Ramadan marketing in the UAE starts with the calendar: as of October 2026, Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin in early February, with Eid Al Fitr expected around 8–11 March 2027, subject to moon sighting. Plan WhatsApp messages around changed routines, quieter daytime hours and busy evenings, and keep every message respectful. This guide gives expected dates, timing around iftar and suhoor, and a week-by-week campaign plan. For the full picture, see our guide to WhatsApp marketing in the UAE.
Expected Ramadan and Eid dates for 2027
Islamic dates follow the lunar calendar, so the exact days are only confirmed once the crescent moon is sighted. As of October 2026, the planning markers are:
| Occasion | Expected timing (2027) | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Ramadan 1448 AH | Early February | Gulf Business, citing Dubai government event dates held “during the holy month of Ramadan” (8–16 February 2027) |
| Eid Al Fitr | 8–11 March | KHDA school calendar for 2026–27, as reported by Gulf Business |
| Eid Al Adha | 15–18 May | Ministry of Education academic calendar, as reported by Gulf Business |
As Gulf Business notes, “the final Gregorian dates of Islamic holidays will remain subject to official confirmation based on moon sighting.” Build your plan with a few days of flexibility at each end, and check official announcements in the week before Ramadan.
How customer behaviour shifts
Daily routines change for many people in the UAE during Ramadan, whether or not they fast. Working hours are often shorter, shops and restaurants adjust their opening times, and evenings become the busiest part of the day for family visits, shopping and eating out.
What this usually means for WhatsApp:
- Daytime: fewer chats, and shorter, more practical questions about opening hours and delivery times.
- After iftar: a clear rise in enquiries, orders and browsing.
- Late night: many people are awake and active, especially around suhoor.
- Last ten days and pre-Eid: gifting, clothing, sweets, grooming and travel questions increase.
Your own chat history from the previous Ramadan is the most reliable guide. Look at when messages arrived and what people asked.
Message timing around iftar and suhoor
This is general information, not legal advice. Check the current rules with the relevant authority or your adviser.
Two principles shape timing. First, be considerate: avoid sending promotions in the hour before iftar, when people are preparing to break the fast and gather with family. Second, stay within the rules. According to Middle East Briefing, Cabinet Resolutions Nos. 56 and 57 of 2024 restrict telemarketing calls to between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., require consumer consent and extend to promotional messages sent through social platforms.
In practice, that suggests:
- Send campaign messages in the late morning or early afternoon, within normal hours.
- Let customers come to you in the evening, and make sure someone, or your AI agent, is ready to reply quickly after iftar.
- Do not send promotional messages late at night, even though many people are awake.
Replying to customers who message you first is different from sending a campaign. Fast answers late in the evening are welcome. Our article on replying to WhatsApp enquiries out of hours covers how to handle evening and night chats.
Campaign ideas by week
A simple plan, counted from the expected start of Ramadan:
Two to three weeks before
- Submit your Ramadan and Eid message templates for Meta approval in English and Arabic.
- Update opening hours on your website, Google Business Profile and WhatsApp profile, and add them to your AI agent’s knowledge.
- Prepare visuals for your offers and announcements.
Week 1
- Send a short greeting with your Ramadan hours to opted-in customers.
- Introduce Ramadan products or services, such as iftar boxes, gift hampers or evening appointments.
An example, with your own hours filled in:
Ramadan Kareem from all of us. During the holy month we are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. You can message us here at any time and we will reply.
Weeks 2 and 3
- Share helpful content: order cut-off times, delivery slots and gift ideas.
- Follow up on enquiries that did not turn into orders, using gentle wording.
Last ten days
- Announce Eid order deadlines clearly, especially for gifts, clothing and food.
- Remind customers who asked about Eid items earlier in the month.
Eid
- Send an Eid greeting with holiday opening hours. Keep it warm and short, and leave the selling to customers who reply.
- After Eid, thank customers for their orders and invite reviews.
Throughout the month
Keep a short note of what happens each week, so next year’s plan starts from your own evidence rather than guesswork:
- the hours when most chats and orders arrived;
- the questions customers asked most often, and whether your answers were clear;
- which messages drew replies, and which drew opt-outs;
- the products or services that sold out, and when.
Share the notes with your team after Eid, and update your templates and your AI agent’s knowledge while the details are fresh.
Respectful tone and wording
Customers in the UAE come from many backgrounds, and not everyone observes Ramadan in the same way. Keep the tone inclusive and calm:
- Use widely understood greetings such as “Ramadan Kareem” and “Eid Mubarak”.
- Avoid images of eating or drinking in daytime messages.
- Do not use religious phrases or verses to sell products.
- Avoid pressure words and countdowns that feel out of place during the holy month.
- Check Arabic wording with a native speaker before it is sent.
Respect consent as usual. Ramadan is not a reason to message people who never opted in. WhatsApp’s Business Messaging Policy requires opt-in before you contact someone and respect for every opt-out request.
How Dub Ai helps
Dub Ai plans and runs WhatsApp campaigns with approved templates through its WhatsApp marketing campaigns and follow-ups service. For Ramadan, our team helps you prepare English and Arabic templates early, schedule sends within sensible hours and set up follow-ups for enquiries. Your AI sales agent replies to evening and late-night chats in the customer’s language, using your Ramadan opening hours and order deadlines, and hands chats to your staff when a person is needed. You can also ask for flyers and social graphics for Ramadan and Eid offers, designed in your brand colours.
Frequently asked questions
When should Ramadan campaigns start?
Start preparing two to three weeks before the expected first day. As of October 2026, that means mid-January 2027 for a Ramadan expected in early February. Use that time to approve templates, update opening hours and prepare visuals, then send your first greeting in the first days of Ramadan once the start date is confirmed.
Should I change reply hours in Ramadan?
Yes, if your opening hours change. Update your WhatsApp profile and your AI agent’s knowledge, so customers get accurate answers. Many enquiries arrive after iftar, so plan cover for the evening. An AI agent can answer common questions at night and leave a clear note for your team to pick up the next day.
Book your demo on WhatsApp: +971 56 552 6662
Sources
- UAE Ramadan dates, Eid holidays 2027: When Dubai residents could get their next long breaks (Gulf Business, 11 September 2026)
- UAE Unveils New Telemarketing Rules: What Businesses Need to Know (Middle East Briefing, 9 September 2024)
- WhatsApp Business Messaging Policy (WhatsApp, updated 23 September 2026)