The first day of Eid Al Adha in Abu Dhabi on Monday began with the solemnity of prayer, and progressed to plenty of colour, joy and the exhilaration of fireworks.
The Shaikh Zayed Grand Mosque held Eid prayers and greetings at 6am, with the celebrations culminating in a dazzling display of pyrotechnics on Yas Island in the evening.
Elsewhere, malls across the capital saw crowds enjoying the festive entertainment they had staged.
At Abu Dhabi Mall, shoppers were able to interact with characters from the Ice Age film and participate in interactive sing-a-long and dancing sessions and a space workshop.
A falcon display and a magician can be encountered at Yas Mall until tomorrow.
Adrenaline seekers at the Ferrari World theme park had their experience enhanced by a dance show, henna painting, a falcon handler, a bubble performer and children’s crafts.
Abu Dhabi is even more vibrant than normal given that 1,600 lighting configurations are decorating its roads, bridges, roundabouts and the Corniche.
Abu Dhabi Municipality said decorating the city was part of its efforts to share festive events with all community members and to nurture the spiritual, religious and social implications of the religious holiday.
Decorations include 21 geometric shapes carrying phrases such as ‘Eid Mubarak’, ‘Many Happy Returns’ and ‘Eid Felicitations’. Other phrases are inspired by Emirati heritage and customs and decorative works on five bridges and 11 roundabouts.
The Eid celebrations began on Sunday evening when leaders from across the Arab world called to convey best wishes to His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, on the occasion of the religious festival.
He exchanged greetings with Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz; King Mohammad VI of Morocco; King Hamad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa of Bahrain; Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, Emir of Kuwait; Shaikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar; Egyptian president Abdul Fattah El Sisi; and Sudanese president Omar Hassan Al Bashir.
Shaikh Mohammad relayed the greetings of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, saying that he wished them health, happiness and prosperity for their countries and people.
Arab leaders, in turn, wished Shaikh Khalifa continued good health and the UAE glory and prosperity.
Meanwhile, all across the UAE, the spirit of Eid Al Adha is enriching people’s sense of caring and joy. It is also providing families the perfect opportunity to exult in reconnecting with their relatives and friends and spending a memorable time with them. From malls to parks, the spirit of the festive occasion is everywhere.
“For Eid, I’ll try and spend more time with family and with friends as well as connect with people whom I have not heard from for a while,” says Ahmad Bin Al Shaikh, an Emirati who lives in Sharjah.
During this festive period, he said he is enjoying plenty of traditional food with his family. This year, they collectively donated for the ritual of the sacrificial meet. The meat will be given to the poor, as their faith demands.
For Adib Ali, an Indian expat who lives in Dubai, the first day of Eid Al Adha started early. He woke up at 5am to get ready for Eid prayers at 6.35am.
“After the prayers, I wished my neighbours Eid Mubarak and then headed out to the food truck park with some of my childhood friends,” Ali says.
At noon, Adib and his family went to Ajman for a family gathering, after which he made a trip to Magic Planet arcade with his young niece. And there are more enjoyable moments in store. He is looking forward to a dinner on Tuesday for a special reason. “I’m going to my childhood friend’s place for dinner [on Tuesday]. It is truly a blessed Eid for me,” he adds.
Staying home
For the family of Parveen Aisha, an Indian expat living in Dubai, Eid is about generosity — and an opportunity to dress up.
“Yesterday, we were busy buying new dresses, including one for myself, and putting henna on my hands,” she says.
On Monday, the first day of Eid, Aisha’s brother and son set off for early morning prayers at a nearby mosque. Later, back home, it was time to prepare the traditional Eid lunch. Parveen, her two children, brother and the nanny gathered around to savour the Eid biryani, the famed rice and meat dish. The meal was rounded off with sheer korma, the traditional dessert made with vermicelli, milk, sugar, nuts and clarified butter, which is a highlight of Eid meals.
The evening was reserved for an outing. “We’ll go out with the kids,” said Aisha. They plan to go to Mall of the Emirates.
While many UAE expats use the time off to travel, some don’t see the need to go too far from home. Natasha Baker, a British expat living in Dubai, spent the weekend at a beachfront hotel in Abu Dhabi, just an hour away from home.
Now back in Dubai, she and a group of friends will meet at a Brazilian restaurant on Monday night. “A big part of Eid is spending time with friends and sharing food,” she adds.