UAE residents gear up to celebrate Eid
dubai — UAE residents — expats and Emiratis, Muslim and nonMuslims alike — are taking advantage of the Eid Al Adha holiday period to celebrate at a dizzying array of events across the country.
Many families are headed to malls to take part in activities, such as the Happy Box Workshops for kids at Dubai Mall, in which young children can make their own Eid greeting cards to share with family and friends, as well as traditional Eid Al Adha storytelling.
Then there’s La Perle — Dubai’s first permanent aquabased show at Al Habtoor City –— where 65 world class artistes will perform aquatic and aerial feats.
Last but not least, fireworks began on Thursday night at JBR in Dubai, and will continue tonight (Friday) at Dubai Festival City and Al Qasba in Sharjah.
dubai — Muslims and non-Muslims, Emiratis, expats and tourists, young and old — all are sure to enjoy the long weekend and the joyous celebration of Eid Al Adha.
Malls, parks and other entertainment and attraction centres are set to welcome visitors as Eid is a wonderful occasion to spend time with family, friends and loved ones.
At The Dubai Mall, different activities await the whole family until Sunday. Kids aged four years and older can get creative at the Happy Box Workshops from 12-4pm. They can make their very own Eid greeting cards and other beautiful creations to share with family and friends. There is also the traditional and inspirational storytelling about Eid Al Adha from 4-6pm. Before strolling around the mall, parents are advised to visit the children’s wristband kiosks where they can get personalised wristbands for added safety. Aside from shopping for Eid gifts or dining at various restaurants, mall visitors can also watch the performances of an Oud player, Ayallah Dancers and a Jordanian pianist. They can also attend henna workshops running from 7-9pm each day or watch traditional basket weaving demonstrations from 9-11pm.
And if they’re tired from walking around one of the biggest malls in the world, they can sit down and enjoy the dried fruits and traditional sweets on offer as well as Arabic coffee at Souk Atrium, Grand Atrium and Valet areas.
At Bawadi Mall in Al Ain, a circus with mesmerising stunts and acrobatic dances are sure to entertain the visitors. Called ‘Rainbow Circus’, it is a one-of-its-kind experience featuring aerial artists, contortionists, hand balancers, jugglers, themed characters and more. “Dressed in vibrant colour costumes, the performers will tumble and spin and bring smiles on the faces of visitors,” said Bassam Saleh, marketing manager of Bawadi Mall.
For those looking for entertainment aside from what malls offer, they can head down to Dubai Parks and Resorts to watch the premiere of the Lionsgate zone at Motiongate Dubai and a series of exciting events on the river at the Riverland Dubai. The UAE residents will be able to take advantage of the winter season rates of Dh165 for a day ticket to Motiongate Dubai, Legoland Dubai and Legoland Water Park and Dh95 for a day ticket to Bollywood Parks Dubai.
There is also La Perle, Dubai’s first permanent aqua-based show at the new Al Habtoor City. You can watch 65 world class artists who will perform aqua and aerial feats with the assistance of 70 specialised technicians. Note that La Perle uses 2.7 million litres of water and there are no hydraulic lifts or fountains.
In the Modhesh World located at the Dubai World Trade Centre, there are numerous rides, games, workshops, live performances and the all-new food park arena.
In Abu Dhabi, Ferrari theme park will feature nine days from September 1-9 of cultural experiences inspired by the UAE’s traditional customs for celebrating Eid: live theatrical show, featuring an Emirati grandfather settling down with his grandson to swap cultural tales, punctuated with traditional Ayyala performances.
The Eid celebrations in the UAE are not complete without the highlyawaited Eid Al Adha fireworks. Catch the spectacle on the first day of Eid in Abu Dhabi on Yas Island at 9pm. In Dubai, The Beach and JBR will showcase fireworks until September 3 at 8.45pm; the Dubai Festival City on September 1 at 9pm; and at Al Qasba in Sharjah at 10pm.
angel@khaleejtimes.com