Corporate Gifting Calendar UAE 2027: Key Dates for HR and Marketing
In 2027 the UAE gifting year starts early. Ramadan is expected to begin around 8 February, which pulls Ramadan and Eid gifting into the first quarter, and Eid Al Adha is expected in mid May. Add UAE National Day on 2 December and the year end, and HR and marketing teams have at least four peaks to plan for, plus a dozen smaller moments in between. This guide is a corporate gifting calendar UAE teams can work from, going through 2027 month by month: the key dates, who to gift, which gifts fit and what to plan ahead, with ideas from our Ramadan and Eid gifts collection and the wider range.
For most teams, the simplest plan is to lock in four peaks first (Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr in February and March, Eid Al Adha in May, National Day and the year end in December) and treat the rest of the year as smaller, targeted moments. Islamic dates move with the moon, so every date marked “expected” below should be checked against the official announcement.
Key dates at a glance
The table lists the main 2027 dates for corporate gifting in the UAE. Islamic dates are astronomical forecasts reported by Gulf News, citing the Emirates Astronomical Society, and the expected public holidays follow Time Out Dubai’s predicted 2027 list. They are not yet official.
| Month | Key dates in 2027 | Main audience | Gifts that fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | New Year’s Day, Fri 1 Jan | New joiners, whole team | Notebooks, desk items, welcome kits |
| February | Lunar New Year, Sat 6 Feb; Ramadan expected from about 8 Feb | Asian partners, clients, staff | Ramadan gift sets, prayer mats, bakhoor burners |
| March | Employee Appreciation Day, Fri 5 Mar; Eid Al Fitr expected 9 or 10 Mar; Women’s Day 8 Mar; Mother’s Day 21 Mar | Staff, clients, partners | Eid gift sets, drinkware, leather sets |
| April | Earth Day, 22 Apr | Staff, CSR partners | Eco bottles, bamboo stationery, tote bags |
| May | Arafat Day expected 15 May; Eid Al Adha expected 16 May | Clients, staff | Eid gift sets, premium pens and notebooks |
| June | Islamic New Year expected 6 Jun; summer midday break usually from mid June | Outdoor and site teams | Caps, insulated bottles, cooling towels |
| July | Summer travel season | Travelling staff, visiting clients | Travel accessories, power banks, backpacks |
| August | Prophet’s Birthday expected 15 Aug; Emirati Women’s Day, Sat 28 Aug; back to school | Female colleagues, schools | Stationery sets, bags, backpacks |
| September | Back to business, exhibition season starts | Prospects, event guests | Giveaways, lanyards, notebooks |
| October | World Teachers’ Day, 5 Oct; Diwali, Fri 29 Oct | Event guests, Indian clients and staff | Tech gifts, non-food Diwali gifts |
| November | Flag Day, 3 Nov; Day of Tolerance, 16 Nov; Commemoration Day, 30 Nov | Government partners, whole team | National Day merchandise, flags, scarves |
| December | UAE National Day, 2 Dec; Christmas, 25 Dec; year end | All clients and staff | National Day sets, year end gifts, desk gifts |
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Corporate gifting calendar UAE 2027, month by month
January: kick off the year
New Year’s Day falls on Friday 1 January. January is a natural month for welcome kits, as many companies onboard new hires after the year end, and for useful desk gifts that set up the year: notebooks, organisers and pen sets. It is also the last calm month before Ramadan, so this is when to brief your Ramadan and Eid orders.
February: Lunar New Year and the start of Ramadan
Lunar New Year falls on Saturday 6 February. If you work with partners in China or East Asia, red and gold packaging is a good choice. Ramadan is expected to begin around Monday 8 February, so Ramadan gifts should be in hand before the first day. Our Ramadan corporate gift ideas list non-food options that suit staff and clients.
March: Eid Al Fitr and appreciation days
Eid Al Fitr is expected on 9 or 10 March, depending on the moon sighting, and the public holiday is predicted to run to Friday 12 March. Employee Appreciation Day is the first Friday of March (5 March), International Women’s Day falls on 8 March, still within Ramadan, and Mother’s Day in the Arab world is 21 March. Keep any non-Eid gifting during Ramadan simple and respectful of fasting colleagues.
April: a quieter month for planning and CSR
April has no public holidays in 2027, which makes it a good month to brief your Eid Al Adha gifts and to plan summer events. Earth Day on 22 April suits a sustainability message with reusable bottles, bamboo stationery or recycled tote bags.
