Top Festivals in Dubai You Must Experience

A community usually celebrates a festival to celebrate their tradition, culture, crop harvests, etc. It is the time when everyone is happy, and people dance and sing joyfully. Fireworks adorn the sky and people distribute food and gifts to their friends and family. Various competitions and events are held where professionals showcase their talents for people to admire and enjoy. Dubai is among the 7 emirates of the United Arab Emirates and is the major tourist hub and center of trading because of its modern architecture, exquisite shopping complexes, serene beaches, and the pearl industry. Festivals in Dubai are celebrated with great pomp and show with amazing fireworks. Tourists make sure to participate in the festivities and grab steal deals in the Dubai Shopping Festival. The glamorous vibe during this time is sure to touch your heart and soul.

Renowned Festivals in Dubai-An Overview

1. New Year’s Eve

The people of Dubai welcome the New Year with great zeal. It is an unforgettable experience, especially in the area in and around Burj Khalifa, the tallest skyscraper in the world. Witness how the excitement increases with each countdown at midnight. The Burj Khalifa is where the countdown is visible and there is a continuous bursting of firecrackers. However, you need to buy Burj Khalifa Dubai tickets that are available online starting in November. You may also collect your badges by the end of December. Many tourists visit Dubai to experience this luxurious festival. Besides the Burj Khalifa fireworks in Dubai and the Dubai restaurants with Burj Khalifa view too cannot be missed.

Highlights- The iconic tower is transformed into a stunning pyrotechnic show that illuminates the night sky.

Date- 31st December

Location- Downtown Dubai, UAE

2. Dubai Shopping Festival

It is the mega shopping festival celebrated every year since 1996. It is usually held from the first week in Dubai in January to the first week of February. As the name suggests, this is the time when every shopping mall and every shop puts up fascinating offers and discounts on items making it affordable for tourists and common people. People grab this opportunity to buy unique and expensive-looking items for themselves or to gift their loved ones. This festival is not only limited to shopping, during this time, but food-related events, concerts, parades, game events, and ramp walks can also be witnessed live in every public area. Fireworks in Dubai can be witnessed every night at Creek Park.

Highlights- Massive discounts, live performances, street shows, fashion shows, fireworks, and food festivals.

Date- Jan 1st week- Feb 1st week

Location- Dubai Festival City Mall,The Dubai Frame Al Seef, Dubai Creek, and La Mer

3. Art Dubai

Art Dubai is the most exclusive art event established by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai in 2007. It is usually held in March and both young and popular artists participate in this major event for art enthusiasts. Every year around 28,000 people including art collectors, sponsors, and curators from across the world come to acknowledge this event. There are three categories of art or rather three major divisions of the event Contemporary, Modern, and Residents. The Global Art Forum is a universal art conference held in the Gulf countries that attracts many people whose lives are related to art.

Highlights-Three sections make up the gallery: Residents, Modern, and Contemporary. The conference welcomes writers, curators, artists, and leaders from around the globe, as its name implies.

Date-March

Location-Mina a’Salam – Jumeirah Beach Rd – Al Sufouh 1 – Dubai – UAE

4. Dubai International Jazz Festival

The Dubai Jazz Festival is held every year. Visitors soak themselves in the musical atmosphere set by award-winning artists like famous musicians like Duran Duran, John Legend, and Ricky Martin and greatly admire Jazz and Contemporary music groups from outside the Gulf countries, that have been in this field for about 50 years. This event has drawn more than 500,000 visitors. The first edition of the Festival, held at Dubai Mega City Amphitheater, was in January 2003 and lasted 3 days. The tickets to this event are available online at their website. Important add-ons are Meet and greets and satisfying food at the food stalls.

Highlights- Food vendors, meet-and-greets with artists, jazz concerts, and music workshops

Date- February

Location-35R3+H29 – Al Sufouh – Al Sufouh 2 – Dubai – UAE

5. Eid-Ul-Fitr and Eid-Al-Adha

These two Islamic festivals are celebrated with great zeal every year and the entire city is lit up. Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated to commemorate successful fasting in the holy month of Ramadan. Eid-Al-Adha is celebrated to mark the sacrifice of the son of Prophet Ibrahim in compliance with God’s words. The exact date of these festivals may vary according to the lunar calendar. Special food gatherings, charity, and distributing gifts and money to the poor are the key highlights of these festivals.

