13 Things to do in Dubai at Christmas

Christmas festivities in Dubai will welcome you with lights, events, Christmas trees and an atmosphere to remember.

Many of the malls, markets and souks remain open, Jumeirah's Souk Madinat hosts a winter wonderland and the Mall of the Emirates hosts a Christmas market with everything from gift ideas to festive accessories.

Spanning over 6,705 square metres, and with an 85-metre snow-capped mountain, Ski Dubai is a year-round attraction. But during the Christmas season, the experience becomes even more enchanting.

With Christmas hymns and Father Christmas greeting visitors, skiing instantly becomes a memorable experience. Plus, you can get up close and personal with the most adorable creatures in the animal kingdom - penguins. Book your Ski Dubai ticket and enjoy watching them hop around in their natural habitat.

On your Christmas trip to Dubai, don't miss La Perle de Dragone, a magical and hypnotic theatrical show that lasts approximately one and a half hours.

More than 60 artists and up to 130 people take part in this acrobatic experience that will amaze you with its various aerial and underwater performances.

In addition, you can opt for a premium ticket with a platinum or vip ticket where you will also enjoy popcorn, canapes and drinks.

If you like thrills, Dubai is the place to be. That's why we recommend you booka helicopter ride, you'll have a unique view of Dubai's most representative sights and places of interest such as the Burj Khalifa, Palm Jumeirah or Atlantis.

You'll fly between the city's skyscrapers and artificial islands. And if it coincides with Christmas, you'll enjoy the illumination even more.

You can choose the duration of the ride, from 12 to 25 minutes, and surprise your partner, family or travel companions as you fly over the most iconic buildings in the UAE.

Another great way to enjoy a Dubai Christmas is, why not, take a balloon ride at sunrise, a unique and unrepeatable experience. An hour-long flight in which you will be able to see the best views of the city from 600 to 1,200 metres above sea level.

You can also opt for a more premium and complete experience if you book a balloon flight over the Desert Conservation Reserve with breakfast, which also includes an off-road vehicle tour of the desert, a gourmet breakfast in a majlis - an Arabian lounge - and a tour of the dunes in a land rover -

. Of course, both experiences include transfer to and from the hotel. Tip: don't forget your camera.

At Christmas time the Irish Village (famous Irish pub) offers Irish whiskeys and some delicious Irish stews to keep your hunger at bay. Located in Garhoud, Irish Village has lake views and landscaped grounds with lights to enhance the Christmas experience.

The Irish Village is one of the most elegant places to be during the festive season, and Christmas is no exception. The pub is famous for its exquisite European delicacies in a relaxed and informal atmosphere.

In addition, the whole area accompanies the Irish Village with a very communal atmosphere, with live music, street vendors and places to take photos and enjoy Christmas.

Enjoy one of the most fun Christmas experiences in Dubai at the Winter Wonderland, a Christmas space with a Santa's Grotto. I recommend it 100% especially in the months of December in Dubai and January in Dubai.

If you are going to Dubai with children this place becomes even more interesting as Santa appears and starts greeting you with a bag of gifts including chocolates, chocolates and other goodies. Not only that, but you can also enjoy fun adventures in the snow park including movies, snowman building and breakfast with Santa.

While you enjoy Winter Wonderland, a choir will be on hand to cheer you up, singing some of the best-known Christmas carols. In addition, some seasonal treats will be served including gingerbread, mince pies and a bespoke spicy mint chocolate chip.

This is one of Dubai' s main Christmas markets where you can shop for gifts and enjoy the Christmas atmosphere every day from 3pm to midnight.

Every year during the month of December, the Jumeirah market is transformed into a Christmas market with shopping carts, Christmas lights and jingle bells everywhere.

As usual you'll see a 35-metre Christmas tree, perfect for selfies. There will also be festive food, wine, gingerbread treats, snow play areas, live music, Father Christmas on a sleigh and more.

With temperatures dropping, it would be a great idea to soak up the sun over Christmas at the newly opened Bluewaters Island. Located next to Dubai Marina, Bluewaters Island has some of the most picturesque spots in the city and celebrates Christmas like no other man-made island in Dubai.

Known as Santa's Secret Island, the island hosts an annual Santa's Grotto, children's activities and Christmas music and light shows as Dubai's night falls.

It's also home to the world's largest observation wheel. If you go to Bluewaters Island for Christmas, expect to see plenty of food stalls, Christmas trees, as well as private Christmas-inspired huts.

Gems Private School Oud Metha is transformed into a festive spectacle. The Christmas Carnival is organised by a foreign association in Dubai and takes place in the grounds of Gems Private School Oud Metha every weekend between December and January.

