Diwali in Dubai 2026 falls on Sunday 8 November, and the city starts celebrating a week early. Free concerts on the Creek, a 600-drone show at Global Village and gold offers you will actually want to read the small print on.
Dubai’s Festival of Lights runs from 2 to 12 November. That is 11 days of rangoli, Bollywood nights, mall mela stalls and festive retail deals across the city, and a good chunk of it costs nothing at all.
Here is what is on, what it costs, where to shop and how to plan Diwali night itself without spending it stuck in traffic on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road.
When is Diwali 2026 in Dubai?
Diwali 2026 is on Sunday 8 November, with Lakshmi Puja that evening between 5.58pm and 7.56pm Dubai time. Dhanteras, the traditional day for buying gold, falls on Friday 6 November. Dubai’s citywide Festival of Lights runs from Monday 2 to Thursday 12 November.
Diwali is not a public holiday in the UAE. This year that barely matters, because it lands on a Sunday and most of Dubai already has the day off. And yes, that also means every family in the city will be heading out on the same evening.
Diwali in Dubai 2026: everything at a glance
The big celebrations, sorted by price. The free ones come first, because obviously.
| Event | Where | When | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Noor: Festival of Lights | Souk Al Seef, Al Seef | Sat 7 and Sun 8 Nov | Free |
| Khushiyon Se Bhari Diwali | BurJuman, Bur Dubai | Until Thu 12 Nov | Free |
| Diwali at Global Village | Global Village, Wadi Al Safa 4 | Fri 6 to Tue 10 Nov | AED 25 to AED 30 (USD 7 to USD 8) |
| Bloom and Glow Diwali Festival | Dubai Miracle Garden, Al Barsha South | Sun 1 to Sat 14 Nov | From AED 70 (USD 19) for residents |
| AYA Universe Diwali | Wafi City, Oud Metha | Mon 2 to Thu 12 Nov | From AED 135 (USD 37) |
| House of Hype Diwali | The Dubai Mall, Downtown | Mon 2 to Thu 12 Nov | From AED 149 (USD 41) |
Free Diwali celebrations in Dubai
Noor: Festival of Lights at Souk Al Seef
If you only do one free thing this Diwali, make it this. Noor takes over the waterfront at Souk Al Seef for two nights, with illuminated puppet processions, dhol drummers, Bollywood dance and a proper live music line-up beside the Creek.
Saturday 7 November brings Indian duo The Shams (Ashu Ali and Saif Hayat) and a live set from Punjabi singer Jasbir Jassi. On Sunday 8 November, Diwali night itself, there is another grand procession, Jammers and a live show from Sooraj Santosh.
Noor: Festival of Lights
Two nights of processions, Bollywood dance and live music on Dubai Creek.
Area: Souk Al Seef, Al Seef, Bur Dubai
Dates: Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November 2026
Hours: 6pm to 11pm
Price: Free
Website: noorfestivaloflights.com
Best for: A free night out with live music and a Creek view
Map: Open in Google Maps
Parking at Al Seef fills fast on both nights, so an abra across the Creek or the metro is the smarter way in.
Khushiyon Se Bhari Diwali at BurJuman
BurJuman’s Diwali programme has been running all month and wraps up on 12 November. Weeknights bring hands-on festive workshops for kids, Fridays are Musical Baithaks with live performances from Team Malhar, and Saturdays host a Diwali Talent Show for performers aged six and up.
It is free, it is indoors and it is right above a metro station. For a weeknight outing with small children, it is hard to beat.
Khushiyon Se Bhari Diwali
Free workshops, live music and a talent show inside BurJuman.
Area: Level 1, Lobby B, BurJuman, Bur Dubai
Dates: Until Thursday 12 November 2026
Hours: Workshops Mon to Thu 5pm to 9pm, Musical Baithaks Fri 6pm to 9pm, Talent Show Sat 6pm to 9pm
Price: Free
Website: burjuman.com
Best for: Families with younger kids on a school night
Map: Open in Google Maps
Diwali in your own neighbourhood
Dubai Holding Communities is hosting free Diwali events across 17 of its neighbourhoods, including Al Furjan, Jumeirah Village Circle and Dubai Wharf. Dates vary by community, so check your community app or noticeboard. If you would rather not drive anywhere on Diwali night, this is your answer.
Ticketed Diwali events in Dubai worth paying for
Global Village: 600 drones on Diwali night
Global Village runs five days of Diwali from 6 to 10 November, and the headline is a 600-drone show at 8pm on Sunday 8 November. There is also a baithak with singer Kavita Seth on the Main Stage on Friday 6 November, a Diwali Mela at the India Pavilion and a chaat street that will undo any plans you had for dinner.
Everything is included in the regular entry ticket. We have the full day-by-day line-up in our guide to Diwali at Global Village 2026.
Diwali at Global Village
Drone show, baithak, Diwali Mela and Indian street food, all on a standard ticket.
Area: Global Village, Wadi Al Safa 4, Dubailand
Dates: Friday 6 to Tuesday 10 November 2026
Hours: 4pm to midnight Sun to Wed, 4pm to 1am Thu to Sat
Price: AED 25 (USD 7) weekday ticket, AED 30 (USD 8) any-day ticket
Website: globalvillage.ae
Best for: Families who want the biggest show of the week for the smallest ticket
Map: Open in Google Maps
Tuesdays are for ladies and families only, so Tuesday 10 November is the calmest Diwali day if you fit that bill.
Wow-Emirates Expert Tip: Lakshmi Puja ends at 7.56pm and the Global Village drone show starts at 8pm, roughly 30 minutes’ drive away from most of the city. Let’s be honest, you will not make both. Do puja at home, have dinner, and catch the Diwali Mela on Monday 9 November when the crowds have thinned and the weekday ticket is AED 25 (USD 7). If the drones are the whole point, skip puja at the temple and do it at home before 7pm.
Bloom and Glow Diwali Festival at Dubai Miracle Garden
The garden’s 15th season marks Diwali with a Grand Diwali Parade, traditional dance, live music, a community rangoli competition and diya painting. There is a Kids’ Diwali Zone, a costume photo booth, an Indian sweets market and an LED light show once the sun goes down.
It runs for two weeks, longer than anything else on this list, so there is no need to fight the Diwali weekend crowds. Our Dubai Miracle Garden guide covers Season 15 tickets and timings in full.
Bloom and Glow Diwali Festival
A two-week Diwali programme with a parade, rangoli and an evening light show.
Area: Dubai Miracle Garden, Al Barsha South 3
Dates: Sunday 1 to Saturday 14 November 2026
Hours: 9am to 9pm
Price: Residents with Emirates ID AED 70 (USD 19) adults, AED 50 (USD 14) children; general admission AED 100 (USD 27), all plus VAT
Website: dubaimiraclegarden.com
Best for: Families who want Diwali in daylight and a kids’ zone
Map: Open in Google Maps
AYA Universe Diwali at Wafi City
AYA’s 12 immersive zones, from star fields to reverse waterfalls, get a festive refresh for Diwali, and The Source at its centre takes on a new celestial look. It is indoors, it is air-conditioned and the photos are reliably good.
Do the maths before you buy. Four single tickets cost AED 540 (USD 147). The Family Pass for four is AED 399 (USD 109), which saves you AED 141.
AYA Universe Diwali
12 immersive light zones with a Diwali refresh.
Area: Wafi City, Oud Metha
Dates: Monday 2 to Thursday 12 November 2026
Hours: 10am to 10pm Sun to Thu, 10am to midnight Fri and Sat
Price: From AED 135 (USD 37), Family Pass for four AED 399 (USD 109), free for People of Determination and children aged 3 and under
Website: aya-universe.com
Best for: Families and photo-hunters who want air conditioning
Map: Open in Google Maps
House of Hype at The Dubai Mall
Twenty-five interactive rooms, hidden spaces, live performances and food stops, with a Diwali performance show added for the festival. Same rule applies: four general tickets come to AED 596 (USD 162), while the Family Pass is AED 449 (USD 122). That is AED 147 back in your pocket.
House of Hype
25 interactive worlds with a Diwali performance show.
Area: Level 1, Fountain Views, The Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai
Dates: Monday 2 to Thursday 12 November 2026
Hours: 11am to 10pm daily, last entry 8.30pm
Price: From AED 149 (USD 41), Family Pass for four AED 449 (USD 122)
Website: house-of-hype.com
Best for: Teens and groups of friends
Map: Open in Google Maps
Lakshmi Puja at the Hindu Temple in Jebel Ali
Dubai’s Hindu Temple in the Jebel Ali Worship Village is where most of the city’s Hindu community heads on Diwali, and the early evening of Sunday 8 November will be the busiest it gets all year. Expect long queues during the puja window from 5.58pm to 7.56pm.
If you can, go earlier in the day or on Dhanteras instead. Visits have needed advance registration in the past, so check the temple’s website for slots before you set off.
Hindu Temple Dubai
Dubai’s main Hindu temple, beside the Guru Nanak Darbar Gurudwara.
Area: Worship Village, Jebel Ali
Best for: Lakshmi Puja and Diwali darshan
Map: Open in Google Maps
Dress modestly, leave shoes in the racks provided and allow extra time for parking on Diwali evening.
