Christmas in Dubai: what to do, practical info and tips

Are you looking for an alternative Christmas? Tired of winter weather, parties spent in the cold and endless dinners with relatives? Plan your Christmas in Dubai!

Dubai is the perfect city for a wide variety of experiences: speedboat rides, desert safaris, camel rides, underwater aquariums, dolphin encounters... in short, an unforgettable adventure awaits you!
Incidentally, in December the weather is ideal for a holiday in the Arab Emirates.
So here's everything you need to know to plan your getaway: here's what to do and how to organise Christmas in Dubai.

1 - Christmas on the beach, speedboat tours and parasailing

Photo by Sergey Safonov. Christmas in Dubai welcomes you with summer sun and heat. What better way to celebrate than a dip in the warm waters of the Emirate? Between resort and free beaches, you can't miss a trip to Kite Beach, opposite the Sunset Mall, and Jumeirah Beach, a stone's throw from the Burj al Arab. Approximate prices for a sunbed and umbrella are around €30.00.

But if just sunbathing is not enough for you, then here are some super exclusive and adrenaline-pumping activities for you! For starters, you can take a thrilling speedboat tour starting from Dubai Marina and passing by the Atlantis the Palm and the Burj Al Arab: you will see incredible views as you ply the waters of the Persian Gulf! But if even this isn't enough for you and you're looking for pure adrenaline... how about flying over the Dubai coastline 150 metres above the ground on a parachute attached to a speedboat? That's right, experience the thrill of parasailing, hovering in the sky while being towed by a boat!

2 - Ski Dubai: snow park and meeting the penguins

Photo by Steven Byles. OK, you came here to get away from the cold and classic Christmas weather... but if you want a crazy experience of snow and Arctic penguins while it's 30 degrees outside, inside the Mall of the Emirates is Ski Dubai, an indoor ski resort! A 4,500 m2 snow park offering all kinds of entertainment: bobsleigh rides, snow tubing, tobogganing, climbing, Zorb Ball (Giant Snowball) and much more. We recommend the 1-day pass with unlimited access to the attractions, so you won't miss a thing!

3 - Visit the Winter Wonderland at Madinat Jumeirah and the Christmas Markets

If you get nostalgic for the more classic Christmas atmosphere for a moment, Madinat Jumeirah (behind the well-known Burj Al-Arab) is transformed into the most classic of Christmas villages: the Souk Festive Market is filled with German-style markets, a train to the North Pole, even Father Christmas himself!

For the rest, Dubai too is no exception, and for the holiest feast of the year there are plenty of markets with handicrafts and delicacies for young and old alike. Don't miss theAtlantis Festive Village, a real Christmas village inside the Atlantis the Palm, the Winter Garden Market and the Christmas Market at Reform.

4 - Desert safari, dinner and camel ride

Photo by Vito Mandina. Experience one of Dubai's must-do's, an unmissable experience that at Christmas time takes on even more of a thousand and one nights! Set off in a 4x4 jeep towards the desert: you will plough through the sand amidst incredible drifts among the dunes for a super adrenaline-fuelled experience! And once you reach the Bedouin village, grab a sand board and launch yourself off the highest dunes! Meanwhile, the village will be preparing for a mouth-watering barbecue, with Bedouin dinner, shows, and camel rides. The sunset will colour the postcard of your memories with oriental dream tones. And if even that is not enough for you, you can even choose the quad or dune buggy option! It will be an unforgettable experience!

For more info: Dubai: desert safari, dinner, sandboarding and camel riding

5 - Christmas with kids: Waterpark, meeting the Dolphins and Aquarium

If you are spending Christmas in Dubai as a family with your little ones (but also if you want to have a good time on your own...), you can have an absolute blast at Laguna Waterpark! The waterpark is one of the newest attractions in Dubai: not only is there direct beach access, but you can try out some crazy slides and rides! The Costrictor, a tobogaan full of bends, the Manta, another super adrenaline-filled slide, a surfing experience at WaveOz... in short, there really is everything! Of course, many spaces and rides designed for the little ones as well. We recommend the Laguna Waterpark one-day pass for access to all attractions and the private beach.

