Diwali, the celebration popularly called the festival of lights, falls on November 4 this year. As with every year, lamps will be lit, and sweets bought and distributed. To add a little extra spark to the festivities, a number of locations around the UAE have curated themed celebrations, decors and dishes.
Here are some ways to embrace the Diwali festivities in Dubai this season.
Fireworks and promotions
Dubai Festival City Mall
The mall will ring in Diwali with a one-off version of its laser show Imagine show, which visitors can enjoy to the beats of Bollywood song Let’s Nacho. Elsewhere, an ongoing night market called Ripe By The Bay will offer decorative trinkets and homeware, while a fireworks display is set to take place on Thursday, November 4, at 9.30pm.
Visitors to Dubai Festival City Mall can also enter a draw for a chance to win a Honda Accord EX Turbo 2021, with a spend of Dh300 at the mall or at Ripe By The Bay.
Friday, October 29 to Saturday, November 13; with Bollywood-themed Imagine show on November 4 at 9.30pm; Dubai Festival City Mall; dubaifestivalcitymall.com
The Waterfront Market
The fresh food market offers visitors a chance to catch up on their festive shopping at a Diwali pop-up, which offers everything from traditional sweets to Indian clothing and accessories. Watch a rangoli artist in action, enjoy dance performances to Bollywood and bhangra beats, or sign up for workshops to paint diyas (lamps) and make Diwali cards.
Thursday, October 28 to Friday, November 5, 2pm-10pm; free; Waterfront Market’s Main Atrium; waterfrontmarket.ae
Bluewaters Island
The island will light up the skies with a fireworks display set to take place at 8.30pm on Thursday, November 4, with Dubai Marina glittering away in the background, and visitors can also enjoy live entertainment and food stalls all weekend long.
Thursday to Saturday, November 4 to 6; free; bluewatersdubai.ae
Expo 2020 Dubai
The world fair will celebrate the festival of lights with some lights of its own. A tailor-made show will be performed in Al Wasl Plaza, while on the Jubilee Stage, Late Nights @ Expo will feature performances inspired by Diwali, with artists such as When Chai Met Toast, Shilpa Ananth and Dhol Tasha in attendance.
Friday, October 29 to Thursday, November 4; times vary; expo2020dubai.com
The Pointe
On Friday, November 5, the Palm Fountain will dance to the beats of the foot-thumping song Malhari from Bajirao Mastani, which will play every hour from 8pm to 10pm.
Friday, November 5; free; The Pointe, Palm Jumeirah; thepointe.ae/en
Gold giveaways and offers
Diwali is considered one of the most auspicious times to buy gold. This year, the City of Gold Diwali Glow offer, organised by Dubai Gold & Jewellery Group, will give those who buy gold at any of 125 jewellery retailers the chance to win Dh150,000 in vouchers. Free gifts and discounts of up to 50 per cent on select purchases are also up for grabs.
Until Saturday, November 6; dubaicityofgold.com/diwali-glow/
Restaurant offers and deals
Diwali afternoon tea
Address Hotels has gone all out with a festive afternoon tea, a unique British-meets-Indian infusion that takes in egg burji, cottage cheese wraps, kulfi cheesecake, saffron choux and cardamom cream.
Monday, October 25 to Friday, November 5, 3pm-7pm; Dh175 per person; Lounge at Address Downtown, Patisserie at Address Sky View, Tea Lounge at Address Fountain Views, and Al Bayt at Palace Downtown; addresshotels.com
Dhaba Lane
The restaurant is offering a set festive menu that includes a beverage, cold starter, hot starter, main course, dal makhni, biryani, assorted bread and two desserts for Dh52 (vegetarian) and Dh55 (non-vegetarian). Dishes include favourites from across India, from Moradabad’s veg seekh kebabs and Hyderabad’s mutton biryani served in an earthen pot to Kolkata’s fish curry patta and a cooling shikanji beverage.
Sunday, October 24 to Wednesday, November 30; Dh52 or Dh55, on weekends, the festive menu is available as a la carte; Dhaba Lane Karama and Dhaba Lane Garhoud; dhaba-lane.com
Khau Galli
There's no such thing as too many sweets during Diwali. For gifting purposes, consider hampers from Khau Galli, which come in various options including wooden baskets decorated with festive themes and traditional brass jars filled with dry fruits. Authentic Rajasthani and Gujarati gift boxes are also available in small, medium and large sizes. The hampers can be customised to suit individual budgets and sweetmeat choices.
