Quick answer: Navratri 2026 runs from Sunday 11 to Monday 19 October in the UAE, and Dussehra is on Tuesday 20 October. With the Saturday-Sunday weekend, the main Garba nights fall on 10-11 October and 16-18 October, with Friday evenings also popular. Plan an indoor, family-friendly playlist: aarti and traditional garbis first, Gujarati non-stop sets in the middle, a Bollywood peak and short devotional segments for other communities.

Last updated: 9 October 2026. Song credits were checked against film soundtrack listings and music catalogues. Temple and event arrangements change, so confirm them with the temple or organiser.

This is the UAE edition of our multi-language Garba playlists, alongside the USA, Canada, Australia and UK versions. The song lists are short; for the complete lists see our Gujarati Garba songs playlist and our Bollywood Garba and Dandiya playlist.

The UAE weekend and the Navratri calendar

Since 2022 the UAE's official working week has run Monday to Friday, with Friday a half day for government employees and Saturday and Sunday as the weekend. For Navratri 2026 that means the festival opens on Sunday, the second day of the weekend, and the second weekend of 17-18 October falls just before Ashtami and Navami on Monday 19 October.

Organisers therefore tend to concentrate the big nights on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 October and Friday 16 to Sunday 18 October. Weeknight Garbas from 12 to 15 October are usually shorter, starting after work and ending in time for school the next morning. Our Navratri 2026 Dubai and UAE guide has emirate-wise Ghatasthapana times.

UAE time is 1 hour 30 minutes behind India throughout the year. If your family priest sends muhurat times from India, subtract 1 hour 30 minutes, or use a panchang calculated for Dubai or Abu Dhabi.

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Temples and community venues

  • Hindu Temple, Jebel Ali (Dubai): opened in 2022 in Jebel Ali, Dubai. Expect large crowds on weekend evenings during Navratri, and check the temple's own notices for timings and any visitor booking.
  • BAPS Hindu Mandir (Abu Dhabi): consecrated in February 2024 at Abu Mureikhah, off the Dubai-Abu Dhabi highway. See our first look at the BAPS Mandir in Abu Dhabi.
  • Hotel ballrooms and halls: many of the larger ticketed Garba nights in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah use hotel ballrooms, school auditoriums and community halls.
  • Community associations: Gujarati and other Indian community groups, residential communities and company groups also host Garba evenings for members and families.

For a wider picture, see our guide to Hindu temples and festivals in the UAE.

Respecting local norms

  • Permits: public and ticketed events need approvals from the relevant emirate authorities. These are arranged by the venue or organiser; if you are organising, start with your venue.
  • Clean music: play original soundtracks or clean radio edits, avoid songs with explicit or offensive lyrics, and preview every remix in full.
  • Modest dress: traditional Garba outfits are welcome; dress modestly when travelling to and from venues.
  • Sound and neighbours: keep volume within the venue's limits, especially at residential community halls and building podiums.

Warm October evenings

October evenings in the UAE are still warm, so most Garba nights are held in air-conditioned halls. Organisers should provide water stations and short breaks between non-stop sets, and families should bring water bottles for children. If any aarti or opening round is outdoors, keep it short and move inside for the faster songs.

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Short song lists

Traditional Gujarati garbis

  • Ramti Aave Maadi
  • Gori Radha Ne Kalo Kaan
  • Tara Vina Shyam
  • Kesariyo Rang
  • Dholi Taro Dhol Baaje (Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, 1999)

Modern Gujarati non-stop

  • Rangtaali (Aishwarya Majmudar)
  • Zankaar (Geeta Rabari)
  • Tahukar (Kirtidan Gadhvi)
  • Garbe Ghumta (Umesh Barot, 2026)
  • Khalasi (Aditya Gadhvi and Achint, Coke Studio Bharat)

Bollywood Garba and Dandiya

  • Nagada Sang Dhol (Ram-Leela, 2013)
  • Chogada (Loveyatri, 2018)
  • Dholida (Gangubai Kathiawadi, 2022)
  • Kamariya (Mitron, 2018)
  • Udi Udi Jaye (Raees, 2017)
  • Shubhaarambh (Kai Po Che!, 2013)

Punjabi devotional bhents

A short block of dhol-heavy Mata ki bhents adds energy while staying devotional; see our Punjabi Mata bhents and jagran songs guide. If bhangra-style dhol tracks are mixed in, choose clean versions and keep the segment short.