In the incredible setting of Atlantis the Palm, right in Dolphin Bay, there is another water park, the Aquaventure Waterpark. Here you can participate in a dolphin encounter at Atlantis, taking advantage of the shallow water to safely interact with them. Imagine what an incredible experience to have with the whole family!
And while you're at it, at Atlantis you can combine entry to Aquaventure with entry to The Lost Chambers aquarium thanks to the single combined ticket. This way, in between slides, you can admire over 65,000 marine species.

6 - Attend Christmas Mass

Although a Muslim country, the UAE is remarkably religiously tolerant. So if you're attached to the tradition of Christmas mass and don't want to give it up, you can go to St Mary's Church in Oud Metha, one of the largest in the city, or to St Francis Church at the southern end of the city.

7 - Shopping in the world's biggest malls

Photo by Peter Gronemann. Dubai, you know, is the city where everything takes on gigantic proportions: skyscrapers, hotels, artificial islands. No exception (indeed!) are the shopping malls: here you can find the biggest in the world and, hear hear hear, they are all open at Christmas! You can do all sorts of shopping at the Mall of the Emirates, the world's largest mall, at the Dubai Mall, with extended hours until late!
But if you're looking for something more typical and traditional, you can venture into the splendid souqs, the gold and spice souqs, to haggle with merchants even on Christmas Day!

8 - Christmas At the Top atop the Burj Khalifa

You're not thinking of spending Christmas in Dubai and not climbing to the top of the tallest skyscraper in the world... the most popular experience, the must of musts here in Dubai is the climb to the top of the Burj Khalifa!

You will have a crazy view over the whole city, all the way to the desert, an incredible spectacle, with the thrill of going up in a lift that reaches 600 metres from the ground in just one minute!

Remember that the Burj Khalifa is the most important attraction in Dubai, so to avoid being stuck in line for hours it is essential to book your ticket well in advance to go up to the 124th and 125th floors.

9 - Dancing fountains boat show

In the Dubai Marina area, just below the Burj Khalifa skyscraper, the extraordinary dancing fountain show takes place every day. This is a show where fountains dance to music, solemn, elegant, with jets of water creating exciting choreography. Imagine the crowds of people trying to get the best seats outside... but you can avoid it, which is why we suggest you watch the fountain show on a boat, aboard a typical Abra (traditional wooden boats), for a privileged perspective and above all... without the crowds!

Which museums and attractions remain open?

From this point of view, the fact that it is Christmas will not have a big impact on your holiday: all attractions, shops, shopping centres, transport, everything follows the normal daily rhythm, with no restrictions, no closures. So all museums and attractions remain open regularly, and shopping centres even extend their opening hours into the evening!
SEE ALSO: What to see in Dubai

What means of transport are available?

Transport will continue to operate regularly over the Christmas period and on Christmas Day. By the way, the best way to get around Dubai is by taxi, so you won't have any trouble finding one available. However, expect the fares to go up a bit: it is the peak season and everything costs a lot more, at least twice as much.

• Recommended solutions: the taxi, despite the doubled fares, is always cheap (about €5.00 every 15 minutes). The metro is recommended to reach Dubai Marina (stops at the Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall and the Mall of the Emirates) - more info here

• Useful passes and cards: we recommend the purchase of the Dubai Explorer Pass, a card which allows you to save over 55% on the cost of admission to 3, 4, 5 or 7 Dubai attractions

Weather in Dubai at Christmas

The weather in December is ideal, with maximum temperatures hovering around 25-26° and minimums not falling below 16°. December is actually one of the best months to visit Dubai and the emirates, as you don't suffer from the heat of the spring and summer months, and temperatures are ideal both for sightseeing and for desert excursions or days at the beach.

Christmas offers in Dubai: Flight + 4 nights in a hotel

• Cheap flights: Flight to/from Rome from €280.00 - see offers

• Where to stay: 4 nights in a hotel from €180,00 per couple - look at the offers

• Flight + hotel: A/R flight + 4 nights/5 days from €520,00 per person - look at the offer