Ramadan 2027 is expected to start on Monday 8 February 2027, with Eid al Fitr on 9 or 10 March, according to the UAE Astronomy Centre's calculation reported by The National. As always, the dates depend on the moon sighting. That puts the holy month about four months away, and the region's broadcasters are already selling it.
What Dubai Media told advertisers
Dubai Media held an event called Dubai Media, Looking to the Future at Majlis Al Salam in Madinat Jumeirah for advertisers, agencies and partners, reported on 2 October by Campaign Middle East and Communicate. It set out opportunities for the fourth quarter of 2026 and the first quarter of 2027, including Ramadan. The speakers were chief executive Mohamed AlMulla, Steve Smith, executive director for commercial media and ventures, and Sarah Al Jarman.
The headline pitch for Ramadan 2027 was timing: brands should commit early so their partnerships are built into shows while they are being made, rather than added afterwards. Dubai Media Sales House sells across television, digital, social and branded content, including sponsorships and branded segments.
The numbers it shared
- Net revenue for Ramadan 2026 was up 57 percent on Ramadan 2025.
- Its Ramadan 2026 programming reached 53.7 percent of the UAE's Arab TV audience, with about 2.2 million daily viewers and a 26.6 percent share of viewing.
- Its streaming service, Dubai+, has more than one million registered users and more than ten original titles, and its content is going onto Emirates' in-flight entertainment.
- Shows offered for brand integration in the fourth quarter include Shark Tank Dubai season four, The Doctors and Dubai Drive.
These are Dubai Media's own figures, presented to sell advertising, so treat them as the seller's case. They still show where attention goes during Ramadan in the UAE, and that the best integration slots go to brands that commit before production.
A planning calendar for Ramadan 2027
- October: agree the Ramadan budget and objectives with each client. Ask broadcasters and platforms for their Ramadan packages now, while integration is still possible.
- November: lock the creative idea and any TV or streaming integration. Shortlist creators and check their permits and availability, since the best ones book early.
- December: production. Shoot hero content and creator content before the year-end break, and allow for approvals across several stakeholders.
- January: build and test paid campaigns, prepare Arabic and English versions, and schedule posts. Confirm the media plan follows Ramadan viewing patterns, which shift later into the evening.
- February and March: launch around 8 February, adjust weekly, and plan the Eid moment separately.
Things that catch agencies out
- The dates are estimates until the moon sighting. Build a few days of slack into launch plans.
- Working hours shorten for many teams during Ramadan, including clients and suppliers. Approvals slow down, so finish as much as possible before it starts.
- Saudi and UAE audiences behave differently, and so do their media calendars. Plan each market on its own.
- Ramadan content is judged on tone. Purpose and generosity land; hard selling rarely does.
The GCC marketing calendar on this site lists Ramadan, Eid and the region's other key dates, and the working days calculator counts the real working days left before launch.
