Across the country people are preparing for Eid Al Fitr by stocking up on festive treats, buying new clothes and ensuring not a hair is out of place with trips to the salon.
In the capital, Le Chocolala on Muroor Road was doing brisk trade on Tuesday, with chocolate trays and boxes disappearing from the shelves.
The chocolate stands are displaying Eid messages, and there are even giveaways enticing children who are prepped to celebrate the end of Ramadan.
Muneera Al Mansouri popped in with her children after a long day spent shopping.
“We came from Al Gharbia to get everything we need. We have been around many sweet shops, tailors and furniture stores,” said the 40-year-old Emirati, who was on her third trip to the capital this month to buy Eid necessities.
“We need shops to open there [in Al Gharbia] so we don’t have to travel all the way.”
Abdulqader Al Jamaal, a supervisor at Chocolala, was trying to solve an order dilemma with a customer on the phone.
“The chocolates have not arrived yet? If Eid is tomorrow I will call you at 1am to deliver it to you. If not, you can pick it up anytime tomorrow,” he said over the phone on Monday.
“This customer had a complicated order. She found a picture of a chocolate stand on Instagram and asked that we do the same, so we had to make a special order for it.”
Chocolala had a constant flow of shoppers since opening at 9am.
“If Eid is tomorrow we will open until 6am. If not, I can leave at 3am,” said Mr Al Jamaal, who said the last four days of Ramadan has seen four times normal custom.
Traditionally, Muslims present chocolates to visitors during Eid, in addition to Arabic cookies.
Elsewhere in the UAE, similar busy scenes were visible.
In Fujairah, tailors were swamped with people looking to buy new clothes, while families were baking sweets at home or visiting pastry shops.
“I have been running between shopping malls and tailors for the last 10 days. I have five young daughters and each one has her own style and requirements. I cover them all to see the smile on their faces during Eid,” said Jamila Abdullah, a 49-year-old Jordanian.
“Eid for me is a challenge but I enjoy each and every moment of it, although I went two times to Dubai to find them a matching shoe and purse but at least they are happy and satisfied.”
An expatriate who moved to Fujairah in 2009 said the celebration atmosphere there is unique.
“Eid is about family and friends getting together, sharing Eid pastries and sweets. When I was living in Dubai I didn’t even know who lives next to me but here we share Eid wishes and sweets with the neighbours in a friendly atmosphere that feels like home,” said Hanene Mukhtar, a 35-year-old Tunisian mother of one.
“The atmosphere encourages you to keep the traditions alive, and preparing sweets with the family is part of the tradition.
“One the first day of Eid I will take my two-year-old boy dressed in the traditional Tunisian outfit to visit the neighbours while carrying sweets.”
Hairdressers and barber shops also witnessed queues in Fujairah city.
“A new haircut for us and a visit to the beauty salon for ladies is a must before Eid and part of the tradition,” said Ahmad Al Mazrooie, a 39-year-old Emirati father of two.
“I took the boys on Saturday to get a new haircut and I will have mine today. For ladies it’s a totally different story as they book in advance and spend around half a day in the salon.”
His wife said she had to arrange a salon booking two weeks before Eid as it was so busy.
“We deserve to pamper ourselves as we work so hard in preparing meals during Ramadan,” said Amna Rasheed, 32.
“Almost all the beauty salons and henna centres are fully booked. The same thing happens with tailors.”
Residents in Abu Dhabi said they would use the Eid break as a chance to escape the bustle of the city.
Hamid Abdullah, 24, an Emirati, said: “On the first day, I plan to stay in Abu Dhabi and hang around with our relatives but on the second day I will travel to Al Ain with family and stay the entire day.”
He said he would take his family to Al Ain Zoo before having a barbecue in the lush Mubazzarah Park, in the valley of Jebel Hafeet.
Saleh Mosa, 15, an Emirati, said he was hoping to spend his Eid break at Yas Water World and then in Dubai.
“Eid is fun to meet and greet with relatives and get plenty of Eidiah [Eid gifts],” he said.
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