This next week, things are going to get lit in Dubai as the city celebrates the Indian Festival of Lights known as Diwali. If you’ve noticed little clay lamps decorating your neighbour’s doorsteps and entire balconies lit up like a Christmas tree, welcome to Diwali in Dubai! And if you are the neighbour decking up their home with lights, Happy Diwali!
The five-day festival, also known as Deepavali, symbolises the triumph of the light of good over the darkness of evil. Clay lamps (diyas) and lights illuminate the city all week and fireworks light up the night sky and a host of fun events and elaborate feasts kick off across Dubai that people of all faiths and nationalities can join in.
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Diwali dining deals
1. Armani/Amal
The Indian arm of the glamorous Armani stable of restaurants serves up a smashing meal this Diwali with glittering views of the Dubai fountains bursting to life. A three-course Diwali set menu is up for grabs on November 12 at this Burj Khalifa restaurant, featuring both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options, each for AED 399. Amuse bouches, starters like bharwan paneer, mains like kacche kele ka kofta, and junglee maas, plus cheesecake and trad Indian mithai for dessert are all part of it.
Call 04 888 3666 or email restaurant.reservations@armanihotels.com
2. Address Fountain Views
Dubai’s infamous brunches get the Diwali razzle dazzle at The Restaurant Diwali Brunch. On November 12, a BBQ grill serving lip-smacking Indian classics such as chicken tikka, Kashmiri mutton rogan josh, dal makhani, kadhai paneer and a ton of sides make the cut on the expansive menu. Sweet treats roll in with gulab jamun, rasmalai, moong dal halwa and more.
From 6:30pm to 11:30pm; from AED 285 per person. Call 04 245 8888 or email dineatfountainviews@addresshotels.com
3. Dhaba Lane
Punjabi restaurant Dhaba Lane has a lavish five-course set menu at AED 69 per person available from November 8 to 18. Highlights include warming soups such as badami murgh rassa, Peri Peri murgh tikka, Jodhpuri Khatta Cooker specialities and more. Available for both lunch and dinner at all Dhaba Lane outlets in Dubai.
From 12pm-4pm and 7pm-11pm. Visit https://dhaba-lane.com/ for bookings
4. Aamara
The silk-route-themed restaurant in Voco Hotel is breaking out all the spices from the famed ancient travel route to create a memorable 10-course Diwali tasting menu. Onion focaccia served with zaatar pesto hummus, butterfly prawns and more make it to diners’ tables until November 16.
AED 185 per person; call 052 573 5723 for bookings
5. Pincode
The swanky restaurant in the Dubai Hills Mall has a special Diwali menu running until November 14. Celebrity Chef Kunal Kapur has woven nostalgic vegetarian and non-vegetarian recipes into the menu with a dash of modernity with quenching kesar peda lassis, dahi ke sholey with sriracha mayo, rajasthani laal maas, kabuli pulao and more. Desserts too are reimagined as hot kalakand and nutella fudge.
AED 129 per person; call 04 566 1424 for bookings
6. Punjab Grill
Michelin-selected restaurant Punjab Grill in Anantara Hotel, Business Bay is hosting an exclusive chef’s table until November 30. Chef Sandeep Ail has curated a five-course meal featuring stuffed shishito peppers, succulent mint lamb chops, khushka pulao, indulgent desserts and more. Vegetarian and non-vegetarian options are available.
AED 350 per person. Call 050 194 1107
7. Rang Mahal
The iconic Indian restaurant nestled away in JW Marriott Marquis Hotel has whipped up a nine-course menu for Diwali on November 12. Inventive fusion dishes such as imitation olive and truffle naan, smoked salmon with mustard marinade and apple slaw, dancing shrimps with black tobiko and gold leaf, and pistachio-coated lamb chops with chana masala are served course after course. Desserts include delectable delights such as peanut parfait with chocolate swirls and nougatine adds a sweet touch. From AED 375 per person.
