Break the Fast on Al Seef's Waterfront
As the sun drops behind the creek, the call to prayer rolls across the water and the tables along Al Seef fill in a single motion. This is iftar in Dubai: dates and water first, then lentil soup, then platters that keep arriving. Ramadan 2027 is projected by the UAE Astronomy Centre to begin on 8 February, running 29 or 30 days and likely ending around 8 or 9 March. The exact start is confirmed only after the moon-sighting committee observes the crescent on the 29th of the preceding Islamic month, so treat early February as your planning window rather than a fixed date.
Because the Hijri calendar is lunar, Ramadan moves about 10 to 12 days earlier each Gregorian year — which is why 2027's fast falls in the cooler months, and why the city's outdoor iftar tents and creek-side terraces are at their most comfortable. Fasting runs from first light to sunset; iftar begins at sunset, and suhoor is the pre-dawn meal that keeps the city going until the next call.
Eat Your Way Through Iftar and Suhoor
The daily rhythm is simple to join: fast by day, gather at dusk, eat again before dawn. You do not need a hotel booking to take part — the city's food culture opens up across the month.
- Iftar: the sunset meal that breaks the fast, traditionally begun with dates and water before soup and main dishes arrive.
- Suhoor: the pre-dawn meal, eaten before first light, and in Dubai often the more relaxed, drawn-out affair of the two.
- Where to look: waterfront and creek-side districts such as Al Seef put you within reach of the city's iftar and suhoor tables, with the call to prayer marking the start of the meal.
Plan your days around the fast rather than against it. Sightsee and shop in the morning and early afternoon, rest through the hottest, quietest hours, then time your arrival at the table for sunset.
Shop the Night Markets After Sunset
Once the fast breaks, Dubai's evenings stretch late. The markets and streets fill after iftar, and the city's usual retail and dining districts stay busy well into the night — this is when to wander rather than rush. Keep your evenings loose: eat at sunset, then walk, shop and take coffee and dessert long after dark, when the crowds are out and the temperature has dropped.
Time Your Trip Around the Moon
Ramadan 2027 is predicted to begin on 8 February and to last 29 or 30 days, ending on 8 or 9 March. The UAE moon-sighting committee observes the moon on the 29th of each Islamic month, and only then is the exact start and end confirmed. Build flexibility into your booking for the first days of February.
The end of the month brings Eid Al Fitr. If Ramadan runs 30 days, the break likely starts 10 March; if it runs 29 days, the holiday is expected 9–11 March. Under UAE Cabinet law, public- and private-sector employees receive three paid holidays for the first three days of Shawwal. If the Shawwal crescent is not sighted on Ramadan 29 — extending Ramadan to 30 days — that 30th day is also declared a public holiday, with holidays beginning 9 March and lasting until 12 March. Combined with the weekend, that can give an extended break of up to six days, and the city celebrates accordingly.
Stay Through Eid for the Full Celebration
If your dates allow, do not leave before Eid Al Fitr. The holiday that closes Ramadan is when the city shifts from reflection to celebration, and the extended break — potentially six days when the public holidays fall against the weekend — is when Dubai is at its most festive. Check the confirmed dates against the moon sighting as your travel window approaches, then book with the knowledge that the calendar may shift by a day in either direction.
Start with the projected window: arrive in early February for the start of Ramadan, or aim for early to mid-March if you want Eid. Either way, let the moon-sighting announcement — not the printed date — set your final plans.