Looking to plan your trip around Abu Dhabi’s public holidays? Here’s a guide of what to expect in 2021 in Abu Dhabi:
- New Year’s Day: 1 January 2021 (1 day)
- Eid Al Fitr: From last day of the Islamic month of Ramadan to 3 Shawwal* (11 to 15 May 2021 – 5 days)
- Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha (Feast of Sacrifice): From 9 to 12 Dhu al Hijjah* (approx 19 to 22 July 2021 – 4 days)
- Hijri New Year: 1 Muharram* 9 August, observed 12 August in 2021 (1 day)
- The Prophet Mohammed’s birthday: 18 August, observed 21 October 2021 (1 day)
- Commemoration Day: 1 December 2021 (1 day)
- National Day (50th Anniversary): 2 and 3 December 2021 (2 days)
*Islamic holidays are determined according to moon sighting. The date a religious holiday is observed and the public holiday declared may be two different dates, particularly if it falls on a weekend Friday/Saturday.
Before travelling to Abu Dhabi in 2021 please take not of the current entry rules and self-quarantine requirements.
Hijri Calendar to Gregorian Calendar
The Hijri Calendar moves forward by approximately 10 days more than the Gregorian Calendar every year. There is a good translation tool here from IslamicFinder.org to understand when important days on the Hijri Calendar will translate to:
Prayer Times in Abu Dhabi
There isn’t much you need to do as a non-Muslim tourist at prayer times in Abu Dhabi, but here are some great tips on understanding exactly WHAT is happening and WHY. We also share some extra pointers on how you can have a more immersive Islamic experience during your trip to the UAE.
You can use this tool to see when daily prayer times are due to occur in Abu Dhabi:
Visiting in 2022? Jump forward to learn more about Abu Dhabi Public Holidays & Events in 2022
You can see our complete guide to the best times to visit Abu Dhabi here
Please note we are not a travel agency. This site is a travel blog to help newcomers to the UAE self plan their trip, we cannot book your flights, hotels, visas or connections for you. We may make a small commission if you click on any of our hotel or tour recommendation links.
Abu Dhabi Travel Planner
