Diwali falls on Sunday 8 November 2026, and Gulf News reports that Dubai's official Diwali programme runs citywide from 2 to 12 November, with fireworks at selected destinations, diya painting and rangoli workshops, music and dance. It is not a public holiday, so the city runs as normal. This guide covers the five-day calendar, what is confirmed about fireworks and what is not, temples and gold shopping in Old Dubai, the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi and a day plan built around our Old Dubai walking tour, from $35.
By SB Excursions · Published 28 October 2026 · Updated 28 October 2026
Tour on this route: Old Dubai Walking Tour — From $35 per person, 3-4 hours.
When is Diwali 2026 in Dubai?
Sunday 8 November 2026. Gulf News reports that Dubai's official Diwali programme runs citywide from 2 to 12 November, and the five-day calendar runs from Dhanteras on 6 November to Bhai Dooj on 10 November. Venues and line-ups are announced close to the date.
This guide also answers:
- Is Diwali a public holiday in Dubai?
- Are there Diwali fireworks in Dubai?
- Can I visit a Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi for Diwali?
Five places to feel Diwali in the UAE
#1
Al Seef, on the Creek
The heritage waterfront on the Bur Dubai bank of the Creek, lit by lanterns after dark. In recent years the official Diwali fireworks were held here, but the 2026 venues are announced close to the date, so check before you go. The promenade has no entry ticket. Arrive early on Sunday 8 November and plan the Metro home, because taxis can be scarce after a display.
#2
Global Village
Global Village has been open since 14 October and also hosted official Diwali fireworks in recent years. Khaleej Times reports tickets at AED 25 on weekdays and AED 30 on weekends, and hours differ between reports, from 4 pm to midnight or 1 am. Check the official site for 8 November, and go early in the evening.
#3
Bur Dubai and the Textile Souk
The Indian-community heart of Old Dubai: sweet shops, stalls with decorations, fabric shops and temples. It is busiest around Lakshmi Puja on 8 November, so go in the morning to browse and expect queues at the temples by evening. Dress modestly, take shoes off at temple doors and ask before taking photographs inside.
#4
The Gold Souk in Deira
Dhanteras, on Friday 6 November, is traditionally a day to buy gold or silver, so expect the Gold Souk and the jewellers around it to be busier than usual. Prices follow the daily gold rate plus making charges, and the making charge is where bargaining happens. The Gold Souk is also a stop on our Old Dubai walking route.
#5
BAPS Hindu Mandir, Abu Dhabi
The stone Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi holds Diwali and Annakut programmes. Check its own announcements for schedules and any registration, because queues and access can change on festival days. It is also a stop on our Abu Dhabi city tour, which is a sightseeing day and not a festival programme. A mandatory dress code applies.
Diwali 2026 in Dubai: the short answer
Diwali is on Sunday 8 November 2026. According to Gulf News, Dubai's official Diwali programme runs across the city from 2 to 12 November. It includes fireworks at selected destinations, diya painting and rangoli workshops, and music and dance. The five-day calendar runs from Dhanteras on 6 November to Bhai Dooj on 10 November.
For a visitor, that gives you a week, not a single night. Shops and restaurants in Bur Dubai and Karama, where much of the Indian community lives and trades, are usually decorated and busy throughout. The exact venues and line-ups for fireworks and shows are announced close to the date, so treat everything below as a guide to what to check, not a fixed timetable. Diwali is not a UAE public holiday, so shops, attractions and public transport run as usual. As of 29 October 2026 the daily events were not yet published.
The calendar: what falls on which day
The citywide dates come from Gulf News. The five-day dates are the traditional festival calendar. Use the table to pick your evening.
| Date | What it is | What it means for a visitor |
|---|---|---|
| Mon 2 Nov | Citywide Diwali programme begins (Gulf News) | Workshops, music and dance start at selected venues; check listings |
| Fri 6 Nov | Dhanteras, first day of the five-day calendar | Traditionally a day to buy gold or silver, so jewellers in Deira and Bur Dubai are busy |
| Sun 8 Nov | Diwali, with Lakshmi Puja | The main night: temples crowded, family gatherings, official fireworks at selected places if announced |
| Tue 10 Nov | Bhai Dooj, last day of the five-day calendar | Quieter; sweets and gifts again |
| Thu 12 Nov | Citywide programme ends (Gulf News) | Last chance for workshops or shows |
As of 29 October 2026. Venues and line-ups are announced close to the date; check Visit Dubai and the Dubai Media Office.
If you only have one evening, Sunday 8 November is the obvious choice, and also the one with the biggest crowds, so arrive early. If you prefer space, the other days of the programme still have workshops and a festive mood without the Sunday crush.
Fireworks: what is known and what is not
Gulf News reports fireworks at selected destinations but does not list them, and the venues are announced close to the date. In recent years the official displays were at Al Seef and Global Village. Check those two first, and do not treat either as a promise until it is announced.
Private fireworks are illegal, so do not bring or set off your own. Do not fly a drone to film a display either: drones are tightly regulated, and the GCAA and the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority have the final word. Our drone rules guide gives the general picture.
Global Village is open for Season 31 until May 2027. Khaleej Times reported tickets at AED 25 on weekdays and AED 30 on weekends, the same as last season, and one report says Sunday now counts as a weekend day, so budget for AED 30 on 8 November. Our Global Village Season 31 guide has hours and tickets. Al Seef is a waterfront walk, and our Old Dubai walking tour already passes through it by day.