The best places to visit in Dubai during Eid holidays  comprise admiring breathtaking vistas at Burj Khalifa, soaking in the charms of Old Dubai in Bastakiya, indulging in thrills in IMG World of Adventure, or letting yourself loose at Jumeirah Beach.

Highlights-Prayers, feasts, get-togethers with family, giving gifts, and charitable deeds

Date- April and June

Location- Mosques, shopping malls, cultural events.

6. Dubai International Boat Festival

Hosted in February-March, this Dubai Festival showcases a wide array of luxurious boats and yachts from different named brands worldwide. It is a unique experience to admire all these magnificent vessels. The entry is ticket-based, and only those people with the tickets get to visit the Marina Art Gallery with exquisite art pieces by renowned artists. The casual atmosphere with music and entertainment is quite different from other boat shows anywhere in the world.

Highlights- Discover the thrill of refined living, the exhilaration of watersports, the artistry of marine-inspired art, and the engineering of the best boatbuilders in the world.

Date-February and March

Location-Dubai Marina, Dubai, UAE

7. UAE National Day

The United Arab Emirates National Day is amid the most vital Public holidays in Dubai. It is celebrated every year on 2nd December to celebrate the independence from the British protectorate treaties and the unification of the seven emirates. The national parades with soldiers riding horses and the flag in their hand, cultural dances, exhibitions, marvelous fireworks displays, live concerts, and every kind of celebration can be witnessed in Dubai on this day. Besides, there are infinite places to visit in Dubai during UAE National Day Holidays from Burj AI Arab, to the Pointe, and Burj Khalifa, to name a few.

Highlights- cultural exhibits, concerts, fireworks, national parades, and traditional dances

Date-December

8. Dubai International Film Festival

It is one of the largest film festivals in the Middle East. Many Arab film stars, film directors, and producers mark their presence in this event, usually held in November-December. Several awarded films have opened up festivals held in 3-4 high-class venues and engage many celebrities, film enthusiasts, influencers, and other people who have made valuable contributions to the film industry. Film workshops, Q&A events, and exclusive red-carpet events add to the glamor.

Highlights- Filmmaker seminars, networking events, red carpet events, and movie screenings

Location- Al Sufouh – Al Sufouh 2 – Dubai – United Arab Emirates

Date-December

9. Taste Of Dubai

Taste of Dubai has been organized every year since 2007. It is a cooking mega event where worldwide well-known chefs display their amazing cooking skills and techniques live, which attracts many food lovers. There is a separate area for kids to have fun and shopping areas to buy a range of items. Most restaurants and hotels in Dubai offer huge discounts on your food bills. Various food trucks line up the streets. So, it is one of the most awaited festivals in Dubai.

Highlights- draw visitors from the world over who come to sample food from both seasoned and aspirational chefs. Celebrity chefs would lead live cooking demonstrations every year.

Date-March

10. Hijri New Year

The Hijri New Year marks the beginning of a new Islamic year as per the Lunar calendar. The date of the Festival depends on the lunar calendar. Hence, it is not fixed. It is a time of the year when people reflect on their past deeds, offer special prayers, give charity in the name of the Lord, give special gifts to their loved ones, and celebrate the New Year with them. There are special community events held on this day.

Highlights- Holidays, get-togethers with family, celebratory dinners, and neighborhood activities.

Date-July

11. Emirates Airline Festival Of Literature

Dubai values art in every form, and this is evident from the Food Festival, Art Dubai, and the Festival of Literature organized by Emirates Airlines. It is the ultimate time for literary intellectuals. Authors of various books host workshops, book talk sessions, book signings, and author panels for locals and tourists to witness. It is usually held in Dubai in February.

Highlights- Book launches, storytelling sessions, poetry slams, writing workshops, and author panels.

Date-January-February

Conclusion

Dubai has a multicultural vibe and values all forms of art as is evident from the Dubai Jazz Festival, Dubai Food Festival, Dubai Film Festival, and Emirates Airline Festival of Literature. The luxurious events, food stalls, exclusive shows, unlimited shopping experiences at the Dubai Shopping Festival, and fireworks in Dubai add charm to these festivals. New Year’s Eve is celebrated like no other, especially in and around Burj Khalifa, which people attend by grabbing the Burj Khalifa tickets from the Dubai Mall. Various celebrities and influencers mark their presence in these festivals and this attracts tourists and fans from everywhere in the world.

FAQs