We’ve rounded up all the places to celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year 2026 in the UAE
Shangri-La Dubai
Shangri-La Dubai is welcoming the Lunar New Year and the Year of the Horse with festive dining and cultural performances. The celebrations begin on 17 February with a traditional Lion Dance at 10:08 am, thought to bring good fortune for the year ahead. Shang Palace, the hotel’s MICHELIN-recommended restaurant, is serving a multi-course Chinese New Year menu from 16–20 February, a weekend brunch from 14–22 February, and a Lantern Festival dining experience on 3 March, all featuring dishes symbolising prosperity, family, and happiness. The Lobby Lounge will also offer traditional Chinese New Year cakes throughout February for sharing or gifting.
Call +9714 405 2703 or email fbreservations.sldb@shangri-la.com. Visit website.
Shanghai Me Dubai
Shanghai Me Dubai ushers in the Year of the Fire Horse with a vibrant dinner on 12 February. Lion dancers, drummers, and stilt walkers bring the festivities to life amid lanterns, fans, and bonsai wishing trees. The menu features Ginseng Soup with Duck Meat Balls, Spicy Wagyu BBQ Roll, Crispy Slow-Cooked Lamb Shank, Szechuan Zha Jian Wagyu Noodles, King Crab Puff with Caviar, Pan-Fried Wagyu Bun, and a Roasted Pineapple Cake, with celebrations and special dishes running until 3 March.
Call +9714 564 0505.
MiMi Mei Fair Dubai
Inspired by the Year of the Fire Horse, the celebration reflects themes of strength, movement and fresh beginnings. At the entrance, guests are greeted by the restaurant’s signature wishing tree, inviting a quiet moment to pause and set intentions before the meal. The celebration includes a four-course Chinese New Year sharing menu. The experience begins with starters including the Dim Sum ‘Basket of Wealth’, featuring prawn and coriander, truffle edamame, and chicken and chives, alongside Rock Oysters dressed with spring onion, red chilli, Sichuan sauce, and ocean roe, and Steamed XO Okra with shallot and enoki mushroom crumble. The signature course follows with Wok-Baked Lobster served in a superior broth with baby pak choi, before moving into mains such as Smoked Chilean Seabass in black bean sauce, Sweet and Sour Chicken with bell pepper and pineapple, and a Braised Truffled Mushroom trio of shimeji, shiitake, and eryngii, served with stir-fried green beans and Hakka noodles. The menu finishes with Baiju Ba Ba infused with kumquat and green cardamom for a light, aromatic close. The four-course sharing experience is priced at AED478 per person, with an optional grape pairing available at AED248.
Early reservations are recommended. Address Residences Dubai Opera – Burj Khalifa – Dubai. February 5-March 4, 2026. Visit website or Instagram.
W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island
Brooklyn Chop House at W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island celebrates Chinese New Year with a New York–style set menu. Highlights include Pickled Young Cucumbers, Chinese-Style Salmon Yusheng, Chicken Xiao Long Bao, Hot & Sour Soup, Steamed Seabass with ginger and soy, Sweet & Sour Chicken, Chicken Fried Rice or Ginger Beef Noodles, and traditional Glutinous Rice Balls with sesame and red bean paste.
Available from 16 – 26 February 2026, from 6 to 11pm. AED 380 per person. Call +971 2 656 0000, WhatsApp +971 50 642 0893 or email wabudhabi.dining@whotels.com.
Moli By SHI
MOLI invites guests to enjoy a week-long festive menu. The set menu, priced from AED400, features duck spring rolls, turnip cake, handcrafted dim sum, and comforting mains including Kung Pao chicken, lamb ribs, and a Sichuan vegetable pot, finished with a celebratory dessert basket. Available for pre-order or walk-ins, the experience is complemented by live duck carving throughout the week.
Visit website.
Buddha-Bar Dubai
Buddha-Bar Dubai is celebrating with a Pan-Asian set menu priced at AED400 per person. The menu features symbolic dishes including Korean Tteokguk, Buddha-Bar sushi, Yee Sang salad, dim sum, Yuk-Jeon beef pancakes, braised Wagyu short rib, Shanghai chilli lobster, roasted duck, and concludes with the Seven Heaven dessert platter, all accompanied by music from the resident DJ.
Call +9714 317 6000.