A GRAND OPENING AT EXPO CITY DUBAI

The festivities were launched in spectacular fashion with the Happy Chinese New Year Grand Parade at Expo City Dubai on 8 February. Themed Connect Future, the day-long event brought crowds to Unity Avenue and Al Wasl Plaza for a grand parade, traditional Chinese craft demonstrations - from calligraphy and Guangdong lion dances to Shandong kite making and Hanfu styling - alongside a science and technology zone featuring autonomous vehicles, robotics, and AR experiences. The evening culminated in the Happy Chinese New Year Concert featuring the Expo City Orchestra and Jilin Folk Orchestra.

AN ICONIC SKYLINE MOMENT

One of the most visually striking highlights of this year's celebrations has been a breathtaking themed animation projected onto the iconic sail of Jumeirah Burj Al Arab. The sequence traces a paper-cut stallion galloping across ancient city walls, gliding through mountains, and following the Silk Road from China to Dubai - a powerful visual tribute to the Year of the Horse and the enduring ties between the two cultures.

CHINESE CULTURE CELEBRATED AT MALL OF THE EMIRATES

Mall of the Emirates played host to one of the season's most talked-about cultural activations, in partnership with leading luxury intelligence platform Jing Daily. The three-day programme from 12 to 14 February brought acclaimed Chinese designers Susan Fang and PRONOUNCE (Yushan Li and Jun Zhou) to Dubai for trunk shows, styling moments, and intimate designer conversations. The programme also featured a rare and immersive Huangmei opera performance, making its first-ever visit to the UAE and the wider Middle East.

FESTIVE FLAVOURS

Dubai's restaurant scene has embraced the Year of the Horse with specially crafted Chinese New Year menus spanning the city. MICHELIN-starred Hakkasan and the social Ling Ling at Atlantis, The Palm and Atlantis The Royal respectively have brought modern Cantonese and Pan-Asian dining to the fore, while Shang Palace at Shangri-La Dubai has delivered MICHELIN-recommended Chinese dining in true festive fashion.

China Tang at The Lana Promenade, Hutong in DIFC, and MiMi Mei Fair at Dubai Mall have each offered menus steeped in the symbolism and tradition of the season, alongside TATTU above Dubai Marina, Mekong at Anantara The Palm, and Anwā at Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa.

Many of these limited-time menus remain available, offering further opportunities to celebrate the Year of the Horse around the table.

CELEBRATIONS ACROSS THE CITY

The Year of the Horse has been felt right across Dubai, with iconic destinations joining the festivities in style. Global Village has been a highlight for families, with the China Pavilion offering authentic shopping, dining at the Floating Market, daily laser and fire shows at the Dragon Lake, and dazzling fireworks.

MOTIONGATE™ Dubai has brought Po and the world of Kung Fu Panda to life through the Dragon Dance Parade, the Red Warrior Challenge, an interactive Kung Fu Academy Show, and authentic Chinese cuisine at Mr. Ping's Noodle Shop. Meanwhile, Dragon Mart has hosted free-to-attend cultural performances and live entertainment across key weekends, bringing the festive spirit to life for the local community.

STILL TIME TO CELEBRATE

With celebrations still running, there is ample time to enjoy the Year of the Horse across the city. Shoppers can take part in the Shop, Scan & Win promotion at participating malls - spend AED 200 for a chance to win from an AED 50,000 cash prize pool - while Alipay+ users continue to enjoy exclusive citywide shopping coupons and lucky draw prizes including DJI products and round-trip flights from Dubai to China.

Style and gift hunters can explore exclusive capsule collections from Paul Smith and Barbour x Feng Chen Wang, pick up a limited-edition Longines Year of the Horse timepiece at Rivoli, or take advantage of seasonal offers at Kate Spade, Swarovski, Jumbo Electronics, Pure Gold Jewellers, and Odora, among many others across the city.