How Expats Can Celebrate Easter in the UAE

Posted on Mar 27, 2013 by Bethany  | Filed Under: UAE, Dubai Activies, Abu Dhabi, Health, Easter in UAE, Easter eggs Dubai

Have you recently moved to the UAE and have a family? Been here for a while and looking for ways to celebrate Easter? UMI gives the lowdown on how expats can celebrate Easter in the UAE

It is again approaching that time of the year when colorful eggs are scattered around and a tremendous amount of chocolate is consumed. Possibly the second most favorite holiday with children (the first being Christmas), it's Easter, of course! This holiday is widely celebrated amongst the expat community in Dubai; it’s a fun day for the kids, and there are many activities that can be created around Easter involving the whole family.

Most children have a week or so off school towards the end of March and the beginning of April, so it's a great opportunity to spend time as a family. Easter egg hunts and painting boiled eggs are both musts, and it's always entertaining to see mum or dad struggling to hunt for eggs! Getting creative and making Easter-themed crafts are great ways to keep the little ones entertained. There are plenty of artsy Easter activities, from painting boiled eggs to making paper baskets and even crafting cards. If you're struggling for ideas, then have a peek at UMI's Easter Pinterest board for some inspiration!

Sometimes the older ones can be harder to please, but fear not, as there are plenty of activities to do around Dubai for kids of all ages. It's not all about sweets and chocolate! Sports Life Swim Camp at Hamdan Sports Complex can keep children occupied, all the while helping them stay fit and healthy. This camp will run for two weeks starting from Sunday 31st March and ending Thursday 11th April. Swimming is not only a good activity for fitness, but also keeps kids from over-indulging on chocolate.

Children are always keen to learn something new, so why not try dar el ilm language camp to help them learn Arabic in a fun way? This camp is suitable for ages four onwards and runs from 24th March to 10th April. Classes are held in the Dubai World Trade Center, Sheikh Rashid Tower. This camp teaches kids how to speak Arabic through the use of crafts, music and games, so they will always be entertained. You never know; you might also learn something new!

Eggs are the main component of the Easter holiday, and a must to get into the springtime mood. Where are the best places to get egg-celent Easter treats, you ask? Marks and Spencer usually cater to expat holidays, so scour the store for Easter goodies and those all important chocolate eggs to put smiles on kids’ faces. There are M&S stores located in Dubai Festival City, Dubai Mall and Mall of Emirates. All of these stores have a food section, so it shouldn't be too hard to find delightful sweets.

If you're looking for something a little more convenient, Waitrose are also likely to stock Easter-themed food. So, no need to run around finding suitable snacks if you're having a get-together; just head on down to Waitrose to do a food shop, as well as grab some chocolate eggs. Waitrose stores are located in Dubai Mall and Dubai Marina Mall. Don't fret if you haven't had time and are too busy! You can simply order online from Godiva chocolate shop and get custom made eggs.

Plenty of hotels will host Easter brunches with Easter egg hunts, and activities from nurseries around Dubai will also be occurring, so keep a lookout for events. Make sure you don't go crazy with the chocolate, as you can have too much of a good thing, and try to get the kids out and about for some fun activities. Happy Easter from UMI.