On holiday for Islamic New Year?

[MaidOfStars]

We are planning a trip to Dubai/Oman for October. I have read that October 26th coincides with the Islamic New Year. Is this something I want to be around for (for cultural interest) or is a modest celebration that isn't particularly accessible to non-Muslims? I am aware that there will be a "dry" period over the holiday! If it's something to see, do I aim to see it in Dubai or in Muscat?

(Will also post in Religion)

I don't know about Dubai but I lived in Turkey so saw this festival there. It is the feast of sacrifice so they slaughter a lot of animals, often in public places so if you don't like that kind of thing maybe don't go this time of year. It is also mainly family based.

Ah, I am vegetarian so perhaps that isn't ideal for me. I suspect they won't be doing any slaughtering on the main streets of caputal cities though? Will have to research this, thanks.

They may do. I know in Turkey they gather in the streets of the towns to do it.

They do a lot of slaughtering of sheep in the streets in Marrakech as well, followed by the corpses hanging up/being butchered outside people's houses.

If you don't fancy dodging streams of blood on the floor I'd avoid it

I think you are confusing Islamic New Year with Eid al Adha Sootica and mumblechum.

I have no direct experience of Islamic New Year in Dubai or Oman, but in Egypt is isn't much of a big deal. We eat rice pudding, have a day off work and some religious people do a prayer the night before, but they are a small minority. The "dry" period in Egypt is the period of the Hajj and Eid al Adha and lasts ten days. This would be over in mid October, probably around the 15th. Not sure if they have an extra period in Dubai and Oman with no drinking, but I doubt it.

It is just a public holiday like any other really, much less a big deal than New Year's Eve.

Sorry, got my dates wrong. Eid al Adha (the one the slaughtering) will probably begin on October 4th and it lasts 5 days. So if Dubai and Oman are like Egypt the alcohol ban should be over by October 10th. Things may take a little time to get going after the holiday, but I imagine everything would be back to normal by mid October.

Just checked Gulf holidays...Oman only gets four days for Eid al Adha and Dubai three!