Ramadan in Dubai: Malls extend operating hours during holy month
With the holy month of Ramadan starting on March 1, malls across Dubai will extend their operating hours late into the night.
And in keeping with the spirit of togetherness and community during the holy month, Ramadan in Dubai, organised by Brand Dubai, the creative arm of the Government of Dubai Media Office (GDMO) in partnership with Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE) has planned a packed programme of rich festive experiences that will bring residents and visitors together.
Friends, families, and loved ones will be able to enjoy cultural entertainment, pop-up markets, community iftar and suhoor gatherings, diverse gastronomy, weekend fireworks shows, as well as exclusive shopping deals with extended mall hours and special offers across iconic citywide hotels and attractions — all remaining open as usual throughout the day.
Here, we have compiled a list of activities which residents and visitors can take part in during the holy month.
Firework displays, light shows
Fireworks will take place every Saturday at Al Seef on March 1 and 8, followed by Dubai Festival City Mall on March 15, before concluding at Bluewaters Island, and The Beach, JBR on March 22.
The specially curated Ramadan Reflections will return to the city at two brand-new locations — the iconic Al Seef and Dubai Festival City Mall — with stunning light and sound projections.
Adding to the festive atmosphere, residents and visitors will also be able to enjoy enthralling roaming cultural entertainment such as BuTbaila, as well as Oud and Qanoon performers every weekend at Al Seef, The Outlet Village, Bluewaters Island, Mirdif City Centre, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Festival City Mall, and Hatta Heritage Village.
Outdoor markets, community experiences
Dubai's must-visit Ramadan markets will transform the city into a vibrant celebration of culture, cuisine and community, while offering amazing shopping and gifting experiences throughout the Holy Month.
The first-ever edition of the brand-new 'Ramadan at the Park' will bring the whole community together in celebration at Zabeel Park Amphitheatre from March 6 to 23, in line with the UAE marking 2025 as the Year of Community.
The vibrant and inclusive experience will open its doors from 5pm to 12am from Mondays to Thursdays and until 1am from Fridays to Sundays. Residents and visitors will enjoy a beautifully curated iftar and suhoor experience featuring a wide range of diverse culinary delights from live stations and street food to Ramadan sweets and coffee shops, complemented by a daily Ramadan cannon by Dubai Police marking sunset, retail pop-ups, immersive cultural showcases, mesmerising live performances, and family-friendly entertainment — all in an outdoor park setting.
A sprawling marketplace at the event will offer a treasure trove of unique finds and handcrafted goods across clothing, bags, jewellery, artisan creations, and more. Meanwhile, immersive experiences crafted for the whole family will bring the spirit of the season to life through Ramadan storytelling from the Hakawati, a mesmerising calligraphy corner, enchanting performances, cultural entertainment, sports activities, carnival games, special meet-and-greets with everyone's favourite Modesh and Dana, and much more.
Hai Ramadan at Expo City Dubai
Hai Ramadan at Expo City Dubai will run till March 27, featuring immersive cultural activities, camel rides, live entertainment, and special dining under the Al Wasl Plaza dome, with tickets priced at Dh35 redeemable as vouchers to spend throughout the market.
Ramadan Wonders at Global Village
Ramadan Wonders at Global Village will bring a vibrant shopping experience across 30 pavilions featuring more than 3,500 outlets showcasing the rich traditions of over 90 cultures, along with the region's largest international dining experience at the Restaurant Plaza with 11 global restaurants and over 250 food and beverage outlets, in addition to the stunning Multaqa Global Village, the Ramadan Step Challenge, cultural entertainment, and the daily Ramadan cannon marking sunset.
Ramadan District Market
The third edition of the Ramadan District Market will return to Jumeirah Emirates Towers Plaza Terrace with free entry for all from March 8 to 23, bringing cultural entertainment, unique shopping, lifestyle experiences, and delicious culinary delights from 5pm to midnight on weekdays and until 1am on weekends.
Ripe Market
Ripe Market will host a series of special activations across its flagship location at Academy Park in Umm Suqeim every Saturday from 9am to 9pm and every Sunday from 9am to 7pm, with over 100 vendors, Ramadan-themed workshops like lantern making, canvas painting, date making, and henna art sessions, as well as a variety of iftar dining options, and live cultural performances.
Ramadan Street Food Festival
The incredibly popular Ramadan Street Food Festival will return with its highly anticipated 3rd edition to once again transform Sheikh Hamdan Colony in Karama into a vibrant culinary and cultural hub from March 6 to 23. Free-to-enter for all, a specially curated selection of more than 55 participating restaurants, spread across five sprawling zones, will showcase a diverse mix of South Indian and Asian cuisine in a family-friendly festive ambiance bustling with live music, henna artists, calligraphy, caricatures, and roaming performers. The festival will be open daily for all visitors, until 2am.
Weekly prizes
Apart from exclusive offers at retail outlets, residents also have a chance to win prizes at shopping malls. Shoppers will instantly earn 10X cashback on the SHARE application and stand the chance to win a weekly prize of Dh50,000 in SHARE points when they spend Dh300 or more at Mall of the Emirates, City Centre Mirdif, or City Centre Deira and scan their receipt on the app.
Ramadan at Festival Bay in Dubai Festival City Mall will bring together culture, entertainment, and shopping from 6pm to midnight every day, with retail-pop-ups, food trucks, live traditional entertainment, cultural activities like henna and calligraphy, the stunning IMAGINE Show, as well as a spend-and-win campaign where those who spend Dh300 or more can enter a weekly draw to take home Dh10,000 in gift cards.
Visitors to City Walk will experience captivating live entertainment twice-daily from Wednesdays to Sundays this Ramadan, starting at 9pm. Several more enchanting experiences will await shoppers at Ibn Battuta, Circle Mall, Mercato, Town Centre Jumeirah, City Walk, Al Seef, Al Khawaneej Walk, Last Exit Al Khawaneej, Boxpark, Bluewaters, and The Beach, JBR.
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