Winters in Dubai is one of the best times to visit the place, and it would be a great idea to spend the New Year in the modern cosmopolitan capital of the world. Dubai celebrates New Year with great pomp, glitz, and grandeur. There are excitingly full of bucket list things to do to enjoy a fabulous New Year in Dubai, like the Evening desert safari, and the world-famous fireworks to name a few. We bring the top picks on how to spend the New Year in Dubai in grand style.
Burj Khalifa fireworks
The Burj Khalifa fireworks are grand and get grander with each passing year. Every year has a theme beautifully explained over a series of extensive fireworks that has gained immense popularity among the tourist population worldwide. You can catch your best seat in the house to witness this grand fireworks display. Some of the best spots include Burj Lake, Dubai Fountains, Jumeirah Beach, Souk Al Bahar, Rashid Boulevard, Burj Park, and Umm Suqeim Park. Ensure you have your seat ready post 10 pm as the crowd will slowly start to set in no time.
Dance with some great moves into the New Year
Dubai is home to some crazy New Year parties worldwide, and if you are the perfect party animal, then there is nothing like it. So click the New Year, dancing your way into the happening beats and groves in the New Year-themed parties. The Barasti Beach, Atlantis on the Palm, Distillery Gastropub, Warehouse, and the Penthouse are some of the happening destinations to celebrate New Year in grand style. You can dress your way in style and enjoy the festive mood as you show people your grooving moves. In addition, many parties have a dedicated kids’ section that promises to keep them engaged and entertained all night long as you party into the wee hours of New Year’s Eve.
Global Village
Several residents and tourist flock to Global village from different corners of the globe. Celebrations in the Global Village are a class apart and are a true representation of the world’s culture. There are 75 pavilions, with each pavilion representing a country and its unique culture, cuisine, and amazing highlights like top landmarks, etc. Enjoy some relaxing musical treats as you soak into the beautiful cultures in various corners of the world. You can also indulge in some last-minute shopping as the year ends.
Hajjar Mountains
You can set off to the Hatta hills for some much-need “me” time as you look to unwind from the shackles of busy city life. Leave the grandeur, glamour, and glitzy nature of Dubai far behind as you head to the exclave between Dubai and Oman perched up in the Hajjar Mountains. This adventurous hub has plenty in store to keep you going with activities like mountain biking, zip-lining, kayaking, hiking, and several other nerve-wracking activities. Enjoy the natural treasures and several cultural attractions like Heritage Village and Hatta Lake as you soak into the world running at a much slower pace. This may not be as glitzy as New Year celebrations in Dubai, but you are assured to clock the New Year in style.
Dubai desert safari
Dubai, the land of the desert cannot be left out with the unique option of welcoming the New Year in the desert terrain. So, bring in the New Year festivities to an ultimate adventure experience with the desert safari in Dubai. Explore the grand Arabian desert and its true nature as you are treated with the utmost Emirati hospitality in a luxurious Bedouin-style desert camp. Indulge in some extreme sports like dune bashing that will surely make you skip a beat. Dune bashing in Dubai is an extreme sport, and we recommend you skip it completely if you are one of the faint-hearted ones. From the numerous desert safari tours available on offer, an evening desert safari or overnight desert are something to look forward to on New Year’s Eve. You might as well opt for a customised tour based on the group you are celebrating with. There are cultural activities like belly dance and Tanoura show performances that will surely enlighten your moods. Enjoy a mouth-watering barbecue buffet served in the camp as you spend the rest of the night under the starlit sky.
Helicopter thrills
Arrive and welcome New Year in grand style with some spectacular panoramic views of Dubai city through a helicopter ride. Enjoy some culinary treats at the pre-departure lounge. The tour departs from the gorgeous Palm Jumeriah and flies over the iconic landmarks defining the city. You can also use the services of a guide through the ride who will provide valuable insights and anecdotes of the various signature landmarks in the city of Dubai. Your New Year celebrations can’t be better with a thrilling helicopter ride over Dubai city.
La Mer
Get into an offbeat experience with a visit to the La Mer to celebrate the New Year festivities in Dubai. This waterfront destination is gorgeously decorated with bright LED lights providing the essence of the festivities in place. Spend some quiet time with your family and loved ones as you bask in the grandeur of the Dubai skyline in the background. You can also enjoy some live music as your kids enjoy the carnival rides or the petting zoo. There are plenty of culinary options too available at your disposal. Your New Year celebrations will be enlightened with this enchanting destination in the heart of Dubai as you witness the grand fireworks display as soon as the clock strikes 12.
Luxury dinner cruise
Celebrating New Year on a luxury dinner cruise is nothing short of elegance and royalty. First, bask in the wonderful ambiance as you witness Dubai’s spectacular landmarks and the grand fireworks across various landmarks. Then, you can enjoy a dance under the moonlit sky and star gazing away. Next, the luxury liner sails across the Dubai shores and serves a delightful and mouth-watering culinary menu that will tantalize your taste buds.
Madinat Jumeirah
An evening in Madinat Jumeirah can be a life-changing moment as you witness the most coveted New Year gala dinners with live musicians, entertainment, free-flowing champagne, fire dancers, delightful global cuisines, and plenty of fun all night. The fireworks are astonishingly fascinating to witness the grandeur in the Dubai skyline at one of the public beaches. This indulgence is beautifully crafted for family members and young children. So bring a beach mat along and spend a night under the starlit sky as you enjoy some fabulous moments on the public beaches. Make sure you catch your seat well in advance before the rush sets in.
Skydiving
You can look to welcome New Year in grand style by pushing your boundaries and moving out of your comfort zone with this extreme adventure. Then, enjoy the wind blowing against your face as you drop from the Palm Drop Zone and witness the rush toward the world beneath you. Make sure you book your tickets well in advance as the tickets may get sold out due to the thrilling experience it comes along with.
No matter what you do in Dubai, you will surely welcome New Year in the grand way possible with these amazing festivities and incredible activities that has a flavor of their own. Clocking New Year in style is something that Dubai has specialized along with special indulgences that will make you stand apart in the crowd.
Author Name: Savita Pillay
Author Bio: Savita Pillay is an educationist turned writer from Pune, India. She is an avid reader, who loves to travel and experiment with various cuisines while on the go.