While some residents faced long waiting times, others were able to complete the process far more quickly by planning ahead and coordinating in advance with traders.
Long queues at livestock markets and abattoirs during Eid al-Adha left many residents waiting for hours, particularly during peak periods. Several residents who visited livestock markets during the first two days of Eid said they spent considerable time moving between waiting tents, token counters and meat collection areas amid the rush.
Shafeed Guttigar, a resident of Al Tawoon who visited the Sharjah market with his family, said the experience became exhausting after several hours. “The difficult part was not the waiting itself, but not knowing how much longer was left,” he said.
Another resident at the Al Qusais market said the crowds became significantly heavier after 8am, particularly around the meat cutting and collection areas.
However, while some residents struggled with long waiting times, others managed to complete the process much faster by planning ahead and coordinating with traders. Khaleej Times spoke to residents and traders at the Sharjah and Al Qusais livestock markets to understand what helped save time during the Eid al-Adha rush.
1. Buy the goat a day earlier
Several residents said purchasing the sacrificial animal a day before Eid made a major difference.
“We bought the goat a day earlier and requested help from the trader we’ve been dealing with for years. He arranged a token for us,” said Aleem Chichaba, a resident of Al Qusais who wanted to avoid long waiting hours.
Aleem said he selected the goat in advance, left it with the trader overnight and arrived at the market before sunrise the next morning. “When the process started, we were already among the first people there,” he said.
Traders added that many residents are unaware they can buy the animal earlier and leave it at the trader’s shop until their preferred time.
2. Reach before sunrise
According to traders, crowds become significantly heavier after sunrise and continue through the afternoon. “People who arrive very early usually finish much faster,” said Qasim.
Residents who reached the market later in the morning said most of the delays happened during the meat cutting and collection stages.
3. Keep the cutting request simple
Another resident said he realised that detailed cutting requests can significantly increase waiting times.
“The more detailed the request, the longer it takes. We just asked for a few large cuts,” he said.
Workers at the abattoir explained that cutting is usually the slowest stage of the process, especially when residents request many smaller pieces for distribution.
4. Don’t wait at the market the whole time
A resident visiting the Sharjah market with his family said they avoided waiting continuously at the abattoir after receiving their token.
“We left after confirming the process and returned later when it was almost time for collection,” he said.
Some residents said they spent time visiting nearby relatives, relaxing in parks or having lunch at nearby restaurants instead of remaining inside crowded waiting areas for hours.
5. Coordinate with traders in advance
Traders said residents who communicate with them ahead of time usually experience a smoother process during Eid.
Shahvez Khan said many regular customers coordinate timings beforehand, particularly those who purchase from the same traders every year.
6. Take the goat to a farmhouse
Another resident shared a different approach altogether. Instead of taking the animal to a market abattoir, he transported the goat to a friend’s farmhouse outside the city and completed the sacrifice there.
“It was much calmer and less crowded,” he said.
