Quick answer: Karthika Pournami 2026 UAE date is Tuesday 24 November 2026. Purnima tithi begins at 10:12 PM on Monday 23 November and ends at 6:53 PM on Tuesday 24 November (UAE time). Purnima spans the whole of Tuesday 24 November, including sunset, so Tuesday evening is the natural time to light the Pournami deepam in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and every other emirate.

Karthigai Deepam falls on the same day. Below you will find Purnima times and sunsets for five UAE cities, and a practical guide to the 365-wick deepam, Jwala Thoranam, Satyanarayana vratam and deepa daanam for families living in UAE apartments and villas.

Source: the UAE dates and times here are from Drik Panchang for UAE cities. All times are UAE local time (Gulf Standard Time). Do not use India's clock times in the UAE.

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Karthika Pournami 2026 UAE: Purnima time and sunset by city

All seven emirates share one time zone, so Purnima begins and ends at the same clock time everywhere. Sunset differs by only a few minutes between Ras Al Khaimah in the north and Abu Dhabi.

CityPurnima beginsPurnima endsSunset Mon 23 NovSunset Tue 24 Nov
DubaiMon 23 Nov, 10:12 PMTue 24 Nov, 6:53 PM5:29 PM5:28 PM
Abu DhabiMon 23 Nov, 10:12 PMTue 24 Nov, 6:53 PM5:33 PM5:33 PM
SharjahMon 23 Nov, 10:12 PMTue 24 Nov, 6:53 PM5:28 PM5:28 PM
Ras Al KhaimahMon 23 Nov, 10:12 PMTue 24 Nov, 6:53 PM5:25 PM5:25 PM
Al AinMon 23 Nov, 10:12 PMTue 24 Nov, 6:53 PM5:28 PM5:28 PM

On Tuesday 24 November, sunset comes at about 5:25 to 5:33 PM, and Purnima continues until 6:53 PM. This gives UAE families a comfortable window at dusk when Purnima is still running, which is not the case in the UK or Europe this year.

Why Tuesday 24 November is the day in the UAE

A Hindu festival is usually fixed by the tithi at sunrise, and Karthika Pournami is no exception. In the UAE, Purnima begins late on Monday night and is the running tithi at sunrise on Tuesday, so Tuesday 24 November is Karthika Pournami. Because Purnima also lasts past sunset on Tuesday, the morning bath, the daytime puja and the evening lamps all fall inside Purnima on the same day.

  • Monday 23 November: a Karthika Somavaram in the UAE. Purnima has not yet begun at sunset; it starts at 10:12 PM. Keep the usual Somavaram puja and lamp.
  • Tuesday 24 November, morning: Karthika snanam (bath before puja), Satyanarayana vratam or a temple visit.
  • Tuesday 24 November, sunset to 6:53 PM: light the Pournami deepam, the 365-wick lamp and the Karthigai Deepam rows.

If your temple or family follows a different custom, follow that. When in doubt, ask the priest at the temple you attend.

Rituals of Karthika Pournami

Karthika Pournami is the brightest night of the Karthika month. As commonly told, it marks Shiva's victory over the three demon cities (Tripurasura), and so it is also called Tripurari Pournami. Shaiva and Vaishnava families both honour it.

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365-wick deepam (365 vattula deepam)

Many Telugu families light one lamp with 365 cotton wicks twisted together, one for each day of the year. As commonly told, lighting it on Pournami brings the merit of a lamp lit every day of the year. The wicks are soaked in ghee or sesame oil in a wide lamp. See our complete guide to the 365-wick deepam.

Jwala Thoranam

In many Shiva temples of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, a frame of straw or cloth (the thoranam) is set alight on Pournami night and the deity is carried beneath it. It is a temple ritual, not one for the home. If a UAE temple holds a Karthika Pournami programme, it will announce it; check the temple's official website or social media for details.

