Known as the ‘Feast of the Sacrifice’, Eid Al Adha is one of two festivals for Muslims and is celebrated on the 10th day of Dhu Al Hajj. During the celebration of Eid Al Adha, Muslims slaughter an animal such as a camel, sheep or goat following Abraham's trials. This year, the first day of Eid Al Adha corresponds to August 11 (Sunday) in Qatar. So if you are planning to sacrifice an animal in Qatar, here are some important things you should know.

Where can I buy an animal?

The sacrificial animals are sold through Widam Food Company at a number of locations in Qatar. One of the most popular destinations is the central market, you can also find animals at other Widam slaughterhouses in Al Shamal, Al Khor, Al Mazrouah, Umm Salal, Al Shahaniya, and Al Wakra. They have also home delivery services.

What about the animal condition?

There are some certain conditions of the animal that you should keep in mind while buying the sacrifice. The animals should look healthy and free of disease, including the following conditions:

• They must not be blind, one-eyed or have lost a third (or more) of their sight.
• They cannot be excessively thin or lean.
• They must not have a lame leg and be able to walk themselves to the site of the slaughter.
• They cannot be toothless, or missing over half their teeth.
• The head is raised to the top and not down, and the eyes are bright, not yellow or red.
• The animal has to be an adult from the categories of meat that Muslims are permitted to eat. The adult age is one year for a goat or a sheep, two years for a cow and five years for a camel.

Any idea about the animal price?

The cost of the animal depends on different factors, for example, its weight, country of origin, etc. The Qatari government has also adopted the subsidised sheep price initiative in an effort to encourage local sheep production and regulate the cost of sheep during Eid Al Adha. The move is part of the joint national initiative to promote subsidised prices of sheep meat. However, we have listed below prices of some animals as per the WIDAM rates.

Australian cow - QR 5500
Australian lamb - QR 430
Syrian lamb - QR 1250
Arabic lamb - QR 1200

Can I slaughter at my home?

A number of people in Qatar prefer to slaughter their sheep at homes ignoring the safety of meat. The Ministry of Municipality and Environment has advised people not to get their animals slaughtered at home to ensure the safety of meat. It should be carried out in licensed abattoirs they have veterinary doctors to check animals.

So where can I slaughter?

The abattoirs in Qatar ensure safety and hygiene, veterinary examination before and after slaughter to prevent contamination of carcasses. They also provide qualified and approved butchers, who are expert to carry out this practice in the abattoirs, in addition to the provision of proper disposal of remnants of slaughter (blood, skins and non-edible offal). So you should sacrifice the animal at any licensed slaughterhouse. Usually, abattoirs are situated at the same place where animals are available for sale. For the slaughterhouse locations, click HERE.

Is there any slaughter fee?

Yes! You have to pay a certain amount as slaughter fee and it depends on the type of animal you are sacrificing. For example, slaughter fee for a sheep is QR 16 and it is QR 40 for a cow.

Important information about storing meat

It is important to store and prepare meat safely to stop the bacteria from spreading. Follow the below tips on storing meat to prevent food poisoning.

• As it’s summertime, so the meat can quickly spoil. You can use tailor-made iceboxes for keeping meat to avoid it going bad due to heat exposure during the transit process
• Store raw meat in clean sealed containers on the bottom shelf of the fridge, so the meat can't touch or drip onto other food.
• If you cook meat that you're not going to eat straight away, cool it as quickly as possible and then put it in the fridge or freezer - remember to keep cooked meat separate from raw meat.
• Always thoroughly clean plates, utensils, surfaces and hands after they have touched raw or thawing meat to stop bacteria from spreading.
• Uncured, raw meat generally lasts safely for around three days in the refrigerator. If you plan to keep uncooked meat longer, freezing it is your best bet. Seal the meat in an airtight package before freezing.

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Khadiza Begum

Content Writer

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