One look at the world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa, and one gets a sense of ambition that wants to outdo the pyramids of Giza, the Eiffel Tower and the Empire State. Dubai, where this lofty building rises and taunts the sky, has fully embraced the influence of Western commerce in what is otherwise an Arab-dominated economic bloc. But the rest of the United Arab Emirates has not relinquished their heritage if the country’s important celebrations were to be taken into account. Despite its gigantic strides towards economic progress (UAE has currently the world’s seventh highest per capita income) and accommodation of Western tastes and perspectives, the country intends to hold fast to its Islamic roots, as evidenced by UAE’s fervent celebrations of religious holidays.
Below is the United Arab Emirates public holidays 2013.
New Year’s Day – Tuesday, 1 January 2013
As an oasis of Western influences in the deserts of the Arabian peninsula, UAE celebrates the start of the Gregorian New Year in a scale far more spectacular than the Times Square or the Eiffel Tower. Burj Khalifa puts on a cosmic display of fireworks that speak of the country’s massive petro dollars and domination ambition. The Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, the country’s capital, is a jewel in its own light as the clock strikes midnight. Revelers may want to go to Jumeirah Beach on the shores of Dubai to see the lavish light shows all at once.
The Prophet’s Birthday – Thursday, 24 January 2013
The birth of the Prophet Muhammad is commemorated in low-key ceremonies across all mosques in the country, the largest gathering of which is in the Grand Mosque of Sheikh Zayed in Abu Dhabi. After the “isha” prayer has been offered, the devout spend time with the family and reflect on their life and on the teachings that Muhammad imparted. In Abu Dhabi, neighborhoods cook and prepare meals for the less fortunate.
Israa and Miraj night – Thursday, 6 June 2013
This day marks the night journey that Prophet Muhammad undertook and his eventual ascension to the heavens. Muslims commemorate this day by attending prayer gatherings at mosques or fasting and prayer in their homes late into the night.
Eid Al Fitr – Thursday, 8 August 2013
The end of Ramadan in Muslim majority countries is always welcomed with great feasts and festive celebrations that make up for the previous month’s daylight fasting. The first day of Eid Al Fitr is marked with a dawn prayer at mosques followed by the Eid prayer which is performed outdoors. The rest of the day is spent celebrating with the family and partaking in lavish banquets, with children receiving gifts from their elders and couples spending the day in the homes of their parents. While offices of federal ministries, public departments and institutions are closed for the duration of this Eid, malls and entertainment centers, particularly in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, extend their regular hours. Increasingly, Dubai residents enjoy Western-influenced celebrations like carnivals and mascot parades while visitors to Dubai are welcomed on this day in hospitality tents to enjoy coffee, dates and the traditional henna painting.
Arafat Day – Monday, 14 October 2013
The Hajj, or the pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, coincides with the start of the Feast of Sacrifice or Eid Al Adha. The second day of this pilgrimage is celebrated in UAE as the Day of Arafa. Those who make the pilgrimage would have arrived in the plains of Mount Arafat on this day. Pilgrims spend the day supplicating from Allah and asking for his forgiveness in commemoration of the day when the Prophet rendered his final sermon on this mount. After sunset, the pilgrims move on to Muzdalifah to pray and collect pebbles for their next Hajj. For non-pilgrims, this day is spent fasting during daylight hours and praying well into the night.
Eid Al Adha – Tuesday, 15 October 2013
Anywhere else in the Muslim world, Eid Al Adha is traditionally celebrated with ritual killings of four-hooved animals in remembrance of Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael at the command of Allah. But in Dubai, Eid Al Adha is celebrated with a very festive mood that attracts shoppers of all religious backgrounds who happen to be here during the festivities. Fireworks to welcome Eid in Dubai light up the city at night, while mosques across Dubai give away treats to people who come to pray.
Hijri or Islamic New Year – Monday, 4 November 2013
The Islamic New Year begins on the first day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar which is a few days’ short of its Gregorian counterpart. This day also marked the emigration of Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina. In UAE, fasting is observed in daylight hours, and the devout flock to mosques on this day to reflect on the significance of Prophet Muhammad’s journey. In Dubai, families take advantage of this non-working holiday to spend time together to enjoy heritage festivities as well as outdoor entertainments and adventures in theme parks and entertainment centers.
National Day – Monday to Tuesday, 2 to 3 December 2013
Before December 1, 1971, UAE is composed of seven principalities headed by “emirs” which were once under the British protectorate until the latter agreed to a nationalization treaty that eventually united the emirates and established one country. To celebrate this historic milestone, Emiratis throw the grandest secular (non-Islamic) party that can only be “tolerated” in the confluence of Western influences. The town is literally painted in red, black, white and green on the occasion of National Day and UAE flags of all sizes fly free and proud almost everywhere. An impressive lineup of events delights both residents, expatriates and visitors alike, starting with Union Car parades, Khaleeji concerts, air shows, traditional markets, cultural performances, regattas, falconry competitions, art festivals and exhibitions and, the most breathtaking of all, lavish fireworks in a scale that are yet to be matched in the Arabian peninsula. The celebrations are declared public holidays for only two days, but the National Day is in fact celebrated as a weeklong event that starts at the end of another weeklong festival, the Emirates International Date Palm Festival which occurs in late November.
