The UAE certainly comes alive in the run-up to Christmas. Yes, there may be movie nights on Netflix and great shopping venues, but the country has innumerable events and things to tempt you outdoors. The country is getting a magical makeover with astounding sights and experiences to make this festive period fulfilled and memorable. So whether you are looking for light shows or Xmas-themed treats, UAE has it all!

Dubai Expo City:  Magical Land with Traditional and Chalet-Style Christmas Market

With celebrations spanning the UAE winter season, Dubai Expo City will entertain the residents of the UAE with chalet-style & traditional markets, fun fairground games, pine trees, nightly projection shows, and more. It has announced free entry to all residents to make the event livelier. 

A great news is there for pet owners as well. This event is now a dog-friendly destination, with labelled stations offering complimentary bowls of water, waste bags, and dog treats.

Take a look at some of the notable events and things to do in Dubai Expo City 2022 – 

Letters to Santa – Santa Claus is indeed coming to Dubai Expo 2022! The Expo site has a mailbox named ' Letters to Santa', where kids can write a letter to Santa detailing their wishes and desires and also can get a unique Christmas stamp on their Expo passports. At the end of the Christmas season, the mailbox will be used to donate gifts to needy people.

The mailbox 'Letters to Santa' is placed right next to Al Forson at the Earth Plaza Stage.

Christmas Movies – Children can get a good dose of Christmas nostalgia with multiple Christmas movies, like Miracle on 34th Street, Elf on Jubilee Stage, and Home Alone.

The screenings are scheduled for 23rd, 24th, and 25th of December.

Shops and Kiosks – Apart from the movies, you can check out various shops and kiosks that sell Christmas decoration items including Christmas trees. You can take advantage of the shops by purchasing gifts for your dear and near ones. 

To buy the Xmas-related items, head to the Al Wasl Plaza.

Christmas Tree – When you go to the shops and kiosks at the Al Wasl Plaza, you would also find the Christmas tree of the Dubai Expo City there. Towering high, the Christmas tree is decorated with decorative gift boxes and baubles.

Dance at the Christmas Parade – As you walk around the Al Wasl area, you will see the grand Christmas parade, where you can shake your leg with the performers disguised as festive trees.  

Action-packed Winter Camp – Children between the ages of 6 and 12 years can participate in an action-packed winter camp consisting of indoor and outdoor activities. Apart from the activities, various informative classes would be organised for children as well.

Mrs Claus's Surprise – From 26 to 29th December, the second edition of the Expo will showcase Mrs Claus's surprise.

Click Pictures with Santa – Children can visit Santa's house or get a picture with Santa’s sleigh to make the event truly memorable for themselves.

Winter City Activities – You can even participate in winter activities like a big jump, ice climbing wall, zipline, ball games, skating, duck fishing, and more.

Other Workshops – You can take part in competitions like gingerbread decoration or t-shirt drawing or even enrol in ornament-making workshops and toy factories to make the most of the Dubai Expo 2022!

Dubai Expo 2022 is open from 23rd November 2022 to 8th January 2023 (15:00 – 23:00)

Winter Wonderland: Festive Fair for Kids

There are plenty of things to do for kids in Dubai's Town Square, which is transformed for the holiday season. You can visit this place with your little ones and have them experience excellent festivity until 1st January 2023. Events will take place on weekends starting from 10th December (4 – 8 pm)

Let’s have a look at the activities happening in Town Square’s Winter Wonderland – 

Weekend Activities – The weekend activities for kids include a carousel, roaming entertainment, mascots, children's workshops, face painting, kid's water fountain, kid's splash pad and kid's train, and playground.

Scheduled Activities – 

Madinat Jumeirah Festive Market: Stage for Winter Activities and Christmas Extravaganzas

Running from 15 to 30th December, the Madinat Jumeirah festive market sprawls across an area of 1,750 square metres. It offers various family activities such as Venetian carouse, a 36-ft tall Christmas tree, Abra rides with Santa, and so much more. 

With a live band playing seasonal favourites, you can enjoy delicious foods and drinks while also listening to some of your favourite melodies. Jumeirah One members can also use the points on festive food and drink purchases at some select stalls to get the best offers and deals.

Here are some of the activities and sites that you can enjoy in the Madinat Jumeirah festive market – 

• 36 ft Christmas tree
• Light and Sound Christmas Tress shows
• Mini Train rides
• Bungee Jumping
• Venetian Carousel
• Festive Decorated Abra Rides
• Ginger Breadhouse's
• Festive shopping
• Festive Dining
• Live Band entertainment

Madinat Jumeirah market opens from Monday to Thursday at 15:00 and Friday to Sunday at 12:00.