Diwali shopping in Dubai 2026: the offers worth knowing
Most Diwali retail runs from 2 to 12 November under the Festival of Lights banner. These are the deals with real value in them, rather than the ones that just add a diya to the window display.
| Offer | Where | Until | The deal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meralda Jewels | Meralda stores | Tue 10 Nov | 0% deduction on 22K old gold exchange, minimum making charges, free gold coins over AED 4,999 (USD 1,361) |
| IKEA Festival of Lights range | Dubai Festival City Mall, Dubai Festival Plaza, online | Tue 10 Nov | 25% to 50% off selected items |
| Lulu Wali Diwali | Lulu Hypermarkets and Supermarkets | Thu 12 Nov | Discounts on sweets, diyas, decor, ethnic wear and Diwali thalis |
| Aura Gift Gather Glow | Participating Alshaya brands | Sun 8 Nov | Up to 10x Aura points and a free gift every two qualifying purchases |
| Arrow and Color Plus | BurJuman | Thu 12 Nov | Buy 2 get 1 free and buy 1 get 1 free on menswear |
| Being Human | City Centre Deira | Thu 12 Nov | Buy 2 get 1 free and buy 1 get 1 free |
| Citywide retail promotions | Damas, Next, COS, American Eagle and more | Thu 12 Nov | Festive discounts at participating stores from 2 Nov |
Buying gold for Dhanteras
Dhanteras is on Friday 6 November, and the Gold Souk in Deira will be at its busiest that evening. The good news: gold is cheaper than it was last Diwali. On 22 October, 24K was trading at AED 493.75 (USD 134) a gram, about AED 18 less per gram than at Diwali 2025. Prices move every day, so check the rate posted in store before you commit.
Gold is having a moment in Deira generally, too, with a 24-carat walkway on the way near the souk.
Dubai Gold Souk
Hundreds of jewellers under one covered souk.
Area: Deira, near Al Ras
Best for: Dhanteras gold coins, bangles and comparing making charges
Best time: Friday 6 November before 5pm, or any weekday morning that week
Map: Open in Google Maps
Wow-Emirates Expert Tip: The gold price is the same everywhere, so the real saving is in making charges and what you get back for old gold. If you have broken chains or single earrings sitting in a drawer, take them with you. Meralda’s 0% deduction on 22K exchange runs until 10 November, and it is worth asking every jeweller you visit to match it before you buy.
Diyas, rangoli colours and sweets
For the traditional bits, Meena Bazaar in Bur Dubai is still the place. Diyas, rangoli powder, torans, festive clothes and boxes of mithai, all within a few streets. It gets very busy in the days right before Diwali, so go early in the week.
Meena Bazaar
Bur Dubai’s textile and festive shopping streets.
Area: Bur Dubai, near Al Fahidi
Best for: Diyas, rangoli colours, festive outfits and sweets
Best time: Monday 2 to Wednesday 4 November, before the weekend rush
Map: Open in Google Maps
Where to eat for Diwali in Dubai
Restaurants book up fast for Sunday 8 November, especially for families of six or more. Our list of Indian restaurants to book for Diwali covers everything from thali feasts to fine dining.
Prefer something low-key after the temple? Mohalla Canteen in Al Nahda does AED 5 (USD 1) chai, bun maska and a Bohra thaal, and nobody will judge you for ordering two rounds.
Will there be Diwali fireworks in Dubai in 2026?
As of 30 October, no official Diwali fireworks schedule has been announced for Dubai. This year the big sky moment is the 600-drone show at Global Village at 8pm on Sunday 8 November. We will add fireworks times here as soon as they are confirmed.
Planning the rest of the festive season
Diwali kicks off a packed few months in Dubai. If you caught Garba last month, our Navratri in Dubai guide has the full rundown for next year, and our weekly things to do in Dubai guide covers everything else on this month. Driving to Al Seef or Downtown? Our guide to parking in Dubai has the current peak-hour rates.
Frequently asked questions
Diwali 2026 is on Sunday 8 November, with Lakshmi Puja between 5.58pm and 7.56pm Dubai time. Dhanteras falls on Friday 6 November, and Dubai’s Festival of Lights runs citywide from 2 to 12 November.
No, Diwali is not a public holiday in the UAE. In 2026 it falls on a Sunday, so most residents already have the day off for the weekend.
Noor: Festival of Lights at Souk Al Seef is free on 7 and 8 November from 6pm to 11pm, with live music and processions. BurJuman runs free workshops, Musical Baithaks and a talent show until 12 November, and Dubai Holding Communities hosts free events in 17 neighbourhoods including Al Furjan and Jumeirah Village Circle.
The 600-drone Diwali show is at 8pm on Sunday 8 November 2026, above the Stunt Arena and Syria Pavilion. It is included in the regular Global Village ticket, which costs AED 25 (USD 7) on weekdays or AED 30 (USD 8) for any day.
As of 30 October 2026, no official Diwali fireworks schedule has been announced for Dubai. The headline sky show this year is the 600-drone display at Global Village on Diwali night.
The Gold Souk in Deira has the widest choice, but it is busiest on Dhanteras evening, Friday 6 November, so go earlier in the day. The gold price is the same everywhere, so compare making charges and old gold exchange terms. Meralda Jewels is offering 0% deduction on 22K exchange until 10 November.
Very. The early evening of Sunday 8 November, during the Lakshmi Puja window, is the temple’s busiest time of the year. Go earlier in the day or on Dhanteras if you can, and check the temple’s website for visiting slots before you go.
Last updated: 30 October 2026. Event dates, timings, prices and offers come from the organisers and retailers and can change. Check the official website before you go.
