
We may not have chimneys for Santa Claus to slide down. However, his sleigh has surely made a pitstop amidst Dubai’s dunes and towering skyline (and many malls) laden with presents and a blizzard of wintry Christmassy events. From Christmas pool parties, musicals, parades and workshops, we’ve turned into elves and have done all the hard work of putting together this guide of wonderful things to do in Dubai on Christmas. Whether you’ve been naughty or nice, this list will have you fa la la la laughing with delight.
1. Celebrate a white Christmas at the DIFC Snow Park
Gate Avenue at DIFC has transformed into a picturesque winter wonderland straight out of a Snow Globe. Instead of being snowed under at work this Christmas season in Dubai, hit the DIFC Winter Wonderland and be buried in some fun. Spend a minimum of AED 75 at Gate Avenue and tackle Xmas shopping, so you and one child get 30 minutes of access to a snow park, build your igloos, slide around in tubes and enjoy live entertainment. More info here
📅: Until January 1; 1pm-9pm daily
💵: AED 75 for 1 adult and child
📍: Gate Avenue, DIFC
2. Visit Santa’s Grotto and make wishes come true
Santa has ditched snowy slopes for sandy shores at Dubai Mall this Christmas and set up a proper grotto to boot. year. The Grotto is a popular Christmas experience from the UK where little kids get to meet and greet Santa through an adventure. Under the guidance of elves, they cross beautifully designed immersive rooms like Candy Cane Land, an Enchanted Forest and Santa’s Merry Mailroom to fulfil a magical quest – delivering Old Jelly Belly their Christmas wishlist letter in person!
📅: Until January 1, 10am-12am
💵: AED 149 per child and AED 99 per adult
📍: next to the Dubai Ice Rink, Dubai Mall
3. Let The Grinch Musical steal your Christmas
Christmas will be green and mean not a little but a whole lot more at this musical stage adaption of Dr. Seuss’ classic tale How The Grich Stole Christmas. Coming to Dubai all the way from London’s West End, including the fabulous cast, this production by Paul Taylor-Mills features all the iconic songs like You’re A Mean One Mr.Grinch and cockle-warming moments when the grumpy Christmas-hating creature ditches his cynicism and is heart expands with the spirit of the festive season.
📅: December 20-25
🎟️: AED 200 onwards, book here
📍: Zabeel Theatre, Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, Palm Jumeirah
4. Build your own Gingerbread house for Christmas
Santa’s Workshop at the St. Regis Downtown Dubai is hosting a gingerbread masterclass for little kids that parents can join too. You’ll find yourself constructing and decorating a structurally sound and delicious gingerbread mansion. In between all that manual labour of love and laughter you can take a lunch break and dig into burgers and fries
📅: Until December 21, 2pm-5pm
🎟️: AED 185 per child including gingerbread-making kit and lunch
📞: Call or WhatsApp +97156 688 9885
📍: St. Regis Hotel, Nakheel Mall, Palm Jumeirah
5. Snuggle into a cozy Christmas staycation
Lapita Hotel, the Polynesian-themed resort en route Abu Dhabi jas a Festive Lu’Wow Weekender staycation deal that lets you sleep in king rooms or family suites, feast on a Christmas Day Brunch buffet, enjoy live entertainment, and a array of activities like kids’ eco-friendly workshops, snowman dance-offs, and visit by Santa Claus. Book here
📅: For stays from December 24-26
🎟️: AED 1,499++ for King Rooms and AED 1,899++ for Family Suites
6. Splurge on a chocolatey LINDT festive afternoon tea
Swissotel Al Ghurair has teamed up with chocolate brand LINDT to create a decadent festive afternoon tea. The special menu is stacked with holiday treats such as smoked salmon and cream cheese money bags, sage-infused turkey tarlets, plumcake trifle, rasberry stollen biscotti, and an array of hot chocolates, luxury teas and coffees.
📅: December 9- January 7, 12pm-6pm
🎟️: AED 145 for two adult and two kids
📍: Yasmine Lounge Swissotel Al Ghurair, Deira
7. Surf with Santa this Christmas in Dubai
Wild Wadi goes, well, wild every Christmas with a ‘Surfing Santa’ riding the waves and many more festive activities flooding the water. DJ pool parties and appearances by the surfer dude Santa will pump up the party vibes. Visitors can also enjoy festive-themed treats such as hot chocolate, roasted marshmallows, Christmas cookies and more. Families can get a 30% discount on entry tickets with the special Festive Splash Pass. More info here
📅: Festive Splash Pass until January 6
🎟️: AED 195 onwards
8. Make Christmas ornaments in an enchanted rainforest
Forget festive red, Christmas gets green and jungly at Green Planet, the indoor biodome. Santa will make appearances with gifts for kids and special ornament-making workshops will teach tots how to decorate their tree with sustainable materials. A single real pine tree and a giant gingerbread house in the heart of the rainforest will add some festive fragrance to the air. More info here
🎟️: AED 155 per adult and AED 135 for kids
📍: The Green Planet, City Walk
9. Make a splash at this Christmas pool party
Besides Australia, Dubai’s probably the only other place you can celebrate Kringle Day in a pool. But Dubai takes it to stunning heights with a rooftop Jingle Splash Chritsmas pool party on the 75th floor of SLS Hotel. Santa’s reindeer won’t even have to land when he swings by to drop your presents. The party includes unlimited drinks, festive bites on arrival, live DJ and dancers.
📅: December 21, 3pm-6pm
🎟️: AED 299 per person
📞: Call +971 4 607 0770
📍: Privilege Bar, SLS Hotel, Business Bay
10. Hop on the North Pole Express at Motiongate
Hollywood-inspired theme park Motionagte is turning into Tinseltown on myriad levels this Christmas. There’ll be street shows, floats, dancers parades, meet-and-greets with Santa under a 40-foot tree and more. But the piece de resistance of the festive season is the North Pole Express – an immersive journey that will take you through a winter wonderland to Santa’s workshop and meet his merry elves.
📅: December 12, 2024 -January 1, 2025
⏰: 11am-8pm
🎟️: AED 295 onwards
📍: Motiongate, Dubai Parks and Resorts
11. Enjoy a Christmas Cabaret show at Drift Dubai
Bored of the same old Christmas dinners? Drift Dubai, the beach club is adding some razzle dazzle to the jingle bell rock with a festive cabaret show. Talented performers will enhtrall you as you dig into a la carte Christmas menu. There’s a special dress code for the event, so ditch the ugly Christmas jumpers!
12. See Santa’s toys come to life at Riverland
Here’s a delightful little free parade that looks like something out of The Nutcracker. The Santa’s Toy Factory Parade at Riverland features elaborate floats and dancers dressed as elves, toy soldiers, and rag dolls, along with stilt walkers. There will also be photo-op sessions and meet and greets with these holiday characters. More info here
13. Book your magic carpet ride to meet Aladdin and genie
Nothing says Christmas like a funny panto. Dubai Panto, the production house known for their seasonal festive stage shows is putting up Aladdin this year. The classic fairytale of the street urchin who stumbles upon a magic lamp will be brought to life through enchanting music, skilled dancing, magical costumes, and some new hilarious characters like the evil villian Abanazar, Aladdin’s brother. As is standard with pantomimes, audience participation will be both encouraged and must, so be prepared to be swept into the plot!
📅: December 17-29
🎟️: AED 79, book here
📍: Jumeirah Beach Hotel
14. Savour a free community Christmas dinner if you’re solo
Alone this festive season? Rove Hotels is hosting a community dinner across all their branches for those spending the holidays without family or loved ones. Solo diners can enjoy a free dinner full warmth, festive cheer and meet new people. You can also nominate someone who you know will be spending Christmas by themselves in Dubai this year for this dinner.
