UAE marketing calendar 2027: every date in one page
Holidays, Ramadan and Eid, national days, trade shows and retail moments for 2027 in one page, with when to start the content for each.
The UAE marketing year in 2027 has six public holiday periods, a Ramadan that starts around 8 February, two Eids, a National Day on 2 December and a trade show season from January to May. Almost every Islamic date is provisional until the moon is sighted, so this page marks each date as expected or fixed. Use it to work backwards: each date below has a start-by date for the film, the photography and the social plan.
We checked the dates on 25 October 2026. The official 2027 public holiday list had not been announced, so the holiday dates come from press estimates, and the trade show dates come from the organisers' listings. We will update this page when the authorities confirm.
What are the UAE public holidays in 2027?
These are the expected dates from Gulf News, Khaleej Times and other press reports. Islamic holidays depend on moon sighting and can move by a day.
| Holiday | Expected dates | Status |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Friday 1 January | Fixed |
| Ramadan begins | About Monday 8 February | Moon sighting |
| Eid Al Fitr | About 9 to 11 March, with 12 March added if Ramadan runs 30 days | Moon sighting |
| Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha | About Saturday 15 to Tuesday 18 May | Moon sighting |
| Hijri New Year | About Sunday 6 June | Moon sighting |
| Prophet's Birthday | About Saturday 14 August | Moon sighting |
| National Day (the 56th) | About Thursday 2 and Friday 3 December | Expected, subject to announcement |
Two of these produce long weekends that matter to retail and hospitality: Eid Al Fitr in March and Eid Al Adha in May. Our guide to the Ramadan 2027 campaign timeline shows how to work back from 8 February.
Which national and cultural days should brands plan for?
| Date | Occasion | What brands do |
|---|---|---|
| 28 August | Emirati Women's Day | Stories of Emirati women in business, culture and public life. The day is marked with a month of events. |
| 3 November | Flag Day | Flag-raising moments and staff films. Respect the rules on national symbols. |
| 30 November | Commemoration Day | A respectful tone is expected. Check the tone of any scheduled promotion before it goes live. |
| 2 December | National Day | The biggest national campaign of the year. See our National Day guide for the rules on AI imagery and national dress. |
Which trade shows and events fall in 2027?
These dates come from the organisers' public listings, checked in October 2026. Our trade show guide carries the full list, and dates can move, so confirm before you book a crew.
| Dates | Event | Sector |
|---|---|---|
| 12 to 14 January | Intersec, Dubai World Trade Centre | Security and safety |
| 25 to 28 January | WHX Dubai, Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City | Healthcare |
| 24 to 28 February | Dubai International Boat Show, Dubai Harbour | Marine and luxury |
| 15 to 19 March | Gulfood, Dubai World Trade Centre and Expo City | Food and beverage |
| 3 to 6 May | Arabian Travel Market | Travel and tourism |
| 15 to 19 November | Dubai Airshow, Dubai World Central | Aviation |
If you are exhibiting, the plan for Gulfood is in our Gulfood 2027 content plan, and the same approach applies to every show on the list.
Need content that keeps coming?
Tell us what you publish and where. We reply within one working day with a scoped plan.
Which retail moments should you plan for?
Some of these are official events and some are retail conventions. We mark which is which.
| When | Moment | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| To 17 January | Dubai Shopping Festival 2026 to 27 | Confirmed: 4 December 2026 to 17 January 2027. The next edition has not been announced. |
| 14 February | Valentine's Day | Retail convention. In 2027 it falls in the first week of Ramadan, so gifting and dining offers need care. |
| 21 March | Mother's Day | The date marked across the Arab world. It lands just after Eid Al Fitr in 2027. |
| July to August | Dubai Summer Surprises | The 2026 edition ran 3 July to 30 August. The 2027 dates are not announced. |
| Late August | Back to school | Families spend before the term starts. Check your school calendar for the exact week. |
| Late October to November | Dubai Fitness Challenge | The 2026 edition ran 31 October to 29 November. The 2027 dates are not announced. |
| 11 November and 26 November | 11.11 and White Friday | Retail conventions. 26 November is the fourth Friday of the month. |
What should you publish each quarter?
