Excited to celebrate Diwali in Abu Dhabi? From brunches to gifting and entire food festivals, here’s how you can enjoy the festival of lights in the capital!
While Diwali traditions may vary from community to community, the celebration is widespread throughout the UAE with so many Hindu expats being a part of the population.
Each year, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and other cities hold various celebrations, from brunches to lighting diyas (candles) and more.
Millions of colourful lights illuminate apartment balconies and shopping malls during the celebrations of Diwali in Abu Dhabi. Diwali is celebrated by decorating houses with colourful rangolis and flowers. There are a variety of rangoli designs; the most common are circles and flowers.
The date of the festival varies according to the Lunar calendar. This year, Diwali is expected to begin on Monday, October 20th.
Diwali in Abu Dhabi is the most significant Hindu festival, apart from perhaps Holi. The festival marks the triumph of good over evil. It’s also known as the Festival of Light, where ‘light’ symbolises knowledge.
Although Diwali in Abu Dhabi is not an official holiday across the board, there are some Indian curriculum (CBSE and ICSE) schools that do offer a day or two off. However, there are still plenty of celebrations are scheduled for the weekend across the capital in selected venues.
Explore the best brunches to mark Diwali in Abu Dhabi, specific places to celebrate, Hindu temples and of course, the all-important Indian sweet shops and places to pick up festive gifts in the city.
Diwali Celebration In Abu Dhabi
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Diwali at Martabaan by Hemant Oberoi, Emirates Palace, Mandarin Oriental
Celebrate the Festival of Lights at Martabaan, Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental Abu Dhabi on October 18, 2025. Be immersed in the authentic charm of Indian street food and traditional Indian music.
Indulge in a specially curated Diwali Special Buffet, featuring live stations serving mouthwatering Indian street food, traditional mains, and luscious sweets that capture the spirit of the festival.
Mark your calendars for 18 October, when the festivities reach their peak with traditional live entertainment and exclusive souvenirs to take home!
You can also explore a variety of Indian sweets and retail gifts. This includes a Mithai sweet box, for AED 150 per 1kg, with tempting options such as:
- Besan Ladoo, an aromatic Indian sweet made from gram flour, sugar, ghee, and cardamom.
- Kaju Katli, a classic Indian cashew fudge prepared with cashews, ghee, and sugar.
- Dry Fruit Sandwich, a crunchy delight featuring pistachios stuffed with a blend of mixed nuts.
- Kaju Pista Roll, a heavenly combination of cashew nuts and pistachios in a sweet confection.
- Badam Rose Laddu, an exquisite treat made with rose petals, almond powder, sugar, and cardamom.
Details:
When: 18 October 2025 | 6:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Prices: AED 299 per person for the soft package, AED 499 per person for the house package
To reserve, call +971 2 690 7999
Diwali Buffet at Sahha – Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi
Join the Diwali celebrations at Sahha, located in the Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi, with a special buffet to mark the occassion.
Celebrate the Festival of Lights with a feast that brings tradition to life at Sahha at Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel & Residences in Abu Dhabi.
Indulge in a specially curated menu featuring rich and creamy Butter Chicken, flavorful Kadai Paneer, and the delicate sweetness of Rasmalai — each dish crafted to capture the spirit of Diwali.
Details:
When: 20 October 2025 | 6:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Prices: AED 260 per person for the soft package, AED 360 per person for the house package
To reserve, call +9712 510 1234
Punjab Grill Abu Dhabi
This place comes through every occassion! Head to The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal and savour a specially curated menu from October 18 to 26.
Enjoy a selection of special dishes from pani puri spheres to tandoori wild mushroom seekh and a Andhra lobster curry.
And if you dine-in on Monday October 20, you’ll even be treated to a complimentary dessert to end the night on a sweet note. Don’t miss out!
Details:
When: 18-26 October 2025 | 11:30 am – 11:30 pm
To reserve, call +971 50 668 3054
Graphos Social Kitchen – Diwali Spice Market
Graphos Social Kitchen is celebrating Diwali in Abu Dhabi, based at the Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island. The Spice Market theme ensures a vibrant and flavoursome spread, with all of the festival favourites you would expect.
Graphos Social Kitchen hosts a festive Diwali evening brunch with an elevated buffet, live Indian stations, elegant décor, and live entertainment.
Start off with a signature Diwali drink welcome, and don’t miss out on the chaat counter. If you prefer a private celebration, there’s an exclusive in-room dining Diwali menu, available from October 18th to 20th, delivered directly to your room!
Details:
When: 18-20 October 2025 | 6 pm – 11 pm
Prices: AED 180 per person for the soft package, AED 240 per person for the house package, children under 12 dine for free
To reserve, call +971 2 208 6888
Zeera by Buddha-Bar
Nothing says Diwali like a luxe night out at Zeera by Buddha-Bar. For five days straight, you can make the most of their special Diwali menu, which includes three courses of festive favourites and water for AED 179.
