Racing into the Year of the Horse, celebrations spread across UAE

DUBAI — With the Year of the Horse approaching, the festive spirit of the Chinese New Year, also known as Spring Festival, has already galloped across the United Arab Emirates, racing into cities and campuses alike.

The Year of the Horse will begin on Feb 17, according to the Chinese calendar. However, the celebrations have already begun in the Gulf country.

From Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Sharjah, the aroma of tea, the stroke of calligraphy brushes, and the rhythmic splash of dragon boat paddles have carried attendees on a journey thousands of miles east.

Near the end of January, at Fujairah University, Fares Feras Nehlawi donned a black hanfu (traditional Chinese costume) embroidered with red cloud patterns and performed a traditional tea ritual with elegant precision. He lifted the cup, inhaled its rich aroma, and took a gentle sip, savoring a moment that felt centuries old. Nearby, students tried their hand at Chinese painting, paper-cutting, and lacquer fan crafting, eager to share their creations with friends.

"Chinese tea and paintings are incredible," says the student, who majors in nursing. "The paintings feel like a journey back in time, and the tea has a unique charm. I've never experienced Chinese culture this vividly before."

The event, Spring Festival Meets Fujairah: Silk Road Elegant Gathering, was organized by the Consulate General of China in Dubai and co-hosted by Fujairah University and the Confucius Institute at the University of Dubai. Similar celebrations were held in late January at the American University of Ras Al Khaimah and the American University of Sharjah, giving young audiences a hands-on introduction to Chinese art, music, dance, and traditions.

"Experiencing Spring Festival abroad in such an immersive way is truly meaningful," says Fatima Murad, a university staff member."It's more than a foreign New Year. It's about family, friendship and shared values. This celebration connects people across cultures and helps everyone understand the depth and richness of Chinese traditions."

At the close of 2024, UNESCO added Spring Festival, social practices of the Chinese people in celebration of traditional New Year, to its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Spring Festival is becoming a global celebration, says Chinese Consul General in Dubai Ou Boqian, adding that "Spring Festival today is far more than a public holiday in China but a cultural bridge connecting people of different backgrounds."

During the event held in its main building hall at the American University of Sharjah, international students tried on traditional Chinese and Sharjah attire and engaged in hands-on arts and crafts.

The university's chancellor, Tod Laursen, emphasizes the importance of such exchanges. These experiences enrich education by allowing students to learn from one another and enjoy the festivities together, he says.

The festive spirit also flowed through Dubai's waterways over the last weekend of January with the 2026 Hong Kong Dragon Boat Challenge. More than 1,000 professional athletes and enthusiasts paddled in vibrantly decorated dragon boats, sharing the excitement of the Chinese New Year with the city's cosmopolitan residents.

Gianluca Salvicchi, an Italian participant on a multinational team representing Chinese financial institutions in the UAE, says the experience reminded him of similar events in Italy.

"Dragon boating tests strength, focus, and teamwork," he says. "Our team, made up of members from China, Italy and Pakistan, trained just a few times a week. It was challenging, but exhilarating."

Xinhua