Diwali wouldn’t be Diwali without a little sparkle in the sky. The Festival of Lights is all about celebrating light over darkness, and nothing says “light” quite like a night sky bursting with colour, amirite. This year, Diwali falls on Sunday, November 8, with the five-day celebrations running from Dhanteras on Friday, November 6, to Bhai Dooj on Tuesday, November 10. And with Dubai’s citywide Festival of Lights running from November 2 to 12, there’s plenty to look forward to. Keep reading to find the best spots to catch firework shows in Dubai this weekend.
1. Global Village
If you’re planning one big Diwali night out, this is the confirmed one. Global Village is celebrating Diwali from November 6 to 10, and the star of the show is a 600-drone light display on Diwali night itself. At 8pm on Sunday, November 8, hundreds of drones will take to the sky to form Diwali-inspired shapes. For the best view, head to the area above the Stunt Arena and the Syria Pavilion.
And that’s not all. Here’s what else is happening across the five days:
- November 6: A first-ever baithak, a cosy, sing-along musical gathering, takes over the Main Stage from 8pm to 9pm. It also happens to be Dhanteras. Firework show at 9PM.
- November 7: Interactive games and prizes for visitors. Firework show at 9PM.
- All five days: A Diwali Mela selling festive decorations, gifts, traditional snacks and sweets. Look out for decorative lamp posts along World Avenue and “Happy Diwali” signboards that are perfect for photos.
- For the little ones: The Kids Corner has face painting, diya colouring and rangoli making.
- For the foodies: The Indian Chaat Bazaar is serving up pani puri, chaat, pav bhaji, chole bhature and mithai, so come hungry.
Everything is included with your regular entry ticket (AED 25 on weekdays, AED 30 on weekends), though rides at Carnaval and some attractions cost extra. Since Diwali night is a Sunday, the park closes at midnight, so you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the show and then go back for more chaat.
2. Noor: Festival of Lights, Souk Al Seef (Fireworks Not Confirmed)
Now in its third year, Noor: Festival of Lights is back at Souk Al Seef, right beside Dubai Creek, and it’s a lovely way to spend a festive evening. It runs on November 7 and 8 from 6pm to 11pm, and it’s free to attend.
Expect a procession of puppets and drummers, plus live music on stage. On November 7, you can catch Ashu Ali and Saif Hayat from the indie band The Shams, along with Punjabi singer Jasbir Jassi. On November 8, it’s the band Jammers and singer-songwriter Sooraj Santhosh. The programme also includes storytelling, stand-up comedy and rangoli workshops, so there’s something for everyone. This is the perfect excuse to wear your fanciest Indian outfit, because there’s no such thing as too dressed up here.
That said, while Souk Al Seef has hosted Diwali fireworks in the past, there’s no confirmation yet that they’re part of this year’s line-up. So for now, go for the music, the lights and the atmosphere, and treat any fireworks as a bonus if they’re announced.
Stay Tuned
Fireworks details for Dubai’s Diwali celebrations are still being announced, so we’ll be keeping a close eye out. Stay tuned for more firework spot recommendations as soon as we hear more!
