Diwali 2021 in UAE: Win gold, see fireworks, Celebrate at Expo 2020 – all things you can do

Diwali, the Indian Festival of Lights, this year falls on November 4. The day is traditionally marked with a gathering of friends and family, a tonne of good food and plenty of laughter. This year, celebrate with family with a night out on the town, watching fireworks, eating delicious meals and more. Here’s a list of options to get your planning started.

Head to the Bluewaters island: Fireworks are a mainstay of this festival and what better way to enjoy them than against a backdrop of the Dubai’s skyline. If you are feeling particularly celebratory, head to the island early and enjoy a ride on the world’s tallest observation wheel, Ain Dubai. The fireworks begin to crackle at 8.30pm on November 4.

See the night sky light up at the Dubai Festival City Mall: Another cool spot to see the sky sparkle is the Festival Bay waterside. There are plenty of restaurants to choose from here, but book ahead to make sure you get the right spot. The show starts at 9.30pm on November 4.

Water dance at The Pointe: You’ll be able to see the Palm Fountain move to the beats of popular Hindi song ‘Malhari’ every hour from 8pm-10pm. Dress up and head to the eateries here for special Diwali meals and deals on November 5.

Carnival at Global Village: Tourists and residents can experience the world in one place at Global Village this Diwali, and also look forward weekend Fireworks from Tuesday, 26 October to Saturday, 13 November. Time: 9:00 pm every Thursday and Friday.

Diwali at Address Hotels and Resorts promises to be a time for celebrating with scrumptious food. A sumptuous set menu for the occasion — either for lunch or dinner — is packed with dishes such as quinoa papdi chaat, a modern take on the street food dish of wheat crisps, potatoes and pomegranate; dahi dal wada (lentil dumplings in yoghurt) and more. Of course, there’s also biryani that is said to be one of the best dishes at Address Fountain Views and Address Sky View. Cost: Dh220 for Veg Diwali Set Menu, Dh250 for Non-veg Diwali Set Menu When November 1 to November 5 Where: The Restaurant at Address Fountain Views and The Restaurant at Address Sky View.

Wondering what to do for Diwali this year? Well, it’s time for lights, camera and action at the Expo 2020 site in Dubai. This weekend – the Festival of Lights falls on November 4 – the World’s Greatest Show is celebrating with a bonanza of music, food and more. Check out the celebrations when you head to Expo 2020; one-day tickets cost Dh95 but there are plenty of discounts to be had. Head over with your family and the kids (below 18) and the elders (over 65) get in for free. Here’s what everyone has to look forward to.

A medley of music: Late Nights @ Expo’s Diwali special kicks off on November 4 when Indian singer Badshah, best known for ‘Paani Paani’ and ‘Genda Phool’ takes the stage. He will be presenting ‘The Live Experience’ segment featuring singer Aastha Gill and musician Rico, who Badshah recently collaborated with for his latest single, ‘Bachpan Ka Pyaar’.

Tri-lingual performance by Rooh band: Start of the celebration early with some tunes. Homegrown band Rooh meshes together notes in English, Arabic and Hindi to create an unparalleled vibe. DETAILS: Catch them between 8.30pm and 9.30pm at the Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre on November 2.

This performance will be followed by Dubai-based group Dhol Tasha and multilingual indie-folk band When Chai Met Toast, which will present their blend of folk, rock, synth and electronic on the night. DETAILS: The November 4 performances will take place on the Jubilee Stage from 10.30pm-1am. On Friday, Dubai-based singer and songwriter Esther Eden will regale fans with her brand of jazz-influenced, self-penned tunes.

Her stint will be followed by Indian vocalist, songwriter, composer, and producer Shilpa Ananth’s soulful numbers that merge three of India’s oldest languages – Tamil, Malayalam and Hindi – with English. Finally, Peter Cat Recording Co will bring all that jazz. DETAILS: The November 5 performances will take place on the Jubilee Stage from 10.30pm-1am.

Meanwhile, Dubai-based Hindi band Dhruv will take the stage at Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre on November 5.

What festival is complete without its precious foodie fare? At Expo this weekend, you’ll have the chance to sample sweets that are quintessentially Diwali. UK chef Rohit Ghai, for instance, is bringing a special five-course Signature Expedition set menu to his restaurant Kutir at the Expo from November 4-6.

