From zombie-themed parties to haunted dining experiences, there are plenty of ways you can join in the Halloween fun this season.

by Mitchelle D’Souza, Sub-editor/Reporter

That frightful October 31^st night is almost upon us, allowing you to channel your shadowy alter egos (think sinister clowns, scary dolls and blood-thirsty vampires).

The spooky annual fixture also means restaurants, hotels and other establishments are pulling out all stops to make this a truly terrifying experience.

To help you feel the chills, we’ve rounded up a list of ghoulish happenings that surely live up to the scare-o-metre.

From haunted tours aboard a storied ship to a bone-chilling dinner in the dark, here are some killer ways to celebrate Halloween in the UAE.

Party Centre, UAE

Flock to Party Centre to get your ghoulish garbs and freaky accessories.

No Halloween party is complete without freaky-looking costumes and accessories.

To get you into the spirit of the season, Party Centre comes to your rescue with a plethora of ghastly garbs and creepy accessories.

A one-stop-shop for all party supplies and accessories for kids and adults alike, the store has got you covered for any occasion with their extensive range of party staples.

While they have four brick-and-mortar stores, two each in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the online website (www.mypartycentre.com) allows customers to choose merchandise of their liking and have it delivered to their doorstep across the emirates.

Now won’t that make for a freaky surprise knocking on your doors?

Location: Business Central Towers A, Media City - Dubai; Garhoud Saraya Ave. Al Garhoud -Dubai; 3rd floor, Al Wahda Mall (Mall Extension) - Abu Dhabi; 2nd floor, Al Raha Mall - Abu Dhabi
Number: 800-MYPARTY

Project Rising Star - Below the Decks Haunted Tour, QE2, Dubai

The iconic Queen Elizabeth 2 ship lets you explore a haunted deck this season.

If you’re plucky enough to venture into uncharted territory, the QE2 has just the right hunt for you. A haunted deck!

For decades, a section of the QE2 was cordoned off, locked away from the public by a secretive and influential group.

The space is now finally unlocked. In a decades-long scheme they codenamed Project Rising Star, a disturbing series of botched and failed human experiments were conducted in here.

Brought to you by Pursued by a Bear Events in collaboration with Theatre by QE2, this experience sets a new standard of scary.  

There are three levels to choose from, with each level topping the other on the fright quotient. 

Here, the line between historical fact and fiction is blurred to the extent that audiences are left questioning their own sanity.

Date: Oct.17 to Nov.2
Price: Ages 6+ - Dhs55 (Level 1); ages 2+ - Dhs75 (Level 2); ages 15+ - Dhs95
Location: Queen Elizabeth 2, Mina Rashid – Dubai
Number: +971 43303457 

Halloween-themed sweet treats, Clinton St. Baking Company, Dubai

Clinton St. Baking Company is dishing out boo-tiful desserts this Halloween.

Clinton St. Baking Company is painting the town orange and black this spooky season as it offers delicious boo-tiful desserts.

From Halloween-themed cakes, to pumpkin pies decorated in spider web icing and mini cupcakes in orange and black, the New York specialist bakery and restaurant is all set to fulfil every craving one can think of on Halloween.

Available for pick-up and delivery, these treats will definitely give your party a decadently devilish dimension.

Date:  Oct.27 to Oct.31.  
Location: City Walk – Dubai
Number: +971 43440705

Dinner in a pitch-dark haunted hospital, Noire, Fairmont Dubai

Indulge in a three-course dinner in a haunted hospital canteen as part of Noire’s dining in the dark concept.

The multi-award-winning dining in the dark concept Noire at Fairmont Dubai invites guests on a blood-curdling culinary adventure to experience an eerie take on 5-star gourmet cuisine in pitch darkness.

Legend has it that many years ago there stood a hospital for the visually impaired on the current grounds of Fairmont Dubai, responsible for the inexplicable disappearance of its inmates.

A spine-chilling rumour doing the rounds is that a young dark-haired woman dressed in white can every now and then be seen wandering around the floors of the hotel (enough to give you thoughts of chickening out).

During the 3-course dinner in the haunted hospital canteen, your sense of sight gets removed in order to heighten taste, smell, sound and touch throughout the 90-minute dining experience.

All nurses at your service are equipped with night-vision goggles, to assist patients throughout their journey in a fully blackened out setting.

The multi-sensory dining experience includes a three course menu with paired beverages, and a post-dining reception (in the light) to discuss the featured menu with the ch(i)ef-surgeon.

Enter at your own risk!

Date & time: Oct.1 to Oct.31, Mon - Sat at 7.30pm (Noire does only one seating per evening by reservation only).
Price: Dhs360
Location: Noire, Fairmont, Sheikh Zayed Road - Dubai
Number: +971 43118316

Halloween parties, COYA Abu Dhabi and Dubai

COYA Abu Dhabi and Dubai are giving Halloween a supernatural Latin American twist with their parties.

Mark your calendars as Peruvian social hub COYA is set to throw its highly anticipated Halloween-themed parties this month at both their Abu Dhabi and Dubai venues.

COYA will be transforming both COYA Abu Dhabi and Dubai into immersive Halloween havens (think totems, shrines, potions, and melted candles).

Guests are encouraged to show up in their best mystically inspired costumes in keeping with the supernatural Latin American theme.

Hours of dance floor mischief, including mesmerising live performances, talented percussionists, and rhythmic beats from COYA’s resident DJs await party hearties.

Date & time: Abu Dhabi - Wednesday, Oct.23, from 9pm until late; Dubai - Wednesday, Oct.30, from 9pm until late
Price: Free entry
Location: COYA, Four Seasons Hotel, The Galleria - Abu Dhabi; COYA, Restaurant Village; Four Seasons Resort, JBR, Jumeirah 2 – Dubai
Number: +971 23067000

Slay it with beauty products

Korean beauty brand Kocostar have debuted their limited edition Pumpkin Mask (Dhs18) for that much-needed skin rejuvenation post partying.

Masking yourself with heavy Halloween make-up and prosthetics is sure to leave your skin asking for some TLC.

Worry not, as beauty brands have unveiled a range of Halloween-themed products to help rejuvenate your skin post the assault.

Rodial’s Dragon’s Blood skincare range includes deeply hydrating moisturising creams, lip masks, plumper and cleansing water.

You can grab them at Harvey Nichols and Bloomingdales stores or online at Beautysolutions-me.com. 

Joining the Halloween fun, Kocostar too have debuted their limited edition Pumpkin Mask (Dhs18), which comes in small pumpkin slices and provides vitality, hydration and radiance to your skin.

You can get your hands on them at Virgin, Lifestyle and Wojooh stores or online at Beautysolutions-me.com, Namshi.com and glambeaute.com.

Specially-carved Halloween pumpkins, Kibsons 

With Halloween creeping up around the corner, avoid getting left out and get your hands on the scariest pumpkins in town as online food delivery company Kibsons have announced their spooktastic range of pumpkins, which are now available for pre-order.

The online ordering service has an array of trick-or-treats for you to give your neighbours a fright.

Available in all shapes, colours and sizes, Kibsons are offering their biggest selection yet of fright night centrepieces.

So are you ready to put your scariest pumpkin forward?

Date: Orders open from Oct.12 and delivered between Oct.23 to 25.
Number: +971 8005427667

Zombie Halloween Party, Atlantis The Palm

Channel the living dead at Atlantis The Palm’s Zombie Halloween Party.

It’s going to be murder on the dance floor on Thursday Oct.31, as Atlantis The Palm is set to throw the biggest Halloween party yet.

The zombie apocalypse will take place on a custom-built deck on the shores of the Arabian Gulf, with world-renowned DJ Chuckie headlining the celebration.

David de Luca and local DJs will also spin tracks for a thrilling evening where zombie-fied party-goers are invited to dress to impress, with prizes being given for the best zombie look.

Date & time: Thursday, Oct.31, 7pm - 3am
Price: Ladies receive complimentary access before 9pm; Dhs100 early bird admission/Dhs150 on the door; group packages are available from Dhs2,000 for four guests to Dhs8,000 for 16 guests.
Location: Atlantis The Palm, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai
Number: +971 44261166

Halloween-themed shoots, Studio 77, Dubai

Fancy getting yourself theatrically clicked in ghoulish garb?

Then make a dash for Studio 77, the photography studio in Jumeirah, which is opening its doors to the creepy and spooky this October with special Halloween-themed shoots for just Dhs99.

Whether it’s Frankenstein’s monster and bride, the Addams Family… or perhaps something a little less scary, Studio 77 has a range of exciting packages available to perfectly suit all, including the special Halloween promotion, providing a 30-minute Studio 77 shoot and one high resolution image for only Dhs99.

The expert photographers professionally yet quickly produce images of top-grade standard in the swish studio.

Date & time: Oct.27 to Nov.02
Location: Wasl Vita, Jumeria – Dubai
Number: +971 43434413/+971 557728920

Hidden Bruch, Taj Hotel Dubai

Dine on delicious Halloween-themed dishes at Taj Dubai’s Hidden brunch.

The Taj Hotel’s popular Hidden Brunch gets a haunted makeover this Halloween. Misty air welcomes you as you make your way to a graveyard setting.

To add to the spectacle, the hotel has decked the floor with tombstones, turning the venue into a beautifully creepy masterpiece.

Taking after the décor, the dishes on offer will be Halloween-themed as well.

Guests can also get scary makeovers at the venue to blend in with the surroundings.

For those who’d like to linger longer, a devilishly divine afterparty kicks off from 4pm.

Date & time: Friday, Nov.1, 1pm – 4pm
Price: Dhs325
Location: Taj Dubai Hotel, Downtown – Dubai
Number: +971 527987292