Not just once upon a December. Every single December in Dubai is one to remember with a glut of activities, events, concerts and jolly good festive activities that truly make this the most wonderful time of the year. From Christmas Markets and dazzling drone shows to daily fireworks and some of the most scintillating NYE parties and film festivals, there are tons of things to do in Dubai this December.
1-19. Attend these twinkling Christmas Tree Lighting ceremonies in Dubai
Experience the magic of the lights going on on breathtaking Christmas trees around Dubai this December. An array of hotels, malls, pubs, winter markets, and public spaces in the city are joining the festive cheer with spectacular events that feature choirs of carollers, festive food and drink and visits by Santa Claus. Some of these are even free! Find full list here
20. Gaze at mesmerising drone shows every night
Flying drone taxis will take us two more years, but there are exceptionally creative drone shows to capture our attention. The Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) is back for its 2024-2025 edition with the hugely popular drone shows lighting up the skies at two waterfront destinations every evening. Over 800 drones fitted with LED lights will create 3D patterns and shapes in the sky telling Emirati fairytales and depicting what Dubai could look like in the future. Find more details here.
21. Warm up in the glow of this Coldplay Candlelight concert
Head to this tribute Candlelight Concert for a little warm-up session before the real Coldplay Concert in Abu Dhabi next month. Pianist Magdalena Wajdzik will turn the Alliance Francaise into a Paradise filled with the British pop band’s greatest hits on December 8. The setlist for this musical night will see favourites across the years from Fix You, Clocks and Yellow to the Adventure of a Lifetime. Get tickets here
22. Walk through stunning light installations
The annual Dubai Lights festival is running until January 14. Gleaming light installations created by talented artists, designers, architects and studios from around the world dot specific destinations in Dubai and feature different themes. Don’t miss neon light decorations at Al Seef, Gold Souk, D3 and Palm West Beach, Bluewaters and Marmoom. The Dubai Creek Abras will be strung with glowing lights and it’s your chance to pictures with enchanting and incandescent sculptures.
23. Have an out-of-this-world experience at the new Salt pop-up camp
Homegrown burger joint Salt’s annual winter pop-up camp is one Dubai residents eagerly look forward to. This year, the viral pink outdoor camp outside the Museum of the Future has adopted a star-studded futuristic theme with glittering blue decor resembling outer space, scrummy food, entertainment by live bands and dancers and more. You’ll still get to see the iconic airstream trailer, campfire tents and camel’s traipsing around DIFC.
24. Enjoy a free alfresco movie night under the stars
JLT Park’s annual Cinema Under the Stars screenings are back for the winter season, transforming the green space in the middle of JLT’s concrete jungle into a vibrant movie theatre. The free showings include an exciting line-up of holiday classics, family-friendly animated flicks and more. Find details here.
25. Watch free fireworks daily for a month
DSF is a wellspring of delight that never runs dry – after drone shows and light displays, you can look forward to spectacular fireworks every day until January 14. Get the full list of locations and timings of these pyrotechnic shows here.
26. Rock out to a Thirty Seconds To Mars concert
In less than a week, alt-rock band Thirty Seconds To Mars are taking over Coca-Cola Arena. Their December 12 gig will see the Leto brothers Jared and Shannon belt hits like The Kill, This Is War, and Midnight Prayer that defined the aughts. Also, expect to hear tracks from his newer albums like Struck. Get tickets here.
27. Head over to the Coke Studio Live Concert
South Asian music fans should catch the second edition of the Coke Studio Live concert in the UAE. Taking place on December 8, this show is set to match the success of the inaugural 2022 edition. Groove the night away at the Coca-Cola Arena to music by talented South Asian artists and bands who got their big break on Coke Studio – the trailblazing Pakistani television music programme. Performers this year include alumni such as Hasan Raheem, Shae Gill, Amanda Delara, Lost Stories and others. Get tickets here
28-33. Visit these splendid Christmas Markets in Dubai
December is when it begins to look a lot like Christmas in Dubai. Each year, the city goes all out to bring the dreamiest Christmas Markets and winter wonderland. Some of these can give Austrian and German traditional festive markets stiff competition. Of course, we do it with typical Dubai bling and superlatives. Think a dash of Arabian Night vibes, 52-foot-tall Christmas trees, Santa Claus riding in on Abra boats, turkey and cranberry shawarmas and more. Find the full list of Christmas markets here.
34. Sweeten your day with a trip to the Museum of Candy
If December’s constant strain of the Dance of Sugarplum Fairy tune, has you hankering for some sugary treats, look no further. The vibrant wonderland is overflowing with candy facts and funky interactive installations and games. Walking through 15 sweets-themed rooms, you’ll find yourself torn between snapping selfies against the eyeball-grabbing decor or stuffing yourself with helpings of cotton candy, gummies and macarons. Get tickets here.
35. Get your adrenaline fix at the Dubai Motorcycle Film Festival
Love movies, bikes and movies about bikes? Time to dust off those leather jackets and get revved up with excitement. The annual film festival dedicated to documentaries and short films about bikers and motorcycles returns for 2024 with cool films, a BBQ and a death-defying stunt show. More details here.
36. Watch the Geminds Meteor showers
The annual meteor showers are a highlight of December, especially since the cold nights make the UAE’s outdoors tempting. Catch these celestial pyrotechnics on December 13 at these spots.
37. Book this luxe NYE dinner deal with Burj Khalifa views this December
Ring in 2025 in style and luxury with this New Year’s Eve dinner deal at the Address Dubai Mall hotel. The 12th-floor location sorts you out with uninterrupted views of the Burj Khalifa and its world-famous New Year’s Eve fireworks. The dinner deal includes a five-course meal, live entertainment and access to an after-party that will run into next year. These prime spots sell out way before Christmas , so book your tables here now!
38. Attend a music launch party at Moe’s on the 5th
Moe’s on the 5th, the trendy nightlife spot, is a special party on December 19 celebrating the launch of its first-ever record label, MOE’S RECORDS, with MOE’S IN WINTER. This 13-track album features music by international electronic music icons Parallelle, American DJ and producer Seth Troxler, Canadian music producer Tiga amongst others. Equally renowned DJs such as Joep Mencke and Bachir Salloum will be performing at the launch party which is open to the public. More info here