Chinese New Year 2027 falls on Saturday 6 February and begins the Year of the Goat. As of 2 November 2026, Dubai has published no official programme for it. Ramadan is expected to start two days later, on Monday 8 February, so this is the last normal weekend before the fasting month. In earlier years the celebration meant performances at Dragon Mart, consulate events, hotel dinners and a Kung Fu Panda season at Motiongate. This guide covers what to expect, fireworks, tips for visitors from China and a weekend plan around our Burj Khalifa tickets, from $55.
By SB Excursions · Published 3 November 2026 · Updated 3 November 2026
Tour on this route: Burj Khalifa Observation Deck — From $55 per person, 1.5-2 hours.
When is Chinese New Year 2027 in Dubai?
Saturday 6 February 2027, the start of the Year of the Goat. The Lantern Festival is on Saturday 20 February. Ramadan is expected to begin two days after the new year, on Monday 8 February. As of 2 November 2026, no Dubai programme has been announced.
This guide also answers:
- Are there Chinese New Year fireworks in Dubai?
- What happens at Dragon Mart for Chinese New Year?
- Do Chinese citizens need a visa for Dubai?
Five places to plan around Chinese New Year in Dubai
#1
Burj Park and Downtown Dubai
Khaleej Times reported that Chinese residents held a grand parade at Burj Park in the Year of the Dragon, and that the Chinese Consulate General in Dubai planned six events in the Year of the Snake, among them an electric-vehicle show and a Lantern Festival. Nothing is announced for the Year of the Goat yet, so check Visit Dubai in January. The Burj Khalifa deck is a good plan with or without an event.
#2
Global Village
Global Village will be open on Saturday 6 February. Its own site lists closing at 1 AM from Thursday to Saturday, and tickets of AED 30 on any day or AED 25 on a weekday from Monday to Thursday, as of 2 November 2026. We could not confirm a Chinese New Year event there, so check the site before you go. Our Global Village guide has the hours and the best night to visit.
#3
Motiongate Dubai
In the Year of the Snake, Khaleej Times listed Kung Fu Panda festivities at Motiongate, with a dragon dance parade and show, a Wish Tree and a Kung Fu Academy show. Tickets were AED 295 online and AED 330 at the gate that year. These details belong to that year only, so check the park's site for the Year of the Goat. Our Motiongate guide covers the rides and the age rules.
#4
A festive dinner in a hotel restaurant
Hotels publish festive buffets and set menus in January. In the Year of the Snake, Khaleej Times listed a buffet at Creek Kitchen, Marriott Marquis Dubai, at AED 185 per person, an InterContinental Dubai Festival City buffet from AED 199, and a Cantonese set menu at Shang Palace, Shangri-La Dubai, at AED 388 per person for two guests or more. Treat them as examples of the format and price level, and book early.
#5
Burj Al Arab and the Jumeirah coast
For Chinese New Year in the Year of the Horse, Khaleej Times reported a paper-cut art showcase by the Guangzhou-born artist Jackie Wen at the Burj Al Arab, with a large-scale projection and installations inside the hotel. The report did not say whether the public could visit, so ask the hotel. The view of the building from the public beach is free; our Jumeirah guide lists the best photo spots.
Chinese New Year 2027 in Dubai: the short answer
Chinese New Year 2027 falls on Saturday 6 February and starts the Year of the Goat. As of 2 November 2026, no official Dubai programme has been announced, and the events page of Dragon Mart lists nothing for it yet. Festive events are usually announced in the weeks before, so use this guide for what happened in earlier years and what to plan now.
Two other dates matter for a visitor. The Lantern Festival, the 15th day of the lunar new year, falls on Saturday 20 February. And Ramadan is expected to begin on Monday 8 February, only two days after the new year, according to The National and Khaleej Times. That makes the weekend of 6 and 7 February the last normal weekend before the fasting month, so book hotels, tickets and restaurants for it early. Our Ramadan 2027 dates guide explains what changes once it starts.
Chinese New Year is not a UAE public holiday, so shops, attractions and transport run as usual; the UAE public holidays 2027 guide has the official list. The weather is cool, with highs of about 24-26°C in February, which suits long days outdoors.
