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Eid al-Adha in Qatar: buying a sacrifice animal and using the slaughterhouses
How to do the Eid al-Adha sacrifice (udhiyah) in Qatar: the subsidised sheep scheme for citizens, where residents buy animals, slaughter at licensed slaughterhouses or through the Widam app, typical fees, why home slaughter is discouraged, and giving your sacrifice through a Qatari charity.
Last reviewed: 13 October 2026
- When to sacrifice
- After Eid prayer on 10 Dhul Hijjah until sunset on 13 Dhul Hijjah (the three Tashreeq days)
- Subsidised sheep (citizens)
- QAR 1,000 per sheep, one per Qatari ID aged 18+, plus QAR 50 in service coupons (2026)
- Market price (2026)
- About QAR 2,300 to 2,700 for local unsubsidised sheep; imported Sudanese sheep QAR 1,250 at Widam
- Where to slaughter
- Licensed slaughterhouses only (Al Wakrah central, Umm Salal, Al Sheehaniya, Al Khor, Al Shamal and others)
On Eid al-Adha many Muslim families in Qatar offer a sacrifice (udhiyah, also called qurbani or adahi): usually a sheep or goat, sometimes a share of a cow or camel. In Qatar the whole process runs through licensed, state-supervised channels: animals are sold at livestock yards run by Widam Food Company and by private traders, and slaughter happens at municipal slaughterhouses where vets check every animal before and after. Qatari citizens can buy one subsidised sheep each; residents buy at market price or through Widam's app, or simply pay a charity to do the sacrifice in Qatar or abroad. The order is simple: decide how you will sacrifice (yourself, through the app, or via a charity), buy or book a few days before Eid, have the animal slaughtered at a licensed slaughterhouse between Eid prayer and the last day of Tashreeq, then share the meat. Eid holiday dates and pay are covered in our public holidays guide.
Before you start
- Decide your route: buy and slaughter yourself, book through the Widam app, or pay a charity to do the sacrifice for you
- Check the expected Eid date (it moves about 11 days earlier each year and is confirmed by moon sighting) in our public holidays guide
- Citizens: your valid Qatari ID card; the subsidy is one animal per ID for adults 18 and over
- Residents: your QID and a bank card for app or yard payments; take some cash for porters and small fees
- Know the basic animal rules: healthy, no obvious defects; a sheep is commonly accepted from about six months, a goat from one year, a cow from two years and a camel from five years (ask your imam if unsure)
- If sharing a cow or camel, agree the seven shares with relatives or friends before you buy
- Cool boxes or clean food bags and space in your freezer for the meat
- A car big enough for a live animal if you will collect it yourself, or plan to use the yard's loading and the slaughterhouse instead
- Install the Widam Food app and create an account early if you want to book online; popular slots and stock sell out quickly
Step by step
Choose how you will sacrifice
There are three common routes in Qatar. You can go to a livestock yard, pick an animal and take it to a licensed slaughterhouse. You can book through the Widam Food app and have the animal slaughtered, cut and delivered. Or you can pay a licensed Qatari charity, which does the sacrifice for you in Qatar or abroad and gives the meat to families in need. Many expats choose the charity route because it is cheaper, needs no car and no queue, and the meat reaches people who rarely eat it.
Check the dates and plan early
Eid al-Adha falls on 10 Dhul Hijjah, so its Gregorian date moves about 11 days earlier every year; in 2026 it began on Wednesday 27 May. The sacrifice is valid from after the Eid prayer on the first day until sunset on the fourth day (13 Dhul Hijjah). Animal sales and app bookings open roughly a week before Eid, and the subsidised scheme in 2026 ran from 4 to 13 Dhul Hijjah (21 to 30 May). Buy or book a few days before Eid: prices rise and the best stock sells out as the day gets closer.
Read guide: Public holidays in Qatar: dates, private sector rules and pay →Citizens: buy the subsidised sheep
Each year the Ministry of Commerce and Industry runs a national initiative with Widam Food Company that sells sacrificial sheep to Qatari citizens at a fixed price. In 2026 it was QAR 1,000 for a local or imported sheep, one animal per Qatari ID card, for citizens aged 18 and over. You show your ID at the yard, where an electronic system scans the card to stop the subsidy being used twice, or you buy through the Widam app. In 2026 the sale points were Widam's yards at Al Wakrah central slaughterhouse, Abu Nakhla, Al Sheehaniya, Al Mazrouah in Umm Salal, Al Khor and Al Shamal, open 5am to 5pm. Non-Qatari residents cannot use the subsidy.
