How to throw a UAE summer party without breaking the bank: Ice-creams to potluck perfection
Throw a chic summer party without breaking the bank
Feeling like a party planner but the heat is getting you down? Don’t worry—there’s a way around it, with a few clever tricks, some fairy lights, and plenty of AC. Here’s our guide to help you throw the perfect summer party. Let’s bring it on.
Venue: Keep it homey and AC-friendly
Who needs a beach resort when you’ve got a balcony, backyard, or even your living room? Push the furniture aside, bring out the floor cushions, and suddenly you’ve got yourself a boho-chic lounge. If your building has a community room or rooftop, free real estate for the win!
Lights, camera and budget glam
No one’s looking at the price tag if the lighting is right. String up those solar-powered fairy lights, scatter a few LED candles, and there you have it, some stellar ambience.
Chill is the new luxe
Set the mood (and lower the temperature) with portable fans, cooling mists, or even DIY ice-cold towel stations. If you're feeling fancy, borrow or buy a mini cooler fan. Your guests will be grateful.
Potluck any day
Here’s the trick: Turn food into a theme. Taco night? Everyone brings one topping. Grill night? One brings the skewers, another the buns. You get delicious variety, and no one ends up broke or burned out. And please—don’t sleep on watermelon. It's cheap, juicy, and totally in season. Some of the best dos in a UAE summer party involve finger foods, which people can eat with a toothpick on a plate. Get creative with your salads and try out new dips. If it’s hot, it’s best to keep the menu light and easy, like small sandwiches and cheese platters with meat.
And, ice creams. Always ice creams. Nothing helps a party like different flavours of ice cream.
Games and giggles
Charades, card games, or that one chaotic game of Uno that destroys friendships? All free. And all good fun.
Pool parties
In the UAE, pools are practically everywhere, most buildings and communities come with one. That makes it easy to gather a few friends and head down for a casual pool hangout. Keep it fun and fuss-free with popsicles, ice cream, or even a chilled fruit cake. Ice cream, especially, is always a crowd-pleaser in the heat—making it perfect for a playful poolside dessert party.
When it comes to hosting, your best bet is to organise it at home or at a friend’s place to keep costs low. If that’s not an option, look out for restaurants or venues offering budget-friendly deals or discounts
Dress code: Linen and low effort
Let’s normalise breezy fashion and flip-flops. No one wants to see you suffer in synthetic polyester in 45°C heat. Keep it cool, comfy, and cute.
You don’t need a yacht, a private chef, or a mood board from Pinterest to throw a killer summer party in the UAE. All you need is creativity, community, and a strong relationship with your AC remote. So blast the tunes, serve up some sparkle, and party like it’s a cool 25 degrees—even if it's not.
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