Diwali Party at Home in Dubai in 2026: Ideas, Catering, Décor, Games and Costs

Diwali Party at Home in Dubai in 2026

In this guide you will find the steps to plan the party, décor ideas to watch and browse, and where to buy each supply. Then you will meet the decorators, dhol players, DJs and mehendi artists you can book, with their prices and contacts. After that, you will find the menu and sweet shops, party games, what to wear, the building rules, the fireworks law and what a party for 20, 50 or 100 guests costs.

ALSO READDiwali in Dubai 2026 🪔14 GUIDES

START HEREDiwali in Dubai 2026: Date and Where to Celebrate

Celebrate Diwali in Dubai6 to 10 Nov · events on

Diwali Celebrations in DubaiDiwali Fireworks in DubaiGlobal Village Drone ShowDiwali Parties in DubaiDiwali Events for Kids

Diwali Food and ShoppingDinners 29 Oct to 15 Nov

Diwali Dinner in DubaiDiwali Shopping in Dubai

Diwali at the TemplesPujas 6 to 10 Nov

Hindu Temples on DiwaliHindu Temple DubaiBAPS Mandir Abu Dhabi

Diwali at Home and at WorkOrder early

Diwali Party at HomeREADING NOW

Diwali Catering in DubaiCorporate Diwali Gifts

How to Organise a Diwali Party at Home in Dubai

Start with the night. Lakshmi Puja, the prayer to the goddess of wealth, is the main night of Diwali, and it falls on Sunday 8 November. But Monday is a school and work day. So many families keep Sunday for a small puja (prayer) and dinner. They hold the bigger party on Saturday 7 November instead.

Both nights work. Just pick one before you book anyone, because decorators and dhol players fill their festive dates first. Then work through these steps in order:

1. Fix the night and a rough guest count: 20 fits most flats, 50 needs a villa or a building party room, 100 needs a garden.
2. Message your building management or community manager. Tell them the date, the number of guests and the visitor parking you need, and ask if you can book the party room.
3. Book the people with the fewest free slots first: the decorator, then the dhol player or DJ, then the mehendi artist.
4. Decide on food: cook, order meal boxes and trays, or book a caterer with a live counter. Order by Wednesday 4 November.
5. Send the invitation with the time, the dress code and where guests should park.
6. Buy diyas (small clay oil lamps), lights, rangoli colours and sweets online during the week, or in Bur Dubai and Karama before the Friday crowds.
7. On the day before, set up the lights, draw the rangoli and test every extension lead.

Keep two dates in mind. Sunday 1 November is your last chance to give BalloonDekor a week's notice for Diwali night. Friday 6 November is Dhanteras, the first day of the festival, and Meena Bazaar and the Gold Souk will be packed. Do your shopping before then.

Diwali Decoration Ideas for a Dubai Flat or Villa

Diwali décor is about light first and flowers second. And you need less than you think. Put a few diyas at the door and draw a rangoli in front of them. A rangoli is a pattern made on the floor with coloured powder. Hang a string of marigolds over the door frame and add soft lights behind the curtains, and your flat will feel festive. In a villa, take the same ideas out to the garden and the gate.

These five ideas work well in Dubai homes:

• A rangoli at the front door. Guests see it first. Use a stencil if you are not sure of your freehand. In a building corridor, keep it inside your own doorway.
• Diyas in groups, on trays. Clay diyas look traditional. Set them on a metal tray, away from curtains. Where children or guests walk past, use LED diyas instead.
• Curtain lights in the windows. A 3 x 3 metre curtain of 300 LEDs costs from AED 17.99. It makes the whole flat glow from the street.
• A marigold toran over the door. A toran is a garland that hangs across the top of a door. Artificial ones last for years and cost less than fresh flowers.
• A floor-seating corner. Mattresses, bolsters and a low table make the room feel like a family gathering. Hafla rents a full low-seating set for AED 1,200.

Décor is easier to see than to read about. So here are four videos to watch and five Pinterest pages to browse. Press play on any video and it will open right here. YouTube may show an advert first.

