Eid al-Fitr(عيد الفطر) in 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates

Eid al-Fitr in the United Arab Emirates is a spectacular celebration that reflects the country's blend of traditional Arabian culture and cosmopolitan modernity. The three-day public holiday begins with the Eid prayer at mosques across the Emirates, after which families exchange greetings and children receive Eidiyah.

The feasting is generous and varied, reflecting the UAE's multicultural population. Traditional Emirati dishes like harees, a slow-cooked wheat and meat porridge, thareed, a bread and lamb stew, and luqaimat, sweet fried dumplings drizzled with date syrup, sit alongside dishes from across the Arab world and beyond. Families gather in majlis settings, and the smell of oud and bakhoor incense fills the air.

Dubai and Abu Dhabi put on extravagant Eid celebrations. The Burj Khalifa features special light shows and fireworks, shopping malls host Eid festivities with entertainment and discounts, and cultural events showcase traditional poetry, dance, and music. The Dubai Fountain performs special shows, and luxury hotels offer elaborate Eid brunches.

Despite the modern glitz, traditional customs remain strong. Families visit cemeteries to pray for the departed, neighbors exchange plates of sweets and savory dishes, and the spirit of generosity extends to the large expatriate workforce, with many employers providing bonuses and gifts for Eid.

Islamic festival marking the end of Ramadan's month-long fasting, celebrated with communal Eid prayers, feasting, new clothes, gift-giving, and charity (zakat al-fitr) across the Muslim world.