Updated 14 October 2026. Shardiya Navratri began on Sunday, 11 October 2026, and the Dubai and Sharjah panchang calendars list Vijayadashami on Tuesday, 20 October. The remaining festival days include the public Navratri Utsav at Zabeel Park on 16–17 October. Some tithi observances overlap civil dates, so Ashtami, Sandhi Puja and Navami labels may not line up as a simple “one goddess per date” calendar. Use the city-specific panchang and your temple’s schedule for the ritual you plan to perform.
Navratri UAE 2026 at a glance
| Navratri began | Sunday, 11 October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Remaining observances | 13–19 October; check the local tithi and your family/temple tradition |
| Vijayadashami / Dussehra | Tuesday, 20 October 2026 in Dubai and Sharjah calendar references |
| Public event listing | Navratri Utsav at Zabeel Park, 16–17 October; tickets and entry are separate from temple rituals. |
On this page
Shardiya Navratri 2026 dates in the UAE
Navratri begins: Sunday 11 October 2026.
Day 9 / Maha Navami: Monday 19 October 2026, subject to local observance.
Vijayadashami / Dussehra: Tuesday 20 October 2026.
Dubai Ghatasthapana Muhurat: 6:16 am–10:09 am on 11 October; the listed Abhijit window is 11:43 am–12:29 pm GST.
The Dubai timings above refer to the first day and have already passed as of 14 October. They should not be used as a current daily muhurat. Confirm puja timing for the specific day and ritual with your own temple or family panchang.
Dubai Shardiya Navratri calendar · Dubai Ghatasthapana timings.
UAE-local 2026 Navratri calendar: date and tithi notes
| Date | Local calendar note | Planning advice |
|---|---|---|
| Sun, 11 Oct | Day 1, Pratipada; Ghatasthapana and Shailputri Puja | First-day muhurat has passed; don’t reuse it for later days. |
| Mon, 12 Oct | Day 2, Dwitiya; Brahmacharini Puja | Check your temple’s current daily service hours. |
| Tue, 13 Oct | Day 3, Tritiya; Chandraghanta Puja | Use a city-specific panchang if you need an exact ritual time. |
| Wed, 14 Oct | Day 4, Chaturthi; Kushmanda Puja | Confirm any special evening programme with the organiser. |
| Thu, 15 Oct | Day 5, Panchami; Skandamata Puja | Check event ticket and entry details before travelling. |
| Fri, 16 Oct | Day 6, Shashthi; Katyayani Puja; Durga Puja programmes begin for many Bengali associations | Durga Puja association schedules can differ from the Navratri colour-day list. |
| Sat, 17 Oct | Day 7, Saptami; Kalaratri Puja in the Sharjah calendar | For public Garba, the confirmed Zabeel Park event lists doors at 7 p.m. and show at 7:30 p.m. |
| Sun, 18 Oct | Day 8; the Sharjah panchang still lists Saptami, so tithi and day labels may not align simply | Follow the ritual named on your selected city calendar rather than an assumed day number. |
| Mon, 19 Oct | Day 9; Sharjah calendar lists Ashtami, Durga Ashtami, Sandhi Puja and Maha Navami. Its Sandhi Puja window is 8:57–9:45 a.m. local time. | This timing is Sharjah-specific; check Dubai or Abu Dhabi separately and follow your tradition. |
| Tue, 20 Oct | Day 10; the Sharjah calendar lists Navami, Ayudha Puja, Navami Homa, Parana, Durga Visarjan and Vijayadashami | Confirm puja and parana guidance with your temple or priest. |
Source note: Dates above follow the 2026 Sharjah Navratri calendar, with separate city references for Dubai. Tithi observance can differ by place and tradition; check your chosen city’s calendar and temple instructions before observing a specific ritual.
Current UAE celebration listing
Visit Dubai confirms Navratri Utsav at Zabeel Park Amphitheatre on Friday 16 and Saturday 17 October 2026. The ticket listing shows doors at 7:00 p.m., show start at 7:30 p.m., prices from AED 20, and that the event ticket does not include park entry. It also states that outside food and beverages are not allowed. Check availability, the separate park-entry requirement and current terms before travelling.
