Gov’t Declares 24 and 25 May Public Holidays, Ensuring Nine-Day Eid Break
Fireworks above Kulhudhuffushi City, on the occasion of Eid al-Adha on June 6, 2026 | Photo: Kulhudhuffushi City Council
The government has declared 24 and 25 May as public holidays ahead of Eid al-Adha, guaranteeing a nine-day holiday period.
Day of Arafah, or Hajj Day, falls on 26 May this year, a Tuesday, followed by three public holidays for Eid al-Adha. With the addition of the two newly declared holidays and the existing weekends on 22–23 May and 29–30 May, the country will observe an extended break running across the end of the month.
advertisement
Government offices will reopen on Sunday, 31 May.
Eid al-Adha is among the most widely observed religious holidays in the Maldives, with increased inter-atoll travel and overseas travel typically recorded during the period. Local islands also host traditional celebrations, including the Mashi Maali festivities in Kulhudhuffushi City.
However, this year’s celebrations are expected to be more subdued compared with previous years due to government cost-cutting measures linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