First 20 people dine for free, AED 99 after that.Register here
15. Add some Caribbean jingle to the day with a bottomless Jamaican Chrismus dinner
Ting Irie, the UAE’s first Jamaican restaurant in Downtown Dubai has spiced up Christmas celebrations this year with a fun all-day Christmas dinner with bottomless beverages. The three-hour meal is a proper slap-up Jamaican feast featuring homemade Jerk chicken, cranberry sorrel glazed turkey, Ting Jjerky prime rib, and Hellshire fry with Out N’ Badd Chocolate layers Tart, mixed berries cheesecake and apple pie for dessert.
📅: December 25, all-day
💵: AED 280 per person
📍: Ting Irie, Downtown Dubai
16. Bask under the sun at Peaches and Creams’ beachside Christmas brunch
Peaches & Cream, the boho-chic beach club and restaurant on Palm Jumeirah is letting the Crimbo crackers and festive cheer spill onto the beach with a Christmas Day brunch. Tuck into a Mediterranean feast with a live turkey station and oyster bar, a creamy Basque cheesecake and a kids’ corner with tons of activities like face painting and a Santa meet-and-greet. Book here
📅: December 25
⏰: 2pm – 5pm
💵: Non-alcoholic packages from AED 400m regular from AED 500 and premium from AED 600 per person. AED 200 is for kids aged 4 to 12 years, free for kids under 4 years.
17. Eat Christmas dinner at Burj Khalifa for AED 399
For a stylish Christmas nestled in the world’s tallest building, head to Armani/Mediterraneo’s Christmas Day brunch. Spectacular views of the Dubai Fountain and a sumptuous med spread will turn this into a Yuletide celebration for the books. Book here
📅: December 25, 1pm – 4pm
💵: AED 399 per person with soft drinks and from AED 549 per person for house beverages
18. Attend Garden on 8’s grown-ups-only Christmas party
Why should kids have all the Christmas fun? The terrace lounge and bar at Media One Hotel turns into a child-free zone on December 25 with a Christmas shindig where Mrs. Claus leads the charge. Festive and seasonal dishes are joined bu unlimited beverages including Christmassy drinks like eggnog and mulled wine on tap.
📅: December 25; from 1pm-5pm
💵: AED 299 per person onwards including house beverages
📞: Call 52 144 7438 or visit Garden on 8
19-20. Celebrate Boxing Day with a quiz and a roast meal
Continue the Crimbo festivities with feasts galore the day after, December 26, too. Known as Boxing Day in Britain, it’s known for its shopping sales and eating yourself silly on Christmas leftovers.
Tinsel and Trivia, Jumeirah Golf Estates
Break out of the turkey tryptophan haze and sharpen those wits at a Boxing Day quiz. The Ballroom at the sprawling venue is hosting a special trivia night led by quizmaster Robert Duce.
📅: December 26, 7pm
🎟️: AED 400 per person for house drinks package and AED 195 for soft beverages
Underground Pub in Habtoor Grand Resort
This lazy Boxing Day brunch will serve up a trad English roast set menu that includes Turkey Roulade & Christmas Pudding along with a a complimentary bucket of ice-cold beer.
🎟️: AED 250 per person; 1pm onwards.
📞: Call or WhatsApp 050 780 6342.
21. Stuff yourself with this Boxing Day leftover turkey sando
This turkey sandwich will have Ross from Friends jealous. Homegrown sports gastropub chain The Coterie is serving a Big Boxing Day Sandwich stuffed with turkey, veal pigs in blankets, stuffing and all the trimmings at their Ibn Battuta Mall branch. They’ve also got deals on beer buckets (AED 150 for 5), a roast meal and screenings of all the Premier League matches. WhatsApp 058 566 4240 for info
22-31. Visit these cheerful Christmas Markets In Dubai
Dubai has it’s very own Christmas markets and winter wonderlands that are out to rival those of Vienna and Prague. Complete with towering Christmas trees, winter sports and snow, there’s so much to do, see, eat and experience at these festive venues that are a mix of free and paid entry. Some of them have unique Dubai twists, like Santa Claus riding an abra! Find the full list here