Bengali, Telugu, Tamil and Malayali families

Running order for a UAE Garba night

  1. Aarti: aarti to Amba as guests arrive from work or school.
  2. Opening garbis: Ramti Aave Maadi and slow traditional songs while the hall fills.
  3. Middle: folk favourites and a Gujarati non-stop set, with a water break.
  4. Peak (weekends): a Bollywood block, faster non-stop tracks and a short dhol, dhak or Bathukamma segment.
  5. Close: slow songs and the final aarti before the venue's finish time.

Organiser tips for the UAE

  • Mix: as a rule of thumb, about 50% Gujarati, 30% Bollywood and 20% devotional and other languages. The UAE's large South Indian community may want a slightly bigger devotional and regional share.
  • Weeknights: finish on time; most guests have work or school the next day.
  • Mixed generations: grandparents, parents and UAE-raised children often share one floor, so give elders an early, slower circle and seating.
  • Offline playlist: download everything and bring a backup device.

Helping UAE-raised kids join in

  • Practise the basic two-clap step at home; our Garba for beginners guide explains it.
  • Start with a weeknight community Garba, which is calmer than a weekend ballroom night.
  • Explain the aarti and the lamp at the centre of the circle before the first round.

For Vijayadashami, see Dussehra 2026 in Dubai and the UAE, emirate by emirate, and for the month's calendar, October 2026 Hindu festivals in the UAE.

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Frequently asked questions

When are the main Garba nights in Dubai in 2026?

Navratri runs from Sunday 11 to Monday 19 October 2026. Since 2022 the UAE weekend has been Saturday and Sunday, with Friday a half working day for government, so the main Garba nights are Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 October and Friday 16 to Sunday 18 October.

What is the time difference between the UAE and India for Navratri puja?

UAE time is 1 hour 30 minutes behind India all year, as neither country uses daylight saving. Convert India muhurat times by subtracting 1 hour 30 minutes, or better, use a panchang calculated for your emirate.

Which temples in the UAE celebrate Navratri?

The Hindu Temple in Jebel Ali, Dubai, and the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi are the best-known Hindu temples in the country. Check each temple's own announcements for Navratri aarti, Garba and visiting arrangements.

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Do Garba events in the UAE need a permit?

Public and ticketed events in the UAE need approvals from the relevant emirate authorities. In practice the venue or the event organiser handles these, so families attending an event do not need to apply themselves. Small private gatherings at home should still respect building rules and neighbours.

What songs are played at Garba in Dubai and Abu Dhabi?

Most UAE Garbas open with traditional garbis such as Ramti Aave Maadi, move through Gujarati non-stop sets like Rangtaali and Tahukar, and peak with film songs such as Nagada Sang Dhol, Chogada and Dholida, with short devotional segments for other communities.

What should I wear and bring to a Garba night in the UAE?

Traditional chaniya choli or kediyu, dressed modestly in line with local norms, comfortable footwear, Dandiya sticks and a water bottle. October evenings are still warm, so most events are in air-conditioned halls; drink water between rounds.

Editor's note (9 October 2026)

This page is based on the site owner's draft and rewritten for UAE readers on 9 October 2026. We verified song credits and temple details, removed romantic film songs that are not Garba songs, and kept the Punjabi section devotional. We list song titles only, not lyrics. Event approvals and venue rules are handled locally, so confirm details with your organiser or temple.