What Dubai did in earlier years
Dubai has no single official Chinese New Year festival. The celebration is spread across the Chinese community, the Chinese Consulate General, theme parks, hotels and Dragon Mart. This table shows what Khaleej Times reported, with the zodiac animal of each year so you can see how the programme changes.
| Place | What was reported | Year of the |
|---|---|---|
| Dragon Mart | Three days of performances from 31 January at 4 PM: a Thousand Hand Show, a Face-Changing Show, an Umbrella Dance and a themed photo booth | Snake |
| Dubai Equestrian Club and Al Marmoom | About 60 Chinese electric vehicles drove from Dubai to Abu Dhabi; the Dubai stop had a lion dance, martial arts and folk music, and guests planted seeds at Al Marmoom | Snake |
| Burj Park, Downtown Dubai | A grand parade by Chinese residents at the foot of the Burj Khalifa | Dragon |
| Motiongate Dubai | Kung Fu Panda festivities with a dragon dance parade and show | Snake |
| The Green Planet | Python encounters, lantern decorations and fortune cookies for children, until 31 January | Snake |
| Burj Al Arab | Paper-cut art by Jackie Wen: a large-scale projection and installations inside the hotel | Horse |
| Hotels and restaurants | Festive buffets and Cantonese set menus, from mid-January to mid-February | Snake |
Source: Khaleej Times. Dates, venues and prices change every year, and none is announced yet for 2027.
The pattern is useful. Performances and parades cluster around the new year itself, restaurant menus run for one to two weeks, and theme-park seasons run longer. For 2027, the days around Saturday 6 February are the ones to check first. If you travel with children, check the websites of Motiongate and The Green Planet for tickets and ages.
Dragon Mart: what the official site says
Dragon Mart is a very large shopping centre. Its own site lists over 3,500 outlets, with furniture, electronics and fashion, and gives opening hours of 10 AM to 10 PM from Sunday to Thursday and 10 AM to 11 PM on Friday and Saturday. Its events page lists only Kung Fu Panda: The Warrior Quest, from 12 to 18 October 2026, so no Chinese New Year programme is published yet. In the Year of the Snake, performances started on 31 January, so check the events page in mid-January.
Be clear about what it is: a shopping stop, not a sightseeing stop. Saturday 6 February is a weekend day, so go early if you want space. Our Dragon Mart guide covers what to buy, how to get there and how long to allow.
Fireworks: what is known and what is not
Khaleej Times reported a 10-minute fireworks display at Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah on Sunday 8 February 2026, at 8 PM, for the Year of the Horse. The same report mentioned no Dubai fireworks for Chinese New Year, and we found none announced for the Year of the Goat. Do not plan a Dubai evening around a Chinese New Year fireworks show until an official announcement.
Private fireworks are illegal in the UAE: Khaleej Times has quoted Abu Dhabi Police asking residents to avoid illegal fireworks, so do not bring or set off your own. Do not fly a drone to film a display either; see our drone rules guide.
Tips for visitors from China
These tips come from the official pages we could read and from our own tours. Rules change, so check the current version before you fly.
- Visa: Visit Dubai's Chinese-language page says that Chinese citizens with a passport valid for more than six months can enter visa-free for 90 days, with no fee. Confirm with ICP or your airline before you travel. Our visa on arrival guide explains how the entry permit works in general.
- Money: the dirham is fixed at AED 3.6725 to the dollar, and Visa and Mastercard are accepted almost everywhere. Ask a shop before you rely on Alipay or WeChat Pay, because not every shop accepts them, and carry a card and some cash as a back-up. See money in Dubai.
- Language: our desert safari driver and our speedboat commentary are in English. The Burj Khalifa SKY ticket, Level 148, includes a multilingual host; ask us on WhatsApp which languages are available for your date.
- Food: festive menus in hotels are easy to find. If you want to know where pork is sold and how halal rules work, read our halal food and pork guide.
- Ramadan: if your trip includes 8 February or later, avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public in daylight. Our Ramadan 2027 dates guide, linked above, lists what changes.
A weekend plan for 5 to 7 February
None of our tours is a Chinese New Year programme. These are practical suggestions for the last normal weekend before Ramadan, built from the dates above.
- Friday 5 February: the Burj Khalifa deck, then the Dubai Mall and the evening fountain. Our Burj Khalifa tickets are from $55 per person for Levels 124 and 125, by timed slot. Tickets cannot be refunded or changed once issued, so check the date first.
- Saturday 6 February: a daytime on the Creek or the Marina, and Global Village in the evening if no other event is announced. The shared yacht tour is from $32 per person, lasts one hour, leaves hourly and needs full prepayment.
