Iftar in Dubai: A Ramadan 2027 Guide, and Hosting Your Own

In this guide.

1. 01When is Ramadan 2027?
2. 02What is served at iftar
3. 03Hotel iftar buffets
4. 04Ramadan tents
5. 05Desert and outdoor iftars
6. 06Suhoor in Dubai
7. 07Hosting your own iftar
8. 08Corporate iftars
9. 09Etiquette for guests and hosts
10. 10Plan early for Ramadan 2027

When is Ramadan 2027?

Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin around February 8, 2027, with Eid Al Fitr around March 9 or 10. The exact dates follow the sighting of the new moon, so they are confirmed only a day or so before.

Iftar is the meal at sunset that breaks each day's fast. In Dubai in February and early March that falls a little after six in the evening, moving a few minutes later as the month goes on. Suhoor is the meal before dawn, eaten before the fast begins again.

If you are planning a gathering, book early. Hotel iftars, venues and caterers fill fastest in the first two weeks and on weekends.

What is served at iftar

Tradition opens the fast simply: dates and water, often with laban or a glass of Vimto, a Ramadan favourite across the Gulf. A light soup follows, usually lentil, before prayer and the main meal.

The table that comes after is generous. Emirati favourites include harees, slow-cooked wheat and meat, and thareed, a layered bread and vegetable stew. Lamb ouzi over spiced rice is the centrepiece of many buffets. Levantine mezze, fattoush, sambousek and grills sit alongside, and the evening ends with luqaimat, sweet dumplings in date syrup, Umm Ali, kunafa and Arabic coffee.

A good iftar menu is paced: something light to break the fast, then a fuller spread for later. Our Arabic food catering follows the same rhythm.

Hotel iftar buffets

Most of Dubai's large hotels set up an iftar buffet for the month, with live stations, Arabic and international dishes and a dessert room. They suit families and groups who want variety and no planning.

Menus and prices are announced only a few weeks before Ramadan, and they change every year. Check each hotel's 2027 offer when it is published, and book a table for the first weekend early.

Ramadan tents

Ramadan tents, or khaimas, are the social heart of the month: large, beautifully lit spaces set up by hotels and venues, with majlis seating, shisha in some and a menu that runs from iftar into the late evening. They are where colleagues and friends meet after breaking the fast.

For a company, a tent booking is the simplest way to host a team iftar in a shared venue. For something more private, many companies now host their own tent or majlis at the office or a villa.

Desert and outdoor iftars

February and March are the kindest months in the desert, and an iftar on the dunes is one of the season's most memorable evenings: the call to prayer at sunset, lanterns, rugs and a hot meal under the sky.

Desert camps offer group iftars for the public. For a private one, everything has to come with you: kitchen, power, seating and staff. That is the work our outdoor catering team does year-round, and our outdoor catering guide explains the logistics.

Suhoor in Dubai

Suhoor is the quieter meal of the month, eaten late at night or before dawn. Many tents and lounges stay open late for it, serving lighter dishes, fresh juices and coffee, and suhoor gatherings have become a social occasion of their own.

At home, suhoor works best when it is simple: eggs, cheese, bread, fruit, labneh, dates and plenty of water. For a late gathering of friends or family, a suhoor spread can be catered as easily as an iftar.

Hosting your own iftar

For many families and companies, the iftar that matters most is the one they host. It is a chance to gather everyone at one table, on their own terms, without a hotel's timings or a shared room.

We cater Ramadan iftars in Dubai at homes, villas, offices and tents: dates and soup to break the fast, a full Arabic and international spread to follow, and a dessert table for the long evening. Our kitchens are halal-certified, and service is timed to the minute of sunset so nobody waits.

For larger gatherings we can add a tent or majlis setting, furniture, decoration and event staff, all from one team.

Corporate iftars

The corporate iftar has become one of the most important company events of the year in the UAE: a moment to thank teams, host clients and mark the season together. It needs careful timing, a menu that respects the fast, and a setting that lets people pray, eat and talk.

We plan corporate iftars from boardroom gatherings to full tents, and our corporate events team handles venues, invitations and protocol. Government and protocol-led iftars are part of the same work.

Etiquette for guests and hosts

Iftar begins at the exact time of sunset, usually marked by the call to prayer, so arrive early and wait to eat until then. Break the fast with dates and water before the main meal. Hosts often leave time and space for maghrib prayer before the main courses.

Dress modestly, especially for family or official gatherings. During fasting hours, be considerate about eating and drinking in public. If you are hosting non-fasting guests, offer them refreshments discreetly.

When the month ends, the celebration moves to Eid, with family gatherings that often need catering of their own.

Plan early for Ramadan 2027

The best iftars, venues and caterers book out weeks ahead, and February leaves little time after the new year. If you are hosting, fix your date and guest count in December or early January.

When you are ready, send us your brief. Tell us the date, the venue and how many guests, and we will send back an iftar menu within the day.