Dubai’s livestock market, where dozens of pens are tightly packed with Syrian sheep and Iranian goats, was teeming on Tuesday as Muslims prepared for Eid al-Adha, when families slaughter an animal for a banquet of meat and rice in commemoration of Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son.

However, traders say, the picture is misleading. The number of customers in the run-up to Wednesday’s festival has fallen by a quarter as livestock prices have risen 30 per cent on rising global food and transport costs, compounded by limited supplies because of outbreaks of disease in east Africa.