Enjoy the Eid holidays in majestic Abu Dhabi, a city that comes to life during Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr alike. When you book an Eid holiday in Abu Dhabi, a world of family fun is at your fingertips.
The UAE capital is known as home to the magnificent Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque – a dream location to mark the occasion. Plus, of course, you’ll be able to make the most of some of the best shopping and entertainment experiences in the world.
First-class restaurants create the perfect setting for family meals in Abu Dhabi, whether for iftar in the run-up to Eid al-Fitr, sweet breakfast date dishes or meat feasts to mark Eid al-Adha.
Abu Dhabi is also home to the UAE’s National Theatre – a great location for Eid shows.
Abu Dhabi is home to a fantastic range of hotels to fit the religious holidays – however you prefer to spend them.
Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque attracts as many as 40,000 people for Eid prayers – it’s a special place to visit during your holiday.
Embrace Abu Dhabi’s Eid sales by heading to the city’s best malls during your holiday. Yas Mall and Dalma Mall are open for long Eid hours.
Extend the festivities with a trip to Yas Waterworld with the family or zip around Ferrari World Abu Dhabi on the epic Formula Rossa.
Where to stay
It’s easy to find great hotels for Eid holidays in Abu Dhabi – the Corniche region offers fantastic links to the city’s downtown attractions, plus great beach access. Downtown Abu Dhabi comes with excellent transport links to landmarks such as Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the iconic Louvre Abu Dhabi, plus enriching heritage centres and surrounding islands. With Etihad, it’s possible to find fantastic deals on a range of Eid hotels, including accommodation with halal policies and menus. Whether you’re visiting Abu Dhabi from elsewhere in the Middle East or from further afield, in these hotels you’re sure to meet likeminded travellers.
After Eid prayers and customary meals come to a close, Abu Dhabi springs to life. The city’s Ramadan and Eid Festival brings together traditional songs and dance, Arabic food and shopping.
Next, why not illuminate your Eid holiday with a visit to one of Abu Dhabi’s iconic firework displays? Yas Marina hosts one of Eid’s best-known displays. Hop over to Yas Island’s theme parks, where your children can spend their Eidi, visit the Heritage Club at the Heritage Village in Al Marina or head to Corniche Beach to unwind after the celebrations.
Find the latest Eid concert shows at the Etihad Arena. You might witness the talent of the UAE’s best musicians or take the children to see their favourite cartoon characters.
Discover more
Eid is the perfect time to learn about Emirati culture – and there’s no better place to do so than at Abu Dhabi’s Heritage Village. Join a craft workshop or pick up dried-spice souvenirs.
Cipriani, one of Yas Island’s fine Italian restaurants, serves up an alternative Eid al-Adha feast. Delicious dishes include lentil salad, roasted lamb and homemade bigoli.
Abu Dhabi’s largest mosque radiates majesty at any time of the year, but during Eid it’s all the more special. As you wander between the 1,000 columns and beneath the 24-carat-gold plated chandeliers, you’ll feel the significance of the occasion. During Eid Al-Fitr, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, was among those to pray beneath the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque’s 82 white domes.
Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island hosts several great theme parks to visit on Eid holidays. Warner Bros. World™ Abu Dhabi offers fantastic family fun, with rides such as Batman: Knight Flight, shows themed on famous films, plus sumptuous food. At Celebrity Scoop, you can step into a 1950s Hollywood-themed diner where sodas come in every colour of the rainbow. Ferrari World Abu Dhabi also puts on a show during Eid – expect activities such as henna painting, balloon twisting and Arabic dance shows as the rides zoom.
During the Eid holidays, great shopping can be found at every turn in Abu Dhabi, but Yas Mall has reputation for hosting competitions and offers to draw guests in. The mall sits at the heart of Abu Dhabi’s Eid tourism hub – in 2017 alone, an estimated half a million locals and tourists visited Yas Island for Eid.
Marina Mall has more than 400 stores stocking all the world’s best-known brands and a bowling alley too, so it’s a great family day out. Visit The Date Room to buy ornately presented Emirati dates.
Abu Dhabi’s mouth-watering selection of traditional cuisine sets the city apart from other Eid holiday destinations. You can sample some of the best Eid buffet brunches in Abu Dhabi at Al Rimal, for example, which serves up classic Arabian hot and cold mezze. This restaurant’s name literally means ‘the sands’, so this food is as traditional as it gets – and it’s all cooked from live show kitchens.
Emirati culture comes to life during Eid. Al-Razfa, or the Dance of Unity, brings poetry and dance together using distinctive bamboo canes. Its origins were in the Bedouin communities in the Al Dhafra desert and today the art is UNESCO-listed. You can see such traditional dances throughout Abu Dhabi during Eid, as well as at the Al Ain Oasis, where dances are organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism.
Pamper sessions are a popular way to prepare for Eid. Abu Dhabi’s top-rated salons include Allure Beauty Centre and Spa and Anahata Spa – but places fill fast.
Yas Island’s Kids Go Free offer allows a child under 12 to go free with each paying adult at attractions including Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld and Warner Bros. World™ Abu Dhabi.
Marina Mall and Yas Mall are among some of the must-visit shopping destinations during Eid holidays.
Enhance your Eid holiday with a film screening at Marina Mall’s nine-screen VOX cinema for the latest Hollywood, Bollywood and Middle East releases.
Eid prayers typically take place at 8am in Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Tens of thousands of worshippers travel here for the occasion, however, so it’s a good idea to arrive early for the best chance of securing a place. Check the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque website for the latest information before you travel.
Al Bateen Mosque, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammad Al Nahyan Mosque and Masjid Darwesh Bin Karam are some of the downtown Abu Dhabi mosques that host Eid prayers in most years. Masjid Saadiyat Island, located close to Abu Dhabi’s beach resorts, is even open 24 hours. Check restrictions and opening times when planning your visit.
Yas Island’s Eid firework display looks spectacular when viewed from the water – take a boat tour from Yas Marina for the best seats in the house. It’s possible to take a traditional dhow boat tour as well.
Other great places to watch Eid fireworks in Abu Dhabi are from inside high-rise buildings with great views, such as the restaurant Cipriani. The first colourful displays appear at 9pm.
In Abu Dhabi, Eid sales sometimes start before Eid even begins – in the final days of Ramadan prior to Eid al-Fitr, for instance, you might find stores advertising deals on last-minute Eid gifts. More commonly, though, sales start on the third day of Eid – many of Abu Dhabi’s largest malls will typically group together to offer big savings over a 24-hour period. If you’re a keen shopper, you can even make the most of extended opening hours – on the day of Eid sales, some of Abu Dhabi’s malls stay open into the early hours.
Parking and Darb toll charges are often lifted during the Eid holidays in Abu Dhabi to mark the charitable nature of the occasion. This policy is typically announced the week before Eid celebrations. It is a good idea to check this in the run-up to your holiday.
If you’re looking to venture out of town during the Eid holidays, the best day trips from Abu Dhabi include desert safaris and trips to surrounding islands such as the wildlife paradise of Sir Bani Yas Island.
Theme parks
Arts & Culture
Shopping
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Nature
Landmarks
Family
Dining & Nightlife
All imagery provided by © Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi
