Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin around 8 February 2027, with Eid al-Fitr around 9 or 10 March, depending on the moon sighting. Chinese New Year falls on 6 February 2027. For a buyer who imports from China and sells into a Ramadan market, that puts the two biggest disruptions of the year into the same fortnight.
What changes during Ramadan
- Working hours. Private-sector working hours are reduced by two hours a day during Ramadan, so suppliers, offices and clearing agents have less time each day.
- Demand. Food staples such as dates, rice, flour, sugar and cooking oil, hospitality supplies, gift packaging and some electronics see demand rise ahead of and during the month.
- Logistics. Deliveries and customs clearances slow down around Eid al-Fitr, when many businesses close for several days.
- Prices. With demand up and capacity down, suppliers have less reason to discount, and stock of popular items can run out.
The Chinese New Year overlap
Many Chinese factories close for one to several weeks around the New Year, and production slows for a while before and after as workers travel. Orders not confirmed well before the holiday often wait until after it. Add sea freight to the UAE, and an order placed in January from a Chinese factory may not arrive until after Ramadan has started. More on sourcing from China.
In 2027, "order before Ramadan" really means "order before Chinese New Year".
A simple timeline
- November–December 2026: confirm anything imported from China, especially printed or custom items. Ask factories for their holiday shutdown dates.
- Early January 2027: place orders for local stock you will need through Ramadan — food staples, packaging, cleaning and hospitality supplies.
- Mid-January 2027: confirm delivery dates in writing, and book any deliveries that must arrive before the reduced hours begin.
- February–March 2027: keep a short list of backup local suppliers for anything that runs out, and plan around the Eid closures.
Quick answers
When exactly does Ramadan 2027 start? The start depends on the sighting of the new moon, so the exact date is confirmed only shortly before. Around 8 February 2027 is the expected date; plan for a day either side.
Are suppliers closed during Ramadan? No, most UAE suppliers work as normal with shorter hours. Closures are mainly around Eid al-Fitr at the end of the month.
Getting quotes before the rush
Our AI procurement platform calls local suppliers for you at the same time and returns a ranked comparison in about twelve minutes, so a pre-Ramadan quote round does not have to take a week of phone calls. Overseas suppliers can be reached by email and WhatsApp on the Standard and Pro plans. Start with where to find more suppliers, or see the agent call a real supplier.