Dubai - Celebrate New Year 2020 on any budget: From Dh9,000 dinner to free-for-all

Everyone is looking forward to ringing in the New Year with a bang. And if you are in Dubai, there are zillions of options to choose from to celebrate the night and bid goodbye to a decade. The only daunting task at hand is to pick one that suits your pocket.

If you have a few extra thousands to burn, an exquisite dining spot with spectacular views of the fireworks could be yours. But even the budget-conscious families can make their New Year's Eve an unforgettable one, with many pocket-friendly options ranging from Dh100 to Dh250.

Fully booked hotels

Dubai has always been one of the most popular - and expensive - destinations to celebrate the New Year, and people from all over the world flock to the city for its glitz and glamour.

This is why at this time of the year, the occupancy rate for most hotels in Dubai is nearly 100 per cent, especially near Burj Khalifa and Palm Jumeirah - two of the most sought-after locations for NYE. And with the rise in demand comes the spike in prices, with room rates shooting up by 30 to ?40 per cent.

Dinner menus to cost a bomb

It is not just hotel reservations that will cost a pretty penny on the night of December 31. Many restaurants, especially those with good views of the fireworks, have hiked their menu price by 200 to 300 per cent. And, still, there are takers.

Table reservations are full at many restaurants and café, especially those overlooking Burj Khalifa and Palm Jumeirah.

For an instance, an ala carte menu at Burj Al Arab's Al Muntaha restaurant costs a whopping Dh9,000 per person on December 31.

But what it offers is access to the Burj terrace with spectacular views of the fireworks. Likewise, those willing to splurge Dh8,000 can dine at the iconic hotel's Al Mahara restaurant.

At Five Palm Jumeirah, a dinner under the stars and party on the beach with fireworks will set you back by Dh1,250 per person.

If you pick Armani Hotel in Downtown, a five-course menu with drinks will come for Dh1,499, which means a family of four would have to shell out Dh6,000 to watch the fireworks from the posh Armani deck.

The Restaurant at Address Boulevard, which also offers great views, is charging Dh2,950 per person for a main course meal that comes with unlimited beverages.

Five Guys American Burger chain will bill customers anything between Dh1,200 and Dh1,500 on New Year's Eve and it will come with sweeping views of the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Fountain.

The string of restaurants on Souq Al Bahar, which is right in front of the Dubai Fountain, also has special dining options starting at a minimum of Dh1,000 per person.

The affordable

If a lavish New Year is not your cup of tea, Dubai also offers numerous affordable options. Many families said they are also looking forward to spending a memorable NYE but without burning a hole in their pocket.

The public parks like Safa Park, Zabeel Park, Al Quoz Pond Park and Umm Suqeim Park and the beaches in Dubai offer perfect vantage points for everyone to watch the fireworks for free. Every year, these spots are packed with people and families eager to have a budget-friendly on New year's Eve.

"The eve of the New Year is special for us. But I cannot afford to spend Dh600 per person to dine out," said Ravi Shankar, an Indian father of two, who lives in Bur Dubai.

"We have planned an intimate family dinner, and we will ring in New Year sitting at home. This has been our tradition since many years ago and kids also enjoy it."

Aaron Simon, a Filipino expat, said he is going out with his friends but has no plans to splurge.

"My resolution for this year is to sort out my finances and be more disciplined on money matters. We will cook dinner at home, hang out with friends, and watch some fireworks," he said.

[email protected]

Anjana Sankar

Anjana Sankar is a journalist by profession and a humanist by passion. Her cluttered desk is not indicative of her state of mind.