From snow cinema to desert winter wonderlands, here are our very merry top picks
It’s official. Christmas is coming. The trees are up, presents are hidden in wardrobes, and the giddy cheer of the end of the year is wafting across the office.
The city is in the holiday mood and these are 22 of the best things to do in Dubai this Christmas.
From meeting Santa to having a picnic on the beach, to trawling the Christmas markets in Dubai and trying out Ski Dubai’s snow cinema (gloves included), these are some of our most merry ways to spend Christmas in Dubai.
That’s it. We can’t hold off any longer.
Here’s are pick of the things to do to feel utterly festive in Dubai this Christmas.
Celebrate global traditions
The Global Village teddy bears have their Santa hats on, meaning Christmas is in full swing at this fab family destination. See ‘singing Santa’ in Arabian Square and meet the tiniest Santa in the world – invisible to the naked eye – at Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Get a family photo in front of the giant tree, decked out to celebrate traditions from around the world, and catch up on your gift shopping with the Mini Festive Market. There will be merry music and lights every day and if you’re near the Festival Wheel come night time, you’ll even get snowed on. If you don’t want the fun to end, Global Village celebrates until January 8. So you can too.
Dhs15 (online tickets), Dhs20 (at the gate) globalvillage.ae.
Watch a movie in the snow
Instagram might be full of snowy scenes from family back home or friends off on their travels, but we bet they won’t find a cinema amid the white stuff. At Ski Dubai, you will. For the first time, watch your favourite Christmas movie or a new blockbuster on the slopes. Wrap up in ski gear, get cosy under a blanket, pop on a pair of wireless handphones and sit back with hot choc and popcorn. There’s even a heater in front of every seat, to make sure you’re nice and toasty. Pop into Santa’s grotto while you’re there and tell him all about it.
From Dhs200 for two. Until January 15. skidxb.com/snow-cinema
Have a picnic on the beach
One of the most embarrassing things about living in Dubai is how rarely we go to the beach (if only it wasn’t so sandy) but how much we love it when we actually pack up the car and do so. There’s even more reason to go this December with the return of Beach Canteen, behind Sunset Mall running until Saturday December 11. Try a G.O.A.T burger and cheesy fries, a steak sandwich from, you guessed it, La Baguette de L’Entrecôte or a philly steak sub from The Phil by High, the latest creation from High Joint. There are healthy options, vegan and veggie food trucks and plenty of sweet stuff too, so grab whatever takes your fancy and go chill out with a picnic on the beach, or stay at the venue for family-friendly entertainment and rides and slides for the kids.
Until Dec 11. beachcanteen.ae
Meet Santa
Santa’s helpers are making a lot of visits to Dubai this month, but did you know the real Santa is also planning a trip? He’ll be sleighing down to Expo Dubai all the way from his workshop in Korvatunturi in Lapland. Stopping at The Gorge in the Finland Pavilion, Santa will be meeting families and taking photos with kids young and old from Friday December 17 to December 22 from 11am to 8pm. There will be other photo ops across Expo, with Al Wasl, the Welcome Plazas, Jubilee Stage, Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre, Al Forsan Park and all the concourse areas getting trimmed in festive decs, while fans of classic classic holiday films like Home Alone (Thursday December 23), Miracle on 34th Street (Friday December 24) and Elf (Saturday December 25) should head straight to the Jubilee Stage to catch the movie action.
Dec 17-22. Finland Pavilion, Mobility District, Expo 2020 Dubai. expo2020dubai.com (0800 3976).
Eat Christmas food…all month long
Want to eat food cooked by Dubai’s best chefs and celebrate Christmas at the same time? Easy. Get on down to Time Out Market and get your chops round 30 specially created festive dishes available only until January 5. Our current favourite? Pitfire’s festive pizza. An olive oil base heaving with roast turkey, mozzarella, chunks of camembert, crumbled sage and onion stuffing, roasted chestnuts and spiced cranberry sauce. How have we coped without this? As well as Christmas food, there will be lots of very merry live entertainment and free meet-and-greets with Santa Claus, who’ll be popping into Time Out Market from noon to 3pm on Friday December 17, Saturday December 18, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Until January 5. Souk Al Bahar, Downtown Dubai, timeoutmarket.com/dubai.
Watch a Christmas tree lighting
It’s that time of year when silver and sparkle take over hotel lobbies across town. Huge Christmas trees are built and decorated over night, but kept in the dark until an official tree lighting ceremony. Crowds gather to watch the annual switch-ons, normally accompanied by festive singalongs from local choirs and festive nibbles and drinks. Look out for events at The Meydan Hotel on Thursday December 9 and Address Beach Resort on Friday December 10.
Click here for more Christmas tree lightings in Dubai.
Brunch on Christmas Eve
Now, we love the run-up to Christmas. You might have guessed that. But, nothing beats the feeling of waking up on Christmas Eve, knowing that in 24 hours, the big day will be upon us. Excitement bubbles as the five-year-old in all of us comes to the surface. So let your inner child loose and start the celebrations early. This year, Christmas Eve falls on a Friday. That’s Brunch Day to you and me. There are parties by day, everywhere from Asia Asia, Saffron and Soul Street to Bla Bla, Bull and Bear and Mama Zonia, and more brunches and dinners in the evening, at the likes of Karma Kafe, Neos and Rhodes W1. Get booking pronto.
Click here for more Christmas Eve brunches in Dubai.
Book your office Christmas party
The office Christmas party is the one festive thing no-one ever wants to attend. In charge of yours? Surprise everyone with a bash at Lucky Voice at Grand Millennium Dubai, where groups of six to 30 people will get two hours at the mic, a welcome festive mixed drink, and unlimited drinks plus canapes from Dhs195 per person. There are even packages for groups of more than 50 colleagues. It’s a guaranteed good night, the only drawback being the videos of your flawless Mariah Carey impression set to haunt you the next morning.
Lucky Voice. Barsha Heights. (800 58259).
Throw a snowball
Back at home, waiting to see if we’ll have a white Christmas, and feeling bitterly disappointed when we don’t, is something we’ve learned to live with. In Dubai, snowy fun is guaranteed at Souk Madinat Jumeirah’s Festive Market, back from Thursday December 16 to Thursday December 30. There might not be quite enough of the cold stuff to build a snowman, but we’re pretty sure you’ll make a solid snowball. Who will you throw yours at?
Free. Sun-Wed, 3pm-late; Thu-Sat noon-late. (December 16-30). Madinat Jumeirah Fort Island jumeirah.com/festivemarket
Be wrapped in gold
Christmas is more than a little tiring. Get your festive spa-kle back with some time out just for you with head-to-toe treats at spas and salons across Dubai. Got two hours to spare? The Versace Spa at Palazzo Versace Dubai has created The Golden Opulence Ritual, comprising a 24kt Gold Foot Ritual, a full body scrub and a gold hot stone massage. Be drizzled with 24kt Gold Body Oil, massaged with 24kt Gold hot stones, sprayed with 24kt gold body spritz and revived with a cappuccino sprinkled with, you guessed it, gold leaves. Take some me-time and turn to page 60 for eight more festive spa treats.
palazzoversace.ae (04 556 8750)
Order takeaway turkey
Let’s face it. We’re in Dubai and we’re a little bit spoilt, a little bit lazy, and more than a ittle bit surrounded by five-star hotels and awesome restaurants and pubs with teams of chefs that are just infinitely better at cooking than we are. So why bother? By our last count, there are about 50 options across town, from Atlantis The Palm and Jumeirah Zabeel Saray to Jones the Grocer and The Duck Hook, with plenty in between. Explore our selection of takeaway turkeys in Dubai this Christmas, so you can choose the best roasted bird for you and your crew.
Click here for more takeaway turkey in Dubai.
Go to a Christmas market
You’ve put up your tree. Ordered your turkey. Now it’s time to go shopping. There are festive markets dotted all over town, from the Winter Garden at Habtoor Palace, running daily, and the Maker’s Market on Saturdays at Cityland Mall to Golden Mile Galleria’s Christmas Market on December 10 on the Palm and RIPE’s festive editions on Fridays and Saturdays in Academy Park, Umm Suqeim. They’re perfect for buying unusual and unique Christmas presents, and for supporting local businesses in Dubai at the same time. Most markets also have plenty of fun and crafts on for little ones, and lots of local grub to try too.
Click here for more Christmas markets in Dubai.
See the Nutcracker
Going to the theatre is another must-do at Christmas and what better show to get you in the mood than The Nutcracker? The Russian State Ballet and Opera House are bringing the holiday classic to Dubai Opera via an enchanting ballet performance from Thursday December 23 until Saturday December 25. Be engrossed in the timeless story as snow flurries descend against the backdrop of nostalgic Tchaikovsky melodies such as the Waltz of the Flowers and the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy. Prepare to be utterly enchanted.
From Dhs300. Dec 23-25, 8pm and 2pm. Dubai Opera. dubaiopera.com (04 440 8888).
