Quick answer: Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin on Monday 8 February 2027, with the crescent sought on the evening of 7 February, and the final date depends on moon sighting. Book creators by mid December, about 8 weeks out, and start food or health approvals before that. We found no separate Ramadan rulebook for creators: the UAE's year round rules apply, including the permit, a clear ad label and prior approval for food ads.
Our Dubai and Gulf market guide explains why Ramadan is the Gulf's biggest content season and what formats work. Our Dubai hiring cost guide gives the rates. This one does a narrower job: it puts dates on the plan for 2027, working back from the expected first day.
When is Ramadan 2027?
| Moment | Expected date | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Astronomical new moon | Saturday 6 February 2027, 15:56 UTC | International Astronomical Center |
| Crescent sought | Evening of Sunday 7 February 2027 | Gulf News, 1 September 2026 |
| First day of fasting | Monday 8 February 2027 | Both of the above |
| Length | 29 or 30 days | Gulf News |
| Eid Al Fitr | Forecast Wednesday 10 March 2027. A 29 day month would make it 9 March | Gulf News, and our arithmetic for 9 March |
All of this is a forecast. Gulf News notes the start is confirmed only after religious authorities in each country observe the crescent. The International Astronomical Center gives 8 February from a calculated calendar and warns that a country may use a different standard. So the plan has one rule: nothing in your campaign should break if day one moves by a day. That applies more sharply if you run in several Gulf countries, since each one announces for itself.
When to start booking
There is no official deadline. These are planning choices. Our Gulf guide advises locking concepts and booking creators 8 or more weeks out, and filming and approving at 4 to 6 weeks. For a start on 8 February, 8 weeks is Monday 14 December 2026. Two things can push you earlier than that:
- Your product needs prior approval. Food ads are on the list, and most Ramadan creative involves food.
- Your creator is visiting. The permit has to go through a UAE agency, and that adds a contract and a filing step.
One date quirk on visitors. The Visitor Advertiser Permit costs AED 500 and lasts 3 months, counted from the date of issue. A permit issued on 1 December would run out around 1 March, before Eid. Issued after mid December, it reaches Eid without an extension. Check the printed dates against your last post.
Setting a Ramadan budget? Put creator fees, usage rights and production into one number before you start shortlisting.
Open the budget plannerWeek by week planning calendar
Each date is a Monday, counted back from 8 February 2027. The timing is our suggestion. Move it to fit your team.
| Weeks out | Week of | What gets done |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | 16 Nov 2026 | Set the budget and the goal. Decide Ramadan, Eid or both, since Eid is a separate campaign. Pick countries |
| 11 | 23 Nov | List your product categories and check if any need prior approval. Name who is responsible for it |
| 10 | 30 Nov | Write the concept and draft the brief. Start shortlisting creators |
| 9 | 7 Dec | Apply for food, health, finance, property or education approvals. Check every creator's permit number |
| 8 | 14 Dec | Book. Sign contracts with fees, usage period and revision rounds |
| 7 | 21 Dec | Visiting creators: the agency files the permit. Ask whether any shoot needs a filming permit |
| 6 | 28 Dec | Final brief to all creators. Allow for the New Year break |
| 5 | 4 Jan 2027 | First shoots. Evening and iftar table scenes need a real setting, so book locations |
| 4 | 11 Jan | Main filming week. First drafts in |
| 3 | 18 Jan | Review by someone fluent in the culture, not only the marketing lead. First revisions |
| 2 | 25 Jan | Second revisions. Arabic versions final. Confirm all approvals are in hand |
| 1 | 1 Feb | Schedule posts. Check ad labels and permit dates. Film nothing new unless it is urgent |
| 0 | 7 Feb evening | Moon sighting announcement. Release day one posts only after it |
| During | 8 Feb to about 8 Mar | Publish and watch comments. Late briefs now cost more and tend to be weaker, per our Gulf guide |
| Eid | About 9 or 10 Mar | Eid posts ready. Second sighting decides the date, so again keep them movable |
If you read this after those dates, cut the concept stage first, not the review. Filming permits are the hard stop. Article 21 of the executive regulation says land, aerial or marine filming applications go in 15 working days before filming starts. We could not find a page saying when a creator shooting on a phone crosses into this, so ask your agency or location.
What UAE content rules apply
We looked for a Ramadan specific rule set from the National Media Authority and did not find one on the pages we could read. The rules below apply all year. Ramadan is simply when getting them wrong is most visible.
| Rule | What it says | Ramadan example |
|---|---|---|
| Religion (media law Art 17) | Respect the Divine Entity, Islamic beliefs and other beliefs, and don't offend them | No jokes or gimmicks built on fasting or prayer |
| Values (regulation Art 28) | Ad content must respect the UAE's culture, identity and values | Modest, family suited styling in Ramadan content |
| Ad label (law Art 20, regulation Art 33) | Ads must be clearly identified, and any financial return disclosed | A warm iftar Reel is still an ad if you paid or gifted |
| Prior approval (regulation Art 33) | Food, medical and health, financial, education and real estate ads need approval from the relevant authority | Restaurant iftar offers and food brand recipes. Check before filming |
| Banned promotion (regulation Art 33) | No alcohol, tobacco or smoking, directly or indirectly | Check hotel and restaurant backgrounds |
| Honest claims (regulation Art 33) | No misleading claims or exaggeration | A "Ramadan offer" must be real, on the terms shown |
| Permit (NMA) | Creators advertising for money or not need a permit, with the number on their accounts | Gifted iftar invitations count. Details in our permit guide |
One related signal from Dubai. A law firm summary by Juris Maestro, dated 23 October 2026, says Dubai Municipality's new outdoor advertising guidelines tell advertisers not to launch night party or music festival campaigns during Ramadan. We have not read the Arabic original, and it covers outdoor ads and not social posts. We would still avoid that kind of campaign on creator channels in the month.
Advertising without a permit draws a written warning, then AED 20,000, then AED 50,000, doubling after that, under Cabinet Resolution No. 42 of 2025. We are leaving out other fine amounts. This section explains what the sources say. Check your campaign with a UAE lawyer.
These are UAE rules only. Saudi Arabia runs its own licence, Mawthooq, covered in our Saudi guide. For the rest of the Gulf, check local rules before you publish.
Brief checklist
Add these to your usual creator brief:
- Expected dates, with a line saying day one may move by a day
- Which content is for Ramadan and which is for Eid, with separate delivery dates
- Permit number for each creator, and the permit's end date for visitors
- The exact ad label wording and where it goes
- Any approval reference for food, health or finance claims
- Setting: home, family table, community. No background alcohol or smoking
- Tone: generosity and family. Our Gulf guide warns that urgency and scarcity tactics backfire here
- Language: Arabic, English or both, priced per version
- Posting window around iftar, checked with the creator for their audience and city
- Usage rights covering both Ramadan and Eid, in writing. See our usage rights guide
- Who reviews for cultural fit, and by what date
- Faith framing left to creators who practise. Don't script a personal fast
Need prices? Our UAE UGC rates guide has the AED figures. You will see large Ramadan spending and engagement statistics elsewhere. We kept them out of this article because we have not read them at a primary source, and they would not change the dates above.
Ramadan brief ready? Post your brief and let creators apply, with time to spare. Payment is held until the work is approved.
Post your briefFAQ
Is 8 February 2027 confirmed?
No. It is a forecast from astronomical calculation. Authorities confirm the date after looking for the crescent, expected on the evening of 7 February.
How early should we book Ramadan creators?
About 8 weeks out, which is mid December 2026. Start earlier if your product needs approval or your creator is visiting.
Are there special UAE advertising rules during Ramadan?
We did not find a separate rule set from the National Media Authority on the pages we read. The year round content standards and ad rules apply, and they cover religion, values and labelling.
Do gifted iftar invitations need a permit?
If the creator publishes content in return, yes. The NMA covers advertising whether paid or not.
Can we run one campaign for Ramadan and Eid?
You can buy both from one creator, but brief them separately. Eid has its own date, and that date also depends on a sighting.
Sources
- International Astronomical Center: Ramadan 1448 crescent page (Arabic)
- Gulf News: When is Ramadan 2027?
- UAE Legislation: Federal Decree by Law No. 55 of 2023 Regulating Media
- UAE Legislation: Cabinet Resolution No. 68 of 2024, Executive Regulation
- UAE Legislation: Cabinet Resolution No. 42 of 2025, Violations and Penalties
- National Media Authority: Advertiser Permit
- National Media Authority: Permit for Visiting Individuals
- Gulf News: What visiting influencers need to know
- Juris Maestro: Dubai advertising rules, summary of the new guide (law firm commentary)