Satyanarayana vratam

Pournami is a favoured day for the Satyanarayana vratam and katha. Many UAE families hold it at home on Tuesday 24 November, or on the weekend when relatives and friends can come. Ask your priest about timing.

Deepa daanam and Karthika snanam

Gifting a lit lamp (deepa daanam) is a traditional act of the day. A bath at home before puja stands in for the river bath of India. See Karthika snanam and deepa daanam 2026.

Karthigai Deepam on the same day

Tamil households celebrate Karthigai Deepam on Tuesday 24 November 2026 with rows of small clay lamps. As commonly told, it recalls the endless column of fire in which Shiva appeared to Brahma and Vishnu. See Karthigai Deepam 2026.

Lamp safety in UAE apartments

Most UAE families live in apartment towers with smoke detectors, sprinklers and building rules set by the management. A 365-wick lamp burns with a large flame, so plan before you light it.

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  • Place lamps on a metal tray on a stable, heat-proof surface, well away from curtains, flowers and paper decorations.
  • Keep lamps away from smoke detectors and sprinkler heads, and never cover or disable them.
  • Avoid lighting lamps on balconies on windy evenings, and never leave lamps in corridors or common areas.
  • Never leave a lit lamp alone, and keep children and pets at a distance.
  • Check your building's or landlord's rules on open flames. If they are not allowed, use LED diyas. A sincere offering matters more than the type of light.

Tips for Indian families in the UAE

  • Tuesday 24 November is a normal working and school day for most people. With sunset around 5:30 PM and Purnima lasting until 6:53 PM, there is time to reach home and light lamps inside Purnima.
  • Community celebrations and group pujas are often moved to the weekend. Check your temple's or association's announcements rather than relying on past years.
  • Karthika Masam in the UAE runs from Tuesday 10 November to Tuesday 8 December 2026, and the Somavarams are 16, 23 and 30 November and 7 December.
  • When calling family in India, remember that India is ahead of UAE time, so their evening lamps will be lit before yours.

For temples, see Shiva temples for Karthika Masam 2026 in the UAE. For the full month, see Karthika Masam 2026 in Dubai and the UAE.

Frequently asked questions

When is Karthika Pournami 2026 in the UAE?

Karthika Pournami 2026 in the UAE is on Tuesday 24 November, per Drik Panchang for UAE cities. Purnima tithi begins at 10:12 PM on Monday 23 November and ends at 6:53 PM on Tuesday 24 November, UAE time. The times are the same across all seven emirates.

What is the best evening to light the Pournami lamps in Dubai?

Tuesday 24 November. Sunset in Dubai that day is at 5:28 PM and Purnima continues until 6:53 PM, so the lamps lit at dusk on Tuesday fall inside Purnima tithi. Your temple or family may have its own custom, so check with them too.

Does Purnima start on Monday night in the UAE?

Yes, at 10:12 PM on Monday 23 November. That is well after sunset, so most families treat Tuesday 24 November as the Pournami day, with the main lamps on Tuesday evening.

Is Karthigai Deepam on the same day in the UAE?

Yes. Karthigai Deepam also falls on Tuesday 24 November 2026 in the UAE, so Telugu, Tamil and other South Indian families in the UAE will be lighting lamps on the same evening.

Can I light a 365-wick lamp in a UAE apartment?

Yes, with care. Use a heavy brass or steel lamp on a metal tray, keep it away from curtains and smoke detectors, never leave it alone, and follow your building's fire rules. If open flames are not allowed, an LED diya is a sincere alternative.

Should I follow India's Pournami times in the UAE?

No. Use UAE local times. The Purnima start and end times in this guide are already in UAE time, so no conversion is needed.

Editor's note

Editor's note (6 October 2026): This guide has been restored at its original address after the earlier version was lost. UAE dates, Purnima times and sunsets are from Drik Panchang for UAE cities and are shown in UAE local time. We have not listed temple events or timings; please check with your temple directly.