Christmas Day brunch
There is nothing more definitively Dubai at Christmas than going out with your Dubai family for a totally over-the-top brunch. Sit and sup in the sunshine at one of the town’s best restaurants, and let the fuzzy festive vibes take hold. It’s tradition, simple. If you’ve not yet booked, now is the time to do so, as the city is busy and buzzing once more. There are choices for every taste, budget and neighbourhood. Here’s just 15 we like: Buddha Bar, Bussola, Casa de Tapas, Chutney’s, Crown and Lion, Enigma, Farriers, Hutong, Maiden Shanghai, Nobu, Prime 68, Sloane’s, Stars ‘N’ Bars, The Pangolin and Topgolf. Yep, you can even get a game in on the big day. See what we mean about something for everyone.
Click here for more Christmas Day brunches in Dubai.
Go to panto
If ballet isn’t your bag, then perhaps panto is? Oh no it isn’t, you say? Oh yes it is. Oh no…see, you love it really. Take the family to the very festive Theatre by QE2 for a showing of Aladdin, full of colour, song and magic for everyone. The panto, which promises a Middle Eastern twist, sees the streetwise hero befriend a genie and outwit the wicked Abanazer to win the heart of his true love, Princess Jasmine. The more you shout, the more fun you’ll have.
From Dhs96. Thu Dec 16 -Mon Dec 27 various performance times. Theatre by QE2, Port Rashid, theatrebyqe2.com.
Hire your own cinema
Want to host a Christmas movie night but don’t quite have enough space on the sofa? Book the private screening room at Studio One Hotel and 25 of you can watch a family-friendly Christmas classic, from Home Alone, Frozen, and Elf to Nativity, Love Actually and The Christmas Chronicles. Screenings are at 11am and 7pm throughout December, from Dhs49 including candy, popcorn and soft drinks. Add ho ho ho house beverages for Dhs99 for an hour.
studioonehotel.com (052 787 9300)
Secret Santa and ugly sweaters
Two more traditions we love: Secret Santa presents and the most ridiculously sparkly, fluffy, reindeer-covered Christmas jumpers we can find. If you’re too late to organise your gang with Secret Santa this year, don’t worry because new hotel Th8 Palm is doing it for you. So delve into the depths of your wardrobe to unearth your best ugly Christmas sweater and show off your festive getup at a special Christmas Day lunch. Take along a gift for the communal Secret Santa and sing along to Christmas classics throughout.
From Dhs395. Dec 25, 1pm-4pm. West Palm, Crescent Rd, Jumeirah, Dubai, all.accor.com/hotel/B5B6/index.en.shtml (04 525 888).
Walk in the clouds
Got a few days off work over the Christmas holiday? Eating and drinking all week is perfectly acceptable, but you might also like to check out Dubai’s latest attraction. Sky Views Dubai is an architectural marvel with jaw-dropping views across Downtown Dubai. Put that vertigo to the test with the Sky Edge Walk, a 46m-long hands-free walk on a ledge encircling the top of the tower’s main pod, nearly 220, above the ground. Now obviously you’re attached to the ledge by a harnass, but that’s unlikely to be enough to do away with the butterflies-in-your-tummy, heart-in-your-throat feeling we get just thinking about such a feat. If you’re feeling really, really brave, lean out over the edge for an unreal snap. Anything for the ’gram, right?
Open daily 10am-10pm. Address Sky View Hotel, Downtown Dubai.
Get into the desert
Christmas is a sandy affair in Dubai, with beach picnics and dessert dinners pretty much compulsory. Bab Al Shams Desert Resort is making it easy for you with a daily festive market and Christmas-themed buffet dinner from Friday December 10 to Tuesday December 21. Take plenty of snaps in front of the 40-foot Christmas tree, browse festive market stalls, sup on mulled grape and hot chocolate and let little ones meet Santa, all included in the entry fee. For dinner head to Al Forsan from 7pm to 11.30pm.
Entry Dhs50 for kids and adults respectively. Dec 10-21, 6pm-10pm. Al Qudra Road, Opposite Endurance City, Dubai, babalshams.com (04 809 6194).
Boxing Day brunch
December 26 is one of our favourite days of the year. Gifts have been bought, wrapped (the worst job of Christmas) and exchanged (hopefully not yet returned), obligations to see certain friends and family members fulfilled and all the Christmas events ticked off – from festive markets and school concerts to Secret Santa and that office Christmas party. The pressure dials right down come Boxing Day, and you can choose to start the mission of eating everything that’s left in the fridge, or leave that for one more day, and head out a fabulously festive but totally chilled Boxing Day brunch. We quite fancy the Social Roast brunch deal over at Marina Social by Jason Atherton, from Dhs275. It is Sunday, after all.
Click here for more Boxing Day brunches in Dubai.
