Where to go for major festive feels in the desert.
The top things to do in Dubai over the festive season
It’s the holiday season and that means there’s lots of fun-filled festive taking place across the emirates.
At City Centres in the UAE and Mall of the Emirates, one of the leading Dubai attractions, the malls have been transformed into magical winter wonderlands complete with twinkling lights, glittering decorations and towering trees decked with hundreds of festive ornaments.
From meeting Santa in his Alpine-themed grotto to catching themed dance shows and skating in a snow park, this year the leading lifestyle destinations are pulling out all the stops with great family-friendly experiences sure to get you in the festive spirit.
Scroll below to get the lowdown now…
Dazzling decorations at City Centre malls across the UAE
Santa Is In Town!
There’s still time to round up your little ones and treat them to a magical trip to see their favourite bearded Christmas character before he sets off around the world on his sleigh.
A special memory your brood will always treasure, kids can meet Santa in his festive grotto, take photos and tell him their present wish list (listen closely, mums and dads!). And Santa has a big bag of sweet treats and special goodies to share with all the kids who pay him a visit.
See Santa at City Centre Deira, My City Centre Al Barsha and City Centre Me’aisam until December 25th. Children will also be gifted a complimentary card to Magic Planet Me’aisam when they visit Santa at the mall.
Kids will love meeting Santa in Dubai
Mall of the Emirates
Weighed down with shopping bags? Keep your eyes peeled for the surprise bellmen at Mall of the Emirates, who are here to make your festive shopping experience all the more enjoyable. What’s more, it isn’t a snow joke when we say you’ll receive free Snow park passes to Ski Dubai with every purchase of an AED750 GiftCard.
City Centre Mirdif
City Centre Mirdif is bringing North Pole vibes to the UAE with an ice-skating rink and snow park for their winter wonderland edition of ‘OUTDOORS’.
Create snow angels amongst the igloos, take snaps with the adorable penguin and polar bear figures and kick back with a mug of hot chocolate by a faux fireplace in a cosy festive-themed chalet. It doesn’t get more festive than that.
As it’s the season of giving, you could be in with a chance of winning a huge AED 5,000 worth of GiftCards to the mall when you spend AED1,500.
City Centre Deira
If you’re heading to City Centre Deira over the holidays, make sure you catch a performance by the troupe of dancing reindeers, ginger men and elves led by Santa. Running until December 25th, there will be four 20-minute shows every day at 03:30 PM, 06:00 PM, 07:30 PM and 09:30 PM.
Pick up a AED600 mall GiftCard and you’ll also receive two tickets to see a film of your choice at VOX Cinema.
The shopping malls in Dubai have been transformed into wintery wonderlands
City Centre Me’aisem
Fans of City Centre Me’aisem’s food and retail hub ‘Backyard’ will be thrilled to hear that the popular pop-up has been extended till the end of December. Along with a daily musical parade, you’ll find festive-themed activities and workshops on offer – see you at the gingerbread decorating station!
City Centres in the Northern Emirates
It’s hard not to get swept up in the festive mood at City Centre Fujairah and City Centre Ajman where there’s special entertainment, deals and activities for all, along with a colourful carnival troupe of characters spreading holiday cheer.
Keep the kiddies entertained while you pick up last-minute gifts at the life-sized Snakes and Ladders board game at City Centre Fujairah, or stop by City Centre Ajman’s ultimate ‘Fun Factory’ where they can join in on get their creative juices flowing at the arts and crafts workshop.
While little ones play to their hearts content, shop just AED200 to enter the draw to be one of two shoppers to scoop a GiftCard worth AED50,000!