Eid Mubarak!
The celebration of Eid-ul-Fitr (Eid al-Fitr) occurs at the conclusion of the Holy Month of Ramadan.
The dates this special occasion will fall on will be determined by moon sighting; however, the exact days the public and private sectors will take as holidays in Dubai will be confirmed by the UAE Government.
Eid public holiday in 2023 is expected to occur from 20 April to 23 April (and possibly Monday 24 April) – confirmed by the moon sighting committee
Stay tuned for the exact dates to be announced.
The dates for 2024 will move forward approximately ten days, with Eid ul Fitr expected to fall from 11 to 14 April 2024.
In this Dubai Eid guide, we’ll cover:
What do I need to know as a visitor to Dubai during Eid?
Eid Al Fitr celebrates the Festival of the Breaking of the Fast. From Ramadan 29 (or 30) to Shawwal 3 (the 10th month on the Hijri calendar), Muslims around the world mark the end of “saum” – daytime fasting – which is one of the five pillars of Islam.
Eid al-Fitr is a festival for Muslims to show gratitude to Allah (God) for the help and strength he gave them throughout the month of Ramadan to help them practice self-control. Muslims will gather in mosques or open spaces and offer two units of prayer – called “Rakat”. The prayers are followed by a sermon, in which the Imam asks for forgiveness, mercy, and peace for every being across the world.
You can learn more about Muslim Prayer times and religious observances in Dubai here
Along with exchanging Eid greetings and feasting with family, another important element of the Eid celebrations is giving money to the poor (known as ‘Zakat al-Fitr‘).
Gift-giving among family members is also commonplace. Not quite like Christmas for Christians, but along the same lines of giving and receiving. Commonly referred to as Eidi, elders give children money or gifts to mark the occasion.
There is nothing specific visitors to Dubai really need to observe during Eid. However, it’s important to note it can be a very busy time of year and hotel prices can rise (immensely) as a result of a lot of local families choosing to staycation at this time of year.
The polite greeting to use at this time with any Muslim friends and aquaintances is “Eid Mubarak”.
Confused over which Eid?
There are, in fact, two Islamic celebrations called “Eid”. The second Eid, which is actually the holier of the two Eid’s celebrated by Muslims around the world is Eid-al- Adha – Festival of the Sacrifice.
Eid Al Adha occurs on the 10th day of Dhu Al Hijjah, which is the 12th and final month in the Hijri (Islamic) calendar. A minimum of 4 days is observed as a public holiday in the UAE.
Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha are expected to fall from 27 to 30 June 2023.
Events During Eid Al Fitr in Dubai
Eid Fireworks in Dubai
One of the most anticipated events of Eid for families is catching some festive fireworks. There are plenty of locations across the city you can join the action.
- Bluewaters Island will be celebrating on Saturday, April 22 at 9:00 PM
- Dubai Festival City gives a fabulous festive backdrop over Dubai Creek for fireworks
- Dubai Parks and Resorts Riverland in Jebel Ali will be lighting up the sky for theme park fans at a respectable 7:00 PM for your littles, and a further show at 9:00 PM on Saturday, 22 April
- Etisalat Beach Canteen (on Jumeirah Beach, behind Sunset Mall) – events on all afternoon from 4:00 PM with fireworks on 21 April at 9:00 PM
- Expo City Dubai continues to impress with its entertainment offering post-Expo and will be a great spot to enjoy for Eid Fireworks for free
- Global Village – open throughout Eid with extended hours 6:00 PM to 2:00 AM, enjoy the last of this seasonal spectacular with a fireworks celebration at 9:00 PM on Friday and Saturday, 21/22 April 2023.
- Palm Jumeirah and the Pointe – with Atlantis as your backdrop (TBC 2023)
Nb, as is traditional, public parking is free on special public holidays like Eid. Do we aware just how busy some areas will be over Eid and aim to take public transport where possible to avoid congestion on the roads.
“Dry Night” in Dubai?
During the religious occasion of Eid-al-Fitr, previously the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) requested that bars and restaurants cease selling alcohol from 6:30 pm on the last night of Ramadan, with service resuming on the second day of Shawwal.
No such announcement was made in 2022 and we expect this rule has now been abolished, so not more “dry nights” for religious occasions in the emirate of Dubai
You can learn more about Dubai’s alcohol rules here.
Aside from the religious aspects of Eid, this holiday is also synonymous in Dubai and the UAE with local shopping deals. Expect to bag a bargain at the shopping malls and get in early, as crowds can become exceptionally busy later in the evenings.
Learn more about what’s happening in Dubai over Eid and April here.
Eid Holidays in Dubai
Due to the extended break, this is a precious time of year for many families to come together, and locally, staycations are hot business! This means resorts and hotels in Dubai and the UAE see their highest demand levels of the year, and prices are set at absolute top dollar.
Do not come to Dubai at Eid asking, “where can I get a great Eid deal” – you simply won’t!
Special offers that run at other times of the year are normally null and void over occasions such as Eid. Some venues even run differential pricing, where the average online and counter prices are temporarily raised to keep up with demand.
We’ve tried to shop around for you to help spot these deals, but they’re few and far between this year, sorry! Here’s what we’ve found so far in Dubai Eid Holiday deals – we’ll update this if anything last-minute pops up.
Further public holidays still to come in Dubai and the UAE
Dates for the remainder of 2023:
- Arafat Day and Eid al Adha: 27 June to 30 June 2023 TBC (4 days)
- Islamic New Year: 19 July 2023 (not always a public holiday)
- Prophet Muhammed’s (PBUH) Birthday: 27 September 2023 (not always a public holiday)
- Commemoration Day: Friday, 1 December 2023
- UAE National Day: 2 December 3 December 2023 (4 and 5 December in lieu of weekend)
You can find a full listing of Dubai’s public holidays and school holidays here
Before you go… More important things you should know when planning a trip to Dubai
- Don’t forget to pack your travel insurance!!!
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Please note we are not a travel agency. This site is a travel blog to help newcomers to the UAE and transit passengers self plan their trip, we cannot book your flights, hotels, visas or connections for you. We may make a small commission if you click on any of our recommendation links.
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