The best Ramadan decorations in the UAE: from The Dubai Mall to Al Maryah Island

Some of the UAE's biggest landmarks have gone all-out for the holy month

Emirati youths walk past a large lit decoration in City Walk. AFP

Ramadan decorations at The Dubai Mall. Pawan Singh / The National

The Galleria Al Maryah Island has beautiful Ramadan decorations hanging from its ceiling. Courtesy The Galleria Al Maryah Island

Crescent moons and traditional Ramadan lanterns hang from the ceilings of The Dubai Mall. Pawan Singh / The National

The view inside Mall of the Emirates in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

A lit decoration showing a crescent moon inlaid inside a five-pointed star bearing calligraphic text in Arabic reading 'Ramadan Mubarak', placed along a fence in City Walk, Dubai. AFP

A boldly coloured majlis at BurJuman in Dubai. Courtesy BurJuman

A view of a traditional crescent moon decoration at Mall of the Emirates in Dubai. AFP

Al Khawaneej Walk features hundreds of lights around the new community mall in Dubai. Courtesy Al Khawaneej Walk

Giant crescent moons feature at Al Khawaneej Walk. Courtesy Al Khawaneej Walk

A Ramadan decoration inside Deira Waterfront Market in Dubai. Getty Images

Al Wahda Mall's Ramadan decor in Abu Dhabi. Mall-goers enjoy the Ramadan lanterns exhibition at the main lobby of the mall. Victor Besa / The National

The decor inside Abu Dhabi's Al Wahda Mall. Victor Besa / The National

Global Village has erected a Majlis of the World, a reservations-only area for families to enjoy a relaxed evening of live entertainment. Courtesy Global Village

Fireworks are ongoing at Global Village, which runs until May 2. Courtesy Global Village

Ramadan decorations in downtown Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Ramadan decorations in Ibn Battuta Mall, Dubai. Sunday, Chris Whiteoak / The National

Geometric patterns are a highlight of Ibn Battuta Mall's Ramadan decorations in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Ramadan decorations outside a private house in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Ramadan decoration at Le Mer beach in Dubai. Getty Images

People visit the Ramadan Reflection room at Ibn Battuta Mall. The room is filled with coloured hanging lamps and mirrors all around. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Ibn Battuta's Ramadan reflection room is filled with coloured hanging lamps and mirrors. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Ramadan decoration at Global Village

Ramadan decoration at Dubai Mall in Dubai on April 22, 2021. Pawan Singh / The National. Story by Katy Gillet

Hakawati at The Galleria Al Maryah Island. Courtesy The Galleria Al Maryah Island

Every year, decorations for Ramadan get bigger and better. From life-size crescent moons to glittering fairy lights and makeshift majlises, the UAE's landmarks make an effort to dress up.

Al Khawaneej Walk, the community mall in Dubai, for example, sparkles after iftar. This dining, retail and leisure destination is lit up with ambient lanterns and fairy lights, with golden crescent moons infusing the area with Ramadan spirit. In particular, the bridge, which features hundreds of padlocks, is the perfect backdrop for a family photo opportunity.

Elsewhere, at BurJuman, another mall in Dubai, the aesthetic is more modern Arabian, as a mini majlis with colourful, bold hues has been set up where people can relax together in a socially distanced manner.

The mall has partnered with Emirates Red Crescent for Ramadan, so visitors will also find donation boxes throughout, where you can leave gently used toys, books and more (clothes will not be accepted because of Covid-19 regulations). Traditional activities are also going on, including henna art and Arabic calligraphy.

Global Village, whose silver jubilee season is running until Sunday, May 2, has also pulled out all the stops with a beautifully lit Majlis of the World, a reservations-only area where families can spend a relaxed evening enjoying live performances such as an Egyptian tanoura show and Musaharati drummers and qanoun players.

The park's Ramadan Nights programme takes place from 6pm to 2am and invites families to discover traditions from countries across the world. More than 200 restaurants are serving snacks and food for iftar and suhoor, while seating areas have also been set up for people to play traditional games such as backgammon and Jackaroo.

Over at Ibn Battuta Mall, there's also a fabulous Ramadan Reflections room where lights and mirrors hang all around, as visitors admire the view.

Take a look through the photo gallery above to see more of how some of the UAE's biggest landmarks are celebrating Ramadan in 2021.