Bright white tee? Check. Hunger for Indian grub? Of course. Party vibes aplenty? Ticks across the board.
You’re all set for all the colourful celebrations at this year’s Holi Festival, which is due to be celebrated on Monday March 9 to Tuesday March 10.
However, the UAE will be splashed with an array of colours throughout the month, and there’s plenty going on to keep you occupied. From beach parties to big bashes throughout the emirates, have a gander through all the places to celebrate one of the biggest Hindu festivals out there.
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi City Golf Club
It’s going to be a colourful affair with the Colour Splash celebrations at Abu Dhabi City Golf Club. Holi celebrations will include a rain dance, live dhol music, DJs and food counters serving up traditional Indian food.
Dhs50. Fri Feb 28, 9am-4pm. Abu Dhabi City Golf Club, Shakhbout Bin Sultan Street, Abu Dhabi (055 751 6898)
Khalifa Park
Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa Park will be lighting up for Holi with the Colours of Friendship event. Head along and you can enjoy live dhol music, traditional Indian food and drinks, a rain fance and more to celebrate the season.
Dhs25. Fri Mar 6, 10am-3pm. Khalifa Park www.facebook.com/events/1218191098371939
Namak by Kunal Kapur
Celebrate Holi with a special menu created by chef Kunal Kapur. The five course menu will celebrate the season and serve up hand-crafted bites that capture the spirit of the Indian festival.
Dhs170 per person, Dhs189 (with two drinks). thu Mar 5, 7pm-11pm. Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi, Sultan Bin Zayed The First Street (02 698 8137)
Dubai
Beach Holi Celebration at Dubai Creek Park
This one is aiming to be one of the biggest beach Holi celebrations in the region – sounds like a celebration worth checking out. Head to Dubai Creek Park for live DJ acts from DJ Nikin and DJ Jason, Punjabi music, colours and water guns to splash everyone with, as well as plenty of food stalls and a kids play area for the little ones to have fun in.
Free entry. Fri Mar 13, 10am-7pm. Dubai Creek Park, Umm Hurair 2, www.promolover.com (04 336 7633).
Bombay Brasserie
The Taj Hotel’s Indian restaurant is inviting all families and friends for a one-off dining experience. Celebrators can expect a three-course meal inspired by the cities of India, filled with traditional dishes including Jaipuri Kachori, Mumbai’s Dahi Vada, Murg Kali Mirch chicken curry and plenty more.
Dhs199. Tue Mar 10, 12.30pm-3pm and 6pm-midnight. Burj Khalifa Street, Business Bay, www.tajhotels.com (04 438 3134).
Dukes The Palm, a Royal Hideaway Hotel
Expect vibrant colours to fill the air at Dukes The Palm, a Royal Hideaway Hotel, as it’s set to host a massive colour bash on its beach. Boasting of a wide range of Holi festivities, celebrators can expect a DJ line-up playing all the best Desi and chart-topping tunes, along with a special performance by showstopping performer Nora Fatehi, party-goers are definitely in for a treat. There will also be a beachside free-for-all where everyone can join in smearing colourful powders on each other.
Dhs75 per person, Dhs125 for two, Dhs200 for four. Fri Mar 6, 11am-8pm. Dukes The Palm, a Royal Hideaway Hotel, Palm Jumierah (04 455 1111).
Holi at IMG Worlds of Adventure
Dubai’s popular theme park is bringing in big-time Indian rapper Divine and the Gully Gang to celebrate this year’s Holi Festival. So, expect to rap along to some of his biggest hits, and Celebrate colour with rain dance, more DJs and Bhangra Dancers during the day. Feeling peckish? There will also be traditional Indian chaat bazaar snacks with Holi special thandaai and sweets.
Dhs75. Fri Mar 6, 10am-5pm. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, www.dubai.platinumlist.net.
Holi Beach Party at JA Beach Hotel
A colourful bash on the sand is coming to the JA Beach Hotel, and you can expect the usual flare and vibrancy you’d expect from the annual festival. Taking place on Friday March 13, the massive colour festival will kick off at 10am with some massive beach vibes throughout the day, and an even bigger bash at night through until 10pm. Partygoers can also expect loads of dishes at different food stalls, tonnes of DJs and more.
From Dhs100. Fri Mar 13, 10am-10pm. JA Beach Hotel, Jebel Ali, www.ticketslover.com.
Holi Dhamaka at Zabeel Park
Spend the day at Zabeel Park getting dosed in colours, grooving to live tunes and taking your picks from the plentiful food stalls.
Dhs30 (fan pit), Dhs60 (enclosure), free (kids under four). Fri Mar 13, 10am-10pm.; Gate 3, Zabeel Park, www.dubai.platinumlist.net (050 654 9100).
Holi Masti 2020
Set to bring all the excitement yet again, Holi Masti 2020 is set to bring two of India’s most popular stars – Kanika Kapoor, the sensational Bollywood singer and Nucleya, one of India’s biggest DJs – performing live together. That’s not all,as celebrators can expect Dubai’s top DJs on the turn table at the day-long family entertainment along with food and beverages, and of course, a whole tonne of colours to throw around.
From Dhs75. Fri Mar 13, 11am-9pm. Meydan Golf, Nad Al Sheba, www.bookmyshow.com (055 362 6267).
Khyber
Fancy a colourful feast to tuck into before getting colour on yourself? Khyber will be offering up a family-style three-course set menu with a vegetarian option included. Oh, and welcomes drinks.
Dhs160. Wed Mar 8-Sat Mar 11, 6pm-11pm. Dukes The Palm, a Royal Hideaway Hotel, Palm Jumierah (04 455 1111).
Kinara by Vikas Khanna
The stunning Indian restaurant (highly commended fine dining newcomer at the Time Out Dubai Restaurant Awards 2020) Kinara by Vikas Khanna in JA Lake View Hotel will be hosting a colourful menu of traditional and modern Holi dishes. Come hungry.
Dhs220. Mon Mar 9-Tue Mar 10, 6pm-11pm. JA Lake View Hotel, www.kinaradubai.com (04 814 5555).
Rang Masti Holi Colour Bash
DJs, food stalls, colour splashes – what more could you want at a Holi extravaganza? The Rang Masti Holi Colour Bash brings it all for just Dhs20, with plenty of live tunes to groove to by live DJs, food stalls to munch around and, of course, plenty of colour to throw around.
Dhs20 (general admission), Dhs60 (VIP tickets), free (kids under four). Fri Mar 6, 10am-6pm. Al Mamzar Park, Nouras Beach, www.dubai.platinumlist.net (055 846 5959).
Sharjah
RANG UTSAV Beach Holi Celebration
Sharjah’s only Holi celebration, which will be held at Lou’lou’a Beach Resort for the third year in a row, is perfect for an easy family day out. Colours and water guns are provided for you, and there’ll be plenty of live entertainment and kids activities so you don’t need to worry about a thing. We’ll see you there.
Dhs30 (adults), free (kids under ten). Fri Mar 13 10am-6pm. Lou’lou’a Beach Resort, Al Khan Sea Beach area (056 749 6144).