1. Diwali Living Room Decoration Ideas, by Homemaking with Roma

This is the newest video on the list. Roma posted it in mid-October 2026, and it shows a full living and dining room makeover in a rented home.

She drapes dupattas (long scarves) over the sofa and hangs mesh fabric as a colourful backdrop. Old pieces get a coat of gold spray paint. Then she adds marigold garlands, lotus hangings and urli bowls (wide, shallow bowls) with floating flowers. Candles and fairy lights finish the room.

It suits a Dubai flat. Nothing here needs a drill or a big budget.

• Length: 16 minutes 56 seconds.

16:56

2. Last Minute Diwali Decoration Ideas, by Her Fab Way

Short on time? Start with this one. It is the most watched video here, with more than 760,000 views, and every idea in it is quick and cheap. It uses golden foil, tea-light holders, torans, bud hangings and string lights. It also dresses the room with cushion covers, dupattas and table runners.

• Length: 11 minutes 58 seconds.

11:58

3. Diwali Decoration Ideas 2025: Easy DIY Hacks, by Monami Saikia

Do you like making things yourself? Then watch Monami. She shows simple DIY hacks, step by step. Some are quick last-minute tricks. Others are handmade pieces you can make the weekend before.

• Length: 10 minutes 23 seconds.

10:23

4. Simple Yet Beautiful Diwali Decoration for Every Corner, by Simplify Your Space

This video goes room by room: the living room, the mandir (home prayer corner), the entrance and the dining area. Everything is hung with loop locks and clear tape, not nails. That helps a lot if your landlord does not allow holes in the walls.

• Length: 14 minutes 7 seconds.

14:07

The next five are Pinterest pages. Three are idea pages, which are Pinterest's own feeds on one topic. The other two are boards, collections put together by one person. Many pins are photos of other people's homes, so treat them as ideas to borrow.

5. Ideas for Diwali Decoration (Pinterest idea page)

Start here if you only open one. The page is mostly short videos of decorated Diwali homes. You will also find floral rangoli ideas and links to related boards on DIY décor and flowers.

• Open: Ideas for Diwali Decoration on Pinterest

6. Diwali Decor with Marigold Flowers (Pinterest idea page)

Every idea on this page uses marigolds. You will see a simple marigold door, flowers running down a staircase and marigolds pouring out of pots. There is even a dinner table in orange, pink and gold. Open it when you plan the flowers for your entrance and table.

• Open: Diwali Decor with Marigold Flowers on Pinterest

7. Diwali Rangoli Diya Design (Pinterest idea page)

Here you get rangoli designs with diyas set into them. Some are floral patterns you draw yourself. Others are ready-made rangoli pieces that you just lay on the floor. Use it to pick a design for your front door.

• Open: Diwali Rangoli Diya Design on Pinterest

8. Diwali decoration, a board by Creative Ideas

This is a large board with 616 pins on festive tables, table runners and room décor. Open it when you plan how to dress the dining table and the buffet.

• Open: Diwali decoration board

9. Diy diwali decorations, a board by Manisha Pande

This is the biggest board here, with 1,291 pins. It is all about things you make yourself, like diya and tea-light holders, a diya stand made of cardboard and simple hangings. Pick it if your family wants to make the décor together.

• Open: Diy diwali decorations board

Where to Buy Diwali Decorations in Dubai

You can buy everything online and have it at your door the same day. Each shop is good at something different:

• Lulu Hypermarket: the cheapest clay diyas and rangoli powder.
• noon: delivery in an hour.
• Amazon.ae: the widest choice of lights, garlands and stencils.

Tap any item below to open it in the shop:

How much do you need? Everything on the Amazon.ae list, plus noon's AED 29 Diwali kit, will dress a flat or a small villa. It comes to about AED 280, and that is the DIY décor figure in the cost table further down.

Do you prefer to shop in person? Head to Meena Bazaar in Bur Dubai. In the days before Diwali, its shops fill up with diyas, rangoli colours, sweets and festive clothes.

Real marigolds look lovely, but no shop lists a price for fresh garlands online. Ask your local florist a few days ahead. Then buy them on the Saturday, so they still look fresh on Sunday night.

