UAE residents make the best of free, discounted activities
In these uncertain times, plenty of people in the UAE are choosing not to tone down their Eid festivities or dampen its glimmer. From hosting family gatherings and wrapping gifts, they surely are going the extra mile to make sure that it is a happy time. For certain ones, this holiday season will be a chance to visit attractions and receive special discounts.
In Dubai, Fathima Sheikh will get together with her extended family of at least 50 people in a farmhouse — which she booked at a half-off discount as property owners dangle deals. “Our Eid plans are usually decided long before because we require at least 25 rooms in a hotel or larger enough farmhouse to accommodate all of us,” she said. “We weren’t sure whether we should meet this year but earlier in the week, we decided to get together anyway.
Normally there just would not have been such a suitable place to consider but, this year, we did and even got a good discount on it.”
On the second day of Eid she said the family would go a round around the city and avail offers by local attractions. “The kids want to see Aquaventure in Atlantis and some of us wish to visit the Dubai Miracle Garden,” she said. “I think it’s going to be crowded but that is part of the fun during Eid.”
In the UAE, Eid 2026 will be on Friday, March 20. For this year, the Eid prayers will only be offered inside mosques and there will not be any arrangements to offer prayers outdoors so as to avoid the worshippers from suffering a world-wide loss of life owing to the almost raging ongoing regional riots. As such prayers across the nation will be held vary from 6.30am and 6.50am depending on location in the country.
Tourism continues
Mohammed Zohaib Peshimam, who lives in Saudi, said he had been in two minds about coming to the UAE for Eid given regional tensions, but was glad that he did. He is also currently visiting family in Dubai with his wife and children for two weeks. We drove from Riyadh to Dubai,’ he said.” “The roads were eerily empty and it was quiet, but arriving in the UAE, it felt calm. The skies were clear, untethered to the tension we dreaded. We took a breath — it felt like coming home.”
He said the family were also trying to fit in some outdoor activities during their stay here. “I believe the Dubai Miracle Garden has free entry, and a lot of parks have many activities,” he said. “So we hope in between spending Eid with my wife’s parents and my brother to carve out some time to enjoy what Dubai has to offer over the festive period.”
Plans change, festivities still on
For Sudanese expatriate Mawada Elmagboul, regional conflict has meant making changes to her Eid plans. Mawada had planned to fly to Egypt as she normally would, spending time with her parents but will now be celebrating Eid in Abu Dhabi with friends and her brother.
“I haven’t been able to visit my parents for two years now but with the situation — including the flight cancellations and very high price tickets — it didn’t feel practical,” she said. “My family told me to ignore this Eid and come to see them later. So now, I am going to stay in Abu Dhabi and spend it with my friends’ family who live here as well as my brother, who also lives in the city.”
She added that she was excited about the festivities. “Everyone coming together, even if it’s remotely, is the most exciting part,” she said. “My family group chat goes off the walls; everyone’s sending pictures of their outfits, updating everyone, calling each other throughout the day. Those calls are special because life gets in the way and we don’t always keep in touch regularly. Also, in Abu Dhabi the decorations and feel of the day really add to the Eid spirit, making it feel like an event even if you are away from home.”
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