Quick answer: Diwali 2026 in Dubai and the UAE is on Sunday 8 November — a weekend day. The Lakshmi Puja muhurat in Dubai is 5:58 PM – 7:56 PM GST (Drik Panchang), Abu Dhabi 6:03 PM – 8:00 PM and Sharjah 5:57 PM – 7:55 PM. Dhanteras is Friday 6 November (Dubai puja muhurat 6:06 PM – 8:03 PM). Govardhan Puja is Monday 9 November and Bhai Dooj Tuesday 10 November — a day earlier than in India.

For the UAE's large Indian community, Diwali 2026 could hardly fall better: Sunday is part of the weekend, so families can clean, cook, visit the mandir and sit down for Lakshmi Puja at the proper evening muhurat without rushing home from work. This guide gives the muhurat for five UAE cities, the full five-day calendar, and a devotional Lakshmi-Ganesh puja you can perform at home. For Diwali across the Gulf, Australia and Singapore, see our Diwali 2026 Australia, UAE & Singapore guide.

Diwali 2026 dates in the UAE: the five days

DayFestivalDate in the UAEDate in IndiaUAE working day?
1Dhanteras (Dhanatrayodashi)Fri 6 NovFri 6 NovYes — puja after work
2Naraka Chaturdashi (pre-dawn bath)Sun 8 Nov, morningSun 8 Nov, morningNo — weekend
3Diwali — Lakshmi PujaSun 8 Nov, eveningSun 8 Nov, eveningNo — weekend
4Govardhan Puja / AnnakutMon 9 NovTue 10 NovYes
5Bhai Dooj (Bhaiya Dooj)Tue 10 NovWed 11 NovYes

These are Drik Panchang's dates for the UAE and apply in every emirate. The first three days match India: Naraka Chaturdashi's early-morning bath and the evening Lakshmi Puja both fall on Sunday 8 November. But Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj are a day earlier than in India — Monday 9 and Tuesday 10 November in the UAE, against Tuesday 10 and Wednesday 11 November back home. If your family in Kerala, Gujarat or Uttar Pradesh celebrates Bhai Dooj a day after you, both calendars are correct for where they are used.

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Lakshmi Puja muhurat 2026: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, RAK and Al Ain

Lakshmi Puja is offered on Amavasya evening in Pradosh Kaal, the first part of the night after sunset, and is best begun while Vrishabha (Taurus) lagna — a fixed sign — is rising, so that Lakshmi's blessings stay steady in the home. The muhurat below is the overlap of Pradosh Kaal with the sidereal Vrishabha lagna, which is Drik Panchang's method. The Dubai row is Drik Panchang's published value; the other emirates are calculated by the same method and agree to within about a minute. All times are Gulf Standard Time (GST); the UAE does not change its clocks.

CityLakshmi Puja muhurat (Sun 8 Nov)Pradosh Kaal (Sun 8 Nov)Dhanteras puja muhurat (Fri 6 Nov)Source
Dubai5:58 PM – 7:56 PM5:35 PM – 8:10 PM6:06 PM – 8:03 PMDrik Panchang
Abu Dhabi6:03 PM – 8:00 PM5:38 PM – 8:13 PM6:11 PM – 8:09 PMCalculated
Sharjah5:57 PM – 7:55 PM5:33 PM – 8:09 PM6:05 PM – 8:02 PMCalculated
Ras Al Khaimah5:54 PM – 7:51 PM5:30 PM – 8:06 PM6:02 PM – 7:59 PMCalculated
Al Ain5:58 PM – 7:55 PM5:33 PM – 8:08 PM6:06 PM – 8:03 PMCalculated
  • Ajman and Umm Al Quwain: follow Sharjah — the difference is a minute or less. Fujairah, on the east coast, is a few minutes earlier; check a local panchang or your temple.
  • Begin on time: the window opens about 25 minutes after sunset. Finish the sankalp and Ganesh puja just before it opens so the main Lakshmi worship falls inside it.
  • If you miss it: the rest of Pradosh Kaal, until about 8:10 PM in Dubai, remains an auspicious time for puja.

Do not convert India's muhurat to UAE time

It is tempting to take the Indian time and subtract an hour and a half. India's Lakshmi Puja muhurat is 5:54 PM – 7:50 PM IST (New Delhi, Drik Panchang); converted to the UAE that is 4:24 PM – 6:20 PM GST. It begins in the afternoon, more than an hour before sunset and before Pradosh Kaal has started, and it ends only twenty minutes into Dubai's correct window. The muhurat depends on your own sunset and the lagna rising over the UAE, so use the table above or the time announced by your temple — never a converted Indian time.

