Shopping centres and community spaces across the United Arab Emirates are alive with Onam celebrations, featuring the thunderous beats of Chenda Melam drumming, vibrant Pulikali tiger dances, traditional Kerala costumes, and family-friendly festivities honouring the mythical King Mahabali.
Each group came dressed in their traditional attire, bringing songs, dances, and fashion shows that represented their homeland at the Kerala festival, demonstrating how the celebration has evolved beyond its regional origins.
Supermarkets and grocery stores throughout the Emirates have experienced bustling activity as shoppers prepare for the harvest festival. Many retailers have established special Onam sections offering traditional Kerala rice, spices, banana chips, and festive snacks, while pre-packaged Onam meal kits priced between 30 Dirhams and 150 Dirhams provide convenient options for families wanting to prepare authentic feasts at home.
While Onam traditionally spans ten days, celebrations in the UAE and broader Gulf region extend for months due to the practical necessity of scheduling community gatherings around holiday availability and venue bookings. This extended celebration period allows the large Malayalee diaspora to participate despite logistical challenges.
The UAE hosts a substantial population from Kerala who have integrated deeply into the country’s cultural and economic landscape. Malayalees contribute significantly across multiple sectors including business, healthcare, hospitality, and education, reinforcing the UAE’s multicultural character. Their presence becomes particularly visible during Onam, when the community unites to celebrate and preserve their cultural heritage.
With ‘Thiruvonam’ falling on September 5th, restaurants and hotels throughout Dubai have been serving authentic Onam Sadhya feasts since early September. Onasadhya, a traditional vegetarian feast featuring nearly two dozen dishes, took over kitchens in tens of thousands of homes and restaurants across the UAE during the recent celebrations.
LuLu supermarket, owned by Kerala-based entrepreneur M.A. Yusuff Ali, has organized a distinctive ‘Payasam Mela’ showcasing 30 varieties of the traditional dessert, including novel payasam with millet options.
For Keralites living abroad, Onam transcends its status as a regional festival, serving as a powerful symbol of cultural identity, community unity, and connection to their homeland. With the UAE government support being strong, and efforts from Keralite investors, the celebration has become truly inclusive. The UAE’s diverse expatriate community, including Emiratis, Egyptians, Filipinos, and others, actively participates in the festivities, transforming Onam into a celebration of multicultural harmony.
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