When black cats prowl and pumpkins shine, when shivery shivers run down your spine, you know it’s Halloween time! The witching hour is nigh and our beloved City of Gold transforms into the City of Ghouls to celebrate spooky season. It’s time to look hauntingly hideous and rock some scary costumes. But Insta-worthy outfits need equally terrifying venues and we’ve done all the groundwork of hunting for the happening Halloween events in Dubai, from wicked parties, to petrifying haunted houses, you can creep into. Witching you a Happy Halloween!
1. Jump out of your skin at this Horror Cinema
Nothing screams Halloween like a spooky movie night. Dubai’s first-ever Horror Cinema is dedicated to giving movie-goers chills down their spine by screening cult horror films in settings that match the movie’s ambience. To up the fear factor, actors dressed as ghosts and monsters will leap out at you from the shadows so that on-screen jump scares turn into literal jumping out of your chair. Or bed, if you choose to watch a slasher flick in their hotel-themed movie room. Be warned: popcorn will be flying out of their tubs. Will you dare to stay seated until the final credits?
Read here about movie listings, timings and prices.
2. Test your luck at Bongo’s Bingo Halloween bash
Instead of breaking out the Ouija board or crystal ball for some Halloween scares, try your hand at the numerology of a different kind – Bingo! Bongo’s Bingo isn’t your grandma’s weekly game. The number game gets edgy and rowdy at this famous bingo rave. Happening on October 28 at Zero Gravity, Bongo’s Bingo’s annual Halloween special includes dance-offs, sing-alongs, crowd karaokes of popular horror tunes, and thrilling games of bingo. The most spookily dressed bingo player will walk away with AED 5000.
From 8pm; AED 150 per person. Book here
3. Lego of your fears at Legoland’s Halloween celebrations
Kids and adults alike will have a hair-raising time at the Legoland, Dubai Parks and Resorts until October 31. Spruce up on your monster mash moves for the annual Very Important Monster dance party hosted by Lord Vampyre from October 6-13. Zombie cheerleaders’ graveyards and LEGO pumpkin patches sort out cool photo-ops, while monster scavenger hunts and Brick-or-Treat trails let kiddos hunt down gummy candy and cool gifts. Costume contests happen every Saturday and Sunday of October where the best-dressed little monsters win prizes. The kids’ theme park will also be serving delicious Halloween-themed food such as Crazy Witch Broomstick Burgers, Frankie’s Freaky Fries and more. See more here
4. Have a memorably cursed time at Motiongate Dubai
The Middle East’s largest Hollywood-themed theme park is bringing back its Halloween Fright Nights with 13 immersive horror experiences, three scare zones, and a host of monster meet and greets, live stage shows, and a haunting parade. From Wednesdays to Sundays starting 4pm popular creepy folk legends and myths will come to life. If you dare to, stroll through the Haunted Graveyard, a Zombieland tent and meet-and-greets with Goblins and The Boogeyman. The Smurf Village inside the theme park will get a Halloween makeover just spooky enough to be kid-friendly. More info here
5. Get lost in deep dark woods of Green Planet’s forest
Green Planet will get a spooky overhaul for Halloween from October 6-31. The verdant indoor jungle in City Walk will covered with eerie spider webs, animal tombstones and carved pumpkins, creating the perfect ambience. Besides, visitors can also dabble in face painting and other arts and crafts activities such as mask-making. Here’s the best bit though – a mind-boggling maze will be set up amidst the foliage for you to escape out of. Dial up the creepy factor by meeting some of the animal kingdom’s scariest creepy-crawlies at the Creatures of the Night session – think Yellow Anaconda, Burmese Pythons, Tokay gecko, etc.
Maze and Creatures of the Night are included in the General admission pass. Arts and crafts cost an additional AED 65 pe person. Find tickets here
6. Celebrate Day of the Dead at En Fuego
Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) falls on November 2. However, En Fuego’s kicking off celebrations early from October 27 so you can spook up your Halloween celebrations Mexican-style. Until November 2, you can enjoy Halloween-themed beverages, live entertainment, brunches, and appearances by Mexican folklore characters La Catrina, El Catrin and Alebrijes who’ll hand out tricks and treats for diners.
See prices and more information here
7. Watch the Zombie apocalypse unfold in Riverland
Ever wondered what the Zombie apocalypse would be like? You can catch a glimpse of it at the free-to-visit entrance area of Dubai Parks and Resorts until November 12. Their annual Zombie Parade will have you screaming ‘arrrr’ as Pirate Zombies stagger across the Instagrammable streets of the dining and shopping destination. After the undead have scared the daylights out of you, put some life back into yourself with special Halloween-themed food at Chickadees and Irish gastropub The Keg.
8. Eat infernally hot Halloween-themed food at Wavehouse
Forget shivers, this family-friendly entertainment spot and restaurant in Atlantis The Palm will be sending waves down the spines of visitors from October 26 to November 2 as part of Halloween. A spicy hot a la carte menu of fiery chicken quesadilla, phoenix flame chicken wings, firecracker shrimp tacos, and hot crispy belly bites will recreate the infernal heat of the underworld. Quench the burn with themed cocktails like Midnight Margarita, Pumpkin Old Fashioned and Dusk Till Dawn. On October 28 and 29 diners can enjoy free Halloween face painting and watch special performances.
From 12pm-1am; call 04262626 or visit here
9. Sleepover at a spooky staycation in Lapita Hotel
The Polynesian resort inside Dubai Parks and Resorts will be giving gothic castle until October 31. Special Hotel Transylvania Halloween room deal will have creepy but comfortable decor so you can truly RIP. The half-board deal will also give guests access to either Legoland, Legoland Waterpark or Motiongate and a trick-or-treat evening activity all for AED 1,625 per night per person. On October 29, a Halloween brunch will takeover Kalea, the all-day-dining restaurant from 1pm-4pm with costume competitions for kids.
Brunch costs AED 250 for adults and AED 125 for kids aged 6-12 years. Call 04 810 9999 for reservations.
10. Get in high spirits at Reef and Beef’s Halloween brunch
The luxurious restaurant and lounge in Manzil Downtown By Vida has dreamed up a Halloween brunch and after-brunch party on October 28. A sharing-style four-course menu of starters, mains, sides, and desserts will served to guests at the table featuring dishes like trilogy of Australian tenderloins, grand dessert platter and others. Diners can come dressed in their terrifying best to match the spine-chilling decor. Later, dance the night away into the witching hours with unlimited house beverages and eerily good music for AED 120 per person.
Brunch starts from AED 200, from 1pm-4pm. After party kicks off from 4pm-7pm. Book here
11. Brave the haunted house experience inside The Dubai Mall
If there’s ever a time to venture into a haunted house, it’s Halloween. Luckily, The Dubai Mall checks that off our list (is there anything you can’t find there?!) with a year-long haunted house destination called Hysteria. In fact, this place is so bone-chillingly terrifying, their website warns off people with heart problems and little kids. So this one’s definitely not for the faint-hearted. Modelled after a fictional stately manor where after the children mysteriously vanish one night, the heartbroken parents roam the halls for eons and become hysterical. As their hysteria leads them to believe everyone passing through the house is the kidnapper, they seek revenge. Flashing lights, fog machines, dimly lit creepy rooms and more await you here. More info here
📍2nd floor, near the cinema, The Dubai Mall