Expatriate Muslims joined Saudis in celebrating Eid Al-Adha by organizing reunions and visits while others utilized the week-long holidays for sports activities.

Worshippers started arriving at the grand Mosque in Dubhat district in Malaz which had an open area for large congregations as early as 5 o’clock on the first day of Eid.

Some expatriates came along with their children wearing national dress.

The event lent variety and a diversified atmosphere with different cultural backgrounds and color, but all were performing together the annual Eid prayer facing one common direction toward the Qibla of Kaaba in Makkah.

“I take the opportunity of this festive occasion to exchange greetings and embrace fellow brothers immediately after congregational prayers at the mosque to open a new chapter of friendship,” an Indian IT specialist, Mojeeb Aftab, told Arab News.

He said that although he finds it difficult to understand the sermon in Arabic, he knows for sure “all of us here came to purify ourselves and ask for divine forgiveness of fellow brethren.”

Many other expats followed it by animal sacrifices. “For us Sudanese, the sacrifice is an obligatory duty for each and everyone,” said a translator from Sudan adding that it is a strict Islamic duty that we should adhere to. For him, it is an occasion for reunion with families and friends.

He said, “This practice promotes unity among us.”

Arab News also visited the Filipinos who gathered immediately after Eid Al-Adha prayer, for Eid celebration and reunion at the same time.

“This great day is being celebrated by more than a billion Muslims around the world as a symbol of sacrifice and teaches us how to make sacrifices in our life,” said Rasol Abbas, the elderly leader of the Filipino group. He said, “We made sacrifices while working here. As such, we have to make use of every single day of our stay here to boost productivity,” Abbas noted.

According to Samsoden Calauto, chairman of Amtar Tugayanian International Foundation, the occasion reminded him of the great wisdom of the sacrifice made by Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) for a higher purpose under divine orders.