January:

• New Year’s Day
• Hotel Intercontinental Dubai Golf Cup
• Arab Health Exhibition (bi-annual)
• Seatrade Cruise Conference (bi-annual)
• Eid Camel Races
• Horserace and Camel Race Meets

February:

• Tier II WTA Women’s Tennis Tournament
• Dubai Tennis Open – ATP Tennis Tournament
• Dubai Jet-ski Race
• Dubai Desert Classic Pro Am Gold Tournament
• * Horserace and Camel Race Meets

March:

• *Eid al-Adh – The Festival of Sacrifice. This festival commemorates Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice everything for God, including his son Ishmael. Because God substituted a sheep for Ishmael, this occasion calls for the slaughter of an animal and then distributing its meat among family, friends and the needy.
• Dubai Desert Classic – PGA Golf Tournament
• Middle East Oil Week – Oil and Gas Conference
• Dubai Fishing Challenge
• Dubai World Cup – International Horserace Meet. One of the world’s premier horse races.
• Dubai Shopping Festival – This popular event has reached international levels. Bargains, shows, promotions and fantastic prices have made this a must see for the serious shopper. Airfares are reduced and visa regulations are often loosened to accommodate the large amounts of tourists who come for this event.
• Horserace and Camel Race Meets

April:

• *Hijra New Year’s Day – New Year on the Islamic calendar. This celebration commemorates the move of the Prophet Mohammed and his followers from Mecca to Medina.
• International Jewellery Exhibition
• Agriflor Middle East – Flower Exhibition

May:

• Dubai Formula F4 Circuit Race – Powerboat Race
• Arabian Travel Market – Tourism Exhibition
• Middle East International Boat Show

June:

• *Prophet’s Birthday – The celebration of the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad.

June – September:

• Dubai Summer Surprises – Summer Festival

August:

• *Accession Day – (6th) – Commemorates the accession of the ruler of Abu Dhabi.

September:

• Motexha – Fashions and Textiles Exhibition
• GCC Snooker Championship

October:

• World Offshore Championship – Powerboat Race
• GITEX – Computer and Technology Exhibition

November:

• International Autumn Trade Fair
• World Offshore Championship – Powerboat Race
• Dubai Air Show Aerospace Exhibition (bi-annual)
• UAE Desert Challenge – Off-road Rally
• Horserace and Camel Race Meets
• *City That Cares – Ramadan Promotion

November/December:

• Ramadan – This holy month requires a dawn-to-dusk fast for Muslims. Visitors are not required to partake in the fast, but should take care not to eat in public during daylight hours. Eating in hotels, or preferably, in your hotel room, is allowed. The timing of this holiday varies; so make sure to check the dates before booking your trip to Dubai.

December:

• National Day – (2nd) – This day celebrates the founding of the UAE. Festivities can last through the following week.
• Eid al-Fitr – The celebration of the end of Ramadan. Although most of the activities occur on the first day, the festival lasts for three days. Muslims visit with friends and relatives, attend a prayer session, and donate to charity as part of the celebration.
• *City That Cares – Ramadan Promotion
• Dubai International Rally
• Dubai Rugby Sevens
• *Eid Camel Races
• Horserace and Camel Race Meets

*Please note that these events are scheduled according to the Islamic calendar. This is based on lunar observations and moves forward by approximately 11 days each year.

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