2027 religious holidays and travel (Morocco and Egypt)

Expected dates for 2027

Muslim holidays follow the lunar calendar. The dates of Ramadan, the two Eids and the Islamic New Year come from calculations by the UAE Astronomy Centre, published on 22 August 2026 and updated on 1 September 2026; the Mawlid date follows the same lunar calendar. In Morocco and Egypt, official dates are set by local sighting of the crescent moon and may differ by a day from those in the Gulf states.

Morocco

Religious public holidays:

• Islamic New Year (1 Muharram);
• Prophet's birthday (12 and 13 Rabi al-Awwal);
• Eid al-Fitr (1 and 2 Shawwal);
• Eid al-Adha (10 and 11 Dhu al-Hijjah); in 2027, these two public holidays are expected on Monday 17 and Tuesday 18 May.

Legal time. Since 20 September 2026, Morocco has been on GMT all year (decree no. 2.26.530, Official Bulletin of 29 June 2026). The clock change that came with Ramadan in previous years no longer applies in 2027. During Ramadan 2027, Morocco will be the same time as London.

During Ramadan, non-Muslim travellers avoid eating, drinking and smoking in public during the day; sites and hotels stay open, and in Agafay the Scarabeo camps welcome guests all month. The Travelling in Morocco during Ramadan guide covers the rhythm of the day and local customs.

Egypt

Archaeological sites during Ramadan. Hours published by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, local time:

Grand Egyptian Museum: during Ramadan, site open 8:30 to 17:00 and galleries 9:00 to 16:00, instead of 19:00 and 18:00 normally.

Time. During Ramadan 2027, in February and March, Egypt is on winter time (UTC+2): 2 hours ahead of London. On Eid al-Adha, in mid-May, it is on summer time (UTC+3): 2 hours ahead of London.

What these dates mean for your trip

• Ramadan slows the days and livens up the evenings; it rules out no visit. Plan visits early, as Egyptian sites close earlier.
• The two Eids are family festivals: many people travel back to their home region, and trains, coaches and domestic flights are in heavy demand in the days before. Souks, shops and government offices largely close for one or two days; hotels and tourist sites stay open.
• On Egypt's Red Sea and north coast, Egyptians make the most of the Eid holidays: hotels fill up and prices rise. Book early if your stay falls in mid-May.