Eid Mubarak!
The UAE has announced the public and private sector holiday dates for Eid Al-Adha.
Friday, 8 July will mark Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha will be observed from Saturday 9 July to Monday, 11 July 2022.
The exact dates are always subject to moon sighting, however, public holiday dates are confirmed by the Government.
What do I need to know as a visitor to Dubai during Eid?
Eid Al Adha is the Festival of the Sacrifice. It is the second and holier of the two occasions of Eid marked by Muslims around the world. (The other Eid is Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan).
It begins on the 10th day of Dhu Al Hijjah, which is the 12th and final month in the Hijri (Islamic) calendar.
It is usually marked by large family gatherings and shared meals. Most COVID regulations in regards to group gathering have been lifted so compared with the last couple of years, we are expecting to see much larger celebrations in 2022 (albeit COVID is still very much prevalent in the UAE just now, so please do exercise caution at group gatherings and wear a face mask when inside, as still required by law).
As a non-Muslim, there is nothing visitors to Dubai really need to observe during Eid, but do note it can be a much busier time of year.
Retail outlets may stay open until much later at night (or even 24 hours) and the price of accommodation can rise significantly as it’s a very popular time of year for local families to take staycations.
It is also an incredibly busy time of year at DXB airport as many use the long weekend to visit family and friends overseas (and this year it will coincide with the start of school summer holidays).
Conversely, it can be a great time of year for picking up a bargain through Dubai Summer Surprises and Eid sales.
Learn more about what’s happening in Dubai over Eid and July here.
“Dry Nights” in Dubai
During religious occasions, by order of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), bars and restaurants in Dubai will cease selling alcohol.
We are yet to see a confirmation for the dry nights in Dubai over Eid 2022.
(NB, Abu Dhabi emirate stopped the practice of dry nights over religious occasions some years ago; we suspect Dubai may follow suit – but please be prepared that this may happen)
You can learn more about Dubai’s alcohol rules here.
Further public holidays in Dubai and the UAE
Dates for the remainder of 2022:
- Islamic New Year: 1 Muharram (Est 30 July 2022, observed on 1 August 2022 – 1 day)
- Prophet Muhammed’s (PBUH) Birthday: Est 8 October 2022, observed on 10 October 2022
- Commemoration Day: Thursday, 1 December
- UAE National Day: Friday, 2 December and Saturday, 3 December
You can find a full listing of Dubai’s public holidays and school holidays here
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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