New Year's Eve at Al Qudra: 31 December 2026 to 1 January 2027

Not everyone wants to spend New Year's Eve in a downtown crowd. If you would rather have a fire, a flask of karak and a sky full of stars, the desert near Al Qudra Lakes and Love Lake is a good place to see in 2027. This guide covers the night of 31 December 2026 to 1 January 2027: when to arrive, how cold it gets, where to set up, what to bring and the kits you can pre-order from Zad.

1. Why Al Qudra on New Year's Eve

• Quiet: no crowds packed shoulder to shoulder, just open desert and a few other groups.
• No road closures: the Al Qudra road is not part of the downtown traffic plans, so getting in and out is easy.
• Stars: away from city lights the sky is far darker. See our stargazing guide.
• Sunrise on 1 January 2027: the first sunrise of the year over the dunes is the reward for staying up.

2. Timing, sunset and the cold

• Arrive before 4 pm on 31 December 2026. You want to be parked and set up in daylight.
• Sunset is about 5:40 pm. After that it gets dark quickly and the desert cools fast.
• Sunrise on 1 January 2027 is about 7:05 am. Set an alarm if you want to catch it.
• Nights are cold, about 10 to 14 °C. Bring warm layers, a hat, gloves and blankets. See what to wear in the desert.

Times are approximate. Our sunrise and sunset guide has more on the best spots.

3. Where to set up

Start with our BBQ spots near Dubai and stargazing spots to pick a place that suits your group. Then read the rules before you go. This is general guidance, not legal advice. Zad is a shop, not a regulator.

• Camping rules and permits: what we know about camping in Dubai.
• BBQ rules at Al Qudra: stands, fire pits and keeping fires off the sand.
• Do not camp or light anything at the lake edge. Set up away from the water and follow municipality signs.
• For a definite answer, contact Dubai Municipality (nrs@dm.gov.ae, info@dm.gov.ae or 800 900).

4. What to bring

Use our Al Qudra camping checklist as your base list, and our camping food shopping list for the food and drink. For New Year's Eve add:

• Warm layers, blankets and a hat for the cold hours after midnight.
• A torch or head torch, plus a lantern for the site.
• A flask of hot karak and plenty of water.
• A BBQ stand or fire pit, charcoal or firewood, and ice.
• Bin bags for everything you generate.

5. Fireworks: leave them to the professionals

Do not bring private fireworks or sky lanterns to the desert. They are illegal and a serious fire risk on dry ground. If you want to see the midnight shows, watch them glowing on the horizon, or stream them on your phone. Many people find the quiet desert a better place to watch than the middle of the crowd.

6. Kits to pre-order from Zad

7. Zad is open on New Year's Eve and 1 January

Zad at the Last Exit on Al Qudra Road is open 24/7, including 31 December 2026 and 1 January 2027. Pick up coffee, hot karak, firewood, charcoal and ice on the way in, or come back for a warm cup after a cold night.

8. Midnight reminder: leave no trace

• Bag every bit of rubbish and take it home. Littering fines in Dubai start at AED 500.
• Soak your embers and stir until cold before you sleep or leave.
• Keep music low after midnight. Sound carries across open desert.
• Leave the ghaf trees alone and bring firewood instead.

Frequently asked questions

Zad Food Store is open 24/7 at the Last Exit, Al Qudra Road (Seih Al Salam), Dubai, the last stop before the desert since 2013.