A modern and multifaceted city, Dubai is definitely the ideal destination to spend the end of the year. At the end of December, while Europe and much of the northern hemisphere experiences the cold of the winter months, the city of Dubai is characterised by a warm (but not too warm) climate that allows visitors to enjoy the city’s beauty and fantastic outdoor moments.
New Year’s Eve in Dubai is a truly unique experience, both in terms of the festive air and the city’s desire to go big. Also, it is very unusual to celebrate the New Year in a T-shirt after spending a whole day at the beach, admiring the incredible fireworks with the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest skyscraper, in the background.
It really doesn’t take many words to persuade someone to spend New Year’s Eve in Dubai as the opportunities in the city are so many and appeal to all types of travellers. If anyone still has any doubts, reading this article will have them looking forward to organize New Year’s Eve in Dubai in no time.
In Dubai, you will have several options to enjoy New Year’s Eve: you can choose to attend a beach party, have dinner at one of the city’s exclusive restaurants, or grab a table at one of the clubs or discos.
New Year’s Eve in Dubai is very laborious for the city authorities who have to manage police, ambulances and public transport personnel. Traffic becomes heavy very early and it is therefore a good idea to move well in advance and book dinner in good time, even before you leave for your trip.
The highlight area of the city in which to celebrate the New Year is the Downtown Dubai district, which is taken by storm every year by more than a million tourists and residents, who come here to admire the wonderful fireworks display near the Burj Khalifa. Here the scenic effect is truly crazy.
For New Year’s Eve celebrations, the streets of Downtown Dubai usually close around 6pm. Tourists are therefore advised to leave their cars parked at their hotels and use only the metro and buses to reach the area, bearing in mind that the Red Line remains open all night.
In addition to the fireworks, various light shows and water fountains are also organised in the Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa area, making the experience truly unique. Inside the Dubai Mall, there are also plenty of restaurants where you can eat or drink while waiting for midnight.
Of course, New Year’s Eve in Dubai is not only celebrated in Downtown but also on the beaches. If you are looking for a cheaper, but often more romantic solution, you can opt for a picnic at the public beaches of Jumeirah or at the private beaches of Jumeirah Beach Residences.
This is not only a way to see the fireworks for free, it is also an unpretentious way to celebrate the New Year with friends, family or your partner. The same advice given for the Downtown area also applies to the beaches: better arrive early to make sure you get the place that suits you best.
Those who don’t like crowds can always opt for one of the many dinners organised by the city’s restaurants or big hotels. Dubai, in fact, is the perfect destination for this too, given the number and variety of restaurants on offer. Here, there are culinary proposals reflecting different cuisines and solutions for all budgets. From starred restaurants offering the refinements of internationally renowned chefs to family-run establishments where you can enjoy Arabian cuisine prepared in the traditional way.
To help you choose from the many options, here are four recommended restaurants for New Year’s Eve dinner in Dubai:
If you are a lover of Japanese food, Izakaya is the place to go for a great dinner. Whether you’re looking for authentic Japanese noodles, teppanyaki, sushi or more, Izakaya is the right restaurant to dine with friends in a very special and lively atmosphere. You can accompany your New Year’s Eve dinner with a fine sake recommended by the Sake Boy or sample the excellent wasabi prepared by the friendly Wasabi Girl.
If you want to indulge in Italian food for New Year’s Eve dinner in Dubai, Positano is the place for you. Here you can find a wide range of traditional Italian dishes including fresh pasta, pizza, lasagne, fish and meat dishes. Dinner can be accompanied by fine Italian wine, and sparkling wine will be the perfect companion for a midnight toast.
Since you are in the Arab Emirates, you cannot miss the opportunity to spend an evening with Arabian influences at the Hills Pool Deck. Here for New Year’s Eve dinner there is live entertainment and a menu of Arabian dishes. The restaurant is located in the beautiful surroundings of the Radisson Damac Hills Hotel and also offers an extensive cocktail menu and a shisha lounge with a beautiful view of the city.
This French restaurant in the heart of the financial district (DIFC) is the ideal place to organise a New Year’s Eve dinner, especially if you are on a budget. The sumptuous tasting menu includes dishes with white truffles, caviar and foie gras. One of the specialities not to be missed is the beef steak ‘à la Bourguignon’, whose preparation process takes a good 18 hours. Dinner can also be accompanied by fine French champagne.
