If the black bats and orange pumpkins weighing down store shelves are anything to go by, celebrating Halloween in the UAE has become a permanent event on the social calendar.
While adults take advantage of this spooky time of year to attend parties where they are incognito and sporting the costume of their choice, Halloween is essentially a child-friendly celebration, where candies and sweets reign supreme.
It takes very little to create the perfect Halloween for a little one: turn a pumpkin into a Jack-o-Lantern, decide on a costume for your child - and bonus if you get dressed up, too - and head out on the quintessential Halloween activity: trick-or-treating.
Over the past five years, residential communities across Dubai and Abu Dhabi have been embracing the western tradition of trick-or-treating by decorating the outside of their homes - a clear indication that they would welcome trick-or-treaters.
In Abu Dhabi, popular spots for costumed children to go trick-or-treating are the villas in Al Reef or Al Raha Gardens from around 5pm to 7pm.
Nuru Evans from Australia, who lives in Al Raha Gardens, used old, white bedsheets to decorate the front of her home with homemade ghosts. “People decorate their front doors and have some treats on hand for the little ones,” says Evans.
“It’s an informally organised event that has been a lot of fun for the past five years and everyone looks forward to it. We plan to keep the tradition going this year.”
If you’re in Dubai on October 31, head to The Springs, The Meadows or Arabian Ranches between 4pm and 7pm to fit in some safe and friendly neighbourhood trick-or-treating.
“I’ve been taking my kids to trick-or-treat in The Springs for the past three years,” says Pamela Adesuyan, from the United States. “We do a walkabout and only ring the doorbells of houses that are decorated or houses that have a Halloween sticker on their house number. It gets really festive with loads of children running around.”
Said children are always decked out in costumes, and Halloween’s growing popularity has meant no dearth of costumes to be found in the most unexpected of places. Party store Posters has several locations across Abu Dhabi, and stocks Halloween decorations as well as costumes for adults - the same can be said for The Party Centre in Garhoud or in Wahda Mall Mall or Al Raha Mall, Party World in Motor City and Party Zone outlets. Children’s stores such as Pottery Barn Kids, Toys R Us, Babyshop, Mamas & Papas, The Toy Store, Early Learning Centre, Hamley’s and Mothercare all stock costumes, as do unexpected places such as grocery stores - we’ve spotted great costumes at Al Safa Market, Waitrose, Spinney’s, Choitrams and Carrefour.
We’ve also spotted costumes at the Zaks uniform store in Al Raha Mall, as well as ACE Hardware outlets and online on Dubizzle. For intricate adult costumes, head to Mr Ben’s Costume Closet (Al Ghazal Mall in Al Wasl) where you can rent costumes instead of purchasing them, or try The Balloon Lady (Jumeirah Beach Road).
A store-bought costume doesn't always make the cut, however. "I enjoy making my children's Halloween costumes myself; it's become a bit of a tradition," says Rosalind Haddad, an Arab-American living in Abu Dhabi. "There are so many fabric stores here so finding fabric is never a problem, and we go to craft stores for any other supplies we might need." Haddad orders her crafting supplies online from Creative Crafts in Dubai (www.creativecraftsdxb.com), located in Al Barsha. "I also find that the Japanese store Daiso is great for Halloween costumes and decor; you can find all sorts of stuff there," she says.
Go classic with a witch, ghost or scarecrow costume or shake it up by dressing up as your favourite cartoon character or even an emoji. But make sure to get creative for these Halloween parties around town for a chance to not just spook but earn best costume bragging rights, too.
Events
Nightmare on IMG Boulevard
• Daily until October 31
IMG Worlds of Adventure will shed its skin to reveal the haunted old tombstones and forbidden wasteland of the Nightmare on IMG Boulevard. For more humane Halloween traditions, younger guests will be given trick-or-treat bags which they can fill with sweets and treats. There is also a chocolate decorating competition at the World of Candy. Adult entry Dh300; kids Dh250. www.IMGworlds.com
The Haunted Village Ritz Carlton Abu Dhabi
• Tonight and tomorrow
Witches, ghouls, goblins and other scary folk will join you along the cobbles, as your kids take part in activities including pumpkin carving and face painting. Watch weird and wonderful live entertainment including a magician and other street acts. Entry is free.
www.venetianvillage.ae/about-us/
Halloween Party at PJ O’Reillys, Le Royal Meridien Abu Dhabi
• Tomorrow
Join the 80s Nightmare Halloween party and dance to the tunes of Sweet Chilli Jam & DJ Fast Hands Oaky. Wear your spookiest outfit to win freaking good prizes.
Flip Out Dubai
• Tonight and tomorrow
Check out the centre’s spook-tacular Haunted House. Flip Out freaks will be lurking around each corner searching for the best flips, tricks and costumes. An hour-long trampoline sessions costs Dh70 for adults, for Little Flippers it’s Dh60 per hour. Free entry to the Haunted House is available when patrons buy two hours or more.
KidZania’s Scary Fun Festival
• Tonight and tomorrow
KidZania® at The Dubai Mall is offering special Festival De Calaveras themed activities. There will be themed masks, painting and skull cookies, sweet treats, special nail designs and more!
• From 10am to 10pm; Dh140 for children; Dh95 for adults.
www.kidzania.ae or call 04 448 5222
Yelloween at Coya Dubai
• Tomorrow from 10pm
Dubai restaurant Coya will be transformed into a city of dead where DJs from the United Kingdom will spin tunes until dawn. The venue will also present a special Halloween-themed dinner for partygoers who will be seated in electric chairs and served by staff members in Halloween costumes. Call 04 3169 600 or reservations@coyarestaurant.ae
www.coyarestaurant.com/landing
Young Frankenstein at Rove Downtown Dubai
• Tomorrow
This downtown eatery will pair its special Halloween menu with a free screening of family favourite film Young Frankenstein. The Rove has designed a menu with Devil hot dogs, chicken nachos and red shrimp tacos, baked s’mores, and peppermint marshmallow pie that can be savoured while watching the American horror comedy.
www.rovehotels.com or follow @rovehotels on Instagram
Flow into Fairmont The Palm
• Tomorrow
At Flow Kitchen restaurant everybody will be in for a treat thanks to a themed evening inspired by the mysterious, spooky and daunting. Amid fun and scary decorations there’ll be food and drinks inspired by horror stories. Guests are in for a spooky treat when they will be served starters, deliciously creepy mocktails and tantalising finger foods by wicked waiters.
• From 7pm to 10.30pm, Dh215 per person. Children aged 5 and under dine free. Call 04 457 3457 or email Palm.Dining@Fairmont.com
* Afshan Ahmed
artslife@thenational.ae