By Mohammed Rashad Hussain, Managing PartnerPublished 2 min read
When is Eid in Dubai this year?
There are two Eids. Eid Al Fitr ends Ramadan, and the UAE government portal gives it as 1 to 3 Shawwal, with day 30 of Ramadan added if the month runs 30 days. Eid Al Adha is 10 to 12 Dhu Al Hijjah, after Arafah Day on the 9th.
Projected 2027 dates from Gulf News:
- Eid Al Fitr: about Tuesday 9 March to Thursday 11 March, or Friday 12 March.
- Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha: about 15 to 18 May.
The UAE decides by moon sighting, so dates can move by a day. The UAE public holidays guide lists every holiday of the year.
What is the difference between Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha?
Eid Al Fitr celebrates the end of the Ramadan fast. Families visit each other, give gifts and eat together. Eid Al Adha is the Feast of Sacrifice, tied to the Hajj pilgrimage, and the holiday also includes Arafah Day.
For a visitor, the practical difference is timing. Eid Al Fitr follows a month of changed hours, which our Ramadan guide for visitors covers. Eid Al Adha arrives in late spring, so the heat is already high.
What is open during Eid?
Malls, restaurants, beaches, theme parks and hotels stay open, often later than usual. Government offices and banks close. Many private offices close too, since the holiday applies to the public and private sectors.
Daytime eating restrictions that apply in Ramadan do not apply during Eid. Restaurants are full, so book ahead.
Where are the Eid fireworks and events?
Fireworks and events are announced each year through Dubai Calendar and Visit Dubai. No confirmed venue list was available for this page, so check those channels in the days before Eid. Waterfront areas get very crowded. Ask your driver where to be dropped off and where to be collected, and agree a pickup point away from the main crowd.
Traffic, parking and Metro hours over Eid
Expect heavy roads to beaches, malls and the Dubai to Abu Dhabi route, with a spike on the evening before Eid. Our Dubai rush hour guide gives the normal daily pattern, which Eid bends.
Paid public parking has been free on public holidays, except for multi-storey car parks and special zones. Confirm on parkin.ae. RTA announces holiday Metro and tram hours ahead of each Eid, so check rta.ae. See Ramadan timings for the month before.
If you cross a border over the break, read the border queues holiday calendar.
Booking airport transfers and day trips over Eid
Book early. Departures peak on the last working day before the break and arrivals on its last day. Send Assure your flight number on WhatsApp for airport transfers at DXB and Zayed International. For family outings, a chauffeur by the hour avoids the taxi queue at crowded malls, and tours can be fixed in advance.
Back to the Dubai travel guide for the rest of the planning.
Photos in this guide
The Dubai Fountain lit up at night in Downtown Dubai while visitors watch from the waterfrontGinaD / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Jumeirah Mosque in Dubai, with two tall minarets and a carved dome under a clear skyRokaszil / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
A quiet luxury shopping corridor inside The Dubai MallAnk Kumar / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Traffic on Sheikh Zayed Road (E11) under an overhead sign for DXB and Sharjah, with the Metro viaduct alongsideCoolcaesar / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
