Eid Al Fitr Celebrations: UAE Residents Celebrate Eid With Prayers, Family Reunions, And Festive Spirit

Eid is a festival of festivities, prayers, gift exchanges, and worship of Allah. After the morning prayers and the exchange of Eid Greetings, the streets, malls, and markets of the Emirates were bustling with excited residents.

Just after sunrise on Wednesday, many Muslims across the UAE performed special prayers in mosques and Eid mullahs on the first day of Eid Al Fitr. The streets were filled with excitement after the morning prayers and the exchange of Eid greetings. Restaurants and eateries that mainly closed early during Ramadan did not invite guests for a hearty breakfast on the first day of Eid.

For the residents of Dubai Zain Alsayed, Eid is all about big family gatherings. "After offering the morning prayers at the mosque, my family and I have been visiting friends and primarily spending time with our extended family," he said.

"Eid presents a wonderful chance to come together and celebrate collectively. Around 20 of my relatives gathered at my father's uncle's residence in Sharjah. People have traveled from Abu Dhabi and Al Ain; like us, many have traveled from Dubai. It's heartwarming to reunite in one location and commemorate these joyous occasions together."

According to Zain, a Syrian Canadian expat, sharing food during festivals holds a special significance in their culture, as does many others worldwide. "A few of my aunts have prepared unique dishes, particularly some interesting desserts traditionally made only during the festival season. Additionally, we have arranged for some food to be catered for lunch. Our menu features Biryani, with barbecue being the highlight. Following lunch, we plan to visit and catch up with friends."

Other countries guest's arrival

Indian expat Zoya Shaikh's family visits them from the UK and India. They traveled, especially during Ramadan, to spend time with family here. "My sister-in-law came with her children from the UK, and my mother-in-law came from India. We spent a blessed time this Ramadan with the family in prayer together, and today, we are all going out for lunch at Al Wasi in Nihari Handi. Restaurants have special Eid menus, but after a month of fasting, I want to go easy on the food," said Zoya.

"Eid is also a special time for children as they look forward to Eidiya, and this year is different because my children have their cousins over. So it's quite a houseful. After the morning prayers, the children were ready for their Eidiya. The kids all wore new clothes today (Wednesday). We did Eid shopping a week ago, some in-store and a few online, as many deals were available. Later in the day, we might catch the Eid fireworks somewhere," the Abu Dhabi resident added.

Reminiscing Traditions

Sudanese expatriate Abdelrahim Alsaigh woke early for the Eid prayer, joining his father and sisters. "Giving out Eidiya to the kids is always the best part. As a 23-year-old, I love to be the adult who spreads joy among children," Alsaigh said.

The Alsaigh household is always occupied with sweets and Sudanese incense on this day. "Eid holds a special significance for me because it's when I can reunite with all my family and friends in a single day. We typically gather for lunch as a family. We always have Manakesh on this day as a household tradition. Post lunch, I catch up with my friends, all of us adorned in our finest attire for the occasion, and we go to the malls as they are beautifully lit up."

Hotels from all across the country enjoy and celebrate remarkable occupancy rates during this festive season. Many individuals take this opportunity to take advantage of deals and retail offers while embarking on culinary adventures to indulge in the festive spirit fully. Adding to it, residents eagerly assume the spectacular fireworks displays that are a hallmark of the vibrant festivities in the nation.

Meanwhile, Dubai's Eidiya Digital Raffle allows shoppers to win big prizes by spending Dh200 at participating malls. Each coupon qualifies for a draw with prizes summing to Dh200,00. Over Eid, 22 winners will be chosen with prizes ranging from Dh5,000 to Dh15,000. Eighteen malls are participating, including Arabian center, Dubai Outlet Mall, and Lulu hypermarket Silicon Oasis.

Treating neighbors

Dubai resident Bhavya Rao is making the most of the day by spending time with her husband and two children. She also highlighted the offers across the city that have turned her into an avid shopper this festive season. "I am generally quite careful about my purchases. But on Tuesday, when I went to a supermarket, I saw that special: poultry items sold at half the price. I frankly had no plans to prepare Biryani. But the deals were so tempting that I ultimately bought quite a few items, even things I didn't want. I have spent nearly half the morning preparing a special Chicken Biryani for the festive occasion," said Bhavya.

Bhavya added that Eid in the UAE is a time for families to unite irrespective of race and religion. "My Egyptian neighbor came and gave us some Middle Eastern dessert. In the early evening, I" 'll take my kids to one of the play areas in the neighborhood as they have some exciting activities, especially for the children.

I am looking forward to catching one of the Eid Al Fitr firework displays in the late evening," she included.

#uaeeidcelebration #eid2024 #uaetravel #ramadan #uaeholidays