Go on a road trip
However much we love Christmas, sometimes it’s good to head off for a much less festive change of scene in the great outdoors. Pack your car, prepare a playlist (Christmas hits mandatory) and hit the road with a road trip to one of the seven emirates. You can kayak in Ajman’s mangroves, glamp on the beach in RAK, surf in Umm Al Quwain, go fishing in Fujairah, watch the stars in Sharjah, take on the dunes in Abu Dhabi or hike up the mountains in Hatta. Pop on a Santa hat for an epic selfie to send home.
timeoutdubai.com/things-to-do/7-of-the-best-road-trips-for-the-long-weekend
See more of Expo 2020 for less
It seems that Expo 2020 is the gift that keeps on giving. Throughout December, visitors can make the most of unlimited access to its programme of cultural and educational attractions for Dhs95, with the new Festive Passes. The programme of Christmas events includes a tree lighting ceremony, fireworks, carol concerts, Santa visits and seasonal tunes from District musicians and Exposonix and a dusting of snow.
Dhs95, Festive Passes available until Dec 31. Expo Rd, Dubai, Expo2020dubai.com (0800 3976).
5 Christmas movies you have to watch
Get in the festive mood with these Christmas crackers.
Jingle All The Way
Don’t be fooled by the toys and youngster-pleasing slapstick – this is a film for adults. Any parent who has struggled to track down this year’s “must-have” toy knows this is Arnold Schwarzenegger’s most-relatable role. Just remember it is only a film and you don’t need to wrestle anybody at Hamleys in the Dubai Mall.
A Nightmare Before Christmas
Trust an anti-Christmas Halloween movie that has somehow sneaked into the list to be the most heart-warming of them all. There might actually be a message in there about the true meaning of Christmas and there are definitely carol singers, snowball fights, Santa and gift giving. The only thing is, all that is hidden behind gorgeous stop motion animation, quirky characters and Tim Burton’s dark imagination to stop it being in the slightest bit sickly.
Love Actually
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It has become fashionable to sneer at Richard Curtis’s ensemble comedy, but there’s no denying it sets the mood for holiday romance. Britcom staples Hugh Grant, Colin Firth, Bill Nighy, Rowan Atkinson all play exaggerated versions of their usual characters, while Emma Thompson, Keira Knightley and Martine McCutcheon are all excellent inclusions to an all-star cast.
It’s A Wonderful Life
Often popping up on lists of the greatest film of all time, Christmas-related or otherwise, Frank Capra’s masterpiece starring James Stewart is a love letter to small town America. Which makes it all the more enjoyable when viewed in an ultra-modern city like Dubai. The idea of paying it forward and how your kindness is felt by others, even if you don’t know it, is as true in our city as it was in tiny Bedford Falls nearly 70 years ago.
Elf
Nearly 20 years on, and Will Ferrel’s turn as Buddy The Elf is his greatest role and his childlike innocence and wide-eyed optimism are a sweet antidote to more cynical times. If you don’t agree then you are a cotton-headed ninny-muggins who sits on a throne of lies.
Five Christmas books we love
Even the biggest kids need a classic tale on Christmas Eve
A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens
Scrooge is a literary and bookish way of saying Grinch, and this masterpiece remains the benchmark for festive grumpiness. The brilliance of characters such as Ebenezer himself, Tiny Tim and the spectres of Christmas past, present and future is evident in the fact that they’re recreated without change in adaptations by The Muppets, Bill Murray and countless cartoons.
Father Christmas, by Raymond Briggs
From the same author, illustrator and genius behind the beloved Snowman film this is the definitive version of Father Christmas. It was not the first and was not the last, but it is the perfect version of Father Christmas. Gorgeous drawings, hilarious visual jokes and a lead character who is a charming blend of grumpy neighbour and jolly uncle.
A Boy Called Christmas, by Matt Haig
If you consider Santa to be a superhero then this is his origin story. Expect to see a lot more of it this year as Netflix has adapted it for the screen. If you like your stories to have a side of heart-warming schmaltz then seek it out and learn how one little boy from Finland came to become Father Christmas.
The Father Christmas Letters, by J. R. R. Tolkien
Was Father Christmas the true inspiration for Gandalf the Wizard? Very possibly. Tolkien told stories of the private life of Father Christmas and his business associates in a series of letters sent to his children in the years between writing The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings and it certainly seemed it influenced his most famous beardy hero.
Christmasaurus, by Tom Fletcher
In case you didn’t know it this McFly and Strictly Come Dancing star is a smash-hit children’s story book writer, too. Kids will never forget this story of a plucky dinosaur who wants nothing more than to be able to fly and pull Santa’s sleigh.
