From cherished family rituals to spontaneous plans, how young people are celebrating Eid.
Dubai: Eid may look different for everyone, but one thing remains universal—the people you share it with.
Gulf News spoke with students and young residents across the UAE about how they are celebrating this year amid the ongoing regional tensions. The responses reflected a blend of cherished family traditions, last-minute plan changes, and plenty of excitement about finally being able to enjoy meals together freely again.
Making time for the people who matter
For many, Eid is the one occasion that breaks through the routines of daily life. Maze, a senior at Al Zuhour International School with Palestinian, Jordanian, and Iraqi roots, puts it simply: “Eid is always the one holiday we make sure to be together.” Between work, school, and the rest of life’s demands, quality family time can be rare—but Eid is non-negotiable.
Her family celebrates Eid the same way every year, starting with a group shopping trip for new outfits and a sit-down meal. More recently, a lively bowling session has quietly become a staple of the day. “It’s always so competitive and a great way to bond,” she added.
Femi Latheef, an Indian game development student at SAE University, prefers to keep his celebrations closer to home.
Her Eid morning begins with prayers, followed by greetings to her parents, her brother, and their two cats, before the family dresses up, enjoys a hearty meal, and takes photos together.
It’s a quieter kind of celebration, which this year suits her perfectly. “Things have been hectic for everyone,” she says. “It’s a great chance to unwind.”
When plans change
Not everything goes as planned, and this year, regional developments have forced many to rethink their Eid arrangements.
Maze would normally travel to Iraq or Qatar to visit extended family, while Nijar Mohamed, an Egyptian computer science student at the University of Wollongong, had been looking forward to a camping trip in Oman. Both trips, however, had to be cancelled.
Nijar’s family, on the other hand, will stick to their usual routine in the UAE, which actually sounds like a lot of fun. They’ll check into a hotel, spend the day going out, and, as they do every week without fail, end the day at the cinema.
The family’s weekly movie ritual takes a break during Ramadan as they focus on Iftar gatherings and catching up on seasonal shows, resuming only at Eid.
The Little Things That Make Eid Feel Special
Ask anyone what Eid truly feels like, and the answers rarely focus on grand gestures. For Swalih Shafi, an Indian software engineering graduate from Abu Dhabi
For Salamah Alyammahi, an Emirati student from Fujairah, the equivalent is her grandmother’s halwa. Every Eid, the family brings sweets and dishes to share, but it is the halwa that everyone waits for.
“She doesn’t let a single person leave without tasting it,” Salamah says. Served in the traditional way, scooped directly onto your palm, it’s a small detail that makes the experience truly unique and impossible to replicate elsewhere.
Salamah splits her Eid across two days, spending the first with family from Fujairah and Ajman and the second with relatives from Dubai.
“Sometimes Eid is the only time the whole family can get together,” she says, and it is a sentiment that echoes across almost every conversation we had.
For Maze and Nijar, the fashion is its own kind of highlight. “It’s such a delight to see how different people express themselves,” Maze says, already looking forward to seeing everyone’s outfits after a month of quieter Ramadan days. Nijar agrees, equally excited to see everyone out and dressed up again.
Eid on Your Own Terms
Not every Eid celebration looks the same—and that’s exactly the point. Sam Fazalur, an Indian psychology graduate from Heriot-Watt University.
Then there is Ashmi, an Indian second-year data science and AI student at the University of Stirling, whose Eid is shaping up to be anything but quiet. She and her family are heading to a resort with two other families in tow.
“I’m looking forward to getting ready with everyone, receiving Eidi, and seeing my cousins,” she says—and honestly, that pretty much sums it up.
Different cities, different backgrounds, and different ways of celebrating—but beneath it all lies the same truth: Eid is always better when shared with others.