May: Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha
Arafat Day is expected on Saturday 15 May and Eid Al Adha on Sunday 16 May, with the holiday predicted to run to Tuesday 18 May. Because it comes only about ten weeks after Eid Al Fitr, many companies give one gift for Eid Al Fitr and a lighter one for Eid Al Adha, or alternate between staff and clients.
June: Islamic New Year and the summer heat
The Islamic New Year (1 Muharram 1449) is expected on Sunday 6 June, with the day off likely moved to Monday 7 June. The summer midday break for outdoor workers usually starts in mid June, which makes June the month to look after site, delivery and field teams with caps, cooling towels and bottles from our drinkware collection.
July: travel and mid year reviews
July is the peak of the summer travel season. Travel accessories, power banks and backpacks suit staff who travel and clients who visit the UAE. Mid year reviews are also a chance to recognise top performers with a small, well branded gift.
August: Prophet’s Birthday, Emirati Women’s Day and back to school
The Prophet’s Birthday is expected on Sunday 15 August, with the day off likely moved to Monday 16 August. Emirati Women’s Day falls on Saturday 28 August, a good moment to recognise female colleagues and partners. Schools reopen at the end of the month, so August suits stationery, bags and backpacks for school partnerships.
September: back to business
September is when the exhibition and conference season begins. Brief your event giveaways early and start planning National Day and year end orders now, before the autumn rush.
October: exhibitions, teachers and Diwali
World Teachers’ Day is on 5 October. October is a busy month for exhibitions in Dubai, so tech gifts and giveaways are in demand. Diwali falls on Friday 29 October in 2027; see our Diwali corporate gifts guide for non-food ideas.
November: Flag Day and the run up to National Day
Flag Day is on 3 November, the Day of Tolerance on 16 November and Commemoration Day on 30 November. National Day merchandise should be delivered in November so teams can use it on the day. Our UAE National Day corporate gifts guide has the full list.
December: National Day and the year end
UAE National Day (Eid Al Etihad) is on Thursday 2 December, with the holiday predicted for 2 and 3 December. The year end follows straight after, with Christmas on 25 December for international teams. Our year end corporate gifts guide covers client and staff ideas, including desk gifts for the new year.
How to plan your 2027 gifting year
- Pick your peaks: choose two to four main occasions and decide who receives a gift at each.
- Set one budget per person per occasion: then add the occasions up for the year.
- Brief early: the right time to order depends on the product, the branding and the quantity, so ask your supplier for dates as soon as your plan is ready.
- Test first: confirm the first big order of the year early, so there is time to approve a sample kit before production.
- Watch the moon sighting: confirm Islamic dates when the official announcement is made, and keep a few days of buffer.
Frequently asked questions
What date will Ramadan start in 2027?
Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin on Monday 8 February in the UAE, according to astronomers at the Emirates Astronomical Society. The exact date is confirmed only after the official moon sighting, so plan Ramadan gifts to arrive a few days before the expected start. The National reports the same forecast.
Which day is Eid al-Fitr 2027?
Eid Al Fitr 2027 is expected on Tuesday 9 or Wednesday 10 March, depending on whether Ramadan lasts 29 or 30 days. The UAE public holiday is predicted to run until Friday 12 March. For corporate gifting, deliver Eid gifts before the last days of Ramadan, when many offices work shorter hours.
How many holidays are there in 2027?
Based on the predicted dates, UAE residents can expect around 12 days of public holidays in 2027, across New Year’s Day, Eid Al Fitr, Arafat Day, Eid Al Adha, the Islamic New Year, the Prophet’s Birthday and National Day. Islamic holidays depend on moon sightings and some can move to the start or end of the week. Check the official UAE public holidays page for confirmed dates.
What are the guidelines for giving corporate gifting?
Keep gifts useful, modest in value and branded with restraint, and give the same gift to everyone in the same group. Check the recipient’s gift policy, especially for government entities, and respect religious occasions, for example by sending non-food gifts and avoiding alcohol. Set the amount first; our guide to the corporate gift budget per employee shows how.
Will Ramadan happen twice in 2027?
No. Ramadan starts only once in 2027, expected around 8 February, because the next Ramadan begins in late January 2028. Because the Islamic year is about 11 days shorter than the Gregorian year, Ramadan will next fall twice in one calendar year in 2030.
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