Thanksgiving Events in Dubai 2026

Celebrate Thanksgiving 2026 in Dubai with festive dinners, brunches, buffets, Turkey Trots, parades, family-friendly activities, Friendsgiving parties, holiday markets, volunteer opportunities, food drives, cruises, and seasonal events. Whether you're planning a traditional Thanksgiving feast or looking for unique things to do, discover the best Thanksgiving events happening in Dubai.

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All Thanksgiving events in Dubai 2026

Thu, Nov 26DoubleTree By Hilton, Dubai

Precious Stones Ladies Bible Study

25.01.26 �Precious Stones Ladies Fellowship..� after worship service we gather to be encouraged w/ Bible Teaching & prayer. Lunch Fellowship after... w/ giving our concerns & thanksgiving.. �� Thank you Jesus for sweet love .

12:00 AM

Thanksgiving table decor and hosting essentials

From the thermometer that saves the turkey to the tablecloth, the kids’ table and a hat for the Turkey Trot. Check delivery dates before you order.

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Since 1621

The history of Thanksgiving

It began with a harvest. In the autumn of 1621, the Plymouth colonists and their Wampanoag neighbours shared three days of food in a good year. Nobody called it Thanksgiving then. It took two more centuries, a determined editor and a president in the middle of a war to turn it into the day we know: a Thursday in November for family, food and being grateful.

Most of what fills the day now came later. The parade, the football, the morning Turkey Trot and the long table of sides were added by one generation after another, which is why every family’s Thanksgiving looks a little different.

1621After their first harvest, the Plymouth colonists hold three days of feasting. Massasoit arrives with about 90 Wampanoag men, who bring five deer.
1789George Washington proclaims the first national day of thanksgiving, for Thursday, 26 November.
1846–63Sarah Josepha Hale, the magazine editor who wrote “Mary Had a Little Lamb”, writes to five presidents asking for one national day.
1863In the middle of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln makes the last Thursday of November a national Thanksgiving. It has been kept every year since.
1896Buffalo runs its first YMCA Turkey Trot, now the oldest footrace held every year in North America — a year older than the Boston Marathon.
1924Macy’s holds its first parade in New York, with animals from the Central Park Zoo. The giant balloons arrive in 1927.
1934The Detroit Lions play on Thanksgiving for the first time, and football becomes part of the afternoon.
1939–41Franklin Roosevelt moves the day a week earlier to lengthen the shopping season. People call it “Franksgiving”, so Congress fixes it for good: the fourth Thursday of November.
1957Canada settles on the second Monday of October for its own Thanksgiving, which goes back to 1578.
1989George H. W. Bush gives the first formal presidential turkey pardon, now a White House tradition.

Thanksgiving in Dubai: frequently asked questions

When are Thanksgiving events in Dubai in 2026?

Thanksgiving events in Dubai run from Nov 26 to Nov 26, 2026: 1 event.

What is on in Dubai on Thanksgiving Day?

One event is listed for Thursday, November 26, including Precious Stones Ladies Bible Study at DoubleTree By Hilton, Dubai.

When is Thanksgiving 2026?

In the United States, Thursday, November 26, 2026 — always the fourth Thursday of November. Canada celebrates earlier, on Monday, October 12, the second Monday of October.

What is Friendsgiving?

A Thanksgiving meal shared with friends rather than family, usually on a day near the holiday. Many restaurants and bars host Friendsgiving dinners and parties, so you can skip the cooking.

Do I need to book Thanksgiving dinner in advance?

Yes, as early as you can. Restaurants serving a Thanksgiving menu often fill up a week or more ahead, and many offer a set menu at fixed seatings on the day.