Dubai, UAE - Recent (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Various of entrance to restaurant
2. Various of New Year-themed decorations
3. Various of waiting staff serving dishes, families celebrating
4. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Zheng Yulu, overseas Chinese (ending with shot 5):
"This marks my sixth Spring Festival in the UAE. It's a precious chance for us, the Chinese community here, to gather with family and friends. Sharing the New Year's Eve dinner here, I'm swept up in the warmth and joy of home."
5. Various of waiters serving dishes, child eating
6. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Xu Feizhen, operator, Tenglongxuan restaurant:
"The Chinese New Year's Eve dinner is crucial and holds special meaning for overseas Chinese. Our compatriots can come together with their families and friends here, with authentic Chinese cuisines evoking their sense of belonging. Unity is happiness for us"
7. Various of chiefs preparing food

As people across China embrace festivities for the newly-arrived Year of the Dragon, Chinese expatriates in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) who were unable to make it back home for the big occasion were still able to immerse themselves in the traditional flavors of the New Year's Eve dinner on Friday.

One of the focal points of the Spring Festival, China's most important annual celebration which centers around the Chinese New Year, is the traditional banquet held on the eve of the New Year. This sees family members travel back to their hometowns to reunite with their loved ones and enjoy a special feast, which encapsulates deep feelings of nostalgia and togetherness.

For the many overseas Chinese based in Dubai, one famous restaurant has become a beacon of festive joy, allowing them to experience a taste of home.

The Long Teng seafood restaurant in downtown Dubai has been decked out in vibrant decorations and bathed in a warm, jubilant Chinese red light, and this year it is also adorned with dragon motifs to celebrate the arrival of this particular zodiac animal.

For the diners who come for the authentic food and atmosphere, the restaurant provides a true home from home.

"This marks my sixth Spring Festival in the UAE. It's a precious chance for us, the Chinese community here, to gather with family and friends. Sharing the New Year's Eve dinner here, I'm swept up in the warmth and joy of home," said Zhen Yulu, an overseas Chinese residing in the UAE.

The restaurant's manager reported a surge in demand during the Chinese New Year, with reservations filling up a week in advance. Despite its spacious interior which spans across four floors and has seating room for up to 750 guests - the restaurant is full to the brim during the Spring Festival period.

"The Chinese New Year's Eve dinner is crucial and holds special meaning for overseas Chinese. Our compatriots can come together with their families and friends here, with authentic Chinese cuisines evoking their sense of belonging. Unity is happiness for us," said Xu Feizhen, the restaurant manager.