Decorators Who Set Up Diwali Décor at Home in Dubai

Would you rather not climb a ladder? Book a decorator. The team brings everything, sets it up in two to four hours and takes it all away afterwards. Here is every published price, cheapest first. Below the chart, you will see how to book each company:

1. BalloonDekor, Business Bay

BalloonDekor has more than 20 Diwali setups for homes. The smallest is a backdrop of 180 balloons for AED 1,499. The biggest, the Complete Diwali Home Setup at AED 3,999, fills the room with marigolds, flower garlands, fairy lights and hangings. You can also add a flower gate or an entrance arch for AED 1,999 to AED 2,999. A mandir (prayer corner) decoration costs AED 2,599. Prices include materials, setup and taxes.

Give a week's notice if you can. In a rush? BalloonDekor also takes same-day orders confirmed before 4pm. You pick a two-hour window for the setup, and the team works across the UAE.

• Book: add a setup to the cart on its Diwali decoration page, or WhatsApp +971 54 467 9338 for custom colours or a name sign.
• See their work: @balloondekor.ae on Instagram

2. Hafla, JLT

Hafla is an event marketplace, and it rents Diwali décor piece by piece. That means you pay only for what you need. Here are the single pieces you can rent:

• Balloon wall: from AED 500.
• Curtain of flowers and fairy lights: from AED 750.
• Low floor seating: AED 1,200.
• Entrance flowers: AED 1,350.
• Marigold entrance: from AED 1,800.

For a whole villa party, look at the bigger packages. The pergola dining setup for 20, for example, costs AED 3,399.

The Diwali Party Package from AED 999 sounds like a lot for the price. It lists décor with diyas, 30 chairs, a live chaat counter (Indian street snacks made fresh) and a mithai box (Indian sweets). It also lists a mehendi (henna) artist or a DJ, but only one entertainer performs. So ask Hafla exactly what AED 999 covers before you pay. Hafla's prices do not include VAT, and they can rise on festive dates and weekends.

• Book: add items to the cart on Hafla's Diwali party page and check out, or call +971 4 561 6897.
• See their work: @hafla.official on Instagram

3. BM Events, across the UAE

BM Events sells an all-in Diwali Celebration Package from AED 1,000. Unlike Hafla's package, it gives you both a mehendi artist and a DJ. This is what the package includes:

• Flowers, diyas, lights and lanterns
• A rangoli-style entrance
• 30 chairs and a table
• A live chaat counter with a chef, and mithai boxes
• One mehendi artist and one DJ

The team sets up in villas, flats, gardens and terraces. The package page still says "Happy Diwali 2025", so confirm the 2026 price when you call.

• Book: add the package on the BM Events Diwali page, or call or WhatsApp +971 56 547 8714.
• See their work: @bmevents_est on Instagram

4. Splash N Bounce, Dubai Investment Park

Splash N Bounce shows photos of its Diwali setups on its service page. It does not list prices, so call for a quote.

• Book: see the Diwali decoration page and call +971 50 282 5257.
• See their work: @splashnbounce on Instagram

5. Events Master, Dubai

Events Master rents Diwali party décor and props. Call and ask for a quote.

• Book: see its Diwali party ideas page and call +971 56 508 6261.
• See their work: @events.master.dubai on Instagram

Diwali Party Menu

Most Diwali menus follow the same shape. You start with something crisp, move on to a main meal and finish with a lot of sweets.

Many Hindu families eat only vegetarian food on Diwali. So ask your guests first. If you do serve meat, keep it on a separate table. Jain guests do not eat onion, garlic or root vegetables, so tell your cook or caterer if any are coming.

Here is a simple menu that works for a crowd:

• Starters: samosas, pani puri or another chaat, paneer tikka, dhokla.
• Mains: a paneer curry, a dal, a vegetable dish, jeera rice or biryani, puris or naan.
• Sweets: kaju katli, laddus and gulab jamun, with kheer if you are cooking.
• Drinks: masala chai, lassi and soft drinks.

