Hag Al Laila Explained: A Guide for Expats Living in Dubai

As Ramadan approaches in the UAE, you may start noticing something joyful happening around neighborhoods, schools, malls, and cultural spaces. Children dressed in traditional clothing, carrying colorful woven bags, laughing as they collect sweets from door to door.

This celebration is called Hag Al Laila, a long-standing Emirati tradition that marks the countdown to Ramadan. If you’re new to Dubai, or experiencing this for the first time, here’s what it means, when it happens, and how families celebrate it across the UAE.

What Is Hag Al Laila?

Hag Al Laila is a traditional Emirati children’s celebration that takes place in the weeks leading up to Ramadan. It is centred around generosity, community, and preparation for the holy month, both spiritually and socially.

Children play a central role in the celebration. Dressed in traditional Emirati attire, they go door to door in their neighbourhoods, singing folk songs and collecting sweets, nuts, and treats in small cloth or woven bags.

The tradition introduces children to values that are deeply rooted in Emirati culture, sharing, gratitude, kindness, and togetherness, while creating joyful memories that connect generations.

Although Hag Al Laila is uniquely Emirati, similar traditions exist across the Gulf. It is known as Garangao in Qatar and Bahrain, Gergaoon in Oman, and Gargean in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

When Is Hag Al Laila Celebrated?

Hag Al Laila is celebrated on the eve of the 15th of Sha‘ban, the eighth month in the Islamic calendar. This usually falls around two weeks before the start of Ramadan, although exact dates may vary slightly each year depending on moon sightings.

The celebration is part of a cultural period known as the Season of Wulfa, which focuses on closeness, kindness, and strengthening social bonds. This season stretches from Hag Al Laila through Ramadan and into Eid Al Fitr, making it a meaningful time for connection and generosity within communities.

Traditionally, Hag Al Laila celebrations begin after the Maghrib prayer and continue into the evening.

How Is Hag Al Laila Celebrated?

At its heart, Hag Al Laila is a neighbourhood celebration.

Children walk together in groups, stopping at homes and chanting traditional phrases such as “Atoona Hag Al Laila”, which translates to “Give us sweets for tonight.” Neighbours welcome them warmly, offering candies, nuts, or small treats that fill their colourful bags.

Families also prepare special foods at home, most commonly luqaimaat, small fried dumplings drizzled with date syrup, a sweet that is usually reserved for special occasions like Eid or weddings.

Historically, these celebrations took place within the fareej, traditional Emirati neighbourhoods, where everyone knew one another. While life in the UAE has evolved, the essence of Hag Al Laila remains unchanged, joy, giving, and community.

Today, schools, cultural centres, malls, and public attractions across the UAE host organised Hag Al Laila events, allowing residents and visitors to experience the tradition in a more structured setting.

Why Hag Al Laila Matters

Hag Al Laila is more than a festive moment. It is a reminder that Emirati culture places children, generosity, and community at its core.

Even as the UAE continues to modernize, traditions like this remain deeply valued, creating spaces where cultural memory is passed on through simple, joyful acts. For expats, it’s also a beautiful opportunity to witness and appreciate the values that shape life in the UAE, kindness, sharing, and togetherness.

If you’re living in Dubai, experiencing Hag Al Laila offers a gentle, meaningful glimpse into the rhythm of life leading into Ramadan, one rooted in connection rather than spectacle.