Ramadan in Dubai in 2027: dates, opening hours and etiquette

Ramadan 2027 is expected to run in Dubai from Monday 8 February to Monday 8 or Tuesday 9 March. For visitors, the month mainly changes the pace of the city: quieter days, shorter opening hours, a few things to avoid in public, then lively evenings once the fast is broken. February and March are also among the most pleasant months of the year, with average highs of 26 to 29 °C.

The 2027 dates

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which follows the moon, so it moves about eleven days earlier each year. The UAE Astronomy Centre expects Ramadan 1448 to begin on 8 February 2027. The month lasts 29 or 30 days, depending on the sighting of the new crescent moon.

These are astronomical forecasts: the UAE authorities confirm the start and end of the month the evening before. If your trip straddles these dates, keep a day of flexibility, especially around Eid. Our pages on Ramadan 2027 in Dubai and Eid al-Fitr 2027 follow the official announcements.

How a day unfolds

Muslims fast from dawn to sunset. During Ramadan 2027 the sun sets in Dubai at around 6.05 pm at the start of the month and 6.25 pm at the end, local time.

• Mornings are calm and the city wakes up later than usual. This is the time for outdoor sightseeing, Old Dubai and the souks.
• Afternoons slow down. In the last hour before sunset, everyone heads home to break the fast; driving can be erratic at this time, and fasting drivers may be tired.
• At sunset comes iftar, the meal that breaks the fast. Large hotels put up Ramadan tents decorated with lanterns and serve generous buffets; the most popular are fully booked at weekends, so reserve a few days ahead.
• In the evening and at night, the city comes alive. Suhoor, the last meal before dawn, is eaten late at night, and malls, restaurants and promenades stay busy until the small hours.

What visitors should respect

Fasting applies to Muslims. Non-Muslims are nonetheless expected not to eat, drink, chew gum or smoke in public during the day, including in their car. Loud music, dancing and swearing in public are also best avoided: music and dancing are frowned upon during the month.

In practice:

• At your hotel, meals are served as usual. Restaurants open during the day sometimes use screens to separate diners from those who are fasting.
• In the street, on a public beach or in a taxi, wait until you are out of sight before drinking. Keep a bottle of water in your bag and drink inside a restaurant or at the hotel.
• Dress a little more modestly: long, discreet clothing for women, and no shorts for men. Swimwear remains for the beach and the pool, as it does all year.
• On the road, avoid long drives in the hour before sunset where you can.

These basic rules apply all year round; our guide to alcohol, dress and rules of conduct covers them in detail.

Restaurants, alcohol and nights out

In Dubai, many restaurants and cafés stay open during the day for people who are not fasting. Hotel restaurants operate normally; elsewhere, some only open at sunset. Mall food courts keep running, sometimes behind screens.

Licensed bars and restaurants generally continue to serve alcohol, often only from the evening. Practice varies from one venue to the next: if a glass of wine with dinner matters to you, ask your hotel before booking what it offers during the month. Live music and shows are often scaled back.

Sightseeing and opening hours

Attractions stay open with adjusted hours. Dubai Frame, for instance, normally open from 8 am to 9 pm, opened from 10 am to 7 pm during Ramadan 2026 (local time). Check opening times the day before, particularly for afternoon guided tours.

• Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall and the aquarium keep running, sometimes on shifted hours; in the evening, Downtown is at its liveliest.
• Jumeirah Mosque, the only mosque in Dubai open to non-Muslims, is visited with the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding, the city's cultural welcome centre; its schedule may change during the month.
• The desert remains open: evening safaris end with dinner after iftar time. See our page on the Dubai desert.
• Events carry on: the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships are scheduled for 14 to 27 February 2027, and the Meydan horse-racing season runs until 12 March.

A good time to visit?

For a first trip, Ramadan has real appeal: mild weather, wonderfully atmospheric evenings, iftars to discover and a less hurried city by day. In return it needs a little planning: lunch at the hotel or in places that are open, sightseeing in the morning, and acceptance of shorter hours.

The month suits a city-and-beach stay well, with days by the hotel pool, where you can eat and drink freely, and evenings in town. The sea is cool at this time of year, around 22 to 23 °C: our guide to Dubai's beaches gives water temperatures month by month.

Eid al-Fitr

Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, probably on 9 or 10 March 2027. It brings several days of public holiday in the UAE: families out and about, busy malls and parks, entertainment and fireworks. Beach hotels and restaurants fill up with guests from the Emirates and neighbouring countries. If your stay falls over Eid, book hotels, tables and excursions early.