Dubai/Abu Dhabi: Eid is a time for prayer, family, friends and baklava. This year with Ramadan falling in the hottest month of the year, for many the Eid Al Fitr celebration has been specially set aside as a time for spending time with family indoors.
Whereas in previous years, families gathered in parks across Dubai and Abu Dhabi for picnics and barbecues, this year a major part of celebrations are taking place inside away from the 40C heat.
Haya A.N, 26, a student from Palestine, born and raised in the UAE, said the second day of Eid was a time to visit family. "As children I remember we would line up, hands outstretched, waiting for my uncle to give us Eid money. He would give us a new note of Dh50 each, and joke that we ruined him every year. And there was baklava, always a lot of baklava," A.N. said.
Sometimes children from the neighbourhood go knocking on doors looking for similar gifts of money. "This year we haven't had any kids come knocking, but I was out visiting my family yesterday so maybe they came and no one was in," said A.N.
Modern setting
Dubai's multitude of restaurants and coffee shops offer a modern setting for young Muslim expatriates that have no family here and are spending Eid with friends.
Rima, 29, from Jordan, said she was unable to return home for Eid Al Fitr but did not mind as some of her closest friends were also spending it in Dubai. "It is very different doing it this way rather than being at home where the atmosphere is all about family, but we will all get together and go out for a meal and hang out together. It is like a makeshift family," she said. "I also really enjoy the shopping part," she said, referring to the tradition of buying new clothes for the year ahead.
In Abu Dhabi, the residents in the capital from varying backgrounds have all been embracing Eid traditions and enjoying the festivities with their loved ones. Sifat Z., who planned a lunch out with her friends, said that she reserved the first day of Eid for family.
"My highlights during Eid include spending time with my family, especially having our Eid breakfast together. I also enjoy going out with my friends," the Bangladeshi expatriate said.
"Eid in Abu Dhabi is different from Bangladesh. Here you spend more time with your friends and there are a lot of parties to attend. People also definitely dress up more here," she added.
Even non-Muslim residents were excited about taking part in Eid-oriented activities. Christiane Mounayer cut short her vacation in France to ensure that she would be back in the city before Eid.
"Eid in Abu Dhabi is great. It's definitely a special time for family events. I think Eid here provides a good picture for the country and of Islam, in that even non-Muslims in the capital celebrate and enjoy the occasion with their Muslim friends," said the French expatriate, who works in the medical sector.
"I think all foreigners feel the same way about Abu Dhabi. It's just like home for us," she added.
Other people preferred to take the opportunity during the public holidays to just relax, and catch up on much-needed rest.
"Personally, I am going to spend this weekend at home. I haven't been here long, and I don't know that many places here yet," said Jessica Asher, who works in communications.
"However, a unique thing about Abu Dhabi is that it is a small, cosy community and everyone knows one another. People enjoy hanging out together during Eid in the city," said Asher, who is of Indian descent.
In the absence of their families, despite enjoying the festivities, some said they were homesick during Eid and missed being at home. Nadia N., who works in a beauty salon in Abu Dhabi, said she missed the Eid spirit in her birthplace, Morocco. "Eid is enjoyable here, despite the intense heat. For me, work in the salon has been very busy during these last couple of days," she said. "However, I do miss Eid back home, and spending time with my family," she added.
Engineer Ebrahim Boutootoo, whose family lives in Algeria, expressed similar sentiments. "We usually begin by partaking in the Fajr [or dawn] prayer and we also visit graveyards to pray for the deceased. Then we head back home to wear our new Eid clothes, and head out to participate in Eid prayers," Boutootoo said.
