Dubai/Abu Dhabi/Sharjah
Despite Halloween being a Western tradition, throwing parties and celebrating with candy and extravagant costumes is becoming more popular in the UAE.
In Abu Dhabi, crowds are expected to flock malls, hotels, and beaches at the Halloween Carnival which will be held on Wednesday night in the capital to celebrate, wear costumes, crave pumpkins and go to haunted houses and parties.
“I will celebrate and dress up as a pumpkin. I will spread sweets to kids and do my best to shut down all lights and fear people as much as I can,” Reem Sabry, a 25-year-old in the capital, told Gulf News.
On Halloween, people believe ghosts come back and that if they leave their homes they will encounter scary entities — to avoid being recognised by them, masks and special costumes are being worn, therefore ghosts would mistake them.
“I love the part where I knock at each house and cry trick or treat — a customary practice for children on Halloween where they travel from house to house in order to ask for treats such as candy or money with the question ‘trick or treat?’ — and people would give an apple and candy to avoid being tricked,” said Saeed Saleh, a 13-year-old pupil.
The trick is usually a threat to perform mischief on house owners or their property if no treat is given.
Halloween starts on Wednesday, however, people who celebrate it begin planning, decorating and most importantly, preparing their costumes weeks before the mentioned date.
“Kids do dress up for the special festival, not so sure what is their favourite costumes, yet many kids opt for their favourite characters, such as Disney princesses and ghosts. They love to do it for tricking or treating,” said Jasmine Sehrewerdi, a 24-year-old media planner.
“I have only celebrated Halloween for the past couple of years when I started my university and I used to join in small celebrations that family and friends put together,” Layla Al Neyadi, a 22-year-old university student, said.
“Last year I was Lara Croft from Tomb Raider and the year before I dressed up as a mini mouse; however, I didn’t decide yet what is my costume this year but I will be preparing in the next few days,” she added.
“I like to keep it simple, every year for Halloween, I like to invite my friends over and have a scary movie night,” said Kimberlee Marina Aaron, a Kindergarten teacher in Sharjah.
Another Sharjah resident, Osama Hassan from Palestine also celebrates Halloween with his nine- and ten-year-old sisters where they enjoy their own traditions.
“Every year I take my sisters trick or treating around the houses at the AUS [American University of Sharjah] campus since it’s a community that celebrates Halloween,” said Hassan whose sisters plan to dress up as fairies this year.
Just like other residents living at the AUS residential campus, Hassan plans to decorate his house with lights in order to receive trick or treaters on Halloween night.
The Party Centre located in Garhoud is one of Dubai’s most popular shopping spots for Halloween lovers of every age.
“Our customers around Halloween are usually adults who come in to find daring costumes for their Halloween parties,” said Elaine Solana from the customer service department at the store.
“Male adults usually look for scary costumes such as Dracula and vampire outfits, whereas females usually look for costumes such as a policewoman, cat woman, and a nurse’s outfits,” added Solana.
“Little boys look for the scariest costumes and tricks like the scream mask where as girls like to look pretty and look for princess costumes,” said Solana.
Meanwhile the tale of the haunted seven-bedroom home located in the heart of Dubai’s Jumeirah 1 is a popular one.
The Jumeirah mansion, a home to a group of Filipinos, is said to be a hotspot of paranormal activity.
Residents of the house have claimed to experience visitations and encounters of a male ‘spirit’ for over a year.
Another spooky spot is the Al Qasimi Palace in Ras Al Khaimah which was reportedly abandoned more than 22 years ago after its residents claimed to have experienced a series of mysterious occurrences.
Faces appearing at windows and furniture being thrown around were said to be some of the supernatural occurrences witnessed at the Al Qasimi Palace which cost Dh500 million to build over two decades ago.
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