Residents: buy at a yard or market
Residents pay the market price. Widam also sells unsubsidised animals at its yards and in its app; in 2026 it offered imported Sudanese (Sawakin) sheep at QAR 1,250 each, while local unsubsidised sheep sold for about QAR 2,300 to 2,700. Private traders sell sheep and goats at the livestock market areas next to the main slaughterhouses. Look for an alert, healthy animal with clear eyes and no limp, ask its age, and agree the price before the porter loads it. Prices depend on breed (local Arabi, Najdi, Awassi from Syria, Harri, Sudanese) and weight.
Or book online in the Widam app
The Widam Food app lets you choose a sacrificial animal, pay online, and pick the slaughter day, the cutting style and home delivery or collection. In 2026 imported sheep booked in the app were delivered on the first and second days of Eid, and local animals on the second to fourth days; delivery during the Tashreeq days carries a small fee. Check the cutting options carefully (for example whole carcass, halves, or small pieces) because you cannot change them once the animal is processed. Keep the booking confirmation on your phone in case you need to collect from the slaughterhouse.
Take the animal to a licensed slaughterhouse
The Ministry of Municipality asks everyone to slaughter only at licensed slaughterhouses under veterinary supervision. During Eid 2026 the Al Wakrah central slaughterhouse, Umm Salal, Al Sheehaniya and others in Al Khor, Al Shamal and Al Rayyan worked from after the Eid prayer until the end of each day, with extra vets and inspectors and crowd control at peak times. If you bought at a Widam yard, the slaughterhouse is usually right next to it, so the animal never leaves the site. A vet checks the animal before slaughter and the carcass afterwards; anything unfit is removed, which protects your family from disease.
Pay the slaughter and service fees
Slaughter at the government slaughterhouses is cheap. In 2026 the fee for slaughtering, cutting and packaging a sheep was QAR 16, and loading (porter) service was QAR 34; citizens buying the subsidised sheep got these as QAR 50 in coupons. If a citizen does not slaughter during Eid, the slaughter coupon can be used until the end of December 2026. Fees for larger animals and for delivery differ, so check them at the counter or in the app. Keep your ticket or receipt: you will need it to collect the meat.
Collect, store and share the meat
Expect queues on the first morning; the second and third days are usually quieter. Bring cool boxes and go straight home, because meat spoils fast in Qatar's heat, which in May and June is well above 40°C. Many families divide the meat into thirds: one for the household, one for relatives and friends, and one for people in need. If you want to give your share to workers or neighbours, pack it in clean bags and hand it out the same day. Freeze what you will not cook within two days.
Read guide: Surviving Qatar's summer: heat safety and staying cool →Do not slaughter at home or in the street
Slaughtering at home, in villa yards, on roadsides or on empty plots is against Ministry of Municipality instructions. It skips the vet check, leaves blood and waste that attract pests, and municipal inspectors increase patrols during Eid. Landlords and compounds also usually forbid it in tenancy rules. If you see illegal slaughter or animal waste dumped in your area, report it to the Ministry of Municipality on 184 or through the Oun app.
Read guide: Reporting municipal problems with the Oun app and the 184 call centre →Or give your sacrifice through a charity
Qatari charities run sacrifice (adahi) campaigns every Dhul Hijjah, and you can book online, in their apps, by phone or at collection desks in malls. In 2026 Qatar Red Crescent priced a sheep share inside Qatar, for families on social assistance lists, at QAR 800, and offered sacrifices abroad from QAR 260 (cattle share in Niger) to QAR 2,200 (sheep in Syria). Qatar Charity ran sacrifices in Qatar and 42 other countries, slaughtering on the Eid days and distributing on the third and fourth days. Use only licensed Qatari charities, keep your receipt, and give your name and intention (niyyah) when you book.
Read guide: Paying zakat and giving to charity safely in Qatar →Away for Hajj or travelling for Eid
If you will be on Hajj or abroad on Eid, you can still sacrifice in Qatar or elsewhere by booking with a charity or the Widam app before you leave, or by appointing a family member to do it for you. Hajj pilgrims have their own sacrifice (hady) arranged through their Hajj campaign, which is separate from the udhiyah. Tell whoever acts for you which animal and how the meat should be shared.