Official Visit Dubai event listing · Current ticket details.
How Navratri is observed
Many devotees honour a different form of Maa Durga each day through prayer, aarti, devotional songs, offerings or fasting. Garba and Dandiya events are organised independently by community groups and venues, and their dates may not match each ritual day. The fasting foods, prayer timings, colour traditions and Ashtami or Navami practices vary by family and region.
How to plan the remaining Navratri days in the UAE
With Navratri already underway, focus on what is still upcoming rather than reusing the first-day Ghatasthapana window. Confirm the tithi and puja details for your own city, then check the temple’s current notice for opening hours and any registration rules. If you plan to attend a public Garba or Dandiya event, use the organiser’s ticket page for the date, entry time and permitted-items list.
Quick plan for 14–20 October
- 14–15 October: check your family’s daily observance and any temple calendar. Do not assume a special programme is happening just because a mandir is open.
- 16–17 October: the published Navratri Utsav at Zabeel Park Amphitheatre is a separate public event. Review the exact ticket date, doors-open time and park-entry rules.
- 18–19 October: Ashtami, Sandhi Puja and Navami labels can differ by calendar because tithi boundaries cross civil dates. Use the panchang for your city and confirm ritual participation with your temple.
- 20 October: the Dubai and Sharjah calendars list Vijayadashami / Dussehra. Religious observance and public event schedules are different; do not assume a Ramlila or Ravana Dahan is part of every temple programme.
Zabeel Park Navratri Utsav: what to know before booking
Visit Dubai lists Navratri Utsav at Zabeel Park Amphitheatre for Friday, 16 October and Saturday, 17 October 2026. The current ticket listing shows doors at 7:00 p.m., show start at 7:30 p.m. and ticket options from AED 20. These are event details—not puja muhurat timings—and visitors should recheck the live listing in case the programme changes.
| Planning item | What the published listing says | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Date and time | 16–17 October; doors 7:00 p.m., show 7:30 p.m. | Check the date selected on the ticket before purchase. |
| Venue | Zabeel Park Amphitheatre, Dubai | Save the venue pin and confirm the entry gate. |
| Ticket | Listed from AED 20; ticket categories may vary. | Review fees, availability, age rules and refund terms. |
| Park entry | Separate from the event ticket. | Check the separate park-entry requirement before travel. |
| Food and drinks | Outside food and beverages are not allowed, according to the ticket page. | Check the live permitted-items policy and plan accordingly. |
Official references: Visit Dubai event listing · ticket categories and visitor rules. The ticket page states that event admission does not include Zabeel Park entry. Check availability before setting out, especially if you are travelling from another emirate.
Home puja and family observance: keep it practical
A daily Navratri routine does not need to be complicated. Households may choose to light a lamp, recite a prayer or stotra, listen to bhajans, make a simple offering or spend a few minutes reflecting on the day’s form of Durga. The exact ritual and timing should follow your family tradition and local panchang rather than a one-size-fits-all internet schedule.
- For busy workdays: gather puja items in one place before the evening; choose a realistic prayer window and do not make a late event incompatible with necessary rest.
- For children: use a simple nine-day chart, tell one short story or let them help with a safe decorative activity. Explain temple conduct before a visit.
- For older relatives or people with mobility needs: confirm seating, step-free access, washrooms and parking/drop-off with the venue before travelling.
- For guests unfamiliar with the festival: explain what the puja, fasting, aarti or Garba programme involves and let each person choose whether to participate.
These are practical ideas, not mandatory rituals. Customs differ across Gujarati, Bengali, North Indian, South Indian and other Hindu communities; the temple or family tradition you follow should guide religious observance.
Fasting, food and hydration in the UAE
Vrat practices vary considerably. Some devotees fast for one day, some for selected days, and others follow a particular household menu or do not fast. Avoid assuming that every participant is expected to observe the same restrictions. If you fast, choose a pattern suitable for your health and circumstances and seek medical advice if you have a condition that may be affected by fasting.
