A Guide to the Diwali Celebration in Dubai
Fun fact: Indians make up the majority of the UAE’s population. That means more Indians than Emiratis are living in the country, especially Dubai.
So, it’s really not surprising that the city has also learned to embrace some of India’s culture and traditions including its lively festivals.
And we all know the Indians take their festivals seriously, especially Diwali. If you’re curious to know more about the Diwali celebration in Dubai, we got all the information for you.
What is Diwali?
Diwali or dipawali is India’s festival of lights that’s celebrated during the Hindu lunisolar months of Ashvin and Kartika.
Dates may vary every year, but Diwali celebrations always begin on a moonless night in October or November. It’s also the biggest holiday of the year for Hindus that it’s considered their version of Christmas.
Diwali comes from avali or “the row” and deepa or “clay lamps,” which symbolizes the lamps being lit outside Indian homes during the festival.
It’s symbolic of goodness over evil, a victory of light over darkness. The festival also commemorates the return of Rama to his kingdom after defeating the demon Ravana.
The Diwali festival lasts over five days with each day dedicated for preparations, rituals and festivities for Hindus:
- Day One. This is the time for cleaning the house, buying new home appliances and shopping for gold to bring in good fortune for the year ahead.
- Day Two. Hindus decorate their homes with clay lamps and draw patterns on the floor called rangoli using sand or colored powder.
- Day Three. This is the main day of the Diwali celebrations when families get together to offer a prayer to the Goddess Lakshmi, after which they share a huge feast and end the night with amazing fireworks.
- Day Four. This day is the equivalent of Christmas morning when family members exchange gifts and visit friends and relatives to wish them well for the beginning of the new Hindu year. Gift giving is an important part of Diwali as a sign of prosperity for the coming year.
- Day Five. This day is allocated for brothers to visit their married sisters who in return will prepare a hearty feast for them in their own homes.
Indians also spend two days before the actual celebration to clean their house and get rid of things they no longer use to allow new blessings and things to come into their homes.
They also start every day during the festival with a ritual oil bath at dawn to symbolize cleansing. A massive fireworks display is the highlight of the festival to mark the beginning of a new year for the Hindus.
Things to Do During Diwali in Dubai
Diwali is a big celebration in Dubai for everyone living in the city, Hindus or not. Since it’s like Christmas, you’ll find a lot of promos, sales, discounts and events that make the festival a lot more fun.
This is why a lot of people visit Dubai during the festival to make sure that they can take advantage of all these great deals while enjoying the celebrations around the city.
So, what exacty are the things that you can do during Diwali in Dubai? Let’s find out.
Enjoy a Diwali Feast
One of the highlights of celebrating Diwali is the food, and we’re talking about a real feast with all your favorite Indian classics.
And if you don’t know any Indians celebrating the festivities in Dubai, you can still enjoy asumptuous feast at these restaurants around the city.
Armani/Amal
Website: https://www.armanihotels.com/en/restaurant/armani-amal/?hotel=armani-hotel-dubai
Address: Level 3 – Burj Khalifa – Downtown Dubai – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Contact details: +971 4 888 3010
Operating hours:
- 6:30 PM to 11:30 PM daily except Sundays
Price:
- AED 399 per person
Armani/Amal is one of the top restaurants in Burj Khalifa serving an innovative take on regional Indian cuisine. It’s also one of the best spots for a proper Diwali celebration in Dubai.
To celebrate the festival of lights, the restaurant cooks up a feast with a three-course set menu featuring amuse bouche, a starter, main and dessert, all while you enjoy panoramic views of Downtown Dubai.
An asparagus ki chaat will tease your palate and prepare you for the feast ahead. Starters include bharwan paneer, shakarkandi ki tikki or archari kumbh.
To really give you the feel of a traditional Diwali feast, the mains will be served sharing style with dishes including dal ma fry and allepy fish curry for non-vegetarians and jeera aloo and paneer methi chaman for vegetarians.
And what’s an Indian feast without basmati rice, poori and burani raita? If that’s not enough to fill you up, end your meal with a decadent berries mousse or berries cheesecake.
Pro tip:
Choose a table al fresco to enjoy the amazing views of the city while enjoying your Diwali dinner.
Dhaba Lane
Website: https://dhaba-lane.com/
Address: 2B St. – Burjuman – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Contact details: +971 56 962 4611
Operating hours:
- 12:00 PM – 3:30 PM for lunch
- 6:30 PM – 1:00 AM for dinner
Price:
- AED 69 per person
Dhaba Lane is one of the best Indian restaurants in Dubai that offers a sumptous authentic Diwali feast.
The five-set course menu includes classic Diwali dishes like soup, chaat, starters, mains, breads, rice and a dessert.
The peri peri murgh tikka is a must-try if you’re a meat lover. But if you’re vegetarian, the peri peri broccoli ke kebab is just as delicious.
Of course, you can’t end your Diwali meal without the decadent daulat ki chaat, a staple in every Indian feast.