Read guide: Hajj from Qatar: registration, eligibility and licensed campaigns →
What it costs
| Subsidised sheep for Qatari citizens (2026) | QAR 1,000 |
| Slaughter, cutting and packaging (sheep) | QAR 16 |
| Loading / porter service | QAR 34 |
| Imported Sudanese (Sawakin) sheep at Widam (2026) | QAR 1,250 |
| Local unsubsidised sheep, market price (2026) | About QAR 2,300 to 2,700 |
| Qatar Red Crescent sheep share inside Qatar (2026) | QAR 800 |
| Qatar Red Crescent sacrifices abroad (2026) | QAR 260 to QAR 2,200 depending on country and animal |
Official fees at the time of review. Fees change, so confirm before paying.
Common mistakes
- Waiting until the night before Eid: subsidised stock and app delivery slots sell out, and market prices are highest at the last minute
- Expecting the QAR 1,000 subsidised price as a resident: it is only for Qatari citizens with a valid ID
- Slaughtering at home, in the yard or by the roadside: it skips the vet check and breaks municipality instructions
- Sacrificing before the Eid prayer on the first day, or after sunset on the fourth day: in most scholarly views it then does not count as the udhiyah
- Leaving meat in a hot car or delivering it hours later: in Qatar's May and June heat it can spoil quickly
- Choosing the wrong cutting style in the app and finding out at collection; it cannot be changed after processing
- Giving money for a sacrifice to unknown social media pages or individuals instead of a licensed Qatari charity
Questions people ask
Can expats buy the subsidised QAR 1,000 sheep?
No. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry's initiative is for Qatari citizens aged 18 and over, one animal per Qatari ID, checked electronically at the yard. Residents can buy unsubsidised animals from Widam (in 2026 imported Sudanese sheep were QAR 1,250) or from private traders at market price.
Where can I get my sheep slaughtered during Eid?
Only at licensed slaughterhouses, such as the Al Wakrah central slaughterhouse and those in Umm Salal (Al Mazrouah), Al Sheehaniya, Al Khor, Al Shamal and Al Rayyan. They open after the Eid prayer and work until the end of the day throughout Eid, with vets checking every animal. Locations and the full list can change, so check the Ministry of Municipality's announcements or call 184 before you go.
How much does slaughtering cost?
In 2026 slaughtering, cutting and packaging a sheep cost QAR 16 at the government slaughterhouses, plus QAR 34 if you used the loading service. Delivery through the Widam app has its own small fee. Larger animals cost more, so ask at the counter.
Can I slaughter the sheep at home or at my villa?
No. The Ministry of Municipality says slaughter must be done only at licensed facilities under veterinary supervision, and inspectors patrol during Eid. Home slaughter also breaks most tenancy and compound rules. Use a slaughterhouse or book a slaughter-and-deliver service.
Is it cheaper to give the sacrifice through a charity?
Often, yes. In 2026 Qatar Red Crescent sacrifices abroad started from a few hundred riyals (for example QAR 370 for a sheep or goat in Somalia), and a share for needy families inside Qatar was QAR 800. Prices depend on the country and animal, and each campaign closes around the Eid days, so book early.
Can I do my qurbani back home in India, Pakistan or Bangladesh instead?
Yes. Many residents send money to family to sacrifice at home, or book a charity that works in their country; Qatar Charity and Qatar Red Crescent both list countries such as Bangladesh, Pakistan and India. Remember the sacrifice must happen on the Eid days of the place where it is done. Our guide on sending money home covers transfer options.
When is Eid al-Adha next year and how long is the holiday?
Eid al-Adha is 10 Dhul Hijjah and moves about 11 days earlier each year, so in 2027 it is expected in mid-May, subject to moon sighting. Holiday length differs for government and private sector workers; see our public holidays guide for the official dates once announced.
Which animals are acceptable and how old must they be?
A sheep or goat counts for one person (and their household); a cow or camel can be shared by up to seven people. Commonly cited minimum ages are about six months for a sheep, one year for a goat, two years for a cow and five years for a camel, and the animal must be healthy without major defects. Schools of thought differ on details, so ask your imam or the Ministry of Awqaf if you are unsure.
Official sources
- The Peninsula: subsidised sacrificial animal sales for Eid al-Adha 2026 ↗
- Gulf Times: increasing demand for subsidised sheep, sale points and slaughter ↗
- Qatar Tribune: strong demand after MoCI local-production initiative ↗
- Gulf Times: municipal authorities complete Eid al-Adha preparations ↗
- Qatar Tribune: QRCS 'Make Their Eid' Adahi campaign 2026 prices ↗
- Qatar Tribune: Qatar Charity Dhul Hijjah campaign 2026 ↗
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