For the most Diwali vibes, plan your visit on Saturday October 19 when the restaurant will come alive with Indian dancers and a live singer.
Details:
When: 25-27 October 2025 | 6 pm – 11 pm
Prices: AED 179 for three courses
To reserve, call +971 50 601 1193
Diwali at Al Meylas
Celebrate Diwali at Al Meylas in Abu Dhabi, where every sip and bite captures the joy of the Festival of Lights.
Indulge in a specially crafted Diwali Afternoon Tea, featuring exquisite bites and vibrant sweets inspired by festive flavours, all perfectly paired with your favourite brew.
Alternatively, savour the season with a specially crafted set menu served in the warm, inviting ambience of the hotel’s lobby lounge. Perfect for family gatherings or catching up with friends, this festive dining experience blends seasonal flavours with a refined yet relaxed atmosphere, making every moment memorable.
Details:
When: 20-27 October 2025 | 3 pm – 7 pm for the Diwali Afternoon Tea, 6 pm – 10:30 pm for the Diwali Special Menu
Prices: AED 270 per set for the Diwali Afternoon Tea, AED 320 per person for the Diwali Special Menu
To reserve, call +971 2 333 2222
Visit the Holy Temple BAPS Hindu Mandir
The BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha is building the temple of Abu Dhabi in the UAE as a traditional Hindu place of worship.
Open Tuesday to Sunday, 9 am to 8 pm, you can visit the temple to pray to commence the celebration of Diwali in Abu Dhabi. The temple is closed to visitors on Mondays.
The Holy Temple is located at Abu Mureikhah, which is near Al Rahba off the Dubai to Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Zayed Highway. The temple is the first traditional Hindu stone temple in the Middle East.
Beautifully constructed, it incorporates all aspects and features of a traditional Hindu Mandir as part of a fully functional, social, cultural and spiritual place of worship. There is a visitor centre, prayer halls, exhibitions, learning areas, a sports area for children, water features, a food court and a bookstore.
For visitor guidelines and details, please see the visit page. Registration is mandatory and unregistered visitors may be denied entry.
For more information, call 02 556 1982
Location: Abu Mureikhah, near Al Rahba, Abu Dhabi
India Palace Restaurant
With multiple locations scattered across the capital, celebrating Diwali in Abu Dhabi at one of the many India Palace Restaurants is quite popular.
The culture-rich Indian restaurant is well-known among Indian expats and other residents in Abu Dhabi for its authentic Indian dishes. It is also a perfect venue to spend the festival of Diwali with your family and friends.
The chefs have curated a special Diwali dining menu for guests, including everything from succulent curries, tandoori, biryanis and plenty of other vegan, vegetarian and non-vegetarian food options.
The rasmalai and gulab jamun cake are the top recommendations for dessert when dining at India Palace Restaurant. If you are looking to treat your friends and loved ones, India Palace offers an elegant gold-textured gift box of sweets during the festive season.
For reservations, call +971 2 447 2420
Location: Al Salam Street, Opposite Adnoc Distribution Head Office, TCA, Abu Dhabi
Diwali at Zayed International Airport
This October, your flights are going to have a Diwali vibe too, with a month-long Food Festival, offering culinary experiences and flavours from around the world in Abu Dhabi.
The festival will feature exclusive food and beverage promotions, live music, and vibrant celebrations designed to enhance the passenger journey while driving engagement with our F&B outlets.
Adding to the festivities, the Food Festival will host a special week of Diwali celebrations, with themed offers and experiences to mark the occasion. Happy travels!
Details:
When: Until 2 November
For more information, visit Zayed International Airport
Diwali Gifts & Decorations
With Abu Dhabi being home to some of the best shopping malls, many put on celebrations for all festivities, whether it’s Halloween or Christmas, not to mention Ramadan or Diwali!
This year, Halloween and Diwali festivities fall at the same time so it will be interesting to see the city incorporate both celebrations.
Some of the best Diwali offers in Abu Dhabi are found in the malls! Watch out for the colourful rangoli displays.
If you need to stock up on Diwali decorations and gifts, there is plenty available online. Check out everything from rangolis, home decor, to gift boxes for Diwali in Abu Dhabi.
For more information on:
Where to buy rangolis
Where to buy Diwali lights here
Where to buy Diwali clay diyas
Indian Confectionery Shops In Abu Dhabi
Sharing traditional sweets and other confectionery is a noble gesture when greeting friends and family during Diwali. Sweet shops in Abu Dhabi stock up on a variety of special treats for Diwali. “Mithai” is the traditional name for Indian sweets.
