How Does Sunday & Holiday Hours Work in UAE?
Last verified: 2025-01 · Middle East
1The Quick Answer
The UAE weekend is Saturday–Sunday. Businesses close on Friday for prayers. Malls are open 7 days a week. Ramadan significantly changes all hours.
2What You Need to Know
The UAE moved its weekend to Saturday–Sunday in 2022 (previously it was Friday–Saturday). Most government offices and many businesses are closed on weekends. However, malls, shops, and restaurants operate 7 days a week, often with extended hours on weekends. Friday is a holy day — many businesses open late (after Friday prayers, around 1–2pm). During Ramadan (dates vary annually), restaurants may be closed during daylight hours, alcohol service hours are reduced, and overall business hours shift to evenings and late night. Eid holidays see widespread closures.
3Practical Tips
Practical Tips
- 1Dubai Mall and major malls are open every day, typically 10am–midnight
- 2Friday prayers run roughly 12:30–2pm — expect many small shops to be closed during this window
- 3During Ramadan, eating and drinking in public during daylight hours is illegal — use hotel restaurants
- 4Ramadan hours: most restaurants open from Iftar (sunset) — check local prayer times for the date
- 5UAE public holidays: check the official UAE government calendar as some dates change annually
Important Warning
During Ramadan, eating, drinking, or smoking in public during daylight hours (including in your car) is illegal for everyone, including non-Muslim tourists.
How does this compare?
Sunday & Holiday Hours rules in nearby and similar countries:
Friday is the holy day in Egypt — many businesses close Friday morning, and the work week officially runs Sunday to Thursday.
Friday is Morocco's holy day with mosque attendance and partial business closures at midday, while souks follow their own complex weekly schedules.
The Saudi weekend is Thursday–Friday; shops and malls open 7 days but close briefly 5 times daily for prayer; Ramadan dramatically changes all hours.
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