From 6pm-12am; call 04 414 0000 or email mhrs.dxbjw.ays@marriotthotels.com
8. Signature by Sanjeev Kapoor
The OG celebrity Indian chef who’s graced the TV screens of desi households since the 90s has a restaurant in Dubai and it’s dreaming up a delicious Diwali chaat menu. For the insanely affordable price of just AED 49, tuck into samosa chaats, semolina puchkis, vada pao, kathi rolls, pav bhaji and jhal muri will take you on a street food tour of Indian from North to South and East to West. Available until November 16.
9. Shamiana
Taj JLT’s Indian restaurant Shamiana is rolling out a sparkling Diwali Brunch on November 11 and 12. A selection of kebabs such as seekh kebab, tandoori breads, chaat counter, and an array of desserts will leave the tables groaning with delicious dishes. Make sure to leave some space for desserts such rose petal ice cream, doodh peda and the ultimate sugar high with some kulfi at a dedicated live kulfi station.
From 12:30pm- 3:30pm; AED 185 per person. Call 052 680 5419 or email Shamiana.jltdubai@tajhotels.com
10. Bombay Bungalow
This Instagrammable JBR hotspot has a Diwali menu of mouthwatering tikkas and melt-in-your-mouth sweets until November 13. You can dig into Kandhari murgh tikka, adraki aloo gobhi and more served with bread baskets and steamed rice. Wash down the spicy feast with desserts like gajar halwa or a special Diwali dessert sampler so you get to taste all the best mithais handpicked by the chef.
Call 800 692 8779 or book on https://www.sevenrooms.com/reservations/bombaybungalow
11. The Cinnamon Club
Forget fireworks. This modern fine dining restaurant at Park Hyatt Dubai is set to fire up tastebuds this Diwali with a special thali-style set menu available from November 10-14. Chef Kamini Jha and her team have put together a platter fit for royalty that will be served in the glory of traditional clay diyas (lamps) and colourful decorations. The multi-course dinner includes the eatery’s best-sellers such as tandoori prawn, fiery Rajasthani lamb curry, paneer pesto tikka, baingan ka salan, a mountain of freshly-baked Indian breads, coconut rice kheer and more.
AED 150 for vegetarian thali and AED 175 for non-vegetarian thali. From 6:30pm-11:30pm; call 04 602 1839 or visit www.dubaicreekresort.com/the-cinnamon-club
12. Swissôtel Al Ghurair
A lavish buffet dinner of classic Indian home-cooked favourites awaits guests as the Diwali dinner in Swissôtel on November 12. You can look forward to scarfing down dal tadka, tandoori chicken, butter chicken, rasmalai, jalebi, gulab jamun, and refreshing drinks like cardamom lassi and jaljeera soda. A rangoli (decorative floors art) competition at the hotel will brighten things up and is a great opportunity to show off your artistic skills.
From 7pm-11pm; from AED 129 for adults, AED 65 for children between 6 to 12 years, and kids below 6 dine free. WhatsApp 04 293 3270, email dining.alghurair@swissotel.com
13. Chutney’s Restaurant
The five-star joint inside Movenpick Bur Dubai has a special Diwali set menu running until November 12. A host of North Indian favourites such as tikona chaat, dal bukhara, murgh nihari and more make the lineup of this tantalising menu. Besides scrummy food, the festivities here also include a rangoli competition, karaoke, and a live ghazal trio serenading dinner guests. AED 150 for vegetarian option and AED 160 for non-vegetarian option.
Call 04 336 6000 or visit their website
Fireworks and Lights
14. Burj Khalifa
The world’s tallest building shines bright with special laser shows and celebratory messages across its facade to celebrate Diwali and wish the city’s 3.5 million strong Indian diaspora. Keep tracking their official page for announcements of similar displays to mark the joyous festival this year as well.