You have three ways to feed everyone:

• Cook yourself. It costs the least. For 20 guests, it works if two or three people share the cooking.
• Order meal boxes and trays. This keeps things simple. Hafla lists Indian meal boxes at AED 30 each.
• Book a caterer. This makes sense from about 50 guests. Big caterers such as Gazebo start at 50 guests and bring live chaat, kebab and bread counters.

Want one thing guests will remember? Add a live chaat counter. Hafla charges AED 1,499 for one on its own, and it is often what people talk about most after the party.

Few caterers in Dubai publish a price per person, so you will need to ask for a quote. To compare caterers, menus, minimum guest numbers and order-by dates, see Diwali catering in Dubai.

Indian sweets for Diwali in Dubai

Indian sweets, called mithai, are the heart of the Diwali table. Plan on about 100 grams of sweets for each guest. That is 2 kg for 20 people. The sweet shops are busy all week before Diwali, so order a few days ahead. Then collect your order, or have it delivered, on the Saturday. These shops are good places to order from:

• Bikanervala: kaju katli, a cashew sweet, costs AED 150 a kilo, and motichoor laddus cost AED 90 a kilo. Ready festive sweet boxes start at AED 30. Delivery in Dubai takes a day and is free on orders over AED 100. You can also collect from one of its branches in Karama, Al Barsha, Al Qusais and other areas. WhatsApp +971 56 990 6491.
• Lulu Hypermarket: its own kaju katli, 250 grams for AED 17.48, is the cheapest kaju katli on this list. It comes with the rest of your Lulu order.
• Puranmal Sweets, Karama: last year, its sweets cost AED 80 to AED 160 a kilo. Order on Talabat or visit the shop on Zabeel Street.
• Gangour, Karama: Indian sweets and snacks, on Talabat.
• Chhappan Bhog: mithai and namkeen (savoury snacks), on Talabat.
• Haldiram's: sweets and snacks, delivered through Talabat.
• Sri Krishna Sweets, Discovery Gardens: Indian sweets, on Talabat.

Music, Dhol, and Mehendi for Your Diwali Party in Dubai

Three kinds of entertainers will come to your home for Diwali:

• A dhol player: a drummer who welcomes guests at the door with a loud, happy beat.
• A DJ: plays music for dancing after dinner.
• A mehendi artist: draws henna patterns on guests' hands.

Here are their prices side by side. Below the chart, you will find each person or company and how to book them:

Book the dhol and the DJ first. Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November fall on the festive weekend, and Hafla warns that its prices can rise on those days.

A dhol sounds best in a villa garden, early in the evening. Live in a tower? Ask building management first and keep it to one short set. Your neighbours will hear every beat.

1. Hafla dhol players

Hafla sends a team of three dhol players for AED 1,000. They play two sets of 45 minutes each. Want more of a show? The Bhangra and Dhol Combo pairs two dhol players with a bhangra dancer for AED 1,800 to AED 1,900. Bhangra is a lively Punjabi folk dance. For the biggest show, the Dhol Dancers team of four costs AED 3,143. Prices do not include VAT.

• Book: add it to the cart on the Dhol Player page, or call +971 4 561 6897.

2. BM Events dhol performer

This is the cheapest dhol on the list, from AED 700 for one hour of Punjabi dhol. BM Events sends a solo player or a group, anywhere in the UAE. Ask how many players you get at that price.

• Book: on the Dhol Performers page, or call or WhatsApp +971 56 547 8714.

3. Hussain Dhol, on Soul Artists

Hussain plays three sets over three hours for AED 1,440. He brings his own drums but no sound system. Book him for a longer garden party.

• Book: press "Book Now" on his Soul Artists page. You need a free Soul Artists account.

4. Punjabi Dhol Player in Dubai (Bunty)

This Dubai dhol group has more than 10,000 followers on Instagram. Its page is full of videos from weddings and parties, so you can hear the group before you book. It can also send female dhol players. Prices are not published, so ask for a quote for your date.

• Book: call or WhatsApp +971 55 299 6182, or message @punjabi_dhol_player_in_dubai on Instagram.

5. Dhol Group Dubai (Sam)

This group plays dhol for weddings, birthdays and parties. Its Instagram has about 1,000 posts from past shows, so you can see the group in action. Prices are on request.

