Whether it’s a strategic getaway from Christmas tasks or a planned escape to enjoy the warmth of a distant country, Dubai is certainly one of the most popular destinations to spend the end-of-year holidays. Stunning beaches, worthy resorts, and, why not, numerous events for unforgettable holidays in the Emirates.
Between the sea and adventure, we recommend the Christmas season to visit Dubai, when the climate is pleasant, and the walks are a pleasure. It is estimated that between December and January, temperatures hover around 25-26° C; that’s why Christmas and New Year are by far the best time to visit the area.
In this guide, we present some of the most interesting events in the city of Dubai at Christmas, to encourage you to book your vacation in a really magical place today.
Dubai Shopping Festival
Every year, between December 26th and February 1st, the city hosts the traditional “Dubai Shopping Festival.” Perhaps it is the most coveted celebration for lovers of shopping, art, and gastronomy in search of culinary pleasures. The Dubai Shopping Festival extends throughout the city with small localized events in stores or shopping centers. Public establishments overflow with offers, discounts, and events that draw the public and entice them to use their credit cards. It is no secret: Dubai is the shopping city par excellence, but with the DSF, everything becomes even more fascinating, with events dedicated to gastronomy, fashion shows, performances by internationally renowned artists, fireworks, concerts, and a film festival.
First organized in 1996, the Dubai Shopping Festival is the perfect opportunity to restock wardrobes and indulge in wild shopping. Christmas is also the time when fashion victims head to the Emirates to explore new trends and test their luck with astronomical lotteries. The event involves all major shopping centers in the city and offers the chance to shop at special prices in all areas, from electronics to clothing. If you love luxury, head to the gold souk, a market entirely dedicated to jewelry that will seduce you in just a few minutes. Here’s another great idea: visit the spice souk, where practically everything costs less than gold, and where you can stock up on fresh spices to enrich the family kitchen with flavors.
Christmas Markets
Fans of small handicrafts or tourists tired of constantly using their credit cards can take a wonderful journey through the Christmas Markets of Dubai. It’s a series of bazaars offering small handicraft items from the Emirates or distant countries. Here, you admire unique objects, and it’s highly recommended to buy gifts for relatives and friends, or an ornament to display in the living room. Don’t miss the Atlantis Festive Village, a veritable Christmas village inside the Atlantis the Palm, the Souk Festive Market at the Madinat Jumeirah—with a visit from Santa Claus and a North Pole train for young and old alike.
Ski Dubai at the Mall of the Emirates
Yes, you have come to Dubai to enjoy the pearl beaches and ultra-luxurious hotels. But why not spend a day skiing while you’re at it? For this, simply head to Ski Dubai at the Mall of the Emirates, rent your equipment, and enjoy the world’s largest indoor ski slope, where you can also snowboard and engage in other winter sports. And if you have doubts, try to imagine: 85 meters high, 80 meters wide, and over 400 meters long, for a total of 5 different trails with varying levels of difficulty. Of course, the facility also offers lessons to learn how to manage on the snow, to make the most of your stay in this city. If you want to ski at Ski Dubai, all you need is a ticket that includes all the necessary equipment to hit the slope, except for the gloves, which have to be purchased separately or brought from home.
Skiers who prefer to relax can sip a hot drink at the ice bar with the Snowpark ticket option, a special ticket for those who just want to stroll on the snow or go tobogganing. Inside the structure, the temperature is constantly maintained at -4° C, a nice difference compared to the 25-30° outside!
Dubai Chillout Lounge
At -6° C, the Dubai Chillout Ice Lounge may be one of the city’s most beautiful and unexpected attractions. It is the first ice lounge in the Middle East, specially designed for lovers of polar temperatures. In this lounge café, practically all the furniture is made of ice, reflecting the play of light from illumination that enhances its intrinsic beauty to the fullest. When you first enter the Chillout Ice Lounge, you are immersed in a combination of glass, ice, and steel. You are required to wear thermal clothing suitable for the climate, namely a parka with a hood and wool gloves. With this gear, you must stay for a few minutes in a buffer zone at 5 degrees above freezing, to acclimate your body to the low temperatures and avoid an abrupt thermal difference.