Lakshmi-Ganesh puja at home: a devotional guide

Whether you live in a villa in Abu Dhabi or a one-bedroom flat in Bur Dubai, Lakshmi Puja is the same act of love: preparing your home and inviting Mahalakshmi — the Mother of prosperity, contentment and grace — with Ganesha worshipped first. Follow your own family's traditions wherever they differ from this outline.

Samagri

  • Murtis or a picture of Lakshmi and Ganesha on a chowki covered with red cloth
  • A kalash with water, mango or betel leaves and a coconut on a little rice
  • Ghee or oil diyas, incense, camphor, a bell and an aarti thali
  • Kumkum, haldi, chandan, akshat, flowers (lotus if available) and a garland
  • Naivedya: kheer, laddoos or payasam, kheel-batashe and fruit
  • Coins or a piece of gold or silver, some cash, and account books for business families

Getting ready

Clean the home during the day — tradition says Lakshmi stays where there is order and light. Draw a rangoli or kolam at the door, bathe, and wear new or clean clothes. Set the altar facing east or north, with Ganesha seated on Lakshmi's right (your left) and the kalash beside them.

Step-by-step vidhi

  1. Achaman: sip water three times, sprinkle water over yourself and the samagri, and light the main diya.
  2. Sankalp: with water, rice and a flower in your right hand, state your name, gotra, the place ("in ___, in the United Arab Emirates"), the day — Kartika Amavasya, Sunday 8 November 2026 — and your prayer. Release the water into a plate.
  3. Ganesh puja: offer kumkum, akshat, a flower and a sweet with "Om Gan Ganapataye Namah".
  4. Kalash puja: honour the kalash with kumkum and flowers as the seat of the sacred rivers and the devas.
  5. Avahan: with folded hands, invite Mahalakshmi; offer water for her feet and bathe the murti in panchamrit and clean water.
  6. Offerings: chandan, kumkum, akshat, flowers, garland, incense and lamp. Place the coins, gold and books before her and mark them with kumkum.
  7. Japa: chant "Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah" 108 times, or 11 or 21 times.
  8. Naivedya: offer the sweets and fruit and pray that the Goddess accepts them.
  9. Aarti: sing "Om Jai Lakshmi Mata" together, circling the lamp clockwise.
  10. Close: ask forgiveness for any mistakes, take blessings from elders, share prasad and light diyas through the home.

Mantras and their meaning

  • Om Gan Ganapataye Namah — "Salutations to Ganapati", remover of obstacles, honoured first in every puja.
  • Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah — "Om, I bow to Mahalakshmi." Shreem is the seed syllable of Lakshmi, carrying abundance, beauty and auspiciousness.
  • Om Mahalakshmyai Cha Vidmahe, Vishnupatnyai Cha Dhimahi, Tanno Lakshmih Prachodayat — Lakshmi Gayatri: "May we know Mahalakshmi; may we meditate on Vishnu's consort; may Lakshmi illumine our minds."
  • Om Yakshaya Kuberaya Vaishravanaya Dhanadhanyadhipataye Dhanadhanya Samriddhim Me Dehi Dapaya Svaha — to Kubera, lord of wealth and grain, for prosperity that sustains the family.

Aarti: Om Jai Lakshmi Mata

Om Jai Lakshmi Mata, Maiya Jai Lakshmi Mata; Tumko nishdin sevat, Hara Vishnu Vidhata. — "Victory to you, Mother Lakshmi; Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma serve you day and night." Uma Rama Brahmani, tum hi jag-mata — "You are Uma, Rama and Brahmani, Mother of the world."

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The five days, one by one

Dhanteras, Friday 6 November

Dhanteras honours Lord Dhanvantari, who rose from the ocean of milk with the pot of amrit, and welcomes Lakshmi's wealth into the home. Buying gold, silver or a new steel vessel is the custom, and the UAE's jewellers — not least in Dubai's gold souk area — are traditionally busy on this day. It is a working Friday, but the Dhanteras muhurat begins after 6 PM in every emirate (Dubai 6:06 PM – 8:03 PM), leaving time to reach home. Light the Yama Deepam, a four-wick lamp facing south, near the front door as a prayer for the family's protection.

Naraka Chaturdashi and Deepavali morning, Sunday 8 November

Before sunrise, many families — especially from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, for whom this is the main Deepavali — take an oil bath, wear new clothes, visit the temple and share sweets, remembering Krishna's victory over Narakasura. The same day ends with Lakshmi Puja in the evening, so plan a rest in the afternoon. Bengali families keep Kali Puja on the Amavasya night — check with your puja committee.