15. Global Village
Another sure shot for marking the occasion of Diwali in Dubai is Global Village. Each year, the shopping and entertainment destination goes all out with special Bollywood concerts and performances on the main stage and cultural and folk dances in the Indian pavilion. This year, an immersive Bollywood-movie-style dance show called ‘Mumbai Nights’ is one of the highlights. The cherry on top? The spectacular fireworks they usually conduct to mark the vibrant Indian festival. Find details here
16. Mankhool, Bur Dubai
Most malls and storefronts have turned up all their lights in honour of Diwali but to fully be immersed in the traditional glow of the festival, you’ve got to visit the Mankhool in Bur Dubai which has some of the highest concentrations of Indian expats.
This Bur Dubai neighbourhood has a cluster of apartment complexes that turn into blindingly beautiful displays of fairy lights strung across facades and giant diya-shaped light fixtures twinkling at you. For most Dubai residents, driving through these streets to soak up the festive vibes is a mandatory Diwali activity.
The easiest way to locate this section of Bur Dubai is to type in Citymax Hotels into Google Maps and then follow the trail of illuminated buildings when you get there. Make sure you hit every street from 9A to 19B, using Doubletree by Hilton and Golden Sands apartments as markers to weave in and out of the labyrinth of roads.
Activities
17. Get La Perle tickets at discounted Diwali rates
La Perle, Dubai’s first permanent in Al Habtoor City is offering a 25% discount on tickets to celebrate Diwali. You can snap up tickets to the aqua theatre from just AED 194 for four people and catch the magical aerial and aquatic acrobatics show inspired by Dubai’s pearling history. As an added treat, visitors get to snack on Indian masala-flavoured popcorn during the show. Find tickets here
18. Trawl the mall for some cultural entertainment at BurJuman
BurJuman Mall in Al Karama has some special Diwali shopping promotions. For every AED 200 spent at the mall (excluding hypermarket & utility spending), customers can enter a digital raffle where 10 lucky winners take home AED 10,000 worth of vouchers from the jewellery brand Tanishq. A string of colourful cultural performances and entertainment will also take place in mall on November 9, 10 and 11 between 6pm and 9pm.
If you live in and around the neighbourhoods of Bur Dubai, Karama, Oud Mehta & Deira, keep your eyes peeled for the Diwali On Wheels mobile cart that’ll be roaming the streets to hand out free Diwali lanterns to brighten your celebrations.
19. Enjoy a desert staycation
Switch up the Diwali desserts for some desert life with a road trip to Abu Dhabi. The Tilal Liwa Desert Retreat tucked away on the edge of the Rub Al Khali desert has a special Diwali staycation deal that gets you a 30% discount on rooms booked from November 9-13. Room rates include access to the lavish resort’s amenities, including desert activities, pools, gym, steam and sauna. Additionally, there’s also a buffet-style Diwali dinner on November 12 at Al Badiya Restaurant from AED 129 per person
WhatsApp 02 894 6111 or email reservations.tilal@danathotels.com
20. Celebrate the festival of lights in a rainforest
Indoor rainforest The Green Planet is hosting Diwali celebrations in its shaded outdoor Nature Park section. Lit up with spectacular Diwali lights, the festive area will host colouring activities for kids, a photo-ops with Green Planet’s animal mascots at 11am, 12pm, 4pm and 5pm. Foodies can munch on a Diwali snacks platter featuring chicken tikka nachos, pani puri shots, samosas and motichoor ladoo cheesecake jars .
Diwali activities can be accessed with The Green Planet’s Nature Park Day Pass costing AED 69 per person. From 10am-6pm; visit www.thegreenplanetdubai.com
21. Walk around the open-air carnival at JBR
JBR Winter Nights, the annual outdoor activities that take over the waterfront promenade during Dubai’s cherished winter season has some Diwali specials up their sleeves. Besides the usual live entertainment such as LED Robots, Led Poi Dancers and live parades, Bollywood dances and special kids workshops will be held on November 11 and 12 to celebrate the Indian festival of lights.
