In a region that people would least expect to see snow, Dubai turns into a winter wonderland during the Christmas season. The city gets into the Christmas mood with stunning decorations, performances, and events that make it a perfect family destination for experiencing a traditional Christmas with Middle Eastern hospitality.
In this article we will highlight a few things to do in Dubai at Christmas that will enhance your festive experience.
Magic and Markets: Winter Wonderland
Among the things to do in Dubai at Christmas are the Christmas markets. Dubai’s Christmas markets are as impressive as those of Europe, and the best part is that families can enjoy it without the bitter cold. The Madinat Jumeirah Festive Market is considered as the city’s best Christmas event with a winter wonderland complete with artificial snow. Children can meet with Santa Claus in his house, take a ride on the abra with Christmas lights and play traditional carnival games. The market is located by the waterfront and with the Burj Al Arab in the background, families are guaranteed perfect photo moments for keeps.
Shopping Festival Extravaganza
The Dubai Shopping Festival that takes place around the Christmas holidays transforms the malls into great entertainment facilities. Dubai Mall is the largest shopping mall in the world and it has put up a magnificent Christmas tree and light show every hour. Families can go ice skating at dubai ice rink or watch the Christmas show at the Dubai fountain or watch the underwater Christmas trees at the dubai aquarium. Ski Dubai at Mall of the Emirates presents the best irony of Christmas – skiing in the desert, meeting the penguins of Santa in the heart of Arabia.
Festive Dining Experiences
The hotels and restaurants in Dubai provide enchanting Christmas dining experiences since the city has the best hotels in the world. Atlantis, The Palm deck the halls of its restaurants and holds special family brunches with appearances from the big man himself, Santa. The Christmas Eve Gala at the Ritz Carlton has international festive food, entertainment for children and breathtaking views of Dubai. Most of the venues have a special kid’s corner with cookie decorating station, face painting, and Christmas craft for kids to keep them busy while the parents enjoy the food.
Christmas Celebrations Outdoors
The December climate of Dubai is also good for outdoor celebrations of Christmas hence the decorations. Millions of flowers are used to create beautiful Christmas decorations at Dubai Miracle Garden as it opens its Christmas flowers for the first time, and it is among the best things to do in Dubai at Christmas. Global Village displays Christmas celebrations from different countries and features shows, floats and cuisine from various countries. The Dubai Garden Glow has creatively incorporated aspects of Christmas such as lights and trees while adding new and unique lighting features to provide a fun family night.
Beach and Desert Christmas
Celebrate an extraordinary Christmas with the traditional and natural environment of Dubai. Some beach clubs and resorts have what is referred to as “Santa on the Beach,” where families can celebrate Christmas with sand on their feet. Permanent tented accommodation sites turn into Christmas celebrations with extra Christmas desert safaris inclusive of Arabic hospitality and holiday performances. Kids can take camel rides with reindeer antlers while families can dine on Christmas eve under the stars in the Arabian desert.
Christmas Show and Entertainment
Dubai Opera and other entertainment places offer special Christmas performances, ranging from orchestral performances to contemporary renditions of Christmas songs. Pointe at Palm Jumeirah has synchronized water shows that dance to Christmas songs, and the IMAGINE show at Dubai Festival City that combines light and water shows and records the festive theme.
Plan Your Festive Visit
In order to get the best out of the Christmas festivities in Dubai, it is advisable to plan in advance. Many of the high end Christmas activities, especially gala dinners and special shows, need to be booked in advance, usually a month or two before. Special festive packages are available at hotels where guests get accommodation and other Christmas related events at a cheaper price especially for families who prefer to spend the holidays at the hotel.
Transportation is also a factor of concern during the festive season since some areas attract a lot of people. Most hotels provide shuttle services to the major Christmas destinations and the Dubai Metro to get to most of the Christmas sites. For families who wish to visit several venues, there are planned Christmas tours which can help in the enjoyment of Christmas attractions in the city.
For this reason, Dubai is an extraordinary place for family holiday celebrations because it is possible to find traditional Christmas components along with the peculiarities of the local culture. There are various and unique experiences that the city provides from snowy indoor playgrounds to Christmas in the desert. The mild winter climate, warm and friendly people, and numerous things to do make Dubai a perfect destination for families who want to celebrate Christmas in a unique way, combining it with the atmosphere of the Middle East.
Dubai’s Christmas festivities, whether one is there for a weekend or an extended holiday are a testament to why the city remains the world’s top tourist destination. The combination of the conventional holiday atmosphere, together with contemporary entertainment and Arabian hospitality makes for a unique experience which brings families back to this incredible city time and time again to enjoy the Christmas festivities.
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