Dubai unveils Ramadan 2026 events calendar with citywide festivals, drone shows and more
Month-long programme blends heritage, food and technology
DUBAI – Dubai has announced its official calendar of events for Ramadan 2026, presenting a coordinated, citywide programme of cultural, community and destination-led experiences expected to run for approximately 30 days.
The programme brings together government entities, major destinations, retail hubs and hospitality venues to create a unified schedule of Ramadan activities across the emirate.
Ramadan holds a central place in the social and spiritual life of the UAE and is traditionally defined by reflection, generosity and compassion. In Dubai, the holy month shapes daily rhythms across neighbourhoods and public spaces, with evenings becoming the focal point for shared meals, gatherings and cultural interaction. The official Ramadan in Dubai calendar translates these traditions into structured public experiences that are open to residents and visitors.
The programme forms part of the wider Season of Wulfa, a cultural journey that begins with Hag Al Leila and continues through Ramadan before culminating with Eid in Dubai. The Season of Wulfa framework is designed to highlight how traditions are preserved, shared and passed on across generations, while remaining accessible within a modern, multicultural city environment.
Throughout the holy month, coordinated activations will take place across multiple districts, combining Iftar and Suhoor settings, artistic installations, retail promotions, night markets, food festivals and technology-led spectacles. The focus remains on shared moments, neighbourhood connections and culturally rooted hospitality.
Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, said Ramadan in Dubai is shaped by how the city comes together each evening across neighbourhoods, destinations and shared public spaces. He said the year’s programme centres on simple and welcoming moments that fit naturally into daily life and allow people to engage with the spirit of the holy month in respectful and meaningful ways.
This year’s programme features a curated range of signature experiences designed around Ramadan evening rhythms. These experiences span public waterfronts, open-air destinations, cultural venues and lifestyle districts. The activations combine food, visual storytelling, performance and community gathering formats that reflect both heritage and contemporary city life.
Food festival hub
Ramadan Street Food Festival (16 February to 15 March 2026) will transform Sheikh Hamdan Colony into a dedicated evening food and community destination. The festival will feature a curated mix of food vendors alongside cultural elements and family-friendly programming. The layout and scheduling are designed to support after-Iftar visits, with shared dining areas and social spaces that mirror neighbourhood Ramadan traditions.
The food festival will operate as a recurring night attraction across the Holy Month, positioning street food and casual dining as a central part of the Ramadan social routine.
Waterfront programmes
Ramadan by the Bay (18 February to 28 March) at Festival Bay in Dubai Festival City Mall will host a nightly programme built around visual spectacles, cultural entertainment and waterfront dining. The activation includes a Ramadan edition of the IMAGINE show, scheduled drone displays, live performances and a purpose-built Ramadan market.
Lantern parades, interactive zones and communal seating areas are planned as part of the visitor journey. The waterfront setting is structured to support extended evening stays, with coordinated programming across retail and dining outlets.
Ramadan at The Beach, JBR (18 February to 22 March 2026) will introduce evening-led activations along the waterfront promenade. Ambient décor and light cultural elements will shape the post-Iftar atmosphere, encouraging gathering in an open-air coastal environment. The programme focuses on shared time and relaxed movement through the destination after sunset.
Drone and fireworks shows
Ramadan Drone Show (19 February to 19 March) will present a coordinated light show in the night sky using drone formations inspired by Ramadan themes. The display uses technology-driven storytelling to create large-scale visual sequences aligned with the season’s motifs and symbolism.
Ramadan Fireworks at Al Seef and Dubai Creek (19 February to 19 March) will feature recurring fireworks displays at select moments during the holy month. The shows are positioned as shared public experiences, lighting up the historic creekside areas and drawing evening footfall to heritage districts.
Both the drone and fireworks programmes are structured as recurring attractions across multiple nights rather than single-date spectacles.
Light and art installations
Ramadan Reflections (Atyaf Ramadaniyah) at Al Seef and Dubai Festival City Mall (19 February to 22 March 2026) will present an expanded series of artistic and cultural installations across 10 locations. The installations interpret the spiritual and reflective aspects of Ramadan through light, structure and visual storytelling.
