Dubai, Oct 14 (IANS): Eid al-Adha, a Islamic festival of over 1.6 billion Muslims worldwide, will be celebrated across the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Oct 15.

A day earlier is the Mount Arafat Day when devout Muslims climb the hill East of the Mecca, reports Xinhua.

The UAE's close proximity to the Mecca, in Saudi Arabia, makes the Eid all the more exciting in the country. It is during the Eid that the Muslims want to complete their Haj pilgrimage.

Dubai expects 65 million pilgrims from around the world this year. It will be a transit point before they travel to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, the closest city to the Mecca.

During the Eid holidays, amusement parks such as Dubai's Global Village or the car-leisure complex Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi remain open for longer duration, while Dubai's major shopping malls will remain open round the clock.

The Dubai government is offering free parking Oct 13-18, and the Dubai Metro will run till 3 a.m.

All UAE government employees have been given a week's holiday, starting Sunday.

UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan wished good health and happiness to people on the occasion of Eid al-Adha, a local news agency WAM reported.