A Christmas panorama at a Dubai mall

How to spend Christmas in Dubai

By Ian Packham

Swap the snow for the sands and the insulated jackets for the T-shirts, it’s Christmas in Dubai! The festive season is embraced by the emirate not for its religious importance – since only 14% of residents are Christian – but for its cultural significance.

With 200 nationalities living, working and visiting Dubai at Christmas, there’s a vast miscellany of events to put you in the festive mood, from ballet performances to Christmas markets – and all with the sort of weather you probably won’t be getting back home until late spring or early summer.

Keen to discover what Dubai is like at Christmas? Take a look at our favorite ideas!

Getting into the Christmas spirit

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Christmas begins to take hold in Dubai from around the second week of December and continues well into January. Interestingly, the big day itself isn’t a public holiday, so you’ll see plenty of people heading to work as usual.

This doesn’t stop anyone getting into the Christmas spirit. If you’re staying at one of the grander hotels that dot the cityscape, Christmas will probably kick off with an all singing and all dancing tree lighting ceremony.

Christmas trees at many of the best-known names in accommodation soar from their lobbies up multiple stories, dazzling even the most hardened individuals. Catch the unveiling itself and you’ll be treated to some of Dubai’s finest voices, alongside complementary bites to eat and glasses of something special.

Failing this, the shopping malls also spare little expense in providing their December visitors with fitting decoration. Head to the Dubai Mall, and as well as checking out the residents of Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, you can also admire the world’s largest bauble, weighing more than a ton!

Explore the Christmas markets

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As you might expect from one of the world’s best shopping destinations, Dubai has plenty of opportunity to splash the cash on unique gifts and keepsakes with a Christmas market never far away.

On the southern side of the Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Harbor – the outer extent of Dubai Marina – is packed full of seasonal treats. Not only are there the stalls that make it a marketplace, but also a snow zone and ice rink.

For further wintry wonderlands, head to Ski Dubai. Besides pitting yourself against the world’s largest indoor ski park, Santa stands by waiting to give out goodie bags to the kids whilst more sedate visitors can sit back and enjoy a Christmas movie at the snow cinema.

Elsewhere, Fort Island’s Souk Madinat Jumeirah combines the traditional feel of an Arabian marketplace with a little extra Christmas sparkle. The food and drink options are particularly top-notch here, but there’s also plenty to keep the kids entertained as you soak up the ambience.

Book tickets for a show

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With the Christmas weather in Dubai dominated by temperatures of around 25°C, even if the sun does disappear behind a cloud you’ll have little reason to head indoors. However, you may well want to, given the range of shows.

For a traditional Christmas treat visit Dubai Opera. Sometimes overshadowed by its proximity to the observation decks of the Burj Khalifa, it is all the same a concert venue hosting the best comedians, music and performances of the moment. Come December, look out for tickets to the Nutcracker – a ballet set on Christmas Eve – and other seasonal favorites. Or satisfy your nosiness with a behind the scenes tour of the venue instead.

The Theatre in the Mall of the Emirates also does all it can to welcome in the spirit of Christmas, putting on live performances of family-favorites such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. One of the newest destinations in Dubai, the QE2 floating hotel and venue has another stellar schedule of modern Christmas tunes and even traditional British pantomimes.

Eat, drink and be merry

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Since the three wise men came from the east, it’s entirely possible their journey contained a stop at the small coastal settlement that Dubai would have been at the birth of Christ. You can get a feel for life in the desert with a safari and BBQ dinner, combining authentic cuisine and hospitality including belly dancing with more contemporary desert adventures. These include sand boarding after topping the dunes by 4WD.

But for a full regional culinary experience turn to the Al Hallab restaurant, whose chefs lean on hundreds of years of cookery and recipes to bring you mezze, meat platters and sweet dishes packed full of flavor.

If it’s a turkey dinner and all the trimmings you’re after, Dubai won’t disappoint either. There are plenty of restaurants open on December 25 and the surrounding days, with specially prepared seasonal menus listing no end of picks that will take you right back to your childhood.

Take advantage of Dubai’s coastal location

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Anyone used to the frigid water temperatures of North America and Europe at Christmas might first baulk at seeing people in Dubai lounging on its beachfronts just as Santa is heading off on his epic present-giving extravaganza.

But the fact is, with sea temperatures equal to those on land in the middle twenties Celsius, there are limited excuses for failing to switch to your swimwear. Drifting along the historic heart of Dubai on a traditional dhow made by craftspeople by hand is just as easy, and a great way to discover the areas of Bur Dubai and Deira, both of which relied on sea trade for centuries for their growth and wealth.

An alternative way to take in the area is with a sunset kayak tour, putting you in control of your own vessel whatever your experience and skill level.

Visit Dubai at Christmas and save!

There’s no doubting Christmas is a good time to visit Dubai. The climate is amenable to getting out and about whether you aim to discover Dubai Creek or the dunes of the desert, whilst the festive offerings come thick and fast. Christmas markets, nights at the theater and food, glorious food are all part of what makes Christmas in Dubai special.

But if you needed one more reason, that’s going to be Go City. Travel to Dubai with one of our passes and you’ll discover the magic of huge reductions on attraction admission to many of Dubai’s best things to see and do at Christmas.

