Dubai has unveiled a major new cultural initiative designed to celebrate Emirati heritage, strengthen community bonds and honour traditions as the emirate prepares for the holy period of Hag Al Leila, Ramadan and Eid. His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence of the UAE and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai officially launched the Season of Wulfa in an announcement on January 12, 2026. The programme is set to unfold across the emirate with a broad array of experiences rooted in UAE values and traditions.
What is the Season of Wulfa?
The Season of Wulfa is a wide-ranging cultural campaign that celebrates the emotional, social and spiritual fabric of Emirati life, extending from Hag Al Leila through the entire month of Ramadan and the subsequent Eid festivities. The word Wulfa, derived from Arabic roots related to Ulfa, signifies affection, closeness and communal harmony, concepts that lie at the heart of this initiative’s mission.Sheikh Hamdan’s announcement highlighted that the initiative aims to preserve and transmit traditional values, community cohesion and cultural identity, bringing together people of all backgrounds in shared celebration. He emphasised that the project will serve as a space where past traditions meet the present, enabling customs and heritage to be experienced in contemporary, tangible forms.At the core of the Season of Wulfa are three foundational values:
- Reflection: Encouraging personal and communal contemplation rooted in spiritual and cultural practices.
- Connection: Strengthening social ties within families, neighbourhoods and across communities.
- Blessing: Expressing generosity, gratitude and goodwill through shared experiences and hospitality.
These pillars are expressed through customs, hospitality, local gatherings and festive rituals that deepen bonds between people and strengthen the sense of shared identity across Dubai’s multicultural population. The programme will span more than 50 initiatives taking place across over 30 locations throughout Dubai, including neighbourhoods, markets and cultural venues. The events are designed to appeal to residents, citizens and visitors, reflecting the UAE’s ethos of tolerance, coexistence and respect for all cultures.These experiences will combine heritage activities, artistic expressions, spiritual gatherings and contemporary cultural showcases, blending the essence of the UAE’s traditions with innovative and interactive cultural platforms that resonate with people of all ages and backgrounds.
Season of Wulfa honouring tradition from Hag Al Leila to Eid
The Season of Wulfa begins with Hag Al Leila, an Emirati custom observed on the night of the 15th of Shaʿban, the eighth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Hag Al Leila is a time of storytelling, community sharing and preparing for the upcoming Ramadan season with sweets and gatherings. It then continues throughout Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar that is marked by a period of fasting, reflection, charity and prayer and culminates in the Eid celebrations, which are marked by family reunions, feasts and joyful festivities. By linking these culturally significant occasions into one cohesive cultural “season,” Dubai aims to create a continuous journey of cultural engagement and spiritual connectivity that both honours the past and embraces modern communal life.Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, is overseeing the Season of Wulfa. She has described the programme as a blend of heritage and contemporary creativity, offering multi-sensory cultural experiences that promote humanitarian values, community bonds and shared celebrations across diverse segments of society. Sheikha Latifa highlighted that the events will reinforce Dubai’s reputation as a global model for coexistence, harmony and tolerance, drawing from a rich civilisational heritage while also inspiring future generations to cherish and carry forward these values.
Season of Wulfa celebration with universal appeal
Although deeply rooted in Emirati identity, the Season of Wulfa aims to be inclusive and globally resonant. By highlighting universal themes such as belonging, generosity, compassion and shared human experience, the initiative seeks to foster dialogue, mutual respect and a sense of unity among the nearly 200 nationalities that call Dubai home.The launch of the Season of Wulfa reflects Dubai’s broader cultural strategy under visionary leadership by using heritage, tradition and shared values to bring communities together, amplify cultural understanding and create enduring social bonds in a rapidly evolving world. It underscores the UAE’s commitment to preserving cultural heritage while fostering an environment of inclusivity, respect and harmony that bridges past and present for generations to come.By transforming age-old cultural celebrations into a dynamic, citywide “season,” Dubai is aiming to honours tradition and craft immersive, communal experiences that enrich social connection, celebrate heritage and propel cultural continuity into the future.
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