• Book: call or WhatsApp +971 55 857 3523, or see @dholgroupdubai on Instagram.

6. Hafla Bollywood DJ

Hafla sends one DJ with sound, a console and a microphone for AED 2,500 to AED 2,650, plus VAT. That covers a party of up to 100 guests. Travel to other emirates costs extra.

• Book: add it to the cart on the Bollywood DJ page, or call +971 4 561 6897.

7. BM Events DJ

BM Events charges AED 2,000 for a two-hour party. The price includes speakers, controllers and wireless microphones. It is the cheapest DJ on this list.

• Book: on the DJ Party Package page, or call or WhatsApp +971 56 547 8714.

8. Bella Entertainment DJs

Bella Entertainment books resident DJs for private parties at AED 2,500 to AED 4,500 for three to four hours, with basic sound. Each extra hour costs AED 500 to AED 1,500. For a bigger sound, add a live percussionist (a drummer) for AED 1,500 to AED 4,000. Bella books Punjabi dhol players too.

• Book: WhatsApp +971 50 541 7318 or call +971 50 498 4661. See Bella's DJ price guide and @bella.entertainment on Instagram.

A mehendi artist is the quiet hit of a home party. Guests sit down one by one, and the artist draws henna on their hands. Everyone else chats and watches while the food comes out. With simple designs, one artist can do about 20 guests in two hours.

9. ServiceMarket henna at home

ServiceMarket sends a vetted henna artist to your home, from AED 89 for one hand. That buys a simple design up to the wrist. Both hands cost AED 189, and feet cost AED 99. You see the full menu and prices before you book.

• Book: press "Book Now" on the henna home service page, or WhatsApp +971 600 587009.

10. Hafla henna artist

Hafla books one henna artist for about an hour, from AED 300 to AED 692, plus VAT. Its Fusion Henna costs AED 350 to AED 585. That covers large designs for one or two guests, or small designs for eight to ten.

• Book: add it to the cart on the Henna Artist page, or call +971 4 561 6897.

11. BM Events henna

BM Events offers three kinds of henna:

• Natural henna: AED 400 for one hour.
• Neon henna: AED 600 for two hours, for about 15 to 20 guests.
• Fusion henna: AED 1,100 for two hours, for up to 20 guests.

• Book: on the Fusion Henna page, or call or WhatsApp +971 56 547 8714.

12. IRAM Henna

IRAM Henna is an independent artist who comes to homes across Dubai. You can book for the same day. For four guests or more, party henna costs AED 80 to AED 150 a guest. Event packages cost AED 500 to AED 650.

• Book: call 054 775 4295. See prices on the IRAM Henna site.

13. Shazas Henna

Shazas is the best-known henna artist on this list, with more than 100,000 followers on Instagram. She comes to your home for party and festive henna, and she uses organic henna. Prices are not published.

• Book: message her on @shazas_henna on Instagram. Her profile says bookings are by WhatsApp.

14. Henna by Sadia Amjid

Sadia Amjid is a licensed artist who comes to homes across the UAE. Besides natural henna, she offers jagua (a dark blue-black dye), white and golden henna. Prices are on request.

• Book: call or WhatsApp +971 50 851 5054, or see @hennaartbysadiaamjid on Instagram.

Making your own playlist? Play Diwali songs and aarti (the prayer song sung while waving a lamp) during the puja. Switch to Bollywood dance songs after dinner, and turn the volume down after 10pm.

Diwali Party Games for Adults and Kids

Games fill the time between the puja and dinner, and they get quiet guests talking. Keep two or three ready. Let the evening decide the rest.

For adults:

• Taash (cards). Many families play cards on Diwali night. Play for points or small prizes, never for money. Gambling is against the law in the UAE.
• Housie (tambola). This is a number game like bingo. Print the tickets at home, and give a box of sweets for a full house.
• Antakshari. Two teams take turns to sing Bollywood songs. Each new song must start with the last letter of the other team's song.
• Bollywood dumb charades. Act out a film title without speaking, and let your team guess it.
• Best dressed. Guests vote for the best outfit before dinner.

