St Patrick's Day deals in Abu Dhabi and Dubai: From eating contests to karaoke competitions

From a hot dog-eating challenge to a karaoke contest for the best Irish song, plus plenty of food and drink, here's where you can celebrate St Paddy this year

Enter a hot-dog-eating contest at UBK this St Patrick's Day 

While we've done out best to round-up what is happening, events are subject to change. Please check with the venue before attending to make sure they are still going on.

St Patrick’s Day is just around the corner, on Tuesday, March 17, and it’s the luck of the Irish where you’ll end up. But if you're looking for ideas, here are some deals for those celebrating in Dubai and Abu Dhabi – complete with green food and classic tunes.

Dubai

UBK

The Movenpick JLT sports bar is daring diners to take on a hot dog challenge to celebrate St Patrick’s Day, from Sunday to Saturday, March 15 to 21. All one has to do is finish a metre-long hot dog within 30 minutes. The winner can walk away without paying a dirham. Those who aren’t able to finish the “monster” hot dog will pay full price, Dh149. To make the challenge more fun, the sausage will come in a bright green bun.

For more details or reservations, call 04 438 0000

Black Goose

If your name is Patrick, head to the sports bar at Sheraton JBR on Tuesday, March 17, for a complimentary house beverage and one main course from the St Patrick’s Day menu. Options include Irish veal stew, Irish-inspired nachos, clover sliders and shepherd’s pie. Black Goose “pays homage to the four-leaf clover” this year, giving groups of four or more a free drink upon arrival. The venue will also install a printing machine for the day, imprinting a foamy version of your photograph on your drink.

For more details or reservations, contact 04 315 3861

Eloquent Elephant

For Dh179, the gastropub at Taj Dubai will serve guests three house beverages, a main course and a dessert. The offer is valid from Tuesday to Sunday, March 17 to 22, and food options include classic British fare, such as battered haddock with chunky chips, shepherd’s pie, bangers and mash, sticky toffee pudding, Eton mess and apple tarte tartin.

For more details or reservations, contact 04 438 3134 or [e-mail]

Duck Hook

“Shamrock decorations, great good and drink, and some traditional Irish craic" is what this Dubai Hills Golf Club promises on Tuesday, March 17. The Grub & Grog menu includes a meal and drink for Dh105, and includes Scotch eggs, fish and chips and chicken ruby. Or, for Dh195, you can get a starter of corn beef hash with crispy hen’s egg and HP glaze, a main course of Irish stew served in a bread bowl, and chocolate cake with liqueur-flavoured ice cream, plus a drink.

For more details or reservations, contact 800 666 353 or [e-mail]

Rose & Crown

The British pub at Business Bay is putting together an array of green treats and drinks, games and quizzes, and leprechaun decor from a week from Sunday, March 15 to 22. Pies, stews, coddle and Irish coffee will be available at discounted prices, while the purchase of a keg will get you an equivalent number of free drinks that can be redeemed through the week. Quiz night is on March 15, and you can also try your hand at Jenga, darts and pool. Dress code: green.

For more details or reservations, contact 04 437 0022

Lucky Voice

The karaoke bar at Grand Millennium Hotel celebrates all things Irish at its Brunch Out Loud with unlimited food and drink on Friday, March 13. Irish songs and tunes from Westlife, Boyzone, B Witched and U2 will be available and encouraged in the private karaoke pods, crowd karaoke and lip sync battles. The crooner of the winning song, as judged by staff, will be awarded Dh1,000 in cash. The brunch costs between Dh195 and Dh350.

For more details or reservations, contact 800 58259

Garden on 8

The pub-style garden at Media One Hotel celebrates St Paddy’s Day with music and food “with Irish feels” across three days, from Tuesday to Thursday, March 17 to 19. Enjoy an all-night happy hour from 6pm onwards, with two-for-one on house drinks, plus Irish lamb stew and steak and Guinness pie for Dh59, plus live music by Oliver Frost on March 17, quiz night with Dubai 92’s Jono & Rich on March 18, and a band playing Irish tunes on March 19.

For more details or reservations, contact 04 427 1000 or [e-mail]

Abu Dhabi

Victor’s

The restaurant and bar at Millennium Capital Centre Hotel is offering all Irish patrons 40 per cent off food and drinks from Tuesday to Friday, March 17 to 20. The restaurant will also serve a special menu, with Irish fish and chips, cabbage and bacon, beef and Guinness pie and cottage pie, for Dh90 a pop.

For more details or reservations, call 02 666 5508

Offside

The sports bar at Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island Resort has nine days of St Patrick’s Day fun, from Thursday to Saturday, March 12 to 21. This includes happy hours, a Paddy’s party, Irish quiz and live performances. The St Paddy’s Party is on March 17, and has drinks deals, an Irish band and prizes for the best Irish attire. On March 18, Irish DJ Sonya Mac will host a quiz night, while the Boxtones band will perform on March 19. Happy hours are every day from 5pm to 8pm, as well as from 11am to 4pm on March 13 to 14 and 20 to 21.

For more details or reservations, contact 02 811 4342 or [e-mail]