How to celebrate Chinese New Year in Abu Dhabi and Dubai

Although Chinese New Year (also known as the Lunar New Year) is still a couple of weeks away, it’s never too early to start looking for ways to celebrate.
The Year of the Dragon begins on February 10 and there are several restaurants celebrating with limited-time menus and one-off meals.
As festivities kick off, here are some places to usher in the occasion.
The restaurant at Banyan Tree Dubai has launched its five-course Dragon New Year tasting menu. Dishes include Lo hei salmon slaw, dragon beard dumplings, hot and sour lobster soup and signature slow-roasted Demon Duck served with lettuce wraps, calamansi buns and CNY sauce. There will also be lobster with green onion and ginger and 48-hour beef short ribs with kalbi sauce. Dessert is crepe flambe served with mandarin and coconut ice cream. On February 9 and 10, there will be live entertainment including a traditional dragon dance.
February 9 to 18; Sunday to Friday 6pm-midnight; Saturdays 1pm-4pm, 6pm-midnight; Dh520 per person; Bluewaters Island, Dubai; www.banyantree.com; 04 556 6466
Anantara Eastern Mangroves in Abu Dhabi will host a special brunch at Ingredients restaurant for Chinese New Year. Dishes include sweet and sour chicken, vegetable chow mein, sesame and honey roasted vegetables, while dessert is chocolate and five spice cake and fortune cake.
February 10; 1pm to 4pm; Dh295 per person; Anantara Eastern Mangroves, Abu Dhabi; www.anantara.com; 02 656 1000
The Michelin-starred restaurant will have a limited-edition menu in its Abu Dhabi and Dubai locations. A collaborative creation – Smoked Eight Treasure Duck – by executive chefs from Hakkasan Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha will be the centrepiece.
Other dishes include Wishes of Prosperity dim sum duo, from Hakkasan Riyadh, and wild red king prawn with braised dragon Beard Noodles, from Hakkasan London.
Hakkasan Abu Dhabi will offer its limited-edition menu, priced at Dh488, until February 24. Meanwhile, Hakkasan Dubai will have an eight-course menu, priced at Dh788, with dishes such as a lobster salad with nashi pear, persimmon, dragon fruit and lime dressing and claypot Galician sea bass with spring onion and pepper.
On February 9 and 10, there will be a lion dance performance at both locations starting at 8pm. There will also be a wishing ribbon ritual in which guests can write their wishes for the new year on ribbons hung throughout the restaurants.
February 9-24; 6pm-11.30pm; prices vary; 02 690 7739 (Abu Dhabi) or 04 426 0752 (Dubai); www.hakkasan.com
Guests can enjoy new dishes for the occasion, starting from Dh105, including a yee sang prosperity salad featuring salmon sashimi and yuzu dressing, lobster prawn toast with yuzu mustard aioli, longevity noodles with Boston lobster, as well as a whole steamed sea bass with ginger, scallion and soya. Themed drinks are also available for pairing.
Dishes from the Ling Ling a la carte menu can also be ordered. Children under 10 are welcome for family dining, but must depart by 8.30pm.
February 10-24; 6pm-1am; prices vary; Atlantis The Royal, Dubai; 056 997 1642; www.linglingdubai.com
If you’re a brunch person, consider one themed around the Year of the Dragon at Maiden Shanghai, Five Palm Jumeirah.
The Naughty Noodles brunch hosted by Secret Parties offers dishes such as boom boom chicken, crispy seafood roll, dim sum, kung pao prawns, wild mushroom with smoked chilli, plus a selection of desserts.
February 10 and 17; 12.30pm-4pm; packages start at Dh350; Maiden Shanghai, Five Palm Jumeirah, Dubai; maiden-shanghai.com
The Bluewaters Dubai venue is hosting what it calls “dragon feast”. On arrival, guests can pluck out a traditional red envelope, symbolising good luck and prosperity, from the bonsai trees at the entrance.
A dragon-themed welcome drink awaits diners, along with dishes such as dragonfruit tiger prawn, crispy duck maki roll with volcano sauce, braised lamb pot, Wagyu beef with black vinegar and a chef’s special dessert.
February 5-11; Dh400 per person, free for children under 6; Bluewaters Dubai; 04 393 9990; www.shirestaurant.com
Welcoming guests with traditional fortune cookies, Sea Fu will present a new dish for the occasion – crispy orange baby chicken bao bun.
Guests can write their wishes for the Lunar New Year and hang them from the olive tree on the terrace. They will also receive a lucky card, containing a complimentary offering of small bites to be enjoyed during their visit.
February 9-11; 12.30pm-10.30pm; prices vary; Four Seasons Resort Dubai; 04 270 7770; www.seafudubai.com
A specially curated menu awaits at Shanghai Me’s Dragon Unleashed event with dishes such as temari dragon rolls, creamy lobster soup, Chinese-style salmon sashimi and scallop xiao long bao.
On February 10 at 7.30pm, there will be a celebration featuring a lion dance. A calligrapher will be on hand to write the names of guests on red paper. Diners will also receive a traditional red envelope and have the chance to win prizes.
February 7-22; noon-4pm and 6pm-midnight; prices vary; DIFC, Dubai; 04 564 0505, shanghaime-restaurant.com
The restaurant in One&Only Royal Mirage will have a Taste of Abundance Reunion dinner, featuring a customary prosperity toss of raw fish salad, meant to symbolise wealth. The menu features yee-sang (prosperity toss salad), chicken dumplings, dragon roll, Peking duck and Chinese mango pudding.
February 9 and 10; noon-11pm; Dh388 per person excluding beverages; One&Only Royal Mirage, Dubai; 04 315 2412; www.oneandonlyresorts.com
A sharing-plate menu is on offer at this recently launched Dubai restaurant, including crispy lemongrass chicken, Asian-style buttermilk prawns, osmanthus plum-baked Chilean sea bass and cornfed chicken. There will also be a dim sum selection that includes har gow and chicken shumai, as well as desserts.
A wishing tree will stand at the entrance of Xu as a symbol of good luck, prosperity and positive energy for the coming year. Guests can share their hopes by writing them on wishing cards to adorn the tree.
February 9-17; Sunday to Wednesday, 6pm-1am, Thursday to Saturday, 6pm-3am; Kempinski Hotel at Mall of the Emirates, Dubai; 04 394 6252; www.xudubai.ae
Diners who visit the newly opened venue in Dubai Hills Business Park can try out a four-course set menu with dishes, such as dragonfruit tiger prawn and crispy Angus beef eggplant roll; followed by a selection of dim sum featuring lobster dumplings, Angus beef kimchi and prawn har gau. There will also be live entertainment in the form of lion dancers on February 9 and 10 at 7pm.
February 5-11; Monday to Thursday, noon-1am; Friday to Sunday, noon-2am; Dh350 per person, free for children below 6; Dubai Hills Business Park; 04 276 3338; www.molibyshi.com