Dubai, UAE, 4 November 2026: Emirates is bringing the sparkle and spirit of Diwali to the skies, celebrating the Hindu festival of lights with traditional Indian delicacies, festive dining experiences and a world of entertainment. On 7 and 8 November, customers travelling between Dubai and nine Indian destinations – Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Kochi, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Thiruvananthapuram, Kolkata and Mumbai, can enjoy special Diwali sweets across all cabin classes while select Emirates lounges will serve an array of Indian favourites to mark the occasion.
Traditional Diwali sweets served across all cabin classes
Emirates customers travelling to and from India can enjoy a taste of Diwali with traditional Indian sweets served onboard. Premium Economy and Economy Class customers will be treated to motichoor laddu alongside their hot meal – delicate, golden chickpea flour pearls soaked in sugar syrup, infused with fragrant cardamom and saffron, and finished with pistachios. First and Business Class customers can also indulge in kaju pista roll, a rich, rose-flavoured confection made with cashews, pistachios, dried fruits and nuts, elegantly wrapped in edible silver leaf.
Festive Indian cuisine and Diwali desserts in Emirates’ First and Business Class Lounges
From 3 to 8 November, Emirates’ First and Business Class Lounges in Dubai will celebrate Diwali with a vibrant selection of Indian specialities. Customers can savour vada pav accompanied by tangy tamarind and refreshing mint chutneys, followed by an assortment of traditional desserts including malai sandwich, mango delight, malai roll and the much-loved gajar ka halwa. First Class customers can also raise a toast to the festivities with a specially crafted Spicy Saffron Martini or a refreshing Iced Masala Cooler mocktail.
In Emirates’ Business Class Lounges in Dubai, the festive menu will feature savoury favourites including vegetable keema samosa, onion kachori and paneer potli samosa, served with tamarind and mint chutneys. For a sweet finish, customers can enjoy balushahi, mango rajbhog and mini kesari rasgullas.
The celebrations will extend to Emirates’ lounges in Cape Town and Johannesburg, where customers can enjoy an assortment of traditional sweets including coconut ice, barfi and jalebi.
Bollywood blockbusters, Indian TV and music on ice
The Diwali celebrations continue onboard with a rich selection of Indian entertainment on Emirates’ award-winning inflight entertainment system, ice. Customers can choose from up to 157 Indian movies, including Bollywood titles such as Mardaani 3, Mayasabha – The Hall of Illusion and Coolie, alongside a wide range of regional films in nine languages – Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi, Punjabi, Bhojpuri, Bengali and Gujarati.
For those who prefer the small screen, ice offers 14 Indian TV programmes, including Pritam and Pedro, Looteri Dulhan and Crime Patrol – 26 Jurm, 26 Cases. Music lovers can also set the mood for the festivities with a selection of 40 Indian albums and playlists, bringing the sounds of Diwali to the skies.