Available until stocks last; prices start at Dh50; Cluster T, Lake Level, Jumeirah Lakes Towers; 050 925 6061
Khyber
Decked out for Diwali, the North Indian restaurant will offer a three-course Diwali menu, available in vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. On offer are dishes such as murgh nimbu kali mirch, bharwan tandoori aloo and family-style sharing platters that can be enjoyed against a backdrop of foot-thumping beats by a DJ on Friday and Saturday, November 5 and 6.
Wednesday, November 3 to Saturday, November 6; 5pm-11pm; Dh185 per person with soft drinks; Dukes The Palm, a Royal Hideaway Hotel; 04 455 1111
Kaleidoscope
The all-day restaurant at Atlantis, The Palm is celebrating Diwali with a festive dinner buffet. From 6pm onwards, tuck into dishes such as Malabar-style crab curry, biryani and rumali roti, and indulge in the live chaat corner, Indian bread station, carving station and seafood bar. Apart from all the dishes and sweets (there’s also fresh gulab jamun, rasgulla and a jalebi station), there will also be dance performances, rangoli art, henna painting and more.
Thursday to Saturday, November 4 to 6; 6pm-10pm; Dh255 for adults and Dh127.5 for children; Atlantis, The Palm; 04 426 2626; atlantis.com/dubai/restaurants/kaleidoscope
Project Chaiwala
The home-grown brand has launched a limited-edition Diwali collector’s box. Great for gifting, each box features sachets of tea, a three-in-one mix blend of karak and masala chai from Project Chaiwala, and a candle, made with pure soy wax and contained in an upcycled concrete jar. Project Chaiwala has also teamed up with Lebanese artist Nourie Flayan to create a custom-made deck of cards with themed illustrations.
Delivery across the UAE until stocks last; Dh375; projectchaiwala.com/pages/happy-diwali
Sthan
The restaurant that prides itself on serving "food beyond borders" has a set Diwali menu for two, which takes in two starters, a biryani, two main courses and two desserts for a fixed price of Dh139. On the menu are dishes such as kadak palak chaat, machi Ambarsari, biryani Awadh ki, achari paneer, dhaba da murgh and more. Wrap up the meal with assorted Diwali sweets or a Parle G sandwich.
Thursday to Saturday, November 4 to 6; Dh139 for two; Zabeel Road, Al Karama; 04 399 7775
Sagar Ratna
The vegetarian restaurant is celebrating Diwali with a limited-time Marwari thali inspired by Rajasthani food culture. On the platter are dishes such as dal batti churma, gatta curry, mirchi kutta, garlic chutney and rice, along with a glass of lassi for Dh30. To sweeten the deal, anyone who orders the Diwali special vegetarian Marwari thali will be served complimentary ghee motichoor laddoo. The restaurant has also put together gift boxes with various Indian sweets, including kesar katli and kaju pista rolls.
Thursday to Saturday, November 4 to 6; Dh30 for the thali with the complimentary laddoo, Dh80 to Dh120 for the sweet boxes; branches in JLT and Oud Metha; 04 379 5493
Read more
A guide to Global Village: tickets, getting there and what's new this season
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3EDate%20started%3A%20January%202022%3Cbr%3EFounders%3A%20Omar%20Abu%20Innab%2C%20Silvia%20Eldawi%2C%20Walid%20Shihabi%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Dubai%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20PropTech%20%2F%20investment%3Cbr%3EEmployees%3A%2040%3Cbr%3EStage%3A%20Seed%3Cbr%3EInvestors%3A%20Multiple%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Chef Nobu's advice for eating sushi
“One mistake people always make is adding extra wasabi. There is no need for this, because it should already be there between the rice and the fish.
“When eating nigiri, you must dip the fish – not the rice – in soy sauce, otherwise the rice will collapse. Also, don’t use too much soy sauce or it will make you thirsty. For sushi rolls, dip a little of the rice-covered roll lightly in soy sauce and eat in one bite.
“Chopsticks are acceptable, but really, I recommend using your fingers for sushi. Do use chopsticks for sashimi, though.
“The ginger should be eaten separately as a palette cleanser and used to clear the mouth when switching between different pieces of fish.”
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Floward%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERiyadh%2C%20Saudi%20Arabia%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAbdulaziz%20Al%20Loughani%20and%20Mohamed%20Al%20Arifi%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EE-commerce%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETotal%20funding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAbout%20%24200%20million%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAljazira%20Capital%2C%20Rainwater%20Partners%2C%20STV%20and%20Impact46%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E1%2C200%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
Celta Vigo 2
Castro (45'), Aspas (82')
Barcelona 2
Dembele (36'), Alcacer (64')
Red card: Sergi Roberto (Barcelona)
THE SPECS
Engine: Four-cylinder 2.5-litre
Transmission: Seven-speed auto
Power: 165hp
Torque: 241Nm
Price: Dh99,900 to Dh134,000
On sale: now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
STAY%2C%20DAUGHTER
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAuthor%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EYasmin%20Azad%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESwift%20Press%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAvailable%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin
Director: Shawn Levy
Rating: 3/5
THE SPECS
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Transmission: six-speed manual
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Speed: 0-100km/h 3.9 seconds
Price: Dh230,000
On sale: now
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Results
57kg quarter-finals
Zakaria Eljamari (UAE) beat Hamed Al Matari (YEM) by points 3-0.
60kg quarter-finals
Ibrahim Bilal (UAE) beat Hyan Aljmyah (SYR) RSC round 2.
63.5kg quarter-finals
Nouredine Samir (UAE) beat Shamlan A Othman (KUW) by points 3-0.
67kg quarter-finals
Mohammed Mardi (UAE) beat Ahmad Ondash (LBN) by points 2-1.
71kg quarter-finals
Ahmad Bahman (UAE) defeated Lalthasanga Lelhchhun (IND) by points 3-0.
Amine El Moatassime (UAE) beat Seyed Kaveh Safakhaneh (IRI) by points 3-0.
81kg quarter-finals
Ilyass Habibali (UAE) beat Ahmad Hilal (PLE) by points 3-0
Results:
6.30pm: Mazrat Al Ruwayah (PA) | Group 2 | US$55,000 (Dirt) | 1,600 metres
Winner: AF Al Sajanjle, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
7.05pm: Meydan Sprint (TB) | Group 2 | $250,000 (Turf) | 1,000m
Winner: Blue Point, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
7.40pm: Firebreak Stakes | Group 3 | $200,000 (D) | 1,600m
Winner: Muntazah, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson
8.15pm: Meydan Trophy Conditions (TB) | $100,000 (T) | 1,900m
Winner: Art Du Val, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
8.50pm: Balanchine Group 2 (TB) | $250,000 (T) | 1,800m
Winner: Poetic Charm, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) | $135,000 (D) | 1,200m
Winner: Lava Spin, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
10pm: Handicap (TB) | $175,000 (T) | 2,410m
Winner: Mountain Hunter, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
THE BIO:
Sabri Razouk, 74
Athlete and fitness trainer
Married, father of six
Favourite exercise: Bench press
Must-eat weekly meal: Steak with beans, carrots, broccoli, crust and corn
Power drink: A glass of yoghurt
Role model: Any good man
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
ATP WORLD No 1
2004 Roger Federer
2005 Roger Federer
2006 Roger Federer
2007 Roger Federer
2008 Rafael Nadal
2009 Roger Federer
2010 Rafael Nadal
2011 Novak Djokovic
2012 Novak Djokovic
2013 Rafael Nadal
2014 Novak Djokovic
2015 Novak Djokovic
2016 Andy Murray
2017 Rafael Nadal
2018 Novak Djokovic
2019 Rafael Nadal
VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
'Skin'
Dir: Guy Nattiv
Starring: Jamie Bell, Danielle McDonald, Bill Camp, Vera Farmiga
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Student Of The Year 2
Director: Punit Malhotra
Stars: Tiger Shroff, Tara Sutaria, Ananya Pandey, Aditya Seal
1.5 stars
RESULTS FOR STAGE 4
Stage 4 Dubai to Hatta, 197 km, Road race.
Overall leader Primoz Roglic SLO (Team Jumbo - Visma)
Stage winners: 1. Caleb Ewan AUS (Lotto - Soudal) 2. Matteo Moschetti ITA (Trek - Segafredo) 3. Primoz Roglic SLO (Team Jumbo - Visma)
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
Quick facts on cancer
- Cancer is the second-leading cause of death worldwide, after cardiovascular diseases
- About one in five men and one in six women will develop cancer in their lifetime
- By 2040, global cancer cases are on track to reach 30 million
- 70 per cent of cancer deaths occur in low and middle-income countries
- This rate is expected to increase to 75 per cent by 2030
- At least one third of common cancers are preventable
- Genetic mutations play a role in 5 per cent to 10 per cent of cancers
- Up to 3.7 million lives could be saved annually by implementing the right health
strategies
- The total annual economic cost of cancer is $1.16 trillion
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
