Fire Horse, Gold, and Family Traditions for Chinese New Year in Dubai
Marcus Briggs, Non Executive Directive at Icon Gold of Icon Group, explores the connection between Chinese New Year, gold, and Dubai's growing role as a destination for cultural celebrations. From the dragon dancers at City Walk to the gold coins in Deira, Dubai transforms each February as families from across Asia arrive to celebrate the Lunar New Year.
In this episode, Marcus Briggs shares why his own family fell in love with the celebrations and what makes the Year of the Fire Horse so significant. The last Fire Horse year was 1966, making 2026 a milestone for those who follow the lunar calendar.
Dubai's Chinese New Year celebrations run from February 13th until the 22nd, 2026.
Full Transcript:
Today we are talking about Chinese New Year and you might say to yourself, what does that have to do with Dubai? You probably already know the connection between Chinese New Year and gold so let's look at the UAE now.
Dubai is gearing up for the Year of the Fire Horse as Chinese New Year returns to the city from February 13th until the 22nd.
The event is one of 18 on Dubai's official 2026 retail calendar. Now marking a decade since the calendar launched, the annual programme has become central to Dubai's identity as a destination for cultural celebrations and international visitors.
Dragon and lion dance troupes will perform at shopping centres and public spaces throughout the ten days, and restaurants across the city are preparing special menus for the occasion. Hotels are putting together packages aimed at visitors travelling for the holiday.
Global Village, City Walk, and Dubai Festival City are among the venues dressing up for the event, with red lanterns and decorations appearing in common areas. Shopping centres will run dedicated promotions, while entertainment venues are scheduling performances to coincide with the festivities.
The scale of the celebrations reflects how important Asian visitors have become to the city. Chinese tourism to Dubai has grown steadily, with direct flights now connecting the emirate to more mainland cities than ever before. Emirates recently added routes to Hangzhou and Shenzhen, making the journey more convenient for travellers from China's eastern economic centres.
For many of these visitors, gold is part of the reason they come. Giving gold jewellery or coins at Chinese New Year is a long-standing tradition, seen as a way to wish prosperity and good fortune to loved ones. Dubai has built a reputation as one of the best places in the world to buy gold, with competitive prices and strict regulations ensuring quality and purity.
The Deira gold district sees a noticeable uptick in visitors during this period, with families browsing for pieces to take home as gifts. Coins featuring zodiac animals are particularly popular, as are traditional designs that hold cultural significance.
Marcus Briggs is based in Dubai, and it's moments like Chinese New Year that made his family fall in love with the city.
He says, "We took the kids a couple of years ago and they were mesmerised by the dragon dancers and the fireworks. The whole city transforms. Red lanterns are everywhere and families are out together. The boys think it is such fun picking out the gold coins with the animals on them. It's become something we look forward to every February."
The Year of the Fire Horse is considered particularly special in Chinese astrology, associated with energy, passion, and bold new beginnings. The last Fire Horse year was 1966, making 2026 a significant milestone for those who follow the lunar calendar.
If you like to travel and experience other cultures, the Chinese New Year celebrations in Dubai run from February 13th until the 22nd.