Want to learn how to make the treats yourself? Bread Ahead Bakery’s Diwali classes will teach techniques for baking traditional Indian sweets such as bread ladoo (sweetened bread bundles), nan khatai (orange, almond and cardamom biscuits) and gulab jamun (milk-solid-based sweets) soaked in saffron and rose syrup. The two- to three-hour Diwali classes take place on Thursday and Friday from 6pm.

Farrago, which has an outlet in the Mobility and Sustainability districts, will be serving up sweets including rasgulla (a sweet, soft, spongy dessert), kesari phirni (Kashmiri rice pudding), rasmalai (Bengali sweet made with Indian cottage cheese) and boondi laddu (festive sweets made with gram flour, ghee, sugar, nuts and cardamom powder). DETAILS: The Diwali menu will be served from November3 to 6, priced from Dh125 per person.

See a cool show at Al Wasl Plaza: Head to the largest 360-degree projection dome at the heart of Expo 2020 and celebrate the Festival of Lights by witnessing a specially curated show.

Head to the Indian Pavilion: The Indian Pavilion has created an interactive musical LED rangoli especially for the occasion, along with oversized diyas (oil lamps traditionally made of clay) with a backdrop inspired by mandala art. The pavilion will also host a range of performances, including sibling duo Salim and Sulaiman Merchant and Bollywood playback singer Vipul Mehta on November 4.

ARMANI/AMAL: Enjoy Diwali against the sparkling backdrop of The Dubai Fountain with the set menu here. You can eat a three-course sharing menu featuring tangy bhalla papdi chaat to delicately spiced mahi achar and much more, including a surprise dessert. When : 3-4 November Price: Dh399 per person Location: Armani/Ama, 3rd floor of Burj Khalifa.

Head over to UAE’s homegrown Indian street food restaurant, Mohalla. Located in the fashionable Dubai Design District, the eatery is throwing a Diwali party with plenty of food, music and art. To make the evening more memorable, Mohalla customers can enjoy live music and for a sweet ending, every customer will receive a free Gulab Jamun Cheesecake during dinner with no minimum order. When: Thursday, November 4 Location: Mohalla, Building 5, Dubai Design District Timing: 7pm to 11pm.

On the 5th of November, get ready to be serenaded with spectacular DHOL players and classic Indian dancers, a sight you DON’T want to miss at City Walk’s Roxy cinema. The experience isn’t complete without the delicious Desi Delights! from everyone’s favorite Masala Chai all the way to Dahi Battata Puri. Once you’ve chosen your bites, head over to your movie of choice and kick back and relax in Roxy’s super comfy leather seats and immerse in the ultra-stylish boutique setting. That’s your Friday festive plans sorted so, what are you waiting for?

A journey across India at Dhaba Lane: Indulge in regional delicacies from across the country when you visit this eatery – highlights include Moradabaad’s Veg Seekh Kebabs, Hyderabad’s Mutton Biryani Kolkata’s Fish Curry Pata and more. The offer – Dh52 (veg) and Dh55 (non-veg) – is on until November 14.

Buy jewellery and get more free from Dubai Gold & Jewellery Group: On the auspicious occasion, the City of Gold Diwali Glow fest offers those who buy jewellery in one of 125 outlets the chance to win Dh150,000 in vouchers. There are also a number of other gifts – presents on some purchases, discounts on others. The campaign is on until November 6.

Diwali Brunch at Swissôtel Al Ghurair! Bring your loved ones to Liwan Restaurant this weekend and explore authentic Indian flavours as you taste your way through an extravagant menu. Exciting activities such as cooking classes, Zumba sessions, painting and more, promises to make this brunch a hit with the little ones as well. When: Friday, November 5th, 12:30pm - 4pm Costs: Dh175 per person | Dh88 per child.

The Festive Spirit is High at Dukes the Palm: Khyber is thrilled to share its fantastic Diwali Package with a special three-course set menu that promises to take guests on a culinary journey through North India, with a lively selection of mouth-watering dishes. Location: Khyber, Dukes the Palm, A Royal Hideaway Hotel. When: November 3 to 6 Time: 5 pm-11 pm. Cost: Dh185 per person including soft beverages and Dh270 per person including house beverages.

Farzi Café: The modern Indian Bistro is going the extra mile to celebrate Diwali – it’s offering a specially designed meat-free menu that includes favourites such as pillowy bao buns stuffed with chilli-laced paneer, khichdi made with nutty pearl barley; Rajasthani classic curry, kahdi and desi chowmein. The menu is available from November 4-8 Cost:Dh149 per person. Location: City Walk, Mall of Emirates.

