UAE: Eid Al Adha festivities across the nation filled families with joy as decorations, fireworks and special mall events welcomed revellers for the annual holiday.
From Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Sharjah and the northern emirates, families gathered together for the Festival of Sacrifice to renew ties, feast and reflect on their religious devotion.
There were no lack of activities for celebrants keen on ushering in the second Muslim holiday of the year with worshippers spilling into mosques for prayers and offerings of gratitude.
Fireworks lit up the night skies in major centres across the country while individual communities celebrated in their own way.
In Abu Dhabi, Yas Island hosted fireworks, including the hallmark of the Joy of Eid initiative, smiles, as well as a large Yas Island display.
At The Beach in JBR, Dubai, fireworks etched a maze of colours across the sky starting Sunday night and will continue every evening until September 16.
While private sector workers return to work on Tuesday, government sectors continue to observe the holiday throughout the remainder of the week.
In Sharjah, a colourful pageantry of colour awaited visitors to Al Qasba who were treated to recreational shows alongside the beautiful Al Qasba walkways, where Cinderella’s artists and performers toured for 30 minutes before each show at the theatre.
Al Qasba featured a wide array of leisure and entertainment facilities and tourist attractions, including restaurants, cafes, the Kids Fun Zone, the Al Qasba Musical Fountain, the Eye of the Emirates Wheel, the Maraya Art Centre and two libraries, among other facilities that cater to visitors of all ages.
Not to be left out, malls offered indoor celebrations for families to help them escape the sun.
Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), an agency of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) offered their ninth annual ‘Eid in Dubai’ edition with a long list of festivities for all ages.
Laila Mohammad Suhail, CEO of DFRE, said: “Eid in Dubai will add to the overall holiday experience for residents and tourists who will be in Dubai during this year’s ‘Eid Al Adha’ celebrations. In each edition of ‘Eid in Dubai’ we ensure that the celebrations reach out to the widest possible range of people, in every nook and corner of Dubai, as we want everyone to experience the joy of Eid irrespective of their cultural background. The festivities also offer a wonderful opportunity for visitors to explore and discover Emirati customs, cuisine and culture through social, cultural and entertainment events.”
Offered at malls across Dubai until September 17, highlights of this year’s ‘Eid in Dubai’ celebrations are a Looney Tunes show featuring Daffy Duck and Bugs Bunny, Comedy Illusion Show, The Jungle Book, Larger Than Life Mimes, Nickelodeon PlayPark – Live, The Spark, furry characters Teddy and Otto, Iftah Ya Simsim Live Show, Workshop and Parade, Al Capone Jazz Band, and the garden-themed event, Forever Friends Picnic.
Colour workshops for children were a popular arts and crafts venue for children at Dragon Mart 2.
Wafi Mall embraced Eid Al Adha with a family-friendly mix of free entertainment celebrating the local culture.
The Majlis area in Wafi Mall’s main atrium was infused with scrumptious Arabic sweets, dates and coffee complemented by national performances from Al Mazyoud Harbiyah Local Dancers — led by the admired poet Saeed Al Mazyoud who will perform four shows until September 14.
Women and little girls made the most of intricate henna designs at the henna corner free of charge.
Little ones also met characters Khosa we Boosa in the mall and received a goodie bag in line with the spirit of Eidiya.
Also joining in the holiday fun was Dubai Festival City Mall which offered a Nickelodeon PlayPark for families for Eid in Dubai, celebrations which included Shimmer & Shine, Paw Patrol, SpongeBob and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
