Raise a stein to Bavarian feasts, live bands and alfresco celebrations.
Dust off your lederhosen and gather your friends, because Oktoberfest celebrations are taking over Dubai and Abu Dhabi. From bustling beer tents to beachside gardens, this year’s line-up pairs German hops with schnitzels, sausages and plenty of apple strudel.
Things have changed somewhat since the original Oktoberfest, which celebrated the marriage of Bavaria’s crown prince in 1810. However, Oktoberfest festivities remain strong over 200 years later. Whether you’re after a lively brunch, a Bavarian band or a leisurely evening around a communal table, these are the places to join the festivities.
Dubai
Al Habtoor Polo Club
Prost! Horse & Hound is giving Dubai a taste of Bavaria with an extended Oktoberfest celebration running from 19 September to 31 October 2026. Created by the restaurant’s German chef, the menu features Bavarian white sausage, chicken Jaeger schnitzel, giant hotdogs, cheese Spätzle, apple strudel and Black Forest cheesecake. With festive entertainment and the venue’s famously lively atmosphere, it is a fun spot for groups looking to raise a stein and tuck into hearty German flavours.
Where: Horse & Hound, Al Habtoor Polo Club, Emirates Road, Dubai
When: 19 September to 31 October 2024
Contact: https://habtoorpoloresort.com
Crafty Fox
Oktoberfest returns to Crafty Fox Gastropub at Jumeirah Golf Estates with two lively weekends of Bavarian food, hops and live music. The menu features Munich classics, including freshly baked Brezn, crisp Flammkuchen, and golden schnitzels served with mashed potatoes, lemon, and mushroom gravy. The Bavarian Sausage Corner serves Münchner Weißwurst, Currywurst “Heiße Paula” and grilled Bratwurst with traditional sides. Share the Giant Platter, which includes a pretzel, one main and three pints.
Where: Crafty Fox Gastropub & Sports Bar, Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai
When: 2 to 4 and 9 to 11 October 2026 from 6:30pm to 10pm
Contact: dubaigolf.com
Ernst
Prepare your Lederhosen and Dirndls because Oktoberfest is making a triumphant return to Ernst Biergarten at 25hours Hotel One Central this month. The expansive restaurant is pulling out all the stops to ensure every guest enjoys a Bavarian experience. Diners can enjoy a Stein and Sausage combo for AED 150 or a sharing platter featuring roasted meats, a pretzel tree and a beer tower for AED 750. There are brunch options too.
Where: Ernst, 25hours Hotel Dubai One Central, Trade Centre, Dubai
When: Thursday to Sunday until October 31 2026
Contact: www.ernstbiergarten.com
Fairmont The Palm
Flow Kitchen is bringing a traditional touch of Germany to Palm Jumeirah by transforming Seaview Garden into a relaxed outdoor pop-up. Guests can tuck into an à la carte menu packed with traditional flavours, starting with freshly baked Bavarian pretzels accompanied by whipped Obatzda. Hearty highlights include Bratwurst, Weisswurst, and Veal Nürnberger sausages, alongside Wiener Schnitzel, beer-braised short rib, and truffle wild mushroom spätzle. Round off the evening with classic Apfelstrudel or Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte while taking in live acoustic performances from a solo singer and guitarist. Packages start from AED 200 for two hours of unlimited classic hops or AED 250 for premium Bavarian hops.
Where: Flow Kitchen, Fairmont The Palm, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai
When: Daily from 6pm until 4 October 2026
Contact: www.fairmont.com
Grand Hyatt Dubai
In the heart of the city, Grand Hyatt Dubai transforms into Bavaria’s ultimate party destination as it brings back the emirate’s biggest Oktoberfest celebrations. Step into the legendary Oktoberfest Tent and celebrate 18 years of Bavarian beats, bites and brews. Raise your steins and dance the night away with the world-famous Die Kirchdorfer Oktoberfest Band, flown in from Munich especially for the occasion. There will also be special Oktoberfest brunches on the weekends.
Where: Grand Hyatt Dubai, Oud Metha Road, Dubai Healthcare City, Dubai
When: 8 to 25 October 2026
Contact: www.hyattrestaurants.com
McGettigan’s JLT
McGettigan’s JLT is bringing a taste of Bavaria to Dubai with dedicated German food and drink specials, culminating in a festive weekend brunch. Diners can tuck into a menu of hearty classics, including Pork Schnitzel, Bratwurst and Mash, Bavarian Crispy Pork Belly, German Meatballs, and Beer Battered Pickles, before finishing with Black Forest Käsekuchen or Apple Strudel. The drinks lineup features authentic brews such as HB Original, Radeberger Pilsner, Kaiserdom H-Weisbier, Schofferhofer Hefeweizen and Weihenstephaner Vitus. Offers include a 1-litre Steineken for AED 79, a pick-and-mix five-beer bucket for AED 239, and the Oktoberfest Brunch priced at AED 329 for three hours of unlimited food, drinks, and live music.