Pro tip:
Let the staff know if you prefer vegetarian or non-vegetarian options when booking your reservation for Diwali at Dhaba Lane.
Aamara
Website: https://aamara.ae/
Address: Level 2 – VOCO Dubai – Sheikh Zayed Road – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Contact details: +971 52 573 5723
Operating hours:
Price:
- AED 185 per person
Aamara combines the flavors of Arabia and India to create elevated fusion dishes that are packed with flavor and rich in culture.
This restaurant is also a popular choice for those who want to indulge in a sumptuous Indian feast during the Diwali celebration in Dubai.
Are you ready for a ten-course meal prepared by Chef Malik Basha? Enjoy everything from butterfly prawns to lamb for mains and a panna cotta for dessert.
Pro tip:
Want to elevate your dining experience? Request for a table-side dessert to enjoy the restaurant’s culinary masters at work.
Punjab Grill
Website: https://punjabgrill.me/
Address: Anantara Hotel – Business Bay – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Contact details: +971 50 194 1107
Operating hours:
- 11:30 AM to 11:30 PM daily
Price:
- Starts at AED 49 per person
Punjab Grill is another must-try spot for Diwali celebration in Dubai with its special menu consisting of all your classic favorites.
If you want to feel like true royalty while enjoying authentic Indian food, the Michelin Guide Select restaurant won’t dissapoint with its offerings.
Let Executive Chef Sandeep Ail wow you with dishes like fried idli with kundapur paneer bites, butter pav bhaji with masala maska bun and sesame coconut-crusted shrimps.
Pro tip:
Don’t forget the motichoor ladoo cheesecake and the kesar peda pavlova, two unique fusion desserts that you need to try!
Shop for Gold
Shopping for gold is an important part of the Diwali celebration in Dubai because it’s believed to bring prosperity and good fortune for the rest of the year.
Of course, you have every excuse to treat yourself or a loved one to a beautiful piece of gold jewelry and you can enjoy amazing discounts and promotions through these events.
The Dubai Shopping Malls Group’s Shop and Win Gold
One of the most anticipated events during Diwali, the Shop and Win Gold promotion by the Dubai Shopping Malls Group will give you the opportunity to win 24-karat gold coins.
Just spend at least AED 200 at any of the participating malls around the city and you could be one of the 20 winners of gold worth AED 100,000.
These retail destinations include Dubai Festival Plaza, Al Ghurair Center, Time Square Center, Silicon Central, Arabian Center, Al Khail Gate Mall, Reef Mall, Oasis Mall and Bay Avenue Mall.
Pro tip:
Want to increase your chances of winning? Be strategic when shopping, so you also get more entries for the digital raffle, which will be held at the end of Diwali.
The Dubai Jewellery Group’s Glow with Gold Offer
Do you want to shop for gold jewelry but you don’t have a huge budget? The Dubai Jewellery Group celebrates Diwali with the Glow with Gold offer.
If you spend at least AED 1,000 from one of the participating jewelry shops, you’ll get the chance to win jewelry vouchers worth AED 150,000. That’s a lot of money to spend shopping for jewelry!
These shops include Al Liali Jewellery, Anaswara Jewellery, Arab Narwatna Jewellery, Azyad Gold and Diamonds, Bafley Jewellery, Beena Suru Jewellery, Joyalukkas and Tanishq Global Retail.
But it doesn’t end with that because these retailers also offer up to 50% discounts on some of its jewlery collections. Plus, you get freebies that will make shopping more fun!
Pro tip:
Be on the lookout for great deals on gold jewelry online by subscribing to newsletters and constantly checking out your favorite jeweler’s website for promotions in time for Diwali.
City Centre Deira Gold Offer
City Centre Deira and City Centre Mirdif are treating its shoppers with a chance to win a AED 1,000 gold coin to spend on around these malls.
If you spend at least AED 300, you’ll have an entry to the daily raffles by just scanning your receipt through the SHARE app.
These malls also have dedicated Diwali zones where the kids can enjoy some arts and crafts and take photos.
Pro tip:
Are you a fan of Indian art? Unleash your creativity by participating at the digital Rangoli competition at the City Centre Deira.
BurJuman Mall Sone Ki Diwali Offer
BurJuman Mall celebrates Diwali in style with Sone Ki Diwali, an event that gives shoppers the chance to win AED 100,000 worth of gold from leading jeweller Tanishq.
All you have to do is shop in the mall throughout the duratio of Diwali where you can get a raffle ticket for every AED 200 you spend.
On the draw day, 10 lucky winners will receive AED 10,000 worth of vouchers to spend on gold jewelry at Tanishq.
That’s a lot of money to spend on some amazing gold jewelry pieces at one of the best jewelers in town.
Pro tip:
Before you get overwhelmed with all the offers at BurJuman Mall, plan your shopping trip ahead by looking at your favorite stores online to see what they have on offer for Diwali.