Eid celebrations across the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Iran and elsewhere in the region were similarly subdued.At around 5:45 am, a few hours before Eid prayers were to begin at Dubai mosques, residents across the city were jolted awake by warning notifications and interception blasts in the sky.As the day progressed, the city moved toward normalcy. There is a 50% increase in sales, compared to the same time last week,” said an executive at a jewellery store.Malls, which were quiet in the morning hours, got busy in the evening, as residents stepped out for dining and last-minute festive shopping.The traditional Eid namaz, usually performed in large open prayer grounds after sunrise, was moved indoors across the UAE as a precaution.The UAE ministry of defence said that it dealt with four ballistic missiles and 26 drones from Iran on Friday.While grocery spending stayed up during Eid, luxury or gifting spends took a hit, according to experts.“Eid season generally sees a spike in consumer spending,” said Sandeep Ganediwalla, managing director, RedSeer Middle East. The traditional Eid namaz, usually performed in large open prayer grounds after sunrise, was moved indoors across the UAE as a precaution.The UAE ministry of defence said that it dealt with four ballistic missiles and 26 drones from Iran on Friday.While grocery spending stayed up during Eid, luxury or gifting spends took a hit, according to experts.“Eid season generally sees a spike in consumer spending,” said Sandeep Ganediwalla, managing director, RedSeer Middle East.
Author: Dilasha Seth
Published at: 2026-03-21 00:00:00
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