Sample Diwali delights at Punjab Grill: the Indian outfit is giving classic dishes a contemporary makeover - think masala maska bun and chicken tikke masala chaat. There's also the new pulled TiNDLE chicken, perfect for vegans. The Diwali menu is available until November 10 When: 27 October until 10 November, Location: The Oberoi, Dubai Time: 11.30am to 11.30 pm.

A gift from Sugargram: The festive box this eatery offers has 25 bite-sized cupcakes for Dh135 or 50 for Dh300 in eight flvours including Mrs. Weasely (Red Velvet), Jelly Jennifer (Peanut Butter Jelly), Sasha Speculoos (Lotus), Basic Becky (Chocolate Chip), Oreona Grande (Oreo) ,Fudge Judy (Chocolate), Holly Ho Lightly (Festive Batter), Love Rosie (Rose and Nutella filling) and Jennifer Appleston (apple crumble). Treat your loved ones to the special sweets. Cost: Dh135 for 25 bite size cupcakes and Dh300 for 50 bite size cupcakes.

Complimentary Motichoor Ladoo, a very traditional Indian sweet with every Diwali special vegetarian Marwar Thali/ platter at Sagar Ratna. At this vegetarian restaurant in Dubai you can indulge in Diwali special pure vegetarian thali inspired from the Rajasthani food culture in India. Dishes include authentic Rajasthani dishes of Dal Batti Churma, Gatta Curry, Mirchi Kutta , Garlic Chutney (accompaniment) and rice along with a glass of yogurt based drink, lassi. When: 4th November to 6th November. Cost: Dh30.

Khau Galli: Looking for a Diwali hamper for your loved ones? Why not consider the offerings of this Indian eatery. There's Meenakari and authentic Rajasthani and Gujrati gift boxes, declicious sweets and wooden baskets with traditional brass jars full of dry fruits. Prices starts at Dh50.

An hour and half drive away from Dubai, Hilton Garden Inn Ras Al Khaimah is celebrating Diwali with a desi trunch event. Featuring a delicious menu of classic Indian dishes and a live DJ spinning chart-topping Bollywood tunes, it will be a Diwali celebration to remember! The trunch will feature all those favorite Indian dishes, like Dal Makhani and Butter Chicken, a range of live-cooking stations including one featuring Biryanis, plus authentic street food like Pani Puri, Pao Bhaji, Mixed Pakodas and Chai..! When: November 5 Where: Hilton Garden Inn, Ras Al Khaimah. Time: 1pm to 5pm. Price: Dh140 food & house beverages package.

When it comes to Diwali, there is no such thing as too many sweets, so India Palace has come up with sweet boxes perfect for festive gifting. Price : Priced at Dh120, Dh85 and Dh65 respectively. Where: Available throughout their 12 outlets across the UAE.

Missing home? Then celebrate Diwali ‘the desi style’ with a newly launched freestyle Indian restaurant and chai room – Roobaru. Roobaru serves a lip-smacking dishes from the coolest neighborhoods and side-streets of India. Starting from Sharjah Sambusa, a deep fried and crushed cheddar cheese samosa topped with crushed Oman Chips, dribbled with sweet yogurt and date tamarind chutney, to, Paneer Makhani, paneer marinated, and grilled over the plancha, served with a makhani gravy topped with smoked black garlic butter, Roobaru has got you covered. Please call Roobaru for prices. Location: Ground Floor, DT1 Residential Towers, Downtown Dubai.

Diwali Menu For Two at Sthan, known for serving flavors beyond borders , is offering a special menu. Some of the menu highlights include Kadak palak chaat, Machi Ambarsari, Biryani Awadh ki, Achari Panner, Dhaba da Murgh, Chicken Lababdara and Aloo Tomato Kut. When: 4 November to 6 November Cost: Dh139 Location: Al Karama - Dubai.

Complimentary Dessert at India Bistro Sharjah: Located in Abu Shagara, Sharjah, India Bistro offers local favorites of the Indian cuisine from Amritsar to Wagah to Lucknow. Some of the menu highlights include Murgh Awadhi Biryani, Chingri Dum Biryani, Subz Dum Biryani and melt-in-the-mouth kebabs. On the occasion of Diwali, the restaurant will be offering a complimentary dessert of Phirni Kesar Da at every table.