Find more information here
22. Catch Pakistani popstar Ali Sethi live in concert at Coca-Cola Arena
After mesmerising Dubai’s South Asian music fans at the UAE’s first-ever Coke Studio concert last year, Pakistani hitmaker Ali Sethi known for earworms such as the viral Pasoori and Left Right is returning to wow the city on November 11 with a solo gig as part of his world tour. The concert coincides with Diwali celebrations around town, making it the perfect way to give your festivities a musical edge. Get tickets here
23. Add some Polynesian lu-wow to your Diwali
Lapita Hotel in Dubai Parks and Resorts is hosting a special Diwali dinner from November 13 to 17 at their all-day dining restaurant Kalea. While you’re there, make it a point to stroll through Riverland and Motiongate to enjoy street performances choreographed to mashups of popular Bollywood tracks. These live entertainment shows are on until November 12 only and take place at Studio Central between 2pm and 5pm and at Motionagte between 3pm and 4pm.
Call 04 810 9421
Shop for sweets
Indians have loved their jalebis long before Jason Derulo made it an international hit. Mithai, the name for traditional Indian sweets, are rich bite-sized delicacies made from milk, sugar, nuts, ghee and flour wrapped up in ornate boxes. Here’s where you can buy authentic mithai in Dubai and special Diwali gift boxes and treats.
24. Joshi Confectionary and Sweet
This hole-in-the-wall sweet shop in Meena Bazar is the oldest and first Indian cafe/restaurant to have opened in the city, dating back to 1968. That’s three whole years before the creation of the United Arab Emirates, making it older than the country it is in! During Diwali, the teensy little shop is piled high with trays of sugary sweets (mithai) and savour snacks that are staples during the festival such as mohanthal, kaju katli and jalebis.
📍Location: 74th St, Meena Bazar, Al Fahidi
25. Forrey and Galland
Luxury chocolatiers Forrey and Galland have created various handmade Diwali gift hampers. Packed with decadent treats such as handmade chocolates, sweet treats, vanilla cookies, salted caramel and even a luxury-scented candle, these vivid orange and pink boxes add warmth and colour to Diwali gifting. Prices range from a sleeve of AED 65 to a hamper of AED 830
📍Dubai Mall, Ground Floor
26. Bikanervala
As much as sweets are a part of Diwali celebrations so are savoury snacks called namkeen that add some crunch and spice to the menu. With a history of 117 years, this popular Indian restaurant and store that started in Rajasthan’s city of Bikaner in 1905, is a go-to for Diwali snacks and edible gifts. They’ve got around 10 branches spread out through the city, and have even found themselves a coveted spot in The Dubai Mall. Hit them up for sweets such as moongdal barfi and mootichoor ladoo and savoury snacks such as shakkar para, chiwda and mathri. We’d suggest dining in and relishing freshly-made piping hot desserts such as gulab jamuns and carrot halwa.
📍Various locations; visit www.bikanervala.ae
27. Laduree
The iconic French patisserie has created a Diwali tart to capture the spirit of this auspicious festival. A golden cashew base, rich Jivara chocolate mousse and cashew praline glaze make up this cracker of a dessert. Available until November 20
AED 55 at Dubai Mall store and AED 52 at other locations
28. Puranmal
This restaurant and sweet shop chain from India is another outlet that’s synonymous with Indian sweets in Dubai. Definitely give their dry fruit sweets a try if you desire a break from the milk-and-ghee variants of mithai. Khajoor till ladoos, rose soan papdi, besan ladoo and dry fruit barfis are items your tastebuds will thank you for. They also box up a mix of traditional sweets in stunning wooden and metal boxes that you’ll hold on to long after the sweets have been eaten.
📍Various locations; visit www.puranmal.ae
29. Sri Krishna Sweets
A household name in South India, this is your one-stop shop for sweet treats from the southern half of the country. Their flagship outlet in Karama serves signature sweets such as buttery mysore pak, thiratipal, kerala boondi ladoos, Karnataka’s famous Dharwad pedha and savoury snacks such as murruku, banana chips and spicy madras mixture.
📍Various locations; visit www.srikrishnasweets.ae