Mithaiwaalas
Mithaiwaalas is a popular mithai shop in Abu Dhabi. Featuring everything from cakes to pastries and street snacks such as namkeen. They have an array of special treats and gifts during Diwali.
Location: Salam Street, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan St, Abu Dhabi
Sri Krishna Sweets
Sri Krishna Sweets is based in the heart of Abu Dhabi. It’s known for high-quality quality pure ghee-based Indian sweets and savouries.
This year’s Diwali selection features the much-loved Mysurpa, fondly called melting magic, along with a wide variety of Ghee Sweets, Milk Sweets, Cashew Delights, Nut Specials, and Laddus, all freshly prepared using time-honoured recipes. The menu also includes savoury favourites such as Murukku and Mixtures, offering the perfect blend of sweet and spicy for festive gatherings.
The brand’s gift boxes, available in multiple sizes, are just the ultimate Diwali gifts. When it comes to mithai, it’s a one-stop shop to satisfy all sweet cravings and is also perfect to pick up a gift for your loved ones when celebrating Diwali in Abu Dhabi.
Location: Hamdan Bin Mohammed St, behind Al Mariah Cinema, Abu Dhabi
Chhappan Bhog
Chhappan Bhog is a premium name when it comes to Indian sweets and savouries. Every Indian expat in Abu Dhabi will be familiar with the name due to its popularity.
The variety of delicacies ranges from bites and berries, to delightful dry fruits and premium sweets.
At Chaapan Bhog, you can buy sweets by weight allowing customers to customise an assorted box!
Location: Behind ADCB Bank, Al Salam St, Zone 1, Abu Dhabi
Gold Souks
The tradition of buying and gifting gold during Diwali is not a new practice. Some Gold merchants offer up to 60 per cent discount during Diwali.
Madinat Al Zayed Shopping Centre has a good variety with wholesale rates and negotiable prices.
Meaning of Diwali
Observed every year after the summer harvest, the five-day celebration occurs on the night of the new moon (amavasya). It is considered the darkest of all the nights on the Hindu lunisolar calendar.
The Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and Newar Buddhists celebrate Diwali. Each faith celebrates different historical events and stories.
The Diwali festival originated in ancient India as a fusion of harvest festivals. It is mentioned in Sanskrit texts such as the Padma Purana and the Skanda Purana, both of which were written in the second half of the 1st millennium CE.
Skanda Kishore Purana describes diyas (lamps) as symbols of the sun, the cosmic source of light and energy for all life, that transitions each season in the Hindu calendar month of Kartik.
In addition to the local interpretation of Diwali, many other countries observe the festival in a similar way.
In the British colonial era, Diwali was mentioned in notes on Hindu festivals, such as those by Sir William Jones in 1799, a philologist who first observed Sanskrit and Indo-European languages.
A paper Jones wrote in Bengal about the Lunar Year of the Hindus notes that four of the five days of Diwali occur in Aswina-Cartica.
Summary of Diwali
Diwali is a five-day festival that reaches its peak on the darkest night of the lunar month. It coincides with the third day of the festival.
Hindus, Jains and Sikhs light their homes, temples and workplaces with diyas, candles and lanterns.
During the festival, Hindus, in particular, perform a ritual oil bath each morning. Traditionally, Diwali is celebrated with fireworks, rangoli designs on floors and jhalars (A long, thin strip of colourful fabric used for decoration in the Indian sub-continent) on other parts of the house.
The festival is a major celebration of food with families sharing traditional sweets and feasting. It is a time of bonding and homecoming for families.
It’s equally a time for communities and associations, particularly those in urban areas, which organise events, activities and gatherings.
Parades of music and dance performances in parks are often part of community get-togethers.
It is customary for Hindus, Jains and Sikhs to send Diwali greetings to family near and far during the festive season, sometimes accompanied by boxes of Indian confectionery.
Diwali In Abu Dhabi: Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any holidays in the UAE during Diwali?
In spite of the fact that Diwali is not an official holiday in the Emirates, the celebration is very popular among residents.
During Diwali celebrations, fireworks are displayed at many locations, such as the Abu Dhabi Corniche and Yas Bay, while shopping malls offer major discounts and display Rangoli designs.
Do we need to do anything special on Diwali?
Here are four ways people celebrate Diwali:
- Enjoying time together. Families often spend time with their loved ones during Diwali, celebrating the holiday.
- Preparing a feast.
- Creating a festive atmosphere.
- Giving back to the community.
Where can I find the Diwali Calendar?
The details on celebrating Diwali can be found on this Diwali-Puja Calendar.
Thank you for taking the time to read our article on celebrating Diwali in Abu Dhabi. Do let us know if you know of more places to add to our list.
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