Where: McGettigan’s JLT, Cluster J, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai
When: Daily until 3 October 2026
Contact: www.mcgettigans.com
The Croft
The Croft is embracing Oktoberfest this season with its lively Hopfest celebration. Set against sweeping Dubai Marina views, this neighbourhood gastropub invites guests to gather on the terrace for live guitar performances and a dedicated Bavarian menu. Diners can sample a lineup featuring mini Currywurst with smoked beef sausage, curry ketchup and crispy onions, beer-battered fish bites with dill tartare, bacon-wrapped Bratwurst bites with sauerkraut, potato rösti, beer-braised oxtail sliders, and mini pretzel nuggets served with Bavarian cheese spread. The set “Any 2 Bites” menu is priced at AED 115.
Where: The Croft, Dubai Marriott Harbour Hotel & Suites, Dubai Marina, Dubai
When: Daily from 4pm to 1am until 31 October 2026
Contact: www.marriott.com
Abu Dhabi
CRAFT by Side Hustle
The UAE’s first microbrewery is bringing the spirit of Oktoberfest with the return of Craftoberfest. The FACT award-winning CRAFT by Side Hustle is pairing its rotating lineup of small-batch, house-brewed hops with a dedicated limited-time Bavarian menu prepared from scratch in its open kitchen. Guests can tuck into freshly baked pretzels served with honey butter, pale-ale seeded mustard, and molten cheese sauce, alongside hearty favourites such as veal and beef Bratwurst served over tangy sauerkraut, Knackwurst with home-fried potatoes, and golden-fried Wiener Schnitzel with lemon, seeded honey and ale mustard. Hops can also be poured into proper 1L steins to raise a toast across the communal tables.
Where: CRAFT by Side Hustle, The Galleria, Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi
When: Daily from 1 to 31 October 2026
Contact: https://brewery.ae
InterContinental Abu Dhabi
Belgian Café at InterContinental Abu Dhabi is getting into the Oktoberfest spirit with cold hops, hearty plates and a lively atmosphere every evening. Gather your friends and settle in for a Bavarian-style celebration where good food and great drinks set the tone for a sociable night out. Whether you’re catching up over a round or making an evening of it, this Abu Dhabi favourite offers plenty of reasons to raise a glass and embrace the festivities with your favourite people.
Where: Belgian Café, InterContinental Abu Dhabi, Al Bateen, Abu Dhabi
When: 16 to 25 October 2026 from 12pm to 1am
Contact: www.abudhabi.intercontinental.com
Radisson Blu Hotel & Resort Abu Dhabi Corniche
Swap Bavarian beer halls for beachside views as West Bay Beach Garden gets into the Oktoberfest spirit. Across three nights, the celebration serves up a German buffet alongside a live band and DJ, giving you plenty of reasons to gather your friends and settle in by the shore. The festivities round off with a Sunday brunch, keeping the weekend celebrations going. Buffet packages start from AED 179, with drinks packages available for those keen to make an evening of it.
Where: West Bay Lounge, Radisson Blu Hotel & Resort, Abu Dhabi Corniche, Al Bateen, Abu Dhabi
When: 8 to 11 October 2026
Contact: www.radissonhotels.com
Sheraton Abu Dhabi Corniche
Oktoberfest gets an alfresco makeover at B-Lounge, where palm-lined gardens overlooking the Arabian Gulf set the scene for Bavarian-inspired food and drinks. Gather your friends for an evening of German flavours beneath the stars at Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort on Corniche Road. Everything is available à la carte, so you can shape your own feast.
Where: B-Lounge, Sheraton Abu Dhabi Corniche, Al Zahiyah, Abu Dhabi
When: 30 October to 8 November 2026 from 7pm to 10.30pm
Contact: www.marriott.com
Stills
Gather your friends for Oktoberfest at Central Plaza by Stills, Crowne Plaza Yas Island. This outdoor celebration pairs communal dining with live performances by German band Downtown Stage, setting the scene for a lively evening of Bavarian flavours. Tuck into pretzels, veal schnitzel, rotisserie chicken and slow-smoked beef brisket, followed by apple strudel or Black Forest gateau. Tickets cost AED 200 per person and are fully redeemable against food and drinks, while children under six enter free. Come hungry and settle in.
Where: Stills, Crowne Plaza Yas Island, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
When: 22 to 24 October 2026, from 6:30pm to 11:30pm
Contact: www.yasplazahotels.com