Popular Festivals of Dubai You Should Attend
Dubai is a city that’s always lively; always ready to party; always in a celebratory mood. People from multiple nationalities have made Dubai their home, and millions of tourists flock to the megalopolis every year. Various festivals are organized in the city throughout the year where locals & tourists participate with complete enthusiasm.
Below, we will take you through 10 Popular Festivals of Dubai that You Should Attend.
1. UAE Awafi Festival
Among the most popular festivals here, the Awafi festival is a yearly celebration of the nation’s culture & history. This is an outdoor festival that is a part of Emirati tradition. Held in the deserts, the festival has many components – the main one being a competition to scale the highest sand dunes in various vehicles. Also to be seen here is a Heritage Village Show – accompanied by endless options of food, beverages, and also art exhibitions.
2. Dubai Shopping Festival
Dubai is synonymous with shopping. With massive shopping malls – including the world’s largest one – dotting the city, Dubai is a paradise for shopaholics, both premium & budget. So, no wonder that the Dubai Shopping Festival is a top draw ever since its launch in 1996. Every shop in every mall offers eye-popping discounts & combo offers on almost every product. And along with shopping, you would also be enjoying a variety of foods, game shows, carnivals, concerts, ramp walks, and firecracker shows. Shopping freaks – this is something you just can’t miss! Do checkout the places to visit during Diwali in Dubai which is celebrated about 2 months before the DSF.
3. Dubai International Film Festival
Cinema lovers – this is THE place for you. The top movies from Hollywood, Europe, and rest of the world find their way to the Dubai International Film Festival at Madinat, Palm Jumeirah. Many top stars of global cinema also turn up to make this an event filled with glitz & glamour. Many enterprising local filmmakers also get an opportunity to showcase their creations here & network with producers. And as a viewer, you are exposed to the best of global cinema during the entire festival.
4. Art Dubai
Founded by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in 2007, Art Dubai has earned much praise from around the world as a top-level art exhibition. Both the leading artists of the day & emerging artists choose this forum to showcase their creative skills in various art forms. Collectors, curators, and museums also take part in this. Divided into 3 sections – Residents, Modern, and Contemporary, Art Dubai also organizes a significant art conference known as The Global Art Forum.
5. National Day Festival
National Day is celebrated as the day when all the emirates had come together to form the United Arab Emirates. The date is 2nd December. The various national monuments are decked up & opened to the public. The people throng the roads, finely dressed and with a smile on their faces. Various events are also organized to commemorate this important day – thus making it a highly successful festival.
6. Dubai International Jazz Festival
This annual celebration of jazz, one of the most popular music forms, is being held in Dubai for 2 decades now. Over 500,000 people from around the world descend on Dubai to be a part of this rocking festival. Critically acclaimed Jazz legends, along with contemporary Jazz singers, pour music into the listeners’ ears, making the latter yearn for more. Having been the recipient of multiple awards, the DIJF is growing from strength to strength.
7. Dubai World Cup
Dubai World Cup is the shortened form of the World Series of Horse Racing. Considered to be among the wealthiest of its kind in the world in terms of prize money, the Dubai World Cup is an opportunity to see the finest thoroughbred horses in action as they race to create a pulsating ambience. There are 8 dirt races in the event followed by the final that takes place at the celebrated Meydan Race Course. This is your chance to see these magnificent animals at their best.
8. Taste of Dubai
Considered as the unofficial – yet authentic – food festival of Dubai, Taste of Dubai is one of the most eagerly awaited festivals of Dubai. From street food to seven-star cuisine created by Michelin-star chefs, from snacks to full meals, from legends of the trade to ambitious upcoming chefs – Taste of Dubai is a platform that brings everyone together. An unending and most fascinating array of global cuisine would be welcoming you here. You can also attend demo sessions, fast-track cooking classes, and enjoy the best food of Dubai at pocket-friendly rates.
9. Emirates Airline Festival of Literature
Several hundreds of writers & poets from all across the globe accumulate in the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, attended by readers & academicians alike. Various literary workshops are organized where aspiring writers share their work with readers & publishers. Kid-specific literary activities are also organized where children are encouraged to read on various topics. The objective is to create a conducive atmosphere for readers & writers of tomorrow.
10. Dhow Race
Dhows are the boats that were traditionally used for pearl cultivation before Dubai became the megalopolis that it is today. Dhows are a part of Emirati culture & tradition and hence, a lot of nationalistic pride is associated with this race, also known as the Al Gaffal Dhow Race. The dhows are helmed by Emiratis, and the majority of the cheering viewers are also local. Be a part of the viewers, egg on the crew – and feel yourself to be a part of this rich Emirati heritage.
