu al-Hijjah, so its Gregorian date changes from year to year. The Bank of Tanzania’s official 2025 list calls the day Eid El-Hajj, while the Public Holidays Act uses the spelling Id-el-Haj.[1][3][5]
The global observance centers on sacrifice and the Hajj. In Tanzania, the official Zanzibar law specifically provides for organized Idd prayers and Idd Baraza; customs, foods, or celebrations vary across the country.[4][5]
What to expect on the day
Because it is a public holiday, government offices may have different hours or be closed, though the law allows departments to open. Check opening hours with the individual bank, shop, school, or transport service before travelling or making plans.[1][3]
The Act gives the President authority to announce a substitute day by proclamation, so check official notices if you need to confirm a particular year’s arrangements.[1]
Eid al-Adha in Tanzania: FAQs
Is Eid al-Adha a public holiday in Tanzania?
Yes. The Public Holidays Act lists Id-el-Haj as a one-day public holiday.[1]
When is Eid al-Adha observed?
It falls on 10 Dhu al-Hijjah in the Islamic calendar. Its Gregorian date changes each year.[5]
Do employees have to work that day?
Are banks, shops, and transport open?
Is there a substitute day if it falls on a weekend?
The Public Holidays Act allows the President to declare a substitute day by proclamation.[1]
Sources and references
Sources used for Feast of the Sacrifice (Eid al-Adha) in Tanzania:
- THE PUBLIC HOLIDAYS ACT [CAP. 35 R.E. 2023]- Office of the Attorney General, United Republic of Tanzania
- THE EMPLOYMENT AND LABOUR RELATIONS ACT [CAP. 366 R.E. 2023]- Office of the Attorney General, United Republic of Tanzania
- PUBLIC HOLIDAYS 2025- Bank of Tanzania
- THE WAKF AND TRUST COMMISSION ACT- House of Representatives of Zanzibar
- ʿĪd al-Aḍḥā- The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions, Encyclopedia.com