Dubai is the right city for those looking for nightlife entertainment, discos and live music, given the large number of clubs, discos and bars. For New Year’s Eve all clubs in the city are open and some of them organise theme parties or exclusive parties. Very nice beach parties are often organised, where you can dance barefoot until the early hours of the morning, or parties with live music that last until dawn.
If you are undecided where to spend New Year’s Eve in Dubai, we have selected for you the four best clubs in the city.
Barasti is the ideal place for a New Year’s Eve on the beach. This beautiful location is just a few steps from the sea within the Le Méridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina complex. It started out as a simple kiosk on the beach and over the years has become one of the most “in” places in town, becoming an institution in Dubai.
During the day it is the place to be for a relaxing day by the pool while in the evening Barasti is transformed. This is the ideal place to spend New Year’s Eve with friends as you can dance the night away to music provided by top DJs. It also has a terrace with a bar on the upper floor where you can usually watch the fireworks display at midnight and a wonderful view of the city.
CÉ LA VI Skybar is located in the Downtown area not far from the Burj Khalifa and offers a truly breathtaking view of the city’s iconic skyscraper. If you take a table here to celebrate New Year’s Eve, you can have an unparalleled view of the famous fireworks display held at the Burj Khalifa and then spend the evening dancing and enjoying excellent cocktails. The venue is undoubtedly one of the most elegant but also one of the most expensive in town.
Located inside the Pullman Hotel, Lolita Pool Bar & Lounge has an ambience reminiscent of Miami vibes. Popular throughout the weekends, Lolita Pool Bar & Lounge is one of the most sought-after places to spend New Year’s Eve. From the terrace, you can admire an extraordinary view of the Burj Khalifa while heavenly cocktails are served paired with live DJ tracks. For those who want, there is also the possibility to try some excellent sisha.
Lock, Stock & Barrel is one of the most famous and award-winning bars in the UAE. There are no less than three locations of this bar in Dubai, but the most famous and most popular is definitely the one located in JBR. You can come here to have a drink with friends, dance and listen to music. On New Year’s Eve, special events with live music of various kinds are always organised. Here, bands playing rock music usually alternate with international DJs.
Dubai is a very popular destination during the winter season as these months have warm days with an average temperature of 24 °C. This is why many tourists choose to escape the cold and spend sunny days in Dubai. With this in mind, the advice is to start organising New Year’s Eve in Dubai as early as possible to avoid finding many places fully booked.
You can organise the trip yourself, saving the fees charged by tourist agencies and tour operators by preparing everything from home. First, we recommend booking your flight so you can find cheap tickets, then look for your hotel and restaurant for dinner. Whether you are a couple, a group of friends or a family with children, Dubai will have the right solution for you!
Bookings for New Year’s Eve should be made in good time as almost all popular restaurants and venues open bookings and put New Year’s Eve party tickets on sale weeks (often months) in advance. Most establishments accept bookings via the website and require a deposit or payment in advance. Many times prices vary depending on the date of purchase, with prices going up a lot around 31 December.
Don’t worry about being in a Muslim country: Dubai’s strength lies in its tolerance and internationality, you can easily do everything you would do at a beach party in Europe. One last tip for the ladies: wherever you celebrate New Year’s Eve in Dubai, chances are you will end up walking a lot. Better wear comfortable shoes, or if you just can’t do without heels, keep a pair of shoes that won’t tire your feet ready to wear, in your bag or car.
Also, once you have immersed yourself in organising your trip to Dubai, don’t forget to also plan the activities you can do before and after the 31 December party. For most attractions, it is important to buy tickets online in advance not only to get a seat and save money, but also to be able to skip the long queues at the entrance. The same can be said for the many organised tours.
Dubai is a real metropolis that is taken by storm by the massive presence of visitors during the New Year period. Here are some tips we give you to make the most of your New Year’s Eve in Dubai:
Winter in Dubai is the right season to visit the city as it is possible to both go to the beach and visit the main attractions without too much heat. In fact, Dubai’s climate is a hot desert type with little rain and sunny days almost all year round.
During the winter months, days are warm with an average of 24° C and nighttime lows that can drop to as low as 14° C in January, which is often considered the ‘coldest’ month of the year.
For more information on Dubai’s weather and a forecast for the coming days, please visit the Dubai Weather page.
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