Ian Packham
Go City Travel Expert

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Best markets in Dubai

Dubai is known for its shopping. Its malls strive to be world beating when it comes to both size and the experiences they offer – is there anywhere else in the world you can watch a screening of the latest Hollywood blockbuster, ski and scuba dive all in the same afternoon in the same place? Probably not. But Dubai’s malls aren’t the only place to satisfy your need to splurge. A trading post long before the advent of modern stores, you shouldn’t miss Dubai’s souks and markets either. Which are the best markets in Dubai? We’ve brought together our hit list for anyone not sure where to start. The Ripe Market Running throughout the year, The Ripe Market was one of the first of a new crop of marketplaces to set up in Dubai. Primarily focused on foodstuffs, its stalls are piled high with fresh organic produce, tasty looking vegetables and regional delicacies, whilst food trucks stand ready for anyone wanting to sample a range of cuisines then and there. In the winter months, The Ripe Market occupies an outdoor space within Police Academy Park, beside Ski Dubai and the Mall of the Emirates. In the hotter summer months, it moves inside, to the Times Square Center every Saturday. Market at The Beach With something for everyone, Market at The Beach is exactly as it sounds. Located on the shoreline at Jumeirah Beach Residences (JBR) from first thing in the morning until last thing at night, the stalls here are split into two zones. Operating over the winter months, one section is dedicated to fashion, small homeware items and jewelry, whilst the other offers up a tempting array of meals which can be enjoyed on the beach alongside views across the water towards the Ain Dubai Ferris wheel. Spice Souk The aroma of spices will probably reach you long before you reach the Spice Souk’s official boundaries. Sacks of saffron and armfuls of cinnamon sticks release a rich scent alongside a selection of teas and sweets. 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Gold Souk For traditional shopping, head to the Gold Souk in the Deira neighborhood, which has been the center for the region’s gold trade for centuries. Partially covered, its narrow alleyways are lined with hundreds of independent jewelry stores showing off their best wares in glittering window displays. As one of its oldest souks, it has to be considered one of the best markets in Dubai too. Irrespective of whether you’re looking for a piece of gold or just looking to discover its streets for the experience, the designs you see will have you admiring the craftsmanship on display. ARTE Standing for ‘Artisans of the Emirates’, ARTE is a weekend market that’s been going from strength to strength during its 15 years of existence. It connects Dubai’s small time makers and craftspeople with an audience of appreciative buyers at pop-ups in malls including Mercato and Times Square Center. Around 150 different makers have items available at any one event, with a guarantee that each and every piece on sale has been designed and made by vendors themselves. It means that for unique Dubai souvenirs, there’s probably nowhere better to find textiles, soaps, pottery and greetings cards. The Farmer’s Market An alternative place to The Ripe Market for vegetables is The Farmer’s Market. Created as an outlet for those brave souls growing produce in one of Earth’s driest environments, this is one of the top food markets in Dubai and appears on Bay Avenue on weekends during the winter. The focus is on fresh produce, whether that’s eggs or eggplants, which may be of limited interest to visitors to Dubai. However, there’s also usually a good selection of edibles which make nice mementos of your trip, including local honeys and jams. The best thing is that most of the produce is sold by the farmers themselves, allowing a rare connection between grower and buyer. 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So whilst it may not meet some definitions of a market, it does fill a gap between the original souks of Deira and Dubai’s modern megamalls. Visiting the best markets in Dubai Markets and Middle Eastern destinations such as Dubai have gone hand in hand since before recorded history. The best markets in Dubai are as diverse as any you’ll find, with traditional souks and modern farmers’ markets creating plenty of choice. Include a stop at one of our market picks during your vacation in Dubai and you won’t regret it. Travel to Dubai with Go City and you won’t regret that either! We offer visitors substantial savings on admission to many top attractions so you get to see the sights without worrying about your budget.
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The most adventurous things to do in Dubai

From sleepy Middle Eastern backwater to adventure hub within a single generation. From traditional, conservative culture to a world city in the same time frame. This is how Dubai rolls. Having grown wealthy off the back of oil revenues and having plenty of ready cash to hand thanks to an absence of income tax (just imagine!) the adventure industry has taken the emirate by storm. It means there are few extreme sports that can’t be enjoyed in Dubai, nor activities that don’t suit the adventurously minded. From ziplines to mountain bike tracks, these are the most adventurous things to do in Dubai. Adventures with a view Even the At The Top observation decks on the 124th and 125th floors of the Burj Khalifa can’t compete with the height achieved with Skydive Dubai, whose landing zone nestles on the edge of Dubai Marina. 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Unique ways to keep cool If supping from an ice cold drink simply doesn’t cut it, there’s a long list of adventurous things to do in Dubai that will not only keep you cool but also make you look cool at the same time. The new kid on the block of Dubai extreme sports is flyboarding, which you can try from the waters around the Ain Dubai observation wheel. Combining the look of a wakeboard with the propulsion power of a jet ski, flyboarders can reach heights of nine meters as they hover above the waves. A slightly more relaxing way to take to the waters of the Persian Gulf is with a stand-up paddleboarding lesson and tour around the Palm Jumeirah. Having mastered the basics – staying upright – you’ll drift between the Sofitel and Atlantis, taking in many of Dubai’s top sights from a distance along the way. Should stand-up paddleboarding somehow not hit the right spot, other water-based outdoor adventure activities in Dubai include kite surfing and parasailing. 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The extensive list of adventurous things to do in Dubai include attractions with a view, those based around the region’s warm waters and those taking advantage of its desert location. One of the best ways of seeing many of Dubai’s biggest attractions is with Go City. Our passes exist to bring you huge savings on attraction admission, making them a must-have for any trip to Dubai, whether you’ve got your eye on the adventurous or intend to spend your time exploring in a more sedate manner!
Ian Packham

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