Govardhan Puja, Monday 9 November

Krishna lifted Govardhan hill to shelter Vraj from Indra's storms. Temples offer Annakut, a mountain of vegetarian dishes, and Gujarati families greet the New Year on this Kartika Pratipada. It is a working day, so most will visit for evening darshan.

Bhai Dooj, Tuesday 10 November

Sisters apply tilak and pray for their brothers' long life, remembering Yamuna's welcome to Yama; brothers give gifts. If your siblings are in India, their Bhai Dooj is a day later, Wednesday 11 November — a video call can bridge both days.

Practical tips for Diwali in the UAE

  • The weekend works for you: with Diwali on a Sunday, do your big shopping on Saturday 7 November and keep Sunday for cleaning, cooking, temple and puja.
  • Fireworks: private use of fireworks is not permitted in the UAE without official authorisation. Enjoy diyas, rangoli and any officially announced public displays instead.
  • Flats and towers: many buildings restrict open flames on balconies and in corridors. Keep oil lamps indoors on a heat-proof tray, away from curtains, and use LED diyas outside. Open a window during aarti so camphor smoke does not trigger the alarm.
  • Working days: Dhanteras, Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj fall on working days; all evening muhurats begin after 6 PM, so they are achievable after office hours.
  • Time difference: call family in India knowing that their Lakshmi Puja (5:54 PM – 7:50 PM IST) will start at 4:24 PM your time — share the moment, but keep your own puja to the UAE muhurat.

Temples in the UAE

The BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi and the Hindu temple in Jebel Ali, Dubai, are the main places of worship for the community, and both draw very large crowds around Diwali. Check each temple's official channels for 2026 darshan timings, any registration requirements and parking arrangements before you travel, rather than relying on forwarded messages.

Frequently asked questions

When is Diwali 2026 in Dubai and the UAE?

Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) is on Sunday 8 November 2026 in all seven emirates. Dhanteras is Friday 6 November, Naraka Chaturdashi is the morning of Sunday 8 November, Govardhan Puja is Monday 9 November and Bhai Dooj Tuesday 10 November (Drik Panchang for the UAE).

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What is the Lakshmi Puja muhurat in Dubai in 2026?

In Dubai the Lakshmi Puja muhurat is 5:58 PM – 7:56 PM GST on Sunday 8 November 2026, within Pradosh Kaal of 5:35 PM – 8:10 PM. This is Drik Panchang's published time. Sharjah is 5:57 PM – 7:55 PM and Abu Dhabi 6:03 PM – 8:00 PM.

Is Diwali a holiday in the UAE?

Diwali is not a public holiday in the UAE, but in 2026 it falls on a Sunday, which is part of the Saturday–Sunday weekend for government and most private-sector employees. Dhanteras (Friday), Govardhan Puja (Monday) and Bhai Dooj (Tuesday) are working days.

Can I use the Indian Lakshmi Puja time in Dubai by subtracting 1.5 hours?

No. India's window (5:54 PM – 7:50 PM IST in New Delhi) becomes 4:24 PM – 6:20 PM in the UAE — it starts in the afternoon, before sunset, and ends just as the correct local window is getting under way. Use the UAE muhurat: 5:58 PM – 7:56 PM in Dubai.

What is the Dhanteras puja muhurat in Dubai in 2026?

Dhanteras is Friday 6 November 2026. The puja muhurat is 6:06 PM – 8:03 PM in Dubai, 6:11 PM – 8:09 PM in Abu Dhabi, 6:05 PM – 8:02 PM in Sharjah, 6:02 PM – 7:59 PM in Ras Al Khaimah and 6:06 PM – 8:03 PM in Al Ain.

Why are Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj earlier in the UAE than in India?

Drik Panchang calculates each festival for the local position and time zone. For the UAE it places Govardhan Puja on Monday 9 November and Bhai Dooj on Tuesday 10 November; in India they fall on Tuesday 10 and Wednesday 11 November. Diwali itself is Sunday 8 November in both.

Editor's note (5 October 2026): Festival dates follow Drik Panchang for the UAE. The Lakshmi Puja and Dhanteras muhurats are the overlap of Pradosh Kaal and the sidereal Vrishabha lagna; the Dubai row is Drik Panchang's published value and the other emirates were calculated by the same method to within about a minute. Temple and community programmes are not yet confirmed — organisers are still publishing 2026 flyers; we will update this guide.