- 1January to March.Offers to the end of the Dubai Shopping Festival, the Ramadan campaign from 8 February, Gulfood and the Eid Al Fitr wrap. This is the busiest quarter for content, because Ramadan campaigns have to be shot in December.
- 2April to June.Arabian Travel Market, Mother's Day follow-ups, Eid Al Adha and the Hijri New Year. A good quarter to shoot a summer campaign while crews are free.
- 3July to September.Summer offers, back-to-school and Emirati Women's Day. Plan content for the autumn and book the Ramadan and National Day shoots now.
- 4October to December.Flag Day, the Dubai Fitness Challenge, White Friday, Commemoration Day, National Day and the next Dubai Shopping Festival, if it is announced.
How far ahead should you start?
A single-location brand film takes three to four weeks from brief to delivery, a permit from the Dubai Film and TV Commission takes from a few days to two weeks, and a stand needs about eight weeks. Work back from the date and add a buffer.
| Date | Start the brief | Shoot |
|---|---|---|
| Ramadan, 8 February | October 2026 | Early to mid-December 2026 |
| Gulfood, 15 March | Mid-January | Studio shoot in February, show days in March |
| Eid Al Adha, about 15 May | March | Mid-April |
| National Day, 2 December | Late September | Late October |
Our guides to filming permits and how long a TV commercial takes set out the detail behind those weeks.
What does it cost, and what should you send us?
Prices at Steer Media start from the figures below, and every project is scoped to the brief. One shoot block planned for several dates is cheaper than several small shoots, which is why we plan the year, not the month.
| What | Starting price |
|---|---|
| Reel, shoot only / shot and edited | AED 1,000 / AED 1,500 |
| Corporate or brand film | From AED 35,000 |
| TV commercial | From AED 100,000 |
| Social media marketing | From AED 8,000 a month |
Send these and we reply within one working day with a calendar worked back from your dates. See what the social side involves on our social media marketing page.
Need content that keeps coming?
Tell us what you publish and where. We reply within one working day with a scoped plan.
UAE 2027 calendar questions: dates and planning.
When does Ramadan start in 2027?
Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin around Monday 8 February, with Eid Al Fitr about 9 to 11 March. The dates are confirmed only after the moon is sighted.
What are the UAE public holidays in 2027?
The expected holidays are New Year on 1 January, Eid Al Fitr around 9 to 11 March, Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha around 15 to 18 May, the Hijri New Year around 6 June, the Prophet's Birthday around 14 August and National Day around 2 and 3 December. The official list had not been announced when we checked.
When is UAE National Day in 2027?
National Day, the 56th, is on 2 December 2027, a Thursday, with the holiday expected on 2 and 3 December.
Which trade shows are on in Dubai in 2027?
Intersec on 12 to 14 January, WHX Dubai on 25 to 28 January, the Dubai International Boat Show on 24 to 28 February, Gulfood on 15 to 19 March, Arabian Travel Market on 3 to 6 May and the Dubai Airshow on 15 to 19 November, according to the organisers' listings in October 2026.
When is the next Dubai Shopping Festival?
The 2026 to 27 edition runs from 4 December 2026 to 17 January 2027. The next edition had not been announced when we checked.
How far ahead should I book video production for Ramadan?
Start the brief in October and shoot in early to mid December. A single-location brand film takes three to four weeks, and a Dubai Film and TV Commission permit takes from a few days to two weeks.
Can Steer Media plan a year of content around these dates?
Yes. We plan one shoot block for several dates and run the social calendar around it. Social media marketing starts from AED 8,000 a month, and we reply to enquiries within one working day.