This Christmas carnival features a host of activities such as face painting, balloon bending, bouncy castle, magic shows, train rides.

In addition, there will be various amazing prizes to win, food stalls and much more. For more information visit the event website.

If you go to Bab Al Shams (Sun Gate) at Christmas time, you'll be amazed by a beautifully decorated 13-metre Christmas tree.

While there, you can stroll around the Christmas stalls, meet and greet Father Christmas, listen to seasonal songs and music while sipping traditional mulled wine and exquisite hot chocolate, made to his own secret recipe.

Admission is completely free for adults, and Bab Al Shams is one of the most recommended places to visit if you're looking to enjoy good food and feel part of the Christmas festivities.

Christmas Eve at Bab Al Shams

On 25 December there will be plenty of games for children, camel and pony rides, magic and juggling shows, live music and a succulent roast turkey with all the trimmings.

New Year's Eve at Bab Al Shams

On New Year's Eve, Bab Al Shams no longer features many activities for children, but rather for adults with oriental dance performances, international flavoured drinks and dishes, DJs and fireworks displays.

A Christmas show is in store for you where you can catch the sound of Christmas at the Dubai Opera House. Enjoy your favourite Christmas songs, be it Santa Baby, Jingle Bell Rock, Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree or All I want for Christmas is You.

The Dubai Opera Big Band is here to take your celebration to the next level. The musicals take place on the most important days of Christmas.

With over 20 talented jazz musicians, the band is sure to make you sing your heart out and enjoy the music like no other, as it is hard to detach music from Christmas.

Every year during the Christmas season Dubai Zero Gravity beach club presents some Christmas classics on the big screen right on the beach. Tickets are priced at AED 75 (€18.32), fully redeemable for food and drinks. Doors are open from 7pm and the cinema starts at 8pm.

Also, the view from the loungers in the establishment is beautiful - this is because it's purposely located in a relatively dark area of the beach, so anything that shines is admirable.

Grab yourself a bag of beans or popcorn and curl up on a sun lounger for an outdoor movie night at the height of the Christmas season. Christmas movie days usually fall in December, so for more information, I recommend you visit the following link.

The Habtoor Palace Garden is a must-see to add to your Christmas calendar, a space filled with twinkling lights and decorated in a very unique style.

It belongs to the Habtoor Palace Hotel, but it is possible to visit without staying at the hotel. Although, if you are, you may find it more convenient to join the party. During the Christmas season, the opening hours are from 5 pm to midnight. Plus, if you love Christmas food, you've come to the right place to get your fill. There is a wide selection of pop-up stalls and outdoor street food.

Habtoor Palace Garden is an ideal festive destination to visit, socialise, have a good time with family or friends and, above all, enjoy an amazing Christmas atmosphere. What's more, you can even sing along with carolers and admire the live performances of some street artists.

At the end of December, you can expect wonderful mild weather, with daytime highs of 26°C and seawater temperatures of around 25.6°C - perfect for swimming on Dubai's pristine beaches!

It doesn't usually rain at Christmas time, so don't expect grey and gloomy days, but fog can be a problem in December, particularly in the early hours of the morning. However, fog can be a problem in December, particularly in the early hours of the morning.

With the weather in mind, it's advisable to pack light clothing in case you get a little chilly, although I'm afraid it's not the norm.

The wonderful weather in December combined with the holiday season makes the week from Christmas to New Year one of the busiest of the year in Dubai.

• If you want to enjoy a Christmas dinner, I recommend you always book in advance at either a fancy restaurant or a regular restaurant.
• Remember that you are in the festive season, so prices may be slightly higher than usual.
• Public transport in Dubai at Christmas time works exactly the same as it does at other times of the year, so I recommend this guide to getting around Dubai to help you plan your trip.
• However, I would always advise you to start your stay with a sightseeing bus tour of Dubai in order to familiarise yourself with the most important areas of the city.
• As the city has a beautiful beach and most of the hotels have swimming pools inside, make sure you bring swimming costumes.
• There are several places to buy souvenirs and gift items for your loved ones. If you wait until January you may see some amazing discounts.

Dubai is a proudly tolerant city when it comes to culture and religion, and there are several interesting churches to visit if you are a believer.

• St Mary 's Catholic Church (services in English, Spanish, French and Arabic, Christmas Eve, Midnight Mass and Christmas Day).
• Mar Thoma Church (Services in English and Malayalam on Christmas Eve).
• Dubai United Christian Church(Services in English, Italian and Spanish).
• St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church (Services in English, Arabic, German, Spanish, Tamil, French, Sinhala, Arabic, Italian and Tagalog).
• St. Thomas Cathedral (Orthodox)
• Holy Trinity Church. (Anglican)