City of lights: Abu Dhabi gears up for Eid Al Adha

Thousands of decorative lights have been installed across the city in preparation for the holiday

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Many people are looking forward to the four-day Eid Al Adha break early next month. Some are planning holidays, while families will get a chance to spend more time together.

To mark the occasion - which lasts from Saturday August 10 until Tuesday, August 13 - Abu Dhabi is installing 2,500 decorative lights on roundabouts, bridges and around the streets.

The decorations symbolise the history and traditions of the UAE. Some are in the shape of dallahs - traditional coffee pots - while others are inspired by Arabian lanterns. Some even convey greetings of the holiday in Arabic such as Eid Mubarak.

The municipality has deployed special teams to complete the work and the lights are expected to be ready with a few days, it said on Saturday.

"[We] took into account environmental and safety standards, through the use of the best heat-resistant and safe materials," said the municipality.

Eid Al Adha, or Festival of the Sacrifice, is the second of two Islamic holidays celebrated across the globe each year, the other being Eid Al Fitr.

It honours the willingness of the Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son and marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Makkah.

It is celebrated on the 10th day of Du Al Hijjah, the 12th and final month of the Islamic calendar.