For children:

• Diya painting. Give each child two plain clay diyas and a pot of paint. Lulu sells six diyas for AED 4.
• A rangoli contest. Give each team a stencil and a tray of rangoli colours. Judge the designs on their colours.
• Pass the parcel with a small gift in each layer.
• A treasure hunt for chocolate coins hidden around the house.

Want to take the children out too? Diwali events for kids in Dubai lists the workshops and family shows.

What to Wear to a Diwali Party at Home

Diwali is the time for new clothes and bright colours. Women usually wear a saree, a lehenga (a long skirt with a blouse) or a salwar kameez (a tunic with trousers). Men wear a kurta, which is a long shirt, often with a Nehru jacket on top.

Not celebrating Diwali yourself? Smart clothes in festive colours are perfect. Try to avoid black and white, because many families see them as colours for sad occasions.

Put the dress code in your invitation, so nobody feels out of place. Guests who need an outfit can buy ready-made kurtas and sarees in Meena Bazaar in Bur Dubai and in Karama.

Diwali Party Invitation Wording

In Dubai, most people send party invitations on WhatsApp. Keep yours short. Give the time, the place, the dress code and where to park. Here are two examples you can copy:

“"Happy Diwali! Join us for puja, dinner and a little dhol on Saturday 7 November from 7pm at Villa 12, Arabian Ranches. Wear something festive. Park on our street, and the gate will be open. RSVP by 2 November."”

“"Please join our family for Lakshmi Puja and dinner on Sunday 8 November at 6pm, Flat 1504, Marina Tower. Visitor parking is on B1, so give our flat number at the gate. Bring only your smiles, the sweets are on us!"”

Ask guests to reply by a set date, such as Monday 2 November. You need the final count to order food and sweets on time.

Building Rules for a Diwali Party in Dubai: Noise, Balconies and Parking

Home parties are normal in Dubai. But you share walls, corridors and parking with your neighbours, and each building and community sets its own rules. Emaar's community rules put it simply: music is too loud if your neighbour can hear it with their windows and doors closed. In 2025, Emaar asked residents to keep Diwali noise low during quiet hours, "typically between 10pm and 8am".

Sort out these four things before the night:

Watch the balcony too. Some communities, such as Dubai Creek Harbour, do not allow anything to be draped or hung on balcony railings. Dubai Municipality can fine residents AED 500 to AED 1,500 for misusing a balcony. So keep marigolds and lights inside the railing, not hanging over it. A neighbour who is unhappy with the noise can call the police non-emergency number, 901.

Can You Burst Crackers at Home on Diwali in Dubai?

No. Private fireworks and crackers are illegal in the UAE. Only licensed companies can run firework displays. The law is Federal Decree Law No. 17 of 2019. Bringing in, selling or using fireworks without a licence can mean at least one year in prison, a fine of at least AED 100,000, or both. Parents can also be held responsible for what their children do.

You can still fill the evening with light:

• Light diyas together at the start of the puja, so everyone shares a moment with a flame.
• Use LED diyas and curtain lights around the rest of the house.
• Make the rangoli a group activity with the children.
• Go to a public show. Global Village is planning a 600-drone show for Sunday 8 November. For the other public celebrations, see Diwali in Dubai.

Real diyas are still the heart of Diwali, so treat them like any open flame:

Dubai Civil Defence gives the same advice about candles and sockets. It also asks residents to avoid cheap electrical goods that are not approved. In an emergency, call 997 for the fire service or 998 for an ambulance.

How Much Does a Diwali Party at Home Cost in Dubai?

A Diwali party at home in Dubai can cost as little as AED 56 a guest. That is when you decorate yourself and order meal boxes. Book everything for 100 guests, with a decorator, live food counters, a DJ and a dhol group, and it rises to about AED 186 a guest.

Every figure in the table below comes from prices the companies publish. Swap any line for your own choice to see what your party will cost.

Food is the biggest cost. A full buffet from a caterer will cost more than meal boxes. For caterers to ask for a quote, see the Diwali catering guide.

Décor is the easiest place to save. The AED 280 DIY kit looks warm in a flat, and you can keep most of it for next year.

Not sure which kind of party to plan? Pick the one that sounds like you: