Dubai is great at turning any occasion into a night to remember—and New Year’s Eve is no different. The city has fireworks, an illuminated skyline, and extravagant dining options that make for the best chance at romance. Whether it be a relaxing dinner yacht cruise, a private table on the rooftop, or a magical desert stars experience, there are an endless number of experiences to make the first night of the New Year a magical one! Here are five of the most romantic experiences for couples to celebrate the turn of the year.
- Dhow Cruise Dinner in Dubai Marina
For couples who want a blend of tradition and glamour, a New Year’s dinner cruise in Dubai along the Marina is tough to beat! You’ll board a beautifully lit wooden dhow, and in addition to being treated to candlelit tables, soft background music, and a light sea breeze, you’ll enjoy Dubai Marina and JBR’s illuminated skyscrapers.
While cruising the marina, you will be treated to a lavish buffet provided with international and Arabic cuisine. Many dinner cruises also provide live entertainment, and on some cruises, you may get to enjoy Tanoura dance performances or live singers while you dine. At midnight, you’ll have the best view of the fireworks on the waterfront and an amazing way to ring in a New Year together.
- Private or Shared Yacht Dinner
If you want to celebrate in luxury and exclusivity, a private or shared yacht is a good way to go for the evening nuances! Picture yourself on the deck sipping champagne as the city’s skyline gleams in the distance. A new year yacht party gives you total bliss, including every detail from the menu to the music—you can alter everything.
Shared yacht dinners are generally available as well. These will still provide the same stunning views, but in a more social atmosphere. Most dining packages will include an exquisite meal from onboard chefs, premium drinks, and some live entertainment. When the clock strikes twelve, you have a 360-degree view of the Burj Khalifa, Palm Jumeirah, or Atlantis fireworks from the comfort of the water to gaze into—there’s some magic for the beginning of your year.
- Rooftop Dinner at a Luxury Hotel
For stunning city sights combined with world-class cuisine, rooftop restaurants can’t be beat! Welcome to an exclusive experience at a rooftop venue, like At.mosphere on the 122nd floor of the Burj Khalifa or The Penthouse at Five Palm Jumeirah, providing staggering views (literally) of the glittery lights of the city, beyond what the eye can see.
Couples can revel in a multi-course tasting menu with gourmet meals, curated wine pairings, and exclusive desserts—all whilst dining in a sophisticated setting and being pampered by attentive waiters and staff in a romantic setting. Rooftop dinners provide the ultimate setting to celebrate in style, and as fireworks light up the night, you’ll be glad when you can see the city celebrating from above—a view few experiences can rival!
- Beachfront Candlelight Dinner
When you are in the mood to eat with the waves crashing in the background and with your toes in the sand, a beachfront dinner is ideal! JBR, Palm Jumeirah, and Al Qasr in Madinat Jumeirah resorts will even meet you at the water’s edge with a special and romantic table, lanterns, and soft lighting in a romantic setup, as well as your own private butler service.
The menus commonly offer fresh seafood, grilled platters, and lip-smacking snacks, which are also served, accompanied by sparkling wine or champagne. A magical, movie-like atmosphere with ocean breeze, rhythmical sounds of waves lapping the shore, and striking fireworks reflecting in the water forms a brilliant resolution to spend the new year with others!
- Desert Safari with Romantic Dinner Under the Stars
A desert safari and individual dinner can be another outstanding choice among couples who desire to leave the city’s bustle and be in the world of nature! Your evening starts with a drive through scenic golden dunes, where you have the option of dune bashing or a camel ride, after which you sit back and relax in a magnificently decorated Bedouin-style camp.
You will find separate seating areas away from the main camp where you will enjoy a gourmet-style BBQ dinner. With live oud music, belly dancing, or fire shows, depending on the package, a special ambiance is created. After the party dies down, you may go stargazing with your love, far away from the glamor of the city, with a very romantic date to cap the night!
- Making your choice
All these romantic spots have their own attractiveness! The traditional mix of a waterfront setting in a dhow cruise, the exclusiveness and luxury of a dinner onboard a yacht, an upscale restaurant setting in a rooftop restaurant, romancing along beachfront restaurants, and a honeymoon desert safari certainly rings a romantic antique for couples in Dubai.
Regardless of your preference, booking early is highly important, since New Year’s Eve is one of the busiest nights of the year within the city of Dubai. Wear something appropriate, be early enough to enjoy the pre-midnight scene, and do not forget to take photos of the fireworks, or champagne on the water, or a tranquil moment under the desert sky.
Dubai is the place to be this New Year to make the most of your romantic celebration possible!