Temples, sweets and gold in Old Dubai
The Indian-community districts are where Diwali feels strongest: Bur Dubai, the streets around the Textile Souk and Karama. Sweet shops fill with boxes of mithai, shops sell diyas and decorations, and the older Hindu temples in Bur Dubai are crowded around Lakshmi Puja. The Gold Souk in Deira is busy around Dhanteras. Our Old Dubai guide maps the area, and the Old Dubai food tour guide explains what you eat on the walk.
If you visit a temple, a few simple rules apply:
- Dress modestly: cover shoulders and knees.
- Take your shoes off at the door and keep your voice low.
- Ask before photographing inside, and never photograph worshippers without asking.
- Go in the morning if you want to look rather than take part; the evening of 8 November is for worshippers and queues.
- Ask your hotel before lighting a diya or candle in a room.
Our Old Dubai walking tour is from $35 per person and takes 3-4 hours through Al Fahidi, Al Seef, an abra ride across the Creek, and the Spice and Gold Souks, with Arabic coffee or tea, dates and water. The $55 option adds street-food tastings. It is a heritage walk, not a Diwali tour, and the route does not include a temple visit, but in Diwali week the lanes are lively. Full prepayment confirms your place, and cancellation or a date change is free up to 24 hours before the start.
Diwali in Abu Dhabi: the BAPS Hindu Mandir
In Abu Dhabi, the BAPS Hindu Mandir holds Diwali and Annakut programmes. Annakut is the food-offering festival that follows Diwali. Check the temple's own announcements for schedules and any registration; as of 29 October 2026 we have no confirmed times, and our BAPS Mandir guide covers hours and the dress code.
Our Abu Dhabi city tour visits the Mandir along with the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the Corniche, Heritage Village and Yas Island. It is from $45 per person shared, or $245 for a private car for up to 7, with 8:00 AM hotel pickup and about 9 hours door to door. The dress code is mandatory: women need loose clothing covering ankles and wrists plus a headscarf, and men must cover shoulders and knees. There is no prepayment; you pay on the day.
It is a sightseeing day and not a festival programme. If the festival is your reason for going, tell us the date on WhatsApp and check the temple's announcements first, because festival days can bring longer queues. The Dubai to BAPS Mandir guide compares taxi, bus and tour.
A Diwali day plan for Sunday 8 November
Because the programme venues are not yet announced, build a day that works whether or not a display is confirmed.
- Morning: the Old Dubai walking tour. The temperature in November is comfortable, with daytime highs of about 30°C.
- Afternoon: lunch and sweets in Bur Dubai or Karama, then a rest at your hotel.
- Late afternoon: check Visit Dubai and the Dubai Media Office for the announced fireworks venues.
- Evening: Al Seef or Global Village if a display is announced there, and go early. For Al Seef, the Green Line Metro to Al Fahidi and a walk (see the Dubai Metro guide) avoids the taxi queue afterwards. Global Village has no Metro station; how to get to Global Village compares the options.
Other events that week may share your evening: listing sites show the UNTOLD festival at Dubai Parks and Resorts from 5 to 8 November. Our what's on in Dubai in November 2026 guide covers the month. If you want something away from the crowds, the full-day desert safari is from $45 per person with hotel pickup and no prepayment.
FAQ
When is Diwali 2026 in Dubai?
Sunday 8 November 2026. Gulf News reports that Dubai's official Diwali programme runs citywide from 2 to 12 November, and the five-day calendar runs from Dhanteras on 6 November to Bhai Dooj on 10 November. Venues and line-ups are announced close to the date.
Is Diwali a public holiday in Dubai?
No. Diwali is not a UAE public holiday, so shops, attractions and public transport run as usual on Sunday 8 November. Expect busy temples, sweet shops and jewellers in Bur Dubai, Karama and Deira.
Are there Diwali fireworks in Dubai?
Gulf News reports fireworks at selected destinations, but the venues had not been listed as of 29 October 2026. In recent years the official displays were at Al Seef and Global Village. Private fireworks are illegal, so watch an official display only.
Where can tourists see Diwali celebrations in Dubai?
Bur Dubai and Karama for decorations, sweets and temples, the Gold Souk in Deira around Dhanteras, and Al Seef and Global Village for possible fireworks. Check the official programme in the days before, because the line-up is announced close to the date.
Can I visit a Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi for Diwali?
The BAPS Hindu Mandir holds Diwali and Annakut programmes. Check its own announcements for schedules and any registration. Our Abu Dhabi city tour, from $45 shared, includes a visit to the Mandir but is not a festival programme, and a mandatory dress code applies.
Does the Old Dubai walking tour include Diwali events?
No. It is a heritage and food walk through Al Fahidi, Al Seef, the Creek and the Spice and Gold Souks, from $35 per person, or $55 with street-food tastings. It does not include a temple visit, but the lanes are busier and more festive in Diwali week.
What should I wear for Diwali events in Dubai?
Light, modest clothes: shoulders and knees covered for temples, comfortable shoes you can take off easily and a light layer for the evening. November daytime highs are about 30°C.
Recommended Dubai tours for this guide
Old Dubai Walking Tour
It is the Dubai that is walked rather than driven: the Creek where the city began as a trading port, the restored wind-tower quarter and the souks that still trade spices and gold. A local guide tells the story along the way. The $35 walk includes the abra, Arabic coffee or tea, dates and water; the $55 option adds street-food tastings.
- Duration
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- Format
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- Duration
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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
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- Format
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Photos: Lantern-lit heritage lanes at Al Seef at night, with a wind tower and cafe tables — Poorva90, CC BY-SA 4.0, Global Village — Slayym, CC BY-SA 4.0, Bur Dubai and the Textile Souk — trolvag, CC BY-SA 3.0, The Gold Souk in Deira — Radosław Botev, CC BY 3.0 pl (Wikimedia Commons).