From elaborate dinners to breakfasts with Santa, you’ll find your Christmas miracle in this festive emirate.
As the holiday season approaches and we pull out the Santa-themed mugs collecting dust on our shelves, Dubai also gets to don its festive apparel as it prepares to celebrate Christmas. From super fun theatrical performances to festive brunches and all the way to Santa Claus meet-and-greets, the UAE’s most festive emirate knows how to celebrate Christmas right.
To help you celebrate your Christmas to the fullest, we've curated this list of the top seasonal experiences to make your holidays truly magical.
Christmas Brunch
The Byron Bathers Club, Palm Jumeirah
Anyone fancy a tropical Christmas? Right by the beach at Palm Jumeirah, this Byron Bathers Christmas Brunch is a feast to be reckoned with, including shared seafood platters, a classic turkey and Christmas-themed desserts.
Breakfast with Santa Claus
Ski Dubai, Al Barsha
At Ski Dubai’s North 28 Café, your children can get to enjoy the full North Pole experience. I mean, skiing on fake ice until they reach Santa Claus’s headquarters and then getting to have a cup of hot cocoa with him? It doesn’t get any more miraculous than this.
Festive Market
Madinat Jumeirah
Nothing says ‘Winter Wonderland’ quite like an 11-metre tall Christmas tree and an expanse of kiosks that sell everything from last-minute Christmas gifts to handmade ornaments to festive snacks - Madinat Jumeirah’s Festive Market is fun for the whole family.
The Grinch Musical
Zabeel Theatre, Jumeirah Zabeel Saray
Did someone steal the Christmas spirit from your home, too? Welp, we hate to break it to you, but there’s only one way to retrieve that - and it’s by attending the Grinch Musical at Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, any day from December 20th to the 24th.
Winter Garden
Al Habtoor City
Let’s face it, while we often have awfully hopeful dreams about our annual holiday plans, the truth is that the period from mid-December until the 1st of January is often far from relaxed. Al Habtoor City’s famed Winter Garden, an entertaining market with both fun shops and kids’ entertainment, is open from November 1st to January 31st (a true Christmas miracle!), which means that this holiday season, perhaps you don’t need to lose your head.
The Grotto
Dubai Ice Rink, Dubai Mall
While ice-skating is enough of a festive activity on its own, the Dubai Ice Rink has decided to up its celebratory spirit a notch this Christmas, with a festive Grotto experience, where your children can engage in fun Christmas-themed games besides their usual skating experience.
The Nutcracker Ballet
Dubai Opera
There’s no better time for a nutty adventure than Christmas - and what better way to embark on one than to attend a performance where a flurry of dancing snowflakes and twirling Sugar Plum Fairies will leave you feeling on pointe? The Nutcracker Ballet is coming to Dubai Opera from December 19th to the 22nd.
Beefbar Dubai
Turtle Lagoon, Jumeirah Al Naseem
On the hunt for an elegant Christmas Eve dinner or a fun Christmas Day lunch? Look no further than Beefbar, where special festive treats will decorate the restaurant’s a la carte menu, and a real-life Santa delivers your gift from under the Christmas tree.
Ribambelle
The Wharf, Bluewaters Island
On December 25th, Ribambelle turns into the ultimate winter wonderland, where you enjoy a mouthwatering feast of a traditional succulent Christmas turkey, and a delightful array of festive desserts, including gingerbread houses and cakesicles. The best part? After indulging in this festive spread, kids can have a blast in Ribambelle’s playground, giving parents a well-deserved moment to unwind and soak in the holiday spirit.
L’Olivo Ristorante
Rixos the Palm Hotel
It’s not a Christmas Eve soirée if it doesn’t come with a big fat Christmas turkey - and it’s even better if said turkey is being served at live carving stations at the sumptuous L’Olivo. To liven the venue even more, the restaurant will bring its own band of musicians to fill the venue with a festive warmth.
Dec 11, 2024
