Is the word especiais the same in Brazilian and European Portuguese?

Yes

The word "especiais" is identical in spelling, meaning, and grammatical function in both Brazilian and Continental Portuguese. The only differences are found in pronunciation:

• Vowel Clarity: In Brazilian Portuguese, vowels are generally more "open" and clearly articulated. The "e" in especiais is pronounced as a clear /e/. In Continental Portuguese, unstressed vowels are often "closed" or reduced; the initial "e" might sound like a very short, muffled /ɨ/ or even disappear, making the word sound much more consonant-heavy.
• Rhythm: Brazilian Portuguese has a more melodic, syllable-timed rhythm, whereas Continental Portuguese is more stress-timed, which affects the emphasis placed on the syllables within the word.

Brazilian Portuguese Examples

1. Temos ofertas especiais hoje. (We have special offers today.)
2. Eles são amigos muito especiais para mim. (They are very special friends to me.)
3. Preparei alguns mimos especiais para você. (I prepared some special treats for you.)
4. Estas são as datas especiais do ano. (These are the special dates of the year.)
5. Adoro os detalhes especiais dessa decoração. (I love the special details of that decoration.)

Continental Portuguese Examples

1. Temos ofertas especiais hoje. (We have special offers today.)
2. Eles são amigos muito especiais para mim. (They are very special friends to me.)
3. Preparei alguns mimos especiais para ti. (I prepared some special treats for you.)
4. Estas são as datas especiais do ano. (These are the special dates of the year.)
5. Adoro os detalhes especiais desta decoração. (I love the special details of this decoration.)