UAE residents enjoy long Eid Al Adha break - in pictures

With several days off from work, friends and families took to the shops, parks and beaches to enjoy the festivities

The reward for patiently waiting is a dazzling fireworks display to celebrate the holiday. Antonie Robertson / The National

Even just waiting for the fireworks to start is a fun experience, as friends and families gather early at The Beach at JBR for a good seat to watch the displays. Antonie Robertson / The National

Parks were a popular meeting location for residents, despite the hot weather. Riana Rabox of Indonesia hands out watermelon out to her friends during a barbecue in Zabeel Park in Dubai during the Eid Al Adha break. Antonie Robertson / The National

Adul Ibrahim and his wife Moon of Pakistan, enjoy a moment together with their children Hannan and Hadi while visiting Zabeel Park. Antonie Robertson / The National

Al Qudra Lake in Dubai was a popular spot for families to visit, taking the time to enjoy nature and the feathered residents of the desert oasis. Reem Mohammed / The National

Jumeirah Public Beach is always a popular place to visit, but particularly on the hot days of Eid Al Adha, residents flocked to the sea to enjoy the sunset. Antonie Robertson / The National

The Dubai seaside is the perfect spot for a festive selfie. Antonie Robertson / The National

Lulu Hypermarket in Abu Dhabi's Mushrif Mall was busy early in the week with families preparing for the holiday. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Shoppers enjoyed summer sales that extended into the holiday. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The Market at Mushrif Mall was full of shoppers looking for great deals on fresh produce for their Eid Al Adha feasts. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The date section of The Market offers local and regional dates, traditional gifts for celebrations, along with sweets and money for children. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The Dubai Mall was full of shoppers, visitors and tourists. Reem Mohammed / The National

Ellen Fortini

With both Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha falling mid-week this year, most UAE residents got to enjoy a long break and used the time to gather with friends and family.

The National photographers Chris Whiteoak, Antonie Robertson and Reem Mohammed set out about town to see how people were spending the holiday.

Early in the week, markets were full of shoppers finding the best deals on food to serve up a feast.

By Tuesday, and despite temperatures reaching 40°C and above, families and friends gathered in parks to play games and enjoy picnics, relax and socialise.

The beaches across the country provided a nice backdrop for selfies. Each night of Eid Al Adha was capped with a fireworks display at Yas Island, and, The Beach at Dubai’s JBR.

Additionally, hotels offered staycation deals for UAE residents, restaurants offered dining deals and families were spoilt for choice with activities for all ages in malls and amusement parks. 

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Read more:

[ RAK families flock to Eid Al Adha fair for bargains ]

[ Thousands flock to livestock markets during Eid ]

[ Eid Al Adha is almost over - so when is the UAE's next public holiday? ]

Updated: August 23, 2018, 9:10 AM