Passover Programs Dubai & The UAE

 

With the signing of the historic peace agreement between Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain in September 2020, many Kosher travel operators are actively planning to run Passover Programs in 2023 in the UAE - Dubai and Abu Dhabi.  Kosher Jewish travelers are eager to visit the UAE now that the skies have opened up. It is a great option for people looking for a new Passover program destination. Passover programs are a great way of avoiding the cleaning, cooking and hassle of making Pesach at home and having an amazing family vacation. Passover programs provide gourmet meals, programming, entertainment and touring.

This past year was a big year for Passover programs in Dubai. Due to COVID, there weren’t many who could get to Dubai for Pesach in 2021 but Pesach 2022 was a big hit. Thousands flocked to Dubai to celebrate Pesach at one of the beautiful hotels in Dubai. There are amazing all-inclusive Passover programs as well as meal options in Dubai. Most of the hotels have beautiful pools and amenities or head out to one of the local beaches. There are many day trips and activities to keep you entertained during Chol Hamoed. After the success of Pesach 2022 in Dubai, we expect there to be more Passover Programs in 2023 and they will sell out quickly. 

 

Passover 2023 begins on Wednesday night, April 5th and ends on Thursday, April 13th. The first seder will take place Wednesday night, April 5th followed by the second seder on Thursday night, April 6th.  Be sure to check out our detailed guide to Passover 2023 Programs!

Was Passover in Dubai very busy?

Ephraim: There was an influx of tourists for the holiday of Passover. There were five kosher for Passover hotels this year. There were many families who came in and organized Pesach on their own. There were many Israelis who came in for Chol Hamoed, arriving on Sunday or Monday and leaving Wednesday or Thursday, so yes, Passover this year was very busy!. 

 

How many tourists came into Dubai for Passover?

Ephraim: Nobody has an exact number of how many people came into Dubai for Passover. The kosher programs hosted about 2,000 guests. This doesn’t include all the Pesach tourists who organized their own hotels and meals, as some of the kosher restaurants did offer kosher for Passover menus. 

 

Where did the tourists come from?

Ephraim: People came in from Israel, America, Europe and Australia. Jews from all over came to Dubai for Passover.

 

How were the sedarim?

Ephraim: Every hotel had their sedarim. Chabad had the biggest seder in Dubai, probably the biggest seder in the world this year. It took place in the Mövenpick Grand Al Bustan Hotel in a few different social halls. The seder in the main hall had 800 Israelis and the hall next to it had seder with about 500 English-speaking people. That was very special.

 

Were there any issues with the overlap with Ramadan and Easter?

Ephraim: There were not too many issues with Ramadan because the meals were in closed hotels or ballrooms. No problem with eating meals inside the hotels during the day. When you go outside, you should respect the locals and try not to eat and drink in public during the day.

 

Pesach is a great time to visit the UAE, before the heat of the summer months. The average temperature is around 80 degrees fahrenheit, with a low of around 68 degrees and a high of around 91. There are many activities and interesting sightseeing destinations in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. 

 

When in Dubai, visit the Dubai Aquarium, Ski Dubai (indoor ski hall), the Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark, the beautiful beaches and be sure to check out the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. Spend chol hamoed jeeping, sandboarding, camel safaris, speedboat tours and more. Abu Dhabi boasts the Warner Bros. World theme park, Ferrari world Abu Dhabi, The Louvre Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi and beautiful public beaches.

 

Pesach Programs 2023 in the UAE - Dubai and Abu Dhabi

 

Take this historic opportunity to spend Pesach 2023 in Dubai or Abu Dhabi in the UAE!