From Ramadan to Eid: Dubai launches Season of Wulfa to celebrate Emirati traditions
More than 50 initiatives span Hag Al Leila and Eid festivities among others
DUBAI – His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, has launched the Season of Wulfa, a cultural initiative dedicated to celebrating Emirati traditions and values.
The programme is designed to highlight local heritage while reinforcing Dubai’s role as a global destination built on tolerance, coexistence and mutual respect. Through a citywide programme of events, the initiative seeks to strengthen community bonds and deepen appreciation of the customs that shape daily life in the UAE.
As directed by Sheikh Hamdan, Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, will lead and oversee the Season of Wulfa. The initiative will bring together a wide range of cultural, spiritual and community-based activities that reflect the rhythms of Emirati society, creating shared experiences that connect generations and communities across the emirate.
Season of Wulfa
The Season of Wulfa takes its name from the Arabic word ‘Ulfa’, which means familiarity, affection and closeness. In the UAE and across parts of the Arab world, Wulfa is commonly used to describe the warmth and comfort that exists between people who share bonds of trust, care and belonging. These meanings form the basis of the initiative, which aims to translate cultural values into tangible experiences that can be felt and lived by the wider community.
Today, we launched the Season of Wulfa in Dubai, an initiative overseen by Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed that celebrates the spirit of Emirati culture and occasions, including Haq Al Leila, Ramadan, and Eid.
— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) January 12, 2026
The Season of Wulfa strengthens family and social bonds, spreads warmth… pic.twitter.com/JadrqReMTz
Wulfa is structured around three core pillars: reflection, connection and blessing. Each of these pillars is embedded in the social and spiritual traditions associated with key moments in the Islamic calendar, including Hag Al Leila, the Holy Month of Ramadan, Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha. Together, these occasions reflect the rhythm of life in the UAE, where faith, family and community are closely interwoven.
By highlighting these pillars, the initiative seeks to show how everyday customs foster harmony and cordiality among individuals and communities, narrowing cultural boundaries and strengthening a shared sense of identity.
Seasonal milestones
The Season of Wulfa begins with Hag Al Leila, which falls on the 15th of Sha‘ban. The occasion is traditionally marked by children visiting neighbourhood homes to receive sweets and gifts, a practice that reinforces social bonds and encourages generosity from an early age. From this starting point, the season continues through Ramadan, a time of reflection, charity and communal gatherings, before extending into the celebrations of Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha.
These occasions are central to Emirati cultural life. Ramadan brings families and communities together through fasting, prayer and shared meals, while the two Eids are moments of celebration, gratitude and giving. By linking these milestones into a single season, the initiative creates a continuous cultural narrative that reflects the spiritual and social fabric of the UAE.
The Season of Wulfa also aims to raise awareness about the importance of preserving time-honoured practices while allowing them to evolve in ways that resonate with contemporary society.
Citywide programme
More than 50 initiatives and events will take place across over 30 locations in Dubai as part of the Season of Wulfa. These will be hosted in neighbourhoods, traditional markets and cultural destinations, ensuring that the programme reaches a wide cross-section of the population and is embedded in everyday spaces across the city.
The events are being delivered through collaboration between government entities, private sector partners and local communities. This public-private synergy provides the framework for a season that is both broad in scale and deeply rooted in local participation.
By spreading activities across multiple locations, the programme allows residents and visitors to engage with Emirati culture in settings that are familiar and accessible, while also highlighting the diversity of Dubai’s cultural landscape.
Leadership’s vision
Sheikh Hamdan said the Season of Wulfa reflects the UAE’s community ethos while preserving its cultural heritage. He noted that the initiative is intended to enhance the sense of belonging and harmony among community members, build cultural bridges and reinforce the cohesive spirit that underpins a strong society.
He added that a society’s strength lies in its ability to preserve its living memory and pass on its values to new generations through contemporary approaches. The initiative, he said, creates a space where the past meets the present, transforming customs and traditions into experiences that foster awareness, inspire participation and deepen collective responsibility for protecting cultural identity.
According to Sheikh Hamdan, the Season of Wulfa also reinforces a culture of compassion and universal understanding, enabling the community to remain proud of its roots while moving confidently towards the future.
Cultural leadership
Sheikha Latifa said the occasions highlighted within the Season of Wulfa are rooted in humanitarian values that encourage positive interaction and harmonious coexistence among individuals, families and communities. She noted that Hag Al Leila, Ramadan, Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha all promote generosity, reflection and shared moments that lie at the heart of Emirati culture.
She described Dubai’s approach as one that places cultural and social heritage at the centre of its priorities. This heritage, she said, reflects the emirate’s collective history and serves as a foundation for shaping its future. Guided by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the emirate has established itself as a model of cultural harmony and a meeting point for diverse cultures.
Almost 200 nationalities live and contribute to Dubai’s story, united by shared experiences and traditions that connect them to the past and help shape a collective identity grounded in respect and belonging.
Sheikha Latifa added that the Season of Wulfa reinforces Dubai’s position as a global model for coexistence, harmony and tolerance. Through its three pillars of reflection, connection and blessing, the initiative expresses the essence of humanity, the depth of local culture and the authenticity of Emirati values.
The season’s programme will feature innovative, multi-sensory cultural experiences that bring together heritage, spiritual values, community bonds and contemporary lifestyles rooted in local customs and hospitality. These experiences are designed to reflect the true meaning of Wulfa as familiarity, closeness and community, strengthening social ties while presenting cultural heritage in engaging and relevant ways for future generations.