Egypt will celebrate Eid Al-Adha, the second of two major annual religious holidays celebrated by Muslims globally, on 31 July, the National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG) said on Tuesday.

In an official statement, the institute said that based on astronomical calculations conducted by its observers, the Day of Arafah will be on 30 July.

The Day of Arafah marks the second day of the Islamic pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

However, this year, the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted the annual Islamic hajj ritual, which sees around 2.5 million pilgrims every year.

Saudi Arabia said last month it will go ahead with the hajj; however, it will be limited to around 1,000 domestic pilgrims amid strict health protocols to stem the spread of the virus in the country.

The Day of Arafah precedes the start of Eid Al-Adha by 24 hours according to the Islamic calendar.

Eid Al-Adha, which lasts for four days, honours the willingness of the Prophet Abraham to sacrifice his first-born son Ismail as an act of submission to God’s command.