In this lounge café, you can choose your ice table and enjoy a welcome drink, usually included in the entrance ticket. You can also opt for a soup, hot chocolate, or a quick snack, all strictly below zero.
Events and Shopping in Shopping Malls
Although Dubai is the shopping capital par excellence year-round, during this special period, you can experience a very engaging atmosphere that encourages the spirit of sharing. We recommend bringing an extra suitcase for all the souvenirs you will want to take home! It is the perfect city for those seeking a warm getaway, away from the winter cold; it is also the ideal destination for those who cannot give up the wild shopping derived from European Christmas traditions. You only need to head to any of the numerous shopping centers to feel at home, but with an extra touch of luxury. Large Christmas trees, snow decorations, ski slopes, and ice rinks, indoor-themed areas, and spaces dedicated to children’s entertainment and activities: all this for a relaxing stay that will entice you to shop.
The most famous shopping centers in Dubai are certainly the Dubai Mall (with about 1200 shops!), the Mall of the Emirates (famous for its ski slopes), the Wafi Mall—which outdo themselves each year in offering their clients the maximum in terms of events, discounts, and Western-style celebrations. If you’re looking for an extraordinary experience, the answer is always the same: the shopping centers like the Dubai Mall, where you can admire a beautiful aquarium or take a boat excursion on the lake. If you want to relive the canal experience like in Venice, you can head to the Souk Madinat Jumeirah.
And don’t miss thematic malls like Ibn Battuta with its 250 shops; it is uniquely subdivided into 7 courts, just like the countries visited by the famous Moroccan explorer who gave his name to this structure. Then, also take a tour of City Walk, the Outlet Village shopping center built on the model of an ancient Tuscan village. Wafi Mall is an Egyptian-style shopping mall, inspired by the pyramids and the extraordinary historical beauty of ancient Egypt.
Christmas on the Beach in Dubai
Sun and tanning enthusiasts choose Dubai every year because of its numerous beaches, both natural and artificial, that dot the landscape. The city has some of the best hospitality facilities available for its guests. During your stay, you can even decide to rent an umbrella by purchasing a day pass. Alternatively, if you’re looking for a more economical solution, head to the spectacular free beaches of Kite Beach and Jumeirah Beach—the right compromise between comfort and service, but without spending a fortune.
Kite Beach stretches in front of the Sunset Mall: it’s one of the most beautiful white beaches where the water is warm, even at Christmas. You can use a towel or rent a deckchair starting at 30 euros. The area has numerous entertainment and dining establishments where you can enjoy quality lunches and dinners. The beach on Jumeirah Road, just a stone’s throw from the Burj Al Arab, is a free stretch where the strip of sand separates the crystal-clear sea from the majestic cityscape. Here too, it’s possible to rent an umbrella for a stay entirely under the sign of relaxation. Another free beach, though a bit far from the center, is Al Mamzar, considered one of the most beautiful in the Emirate.
Christmas and New Year’s Cruise in Dubai
Christmas on a cruise? Experience a unique and alternative adventure, embark on a Costa cruise to celebrate Christmas and New Year in the warmth of Dubai. Leave the cold behind and board one of the large ships that will take you directly to Dubai for an unforgettable journey. The Christmas options are numerous and constantly renewed, to make the most of well-deserved holidays. Besides the trip to Dubai and the United Arab Emirates, you can enjoy all the entertainment and festivities onboard. For instance, the ships will host Santa Claus. Children can bring him a letter, and he will be waiting for them with plenty of gifts. Christmas Day is celebrated together by the pool, where a Kiss Cam allows you to exchange kisses and wishes and become the protagonist on the big screen. And it wouldn’t be a Christmas cruise without a dream dinner: with fabulous restaurants, each ship offers the best of Italian tradition and innovation, as well as menus from around the world for a truly unique New Year’s Eve.