Ski Dubai: Meet and Greet Santa Claus

For the admirers of a snowy Christmas, this is certainly the place to be! You can be seated in the winter wonderland and enjoy a snowy Christmas here. Get a chance to meet Santa Claus, buy a Christmas tree, or even watch Christmas classical cosied up in the snow. 

You will get rental clothing, including socks, boots, jackets, and headphones to keep you warm. Apart from this, the snow cinema will also provide table service so that you can order food and festive desserts. This can be a perfect choice for those who wish to experience cold in the UAE. 

Given below are the standard features and passes of Ski Dubai – 

The two popular packages for Ski Dubai are discussed in the table below – 

Bluewaters: Fun Activities all Over the Island

Bluewaters, an artificial island 400 metres away from the Jumeirah beach residence coastline, also features several events for UAE residents such as drone shows, weekly island ladies' nights, Santa's secret island, and so on. 

Discussed below are the details of the major events happening in Bluewaters in Dubai – 

Santa’s Secret Island – Santa's secret island is an attraction that can certainly nab your attention from the festivities taking place on Bluewaters. The entertainment and festive movie night schedule is given in the table below – 

Entertainment Schedule

Festive Movie Nights

Drone Show – Bluewaters would be hosting a drone show on terra firma. The show will be conducted from 15th December to 29th January, where hundreds of drones will take to the sky and create amazing animations. The show is a part of the Dubai shopping festival. 

Deira City Centre and Mall of the Emirates: Christmas Wishes by Santa Claus

Throughout December, ample kids' friendly events and activities including giving away presents, meet & greet Santa, storytelling with Santa, decorated trees, reindeer sleight, melodious carols, and more, will take place in Deira city centre and mall of the Emirates. Children can take advantage of the event and get wishes from the original Santa Claus!

The details of the event are given below – 

Deira City Centre

• Roaming Santa Claus, true to the name, will roam around the City Centre at Deira, distributing goody bags containing sweets to kids. Additionally, service desks will give goody bags to children until 31st December.
• Children can also take a picture with Santa Claus at the Metro Link and City Centre, Deira.

Mall of Emirates

• Hear stories with Santa at Ski Dubai daily from 5 to 6 pm for AED 50 till 24th December.
• Children can write to Santa about why they want to dine with them, and one of them will be selected to have dinner with him at the Sheraton Hotel, Mall of Emirates. This plan is applicable till 24th December.
• For photo sessions, Santa will be available at his grotto located in Ski Dubai. Children can get a complimentary goodie bag full of sweets (applicable till 25th December).
• Apart from Ski Dubai, photo sessions will also be conducted with Santa’s sleigh at Mall of Emirates – Fashion Dome Ground Level and Ski Dubai entrance Ground level.

Soul Al Bahar: Mouth-Watering Festive Treats

With more than 30 limited-edition dishes inspired by Christmas, the Time Out Market Dubai is set to be one of the eclectic food and cultural destinations of the UAE. Running from 5th December to 5th January, it will have a dedicated menu for both residents and visitors of the UAE. 

The place will be fully draped with exquisite Christmas trees and beautiful fairy lights. Apart from food and decoration, Santa Claus will be there to meet kids, as well as live musical performances and DJ nights. 

Some of the popular dishes that you can try here are listed below –

• Giant Yorkshire pudding with a roast turkey leg and chestnut stuffing by Folly Workshop
• Classic spaghetti alle vongole by Fulvio
• Tempura lobster and caviar bao by Social Dining
• Silky turkey ament by Reif Japanese Kushiyaki
• Festive Chocolate & hazelnut baklava with vanilla ice cream by Balkan Bakery & Deli
• Warm apple pie with vanilla custard and cinnamon sugar knots by Pitfire
• After eight or terry’s chocolate orange ice cream flavours by Scoopi
• Pecan pie by Little Erth

Before Setting Off

As we can see from the above list, countless events and activities are lined up so that we can enjoy the festival to the fullest. From dressed-up Christmas trees to appealing festive treats, you can easily experience the magic of Christmas in the country. The country's positive spirit and cheers are clearly visible for Christmas everywhere you turn. With so many things to do, you should plan your December event calendar and take advantage of all that is there to do.

So don't wait – check the lineups to find out the events match your interest and get your tickets now!

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