The installations are designed to integrate into pedestrian areas and evening visitor routes, complementing the slower, reflective pace associated with Ramadan nights.
A Symphony of Light (till 23 March 2026) is listed as a light-based visual series running across the Ramadan period, adding illuminated artistic elements to selected public environments as part of the broader seasonal atmosphere programme.
Lifestyle destinations
Ramadan at City Walk (17 February to 18 March 2026) will feature evening programming focused on cultural interaction, dining and gathering within the open-air destination. Ambient décor and light cultural activities will shape visitor flow after Iftar, with extended evening experiences across outlets.
Ramadan at City Centre Mirdif (20 February to 7 March 2026) will convert the retail destination into a neighbourhood-style Ramadan gathering space. The activation combines seasonal décor, cultural touches and scheduled evening programming aimed at families and local communities.
Ramadan Activations at Mercedes-Benz Brand Centre at D3 (18 February to 19 March 2026) will introduce design-led Ramadan programming within a contemporary brand environment. Visitors can engage with themed cultural elements and reflective installations integrated into the venue experience.
Expo and global culture zones
Hai Ramadan at Expo City Dubai (22 February to 17 March 2026) will host a family-focused cultural programme that brings Ramadan traditions into a contemporary public setting. Activities include storytelling, cultural workshops and shared gathering moments designed around togetherness and reflection.
Ramadan Wonders in Global Village (18 February to 18 March 2026) will run as a seasonal programme combining cultural entertainment, themed décor, dining and retail. The destination will feature Ramadan-inspired performances and shared dining environments aligned with the Holy Month’s evening culture.
Rooftop and exhibition concepts
ROOFLINE by DIFC (till 31 March 2026) will operate as a curated rooftop dining and experiential concept throughout Ramadan. The programme brings together homegrown culinary brands, cultural programming and social spaces.
Within ROOFLINE, the CP Majlis exhibition will run from 18 February to 9 March in partnership with Curated Playlist. The three-week programme will include rotating dining concepts, retail activations and cultural entertainment within a majlis-style framework.
Cultural gathering formats
Layali Al Wulfa at Theatre of Digital Art (28 February 2026) will present an immersive cultural experience combining digital visual storytelling, light installations and heritage-inspired themes. The one-day programme includes artistic content, community-focused activities and a mini market featuring local projects, structured as a Ramadan evening gathering.
Ramadan District Season 4 at Jumeirah Emirates Towers (28 February to 15 March 2026) will return as a purpose-built outdoor destination featuring dining, retail and cultural experiences. The district is designed as a contemporary Ramadan social hub centred on food, interaction and creative engagement.
Majlis and tent experiences
Jumeirah Emirates Towers Ramadan Majlis (16 February to 19 March 2026) will be hosted at the Terrace Between the Towers as a purpose-built majlis environment. The experience centres on Emirati hospitality traditions, including Arabic coffee rituals, bakhoor fragrance and menus inspired by local culinary heritage. Live Oud performances and soft traditional music are scheduled throughout the evenings.
Asateer Ramadan Tent at Atlantis, The Palm (17 February to 18 March 2026) will return as a large-scale Ramadan tent offering majlis-style Iftar and Suhoor settings. The tent is structured for high-capacity communal dining and social gatherings across the Holy Month.
Majlis Under the Stars at Jumeirah Al Naseem (19 February to 21 March 2026) will offer an open-air beachfront majlis for Iftar and Suhoor. The setting combines coastal ambience with traditional menus and live Oud music, built around shared dining and quiet evening reflection.
Retail engagement campaign
Season of Wulfa – Shop, Scan & Win (till 22 March 2026) will run as a citywide retail promotion across participating Carrefour and Lulu outlets. Shoppers can enter a digital raffle through qualifying purchases by scanning in-store. The promotion links Hag Al Leila, Ramadan and Eid within one engagement framework and is designed to encourage everyday participation through routine shopping activity.