Fairs, food, gifts and fun await all those celebrating Diwali in Abu Dhabi
Also known as the Festival of Lights, Diwali is a much-anticipated festival for Indians across the world.
Given the UAE’s large Hindu expat community, celebrations here are done in a major way, featuring everything from brunches to melas (fairs), and of course, some delectable Indian mithai (sweets).
Naturally, Team Yalla’s rounded up the best places to celebrate Diwali in Abu Dhabi 2023!
Diwali at Angar, W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island
The magic of Diwali with the racetrack for views? Definitely!
Angar has transformed into an intricate Diwali-themed setup just for you, ensuring the blend of tradition with modern indulgence. Diners can look forward to indulging in tempting starters such as the Royal Samosa Symphony, made up of crispy samosas transformed into a melody of flavours with chickpeas, yogurt, chutneys, and spices. For the main course, diners can choose either the Butter Velvet Chicken Euphoria, a creamy tomato-based curry with tender pieces of chicken, served with naan or rice, or the Enchanted Baingan Mirage with Dal Makhani, a roasted eggplant oasis paired with creamy black lentil dreams served with naan or rice.
Either way, it’s a delicious win.
Available 10-15 November, 6pm to 11pm. Price AED 229 per person for a three-course menu. For reservations, call 02 656 0000
Diwali Mela at Martabaan, Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental Abu Dhabi
Celebrate Diwali in Abu Dhabi, the quintessential Indian way – with a mela!
Savour authentic Indian street food and traditional Indian music at Martabaan, Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental Abu Dhabi. From 10-12 November, explore six food stalls in the Martabaan lounge area offering traditional Indian street food.
From Besan Ladoo to Kaju Katli, Dry fruit sandwiches to Badam rose laddus and more, there’s no end to the decadence. Eat some, buy some, and gift some more.
For reservations, call 02 690 7999
WTC Abu Dhabi
What’s Diwali without some massive retail therapy? And the chance to win gold bars?
World Trade Center (WTC) Abu Dhabi is hosting a grand promotion for shoppers, filled with dazzling prizes and special offers. From 3-12 November 2023, all you need to do is spend AED 100 or more and you can walk away with literal gold bars!
Submitting an entry is a breeze as customers can upload their receipts on the dedicated Spend & Win web portal by scanning the QR code on in-mall collaterals, tent cards at retail outlets’ cash counters, and the mall’s customer service desk.
With the chance to win a 500-gram 24-karat gold bar available to 10 lucky winners, here’s your chance to be part of the most epic Diwali celebrations in Abu Dhabi!
For reservations, visit wtcad.ae/en/home
Middleton by Marshall
With Diwali comes Dhanteras, and the chance to spoil your loved ones with some really special gifts!
Introducing Middleton by Marshall, the perfect gift for the festive season. Middleton delivers legendary sound with a quad-speaker setup and True Stereophonic technology, offering a 360° immersive experience.
Grab yours for just AED 1349 across select UAE retailers, or online at Amazon and Noon! Your loved ones will thank you.
Diwali Menu at Punjab Grill
If delicious food and a royal Indian ambience are what you want this Diwali, look no further than Punjab Grill.
The Michelin-Guide Select restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal has a special Diwali Menu up its sleeve, courtesy of Executive Chef Sandeep Ail.
Available from 9-19 November, the menu includes highlights such as Butter Pav Bhaji with Masala Maska Bun, Fried Idli with Kundapur Paneer Bites and Makkai Saag with Missi Roti.
End your meal with Punjab Grill’s interpretation of classic Indian Meethai as Western desserts such as Kesar Peda Pavlova, Motichoor Ladoo Cheesecake and more! It’s indulgence like never before for the perfect Diwali meal.
9-19 November. Prices start from AED 49. For reservations, call 02 449 9839 or visit punjabgrill.me
Diwali offer at Café 302
Welcome the Festival of Lights with a delicious meal unlike any other from 11-15 November. Head to Café 302 where you can celebrate a memorable Diwali with a selection of authentic dishes including Masala Fried King Fish, Mughlai Chicken Curry, Mutton Rogan Josh, Vegetable Kofta Curry, Vegetable and Paneer Handi served with steamed basmati rice or pulao rice, naan & traditional Gulab Jamun.
Available during both lunch and dinner from 12pm until 10pm, it’s the perfect meal to ring in the festivities with your loved ones.
Prices AED 79 during lunch and dinner. For reservations, call 02 610 6688 or visit rotana.com/almahaarjaanbyrotana
Ghee Sweets Collection at Sri Krishna Sweets
Mithai, or sweets, are the cornerstone of all Diwali celebrations and gifting. And what better gift than an authentic box of decadence from Sri Krishna Sweets?
Featuring traditional and contemporary sweets, explore their special Ghee Sweets collection, a sensory feast comprising classics like Mysurpa, Jalebi, Badusha Dry Fruit Halwa, Navaratan Halwa, Pista Halwa, Bombay Halwa, Horlicks Cake, Bournvita Cake, and Sonpapdi. The delectable assortment extends to laddus like Motichur Laddu, Besan Laddu, Bhoondi Laddu, and Rava Laddu among other options. And of course, there’s plenty of milk sweets, nut sweets and so much more to explore in the delicious collection. With two outlets in the UAE capital and online ordering, grab your box of Diwali treats right away!
FAQs
What is Diwali?
Also known as the Festival of Lights, Diwali is a festival celebrated by the Hindu community in India. Typically occurring between the months of October and November, the festival is associated with the return of Lord Ram, a Hindu deity, as well as Goddess Lakshmi, who symbolises prosperity.
How do you celebrate Diwali?
Diwali is commonly celebrated through bursting fireworks, exchanging gifts (ranging from nuts to gold), spending quality time with your loved ones, card games and so much more. Hindus also clean their homes thoroughly in anticipation of the festival.
Is it an official holiday in the UAE?
While Hindus are a large part of the expat community in the UAE, Diwali is not an official holiday with the exception of some Indian schools. However, that rarely deters the crowd from celebrating with pomp.
What can we do apart from eating out on Diwali?
The Diwali weekend might be from 11-12 November, but the festivities are sure to start early and continue long after. With plenty of outdoor attractions reopening both in the UAE capital and in Dubai, from Global Village to Miracle Garden or Ripe Market, there’s no dearth of things to do. Concerts by major artists like Ali Sethi and Arijit Singh are also definitely to be added to your list!
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