Eat, stay, dance: 10 things to do for Diwali 2020 in UAE

Cultural tribute: Celebrate the Festival of Lights at Global Village with the UAE’s best representation of Indian traditions, culture and food at India Pavilion. Residents and tourists can shop for unique items and special gifts from more than 240 stalls selling the finest Indian handicrafts and artefacts, while also enjoying spectacular cultural shows at the pavilion’s main stage.

Eye on Bollywood: Dubai Festival City Mall will host a double bill of spectacular Diwali celebrations with two Bollywood-themed performances complete with light and laser effects: ‘Hathi’s Garden’ and ‘Jai Ho’. The shows run every day, starting 6.30pm, until November 21. ‘Hathi’s Garden’ tells the heartwarming story of a baby elephant, while ‘Jai Ho’ is a performance of the global hit from the movie ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ .

Designer delicacies: Bombay Brasserie, the Burj district’s designer Indian kitchen, invites guests to celebrate Diwali all month long as award-winning Executive Chef Vikas Milhoutra and his team put together an elevated four-course family style menu accompanied by a selection of a la carte festive mocktails and cocktails. Spoilt for choice, guests can indulge in a selection of starters, sharing mains and desserts.

Adventure’s calling: Whether you want to to embrace the thrill of Yas Island’s excellent attractions, such as Ferrari World Abu Dhabi’s brand new zip-line and roof walk, or enjoy a three-course meal or the Rangoli/Deepavali arrangements at Yas Mall, there is something to suit all tastes and budgets.

Witness the action: Expect a colourful Diwali celebration at the Waterfront Market’s main atrium area with a range of activities to mark the occasion including the chance to see a rangoli artist work magic with colours and energetic Bollywood dances performed by skilled artists throughout the day, from November 12-14.

Buy a trinket: Indian-themed décor, hanging flowers and photo opportunities are available around BurJuman Mall. But if you aren’t into photos, you can still enjoy the place and get yourself a different style of souvenir such as bangles - distributed between 3 pm and 10 daily. There are also lots of discounts to be won.

A festival within a festival: Al Seef, the creekside retail and leisure destination, will welcome residents and visitors to its very own ‘Festival of Lights’ from November 12-21 with exclusive offers on dining, hotels stay, entertainment and shopping in the Al Seef souq. Also, did we mention there is a series of special Bollywood-themed live shows at the venue’s open air stage area? During the celebrations, shoppers can also win one of the 20 family staycations when they spend Dh200 at Al Seef.

Fireworks! The Pointe on the Palm Jumeirah will join in this year’s Diwali festivities with an incredible performance by the world’s largest dancing fountain, The Palm Fountain, and fireworks show on November 13, starting at 9pm. The newly launched fountain show boasts two giant floating platforms covering 14,000 sq ft, has water jets that shoot 105 metres into the air and 3,000 magical LED lights that all combine to create a choreographed dance to classic and contemporary Bollywood tunes and Hindi pop songs. A selection of restaurants at The Pointe will also offer 25 per cent off special Diwali menus on the night.

Celebrate the Festival of Lights with an amazing dining offer at MasterChef, the TV Experience, the world-first MasterChef branded restaurant. Situated at the Millennium Place Marina in the heart of the Dubai Marina, the restaurant will be offering a special 3-course set menu including sharing platters, a choice of a main and a delectable dessert, available at Dh95 per person on November 14.

Eat right: Enjoy a staycation at Bab Al Shams Desert Resort and indulge in a spicy treat; Masala, the desert resort’s authentic North Indian restaurant will be creating a special themed set menu, just for the festival of lights. Staycation rates start at Dh745 per person and include a room of your choice, breakfast at Al Forsan restaurant, a set menu experience at Masala, access to the resort’s facilities such as the desert infinity pool and gym and a complimentary falcon show and camel ride experience.