- Sunday 7 February: the full-day desert safari, from $45 per person or $65 with a 30-minute quad bike ride, 7 hours with hotel pickup and no prepayment. Ramadan is expected to start the next day, so the camp programme should be normal. During Ramadan, entertainment may be limited, and we say so when we confirm.
If your dates are fixed and Ramadan arrives a day earlier or later than expected, the plan still works. Read the February 2027 events guide for the other events of the month.
FAQ
When is Chinese New Year 2027 in Dubai?
Saturday 6 February 2027, the start of the Year of the Goat. The Lantern Festival is on Saturday 20 February. Ramadan is expected to begin two days after the new year, on Monday 8 February. As of 2 November 2026, no Dubai programme has been announced.
Is Chinese New Year a public holiday in the UAE?
No. It is not on the UAE public holiday list, so malls, attractions, the Metro and offices run as normal. Some hotels, restaurants and malls decorate and hold events around the date.
Are there Chinese New Year fireworks in Dubai?
None are announced for 2027. For the Year of the Horse, Khaleej Times reported a 10-minute display at Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah on 8 February 2026 at 8 PM, and it mentioned no Dubai fireworks. Private fireworks are illegal.
What happens at Dragon Mart for Chinese New Year?
No 2027 programme is published yet. In the Year of the Snake, Khaleej Times listed three days of performances from 31 January. Dragon Mart's site gives hours of 10 AM to 10 PM Sunday to Thursday and 10 AM to 11 PM Friday and Saturday.
Do Chinese citizens need a visa for Dubai?
Visit Dubai's Chinese-language page says that Chinese citizens with a passport valid for more than six months can enter visa-free and stay 90 days, with no fee. Rules can change, so confirm with ICP or your airline before you fly.
Does Ramadan affect a Chinese New Year trip to Dubai?
Yes, if you stay past the weekend. Ramadan is expected to start on Monday 8 February. Dubai stays open, but opening hours shift, daytime is quieter and entertainment may be limited. Avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public in daylight.
Which of your tours fit a Chinese New Year trip?
The Burj Khalifa tickets from $55, the shared yacht tour from $32 and the full-day desert safari from $45 suit a first-time family. None is a festival programme. If Ramadan has started, ask us about the safari programme for your date.
Recommended Dubai tours for this guide
Burj Khalifa Observation Deck
It is a ticket, not a guided tour: you pick the date and time slot, we book it and send the e-tickets on WhatsApp, and you make your own way to The Dubai Mall. Levels 124 and 125 suit most visitors; SKY adds Level 148 at 555 m with priority access, a multilingual host and refreshments. On request we also book Sky Views Observatory, The View at The Palm and Dubai Frame.
- Duration
- 1.5-2 hours
- Area
- Downtown Dubai
- Format
- Timed-entry ticket
- Best for
- first-time visitors, couples and families who want Dubai from the observation decks of the 828-metre Burj Khalifa
From $55 per person Full prepayment
View tour
Full-Day Desert Safari in Dubai
It is the slow-travel version of the classic safari: more time on the dunes, sunset without the crowds and a full evening programme at a premium camp with air-conditioned tents, unlimited drinks and a large BBQ buffet with vegetarian and gluten-free options. Everything is arranged from the hotel door — a licensed English-speaking driver, the 4x4, the camp and the shows.
- Duration
- 7 hours
- Area
- Lahbab Desert, Dubai
- Format
- Full-day desert safari
- Best for
- families, couples and first-time desert visitors who want the full evening programme
From $45 per person No prepayment
View tour
Dubai Marina Shared Yacht Tour
It is the most stylish way to see the skyline without paying for a private charter: a premium yacht with spacious decks and 5-star hospitality, a red carpet at the pier and the crew helping with photos against JBR and Ain Dubai. Full pre-payment secures your slot — the hourly departures sell out — and the yacht leaves strictly on time.
- Duration
- 1 hour
- Area
- Dubai Marina
- Format
- Shared 1-hour sightseeing cruise
- Best for
- families, couples and anyone who wants the Marina skyline from the water without a private charter
From $32 per person Full prepayment
View tour📚 Keep reading
Photos: Burj Park and Downtown Dubai — Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France, CC BY 2.0, Global Village — Slayym, CC BY-SA 4.0, Motiongate Dubai — Jeremy Thompson, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons).