December truly is one of the most magical times of the year to be in Dubai. With the weather cooling down and everyone slowing down for the end of the year, you’ll be spoilt for choice with festive activities to keep you busy this month.
UAE National Day Celebrations
Luckily for Dubai residents, December in Dubai kicks off with a nice long weekend! The 2nd of December marks UAE National Day, celebrating the union of all seven Emirates into one nation. It commemorates the 1971 agreement for Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ajman, Al-Ain, Sharjah, and Umm al-Quwain agreeing to come together under one country, with Ras Al Khaimah joining in 1972 to make up the seventh.
This holiday means residents can enjoy a long weekend off from the 1st-3rd of the month (for employees of ministries and federal entities), and there will be plenty to keep you busy while you celebrate. Why not start your Sunday off right with some exercise to wake you up? The Skechers Performance Run will take place on the 1st of December at Meydan Hotel, with runners (or walkers!) of all ages coming together across 3km, 5km, 10km or 21km – your choice! The roads will be closed so you can take in the breathtaking Dubai city skyline, and we recommend getting into the National Day Spirit by donning your best red, white, green and black gear or even painting your face to match the flag.
Round off your UAE National Day celebrations with spectacular fireworks shows dotted about the city on both Monday the 2nd and Tuesday the 3rd at the following locations:
- JBR The Beach and Bluewaters: 1st December at 8 pm
- Hatta Sign: 2nd December at 8 pm
- Dubai Festival City Mall: 2nd December at 9.10 pm
- Al Seef: 3rd December at 9 pm
- Riverland at Dubai Parks and Resorts: 1st December at 7 pm and 2nd December at 9.30 pm
Dubai Shopping Festival
Ready to shop until you drop? Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF), the longest-running retail festival in the world, returns for its 30th anniversary this year. The action kicks off on the 6th of December and runs right through until the 12th of January, giving you plenty of time to find some true gems in time for Christmas and well into the New Year. This is not only a chance to bag some great bargains, but the month will also be filled with dazzling entertainment, fireworks displays, family-friendly experiences and rewarding raffles! Check out your favorite stores and malls in Dubai for the best discounts this month.
Similarly to the UAE National Day Celebrations, the 38 day-long DSF celebrations will be marked with daily fireworks and drone shows. Dubai Festival City Mall will light up with a daily fireworks display for visitors at 8.30 pm. We recommend going on a Saturday, where Festival Bay will become a hub of entertainment, with live shows from top Arabic stars!
For a more tranquil fireworks experience, head to the Hatta Sign on Fridays and Saturdays for a dazzling fireworks display starting at 8 pm. Finally, for something different, make your way to The Beach at JBR or Bluewaters Island for a glistening twice-daily drone display. Be captivated as 1000 drones take to the sky in formation to create a story-telling, music-filled performance at 8 pm and 10 pm each night.
Family-friendly fun
Christmas is all about spending time with the ones we love, and what better way to get your little elves into the festive spirit than visiting the many Winter Wonderlands across the city? Both Ski Dubai (Mall of the Emirates) and Dubai Ice Rink (Dubai Mall) will have Santa working full-time this December, with Winter Wonderland and The Grotto opening their doors so your little ones can get their Christmas lists in on time. Just make sure to book your slots in advance – Santa’s a busy man this time of year!
If you don’t want to leave out your furry friends from the festive fun, make sure to visit Feastival on the 14th of December at Dubai Polo and Equestrian Club. Running from midday to 10 pm, let the kids burn off some energy on bouncy castles, slides and ball pits, and your pups will also have their own dedicated ball pit and pools to cool off in the mild December weather. Make sure to browse the market for festive delights for both your two-legged and four-legged companions, and don’t forget the Fun Dog Show, where pups will compete for paw-some prizes across six categories!
The Christmas Market fun doesn’t stop there, with Madinat Jumeirah‘s market opening its doors on the 6th of December. Enjoy delicious festive food and drinks, mini train rides, Abra rides with Santa and live music in this beautiful setting. You can also head to Dubai Expo City to check out their Winter City display, which also opens on the 6th of December. In collaboration with Toys “R” Us, the Al Wasl Plaza will be transformed into Santa’s Toy Factory. Families are invited to join in the quest to help Mrs Claus save the North Pole this Christmas!
Concerts and live music
Like any month in Dubai, there will be a whole host of live entertainment to feast your eyes and ears on. Some of the most notable names taking to the stage this month are Thirty Seconds to Mars (12th of December) and Ricky Martin (14th of December), both at the Coca-Cola Arena.
If you’re after a diverse range of artists, be sure to check out Dubai Swim Fest, taking place at Soul Beach Dubai on the 30th of November and the 1st of December. The festival will see huge names such as Iyaz, Flo Rida, Sean Kingston and Jason Derulo take to the stage, an event not to be missed!
For a day out with the family, there is also no shortage of Christmas-themed shows and musicals in Dubai this winter. A musical version of Dr Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas will be on display at Zabeel Theatre from the 20th-24th December for its first-ever run in the UAE. Tickets start from 200 AED, and children under two can go free on a parent’s lap.
Or how about a trip to see The Wonderful Wizard of Oz?! Dorothy and Toto make their way to Dubai in December, with the family-friendly festive show running from the 14th of December to the 26th of December at Theatre by QE2. Tickets start from 90 AED; don’t miss out on this festive fun!
Finally, the annual tradition of The Nutcracker will be back on stage in Dubai Opera from the 19th to the 22nd of December. Immerse yourself in this ballet masterpiece, performed by the prestigious ballet and orchestra of Astana Opera. This Christmas classic is sure to impress, with the captivating choreography blending with the mesmerizing melodies of the orchestra. Tickets start from 290 AED, and admittance to Dubai Opera is only for children over the age of 4.
Sporting events
Rounding off November and kicking off December is the annual Emirates Dubai Rugby 7s tournament at the iconic Sevens Stadium. This year, 12 men’s and 12 women’s teams will take to the pitch in a bid to become the 2024 champions, although this weekend-long event isn’t just about rugby, of course! There will be all kinds of activities, from fitness challenges to padel competitions, a jungle-themed kids’ zone with outdoor cinema and inflatables, and live entertainment from Stormzy and Sugababes! Don’t miss out; grab your tickets now.
If you’d rather get in on the sporting action yourself, don’t forget the UAE National Day Run we mentioned earlier, taking place on the 1st of December. For the more physically adventurous among you, the Roy Nasr Memorial Triathlon is also back this year on Sunday, the 8th of December. This race is held in memory of Roy Nasr, one of the founders of TriDubai and Race ME, who was tragically knocked off his bike and killed 10 years ago. Get your running shoes, swimming cap and cycling shorts out for this challenging but rewarding event.
New Year’s Eve extravaganzas
Do you have your end-of-year celebrations planned yet? If not, we’ve got some great suggestions for you to ring in the New Year under the glistening Dubai skyline. The most iconic venue to celebrate the New Year in Dubai is, of course, the fireworks at the Burj Khalifa. Tickets (starting from 580 AED for adults) will allow access to Burj Park, with the show starting at 3.30 pm on Tuesday, the 31st of December. The fireworks will still be visible from other areas of Downtown Dubai for free; just make sure to find your spot nice and early, as it’s sure to be crowded!
Tip: The Apple Store in Dubai Mall has a great view, or you can make a reservation at one of the many restaurants with balconies overlooking the fountains!
If you’re after something different this year, there will be a whole lot more entertainment happening across the city. Four-time Grammy-award winner Lionel Richie will be ringing in 2025 at Atlantis The Royal, followed by a fireworks display to end the night. Famous locations across Dubai will also put on spectacular fireworks displays, such as the Burj Al Arab, Dubai Festival City Mall and Arabian Ranches Golf Club.
Be sure to finish off the night with a good dance, with DJs such as Nicky Romero performing at Barasti, Joel Corry taking over Zero Gravity, and Italian DJ and producer Mathame bringing their unique NEO show to Ushuaïa at Dubai Harbour. You really are spoilt for choice when it comes to ringing in the New Year in Dubai!
Finish the year in style
There’s only one month to go in 2024, and if you’re spending any of December in Dubai, you definitely won’t run out of things to do. From fitness events to live music shows and fireworks displays galore, you’ll probably have the busiest month of the year trying to squeeze everything in!