For practical meal planning, ask whether your temple or event will serve prasad or bhog and whether the meal requires a token, donation or registration. Do not assume the menu is allergy-safe or that a public event includes a free meal. If you have food allergies, request ingredients and cross-contact information from the organiser. For outdoor activity and evening dancing, plan water and breaks according to the venue rules; follow the published policy on outside food and drink.
How to verify a date or muhurat by emirate
“UAE time” is useful for ordinary appointments, but ritual timing still depends on local sunrise, tithi boundaries and the panchang calculation. Use the city nearest to your location:
- Dubai: Dubai Navratri calendar and Dubai Vijayadashami timing.
- Sharjah: Sharjah Navratri calendar.
- Abu Dhabi: choose Abu Dhabi as the city in the panchang tool and verify the specific puja; do not copy the Dubai time.
- Public celebration: use the named organiser or ticket page for venue, doors, performance, access and ticket details. A religious calendar does not establish the schedule of a public dance event.
If two calendars label Ashtami or Navami differently, check how each page defines its tithi and use your family or temple’s guidance for the ritual you observe.
Before leaving home: UAE Navratri checklist
- Check the correct city calendar for the date and ritual.
- Confirm the venue’s own schedule and whether it is a public event or a regular worship period.
- For Zabeel Park, check the selected ticket date, separate park-entry requirement and permitted-items list.
- Plan transport both ways, including return service after the show.
- Check accessibility, child-entry policy, food rules and the weather if the event is outdoors.
- Reopen the official page on the day and look for changes to time, entry or cancellation.
For a broader event overview, visit the UAE Navratri event guide; for venue-specific advice, use the Zabeel Park Navratri Utsav visitor guide. The article slugs contain an earlier year, but use the current on-page update and organiser page for the live 2026 details.
Temple puja or public Garba: how to choose the right plan
A Navratri temple visit and a public Garba or Dandiya event can happen during the same festival period, but they serve different purposes and follow different schedules. A temple may provide darshan, aarti or a special puja; a public event is usually organised by an association or venue and may require a paid ticket, separate park admission, registration or an age-specific ticket. Neither format should be assumed to include the other.
What to verify for a temple visit
- Check the temple’s date-specific calendar rather than relying only on regular opening hours.
- Ask whether the special puja or aarti is open to visitors, and whether registration is required.
- Confirm rules for footwear, offerings, photography and participation in rituals.
- Ask whether prasad or a community meal will be offered and whether a token or donation is needed.
What to verify for a Garba or Dandiya event
- Check the selected date, venue, doors-open time and show start time; they may be different.
- Read the ticket page for fees, refund conditions, age limits, permitted items and separate park or venue entry.
- Plan the journey back before the event ends, especially if the show runs late.
- Check accessibility, seating, washrooms and children’s arrangements directly with the organiser.
For 2026, Visit Dubai lists Navratri Utsav at Zabeel Park Amphitheatre on 16–17 October. The ticket listing says doors open at 7 p.m. and the show begins at 7:30 p.m.; event admission does not include park entry. Those are public-event details, not religious muhurat timings. See the Visit Dubai listing and the ticket page for current rules.
Frequently asked questions
When did Navratri begin in the UAE in 2026?
The Dubai and Sharjah calendars list Sunday 11 October 2026.
When is Dussehra in the UAE?
The Dubai calendar lists Tuesday 20 October 2026 as Vijayadashami / Dussehra.
Can I still use Ghatasthapana Muhurat after 11 October?
No. That first-day window has passed. Check the appropriate date and ritual timing for your current observance.
Related UAE Navratri guides
For daily worship, see the nine forms of Durga and colours guide. For public activities, check the UAE Navratri event listing.
Last checked: 14 October 2026. Dates and timings shown are based on the linked local calendars; follow your own temple’s guidance for religious practice. Public-event hours, tickets and entry rules can change, so recheck the official listing before travelling.