Chhath Puja 2026 in Dubai & UAE: Dates, Arghya Times

Chhath Puja 2026 in Dubai and the UAE: Dates, Arghya Times and How Families Celebrate

Quick answer: Chhath Puja 2026 in Dubai and the rest of the UAE runs from Friday 13 to Monday 16 November, the same four days as India. Sandhya Arghya is at sunset on Sunday 15 November (Dubai 5:32 PM) and Usha Arghya at sunrise on Monday 16 November (Dubai 6:37 AM). Times are from Drik Panchang; th

HinduTone Dharma DeskNovember 15, 20265 min read

Quick answer: Chhath Puja 2026 in Dubai and the rest of the UAE runs from Friday 13 to Monday 16 November, the same four days as India. Sandhya Arghya is at sunset on Sunday 15 November (Dubai 5:32 PM) and Usha Arghya at sunrise on Monday 16 November (Dubai 6:37 AM). Times are from Drik Panchang; the UAE has no daylight saving time.

Families from Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh and Nepal's Terai keep Chhath across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. Far from the ghats of the Ganga, they keep the same fast, make the same thekua and offer arghya to the same setting and rising Sun, on a balcony, a terrace, a building pool or a permitted community venue.

Chhath Puja 2026 dates in the UAE

Day	Date	Ritual
1. Nahay Khay	Friday, 13 November	Purifying bath and one sattvic meal
2. Kharna	Saturday, 14 November	Day-long fast; kheer and roti prasad after sunset; the nirjala fast begins
3. Sandhya Arghya	Sunday, 15 November	Arghya to the setting Sun
4. Usha Arghya and Parana	Monday, 16 November	Arghya to the rising Sun; the fast is broken

Arghya times in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah

City	Kharna sunset, Sat 14 Nov	Sandhya Arghya, sunset Sun 15 Nov	Usha Arghya, sunrise Mon 16 Nov
Dubai	5:32 PM	5:32 PM	6:37 AM
Abu Dhabi	5:36 PM	5:36 PM	6:39 AM
Sharjah	5:31 PM	5:30 PM	6:36 AM

Times are local (Gulf Standard Time, UTC+4), from Drik Panchang. Be ready 30 to 45 minutes early: the arghya is offered while the Sun is still visible at dusk and as it appears at dawn, and buildings or haze can hide the horizon a few minutes before the published time. For other emirates, open Drik Panchang for your own city.

Why the timing works well in the UAE

For most offices the UAE weekend is Saturday and Sunday, so Kharna and Sandhya Arghya both fall on days off. Monday's Usha Arghya is before work.
November evenings are mild, unlike Canada or the UK, and sea water is not cold.
Sugarcane, coconut, bananas and seasonal fruit are easy to find; bamboo soop can be scarce, and a brass or steel plate is an accepted substitute.

Where families in Dubai keep Chhath

Most families in Bur Dubai, Karama, Deira, Al Nahda, International City, Discovery Gardens and other neighbourhoods keep Chhath at home or with friends and relatives in the same building. Common arrangements are:

A tub or basin of clean water on a balcony or terrace, facing the Sun, with the soop and diya beside it.
A building pool or garden, with the permission of the building management.
A community gathering arranged by an association that has obtained a permitted venue.

We do not list venues because they change every year and we have not seen a confirmed public programme for 2026. Ask your local Bihari, Purvanchali or Nepali association, and confirm the venue, timings and permissions with the organisers before you go.

Rules for beaches, parks and public places

Public beaches, parks and waterfronts in the UAE are managed by municipal and venue authorities with their own rules on gatherings, fires, lamps and leaving items. Do not assume a public place is approved for a religious gathering. Keep groups small and tidy, avoid open flames where they are not allowed, and take every flower, peel and plate home with you.

The four days in brief

Nahay Khay (Friday): a ritual bath, a cleaned home and one sattvic meal, traditionally lauki, chana dal and rice.

Kharna (Saturday): a day-long fast, broken after sunset with jaggery kheer, roti and banana offered to Chhathi Maiya. The strict nirjala fast then continues until the final morning.

Sandhya Arghya (Sunday): thekua, fruits, sugarcane, coconut and a diya are arranged in the soop and daura, and arghya is offered to the setting Sun with Chhath songs.

Usha Arghya and Parana (Monday): before dawn the family gathers again, arghya is offered to the rising Sun, prasad is shared and the fast is broken.

Chhath prasad in the UAE

Thekua: wheat flour, jaggery and ghee, the signature Chhath offering
Kasaar: rice flour and jaggery, shaped into balls
Kharna kheer: rice cooked in milk with jaggery
Fruits, sugarcane and coconut: arranged in the soop

Indian grocery stores in Bur Dubai, Karama and Deira stock most items; call ahead for sugarcane and soop. See our Chhath prasad recipes.

Fasting and health

The nirjala fast is demanding. Elderly devotees, pregnant women, people with diabetes or other conditions and anyone on regular medication should speak to a doctor first. Sincerity matters more than strictness, and a lighter form of the fast is accepted in many families.

Family in India?

India's Sandhya Arghya on Sunday 15 November is at about 5:01 PM in Patna, which is about 3:31 PM in Dubai. A video call lets families see each other's ghats, but keep your own city's timings and never convert India's times.

More Chhath guides

Jai Chhathi Maiya! Jai Surya Dev!

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Chhath Puja 2026 in Dubai?

From Friday 13 to Monday 16 November 2026, with Sandhya Arghya on Sunday 15 November and Usha Arghya on Monday 16 November.

What time is Sandhya Arghya in Dubai?

At sunset on Sunday 15 November, about 5:32 PM. In Abu Dhabi it is about 5:36 PM and in Sharjah about 5:30 PM.

What time is Usha Arghya in Dubai?

At sunrise on Monday 16 November, about 6:37 AM.

Where can I celebrate Chhath Puja in Dubai?

Most families keep it at home or in their building. For a community gathering, ask your local Bihari, Purvanchali or Nepali association and confirm the venue and permissions first.

Can I do Chhath arghya on a balcony?

Yes. A clean tub or basin of water facing the Sun, with the soop and diya beside it, is enough. Follow your building's rules on lamps.

Is Chhath Puja a public holiday in the UAE?

No. But Saturday and Sunday are the weekend for most offices, so the main days fall on days off.

Editor's note (15 November 2026): Dates and times are from Drik Panchang for Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. We do not list venues; confirm any gathering with its organisers.