Dubai may never see flakes of snow on the palm fronds, and you won’t need a woollen scarf to brave the canals, but the city still catches the cold, bright spirit of the season. As December settles in, wind towers glow with fairy lights, abra boats skim past a 36-foot tree at Madinat Jumeirah, and Al Wasl’s great dome at Expo City turns into a storybook ceiling of winter scenes. Up in the Mall of Emirates, there’s real snow underfoot at Ski Dubai for those who insist on a white Christmas.
Here, the spirit of the season unfolds with desert sunsets giving way to candlelit choirs, Arabic courtyards lined with timber chalets, and the scent of cardamom mingling with gingerbread. Christmas markets in Dubai feel distinct yet never lose the familiar rituals – letters to Santa, carols at dusk, and stalls filled with ornaments and hand-wrapped gifts. It may not be a city of frost, but it is certainly a city of sparkle that captures the Christmas spirit in its own, where cool breeze, rather than snow, makes the season merry and bright.
Madinat Jumeirah Festive Market
Set on Fort Island at Souk Madinat, this is the city’s flagship festive market. The set-up covers roughly 1,750 m² and features a 36-foot tree, light-and-sound shows, decorated abra rides on the canals, a mini-train, bungee jumping, a Venetian carousel, live bands, and gingerbread-house activities. The 2024 edition ran from 6 to 31 December, with a 3 pm weekday opening and earlier starts at weekends. Local listings indicate that the 2025 edition is scheduled from 5 to 31 December. Entry is free and open to all.
Winter City at Expo City Dubai (Al Wasl Plaza)
Al Wasl Plaza is transformed under the dome into a themed Winter City, with a partner programme that in 2024/25 included Toys “R” Us and a Santa’s Toy Factory concept. Expect a North Pole-style market, letter-writing stations, family activities, and concerts beneath the projection canopy. Community notices and venue communications placed 2024 dates from 6 to 31 December, typically 2 pm to 10 pm daily. The site is directly served by the Expo 2020 Metro station and has ample parking.
Winter District at Jumeirah Emirates Towers
For 2025, the Winter District relocates from Media City to the plaza beneath the Museum of the Future. What’s On confirms dates of 13 to 28 December 2025 with free entry and daily hours into the late evening (longer on weekends). The format focuses on contemporary brand pop-ups, food concepts, and a central stage programme from late afternoon, alongside a family zone and a large tree in a modern, city-centre setting.
Winter Garden at Al Habtoor Palace
A long-running fixture, Winter Garden occupies the landscaped courtyard of Al Habtoor Palace. The 2024/25 season operated from 1 November 2024 to 31 January 2025, with festive décor, a dedicated kids’ zone, boutique stalls, and a strong dining line-up, from food trucks to restaurants such as World Cut Steakhouse and BQ French Kitchen & Bar. Hours in the most recent season were broadly daytime into early evening on select days, offering a calm, joyous atmosphere off Sheikh Zayed Road.
Dubai Festival City Christmas Market
Along the waterfront promenade, Dubai Festival City pairs a seasonal market with the nightly IMAGINE show. For 2024/25, market listings placed the beginning from 13 December to 5 January, usually running from mid-afternoon until late evening. The draw here is the combination of outdoor stalls, children’s activities, and a guaranteed multimedia spectacle after sunset, with the mall’s official page carrying the latest show timings.
Ski Dubai, Winter Wonderland & Santa Meet-and-Greet
Ski Dubai at Mall of the Emirates runs a bookable Santa experience each December, typically from 1 to 25 December, including a meet-and-greet, a printed photo, a small gift, hot chocolate, and fleece gloves. It sits within the venue’s wider Winter Wonderland programme and is the most reliable option in the city for a “white Christmas” backdrop with real snow and time-slotted visits.
Global Village (Festive Programming within Season 30)
Global Village is not a traditional Christmas market but folds festive décor and shows into its multi-month season. The official Season 30 dates are 15 October 2025 to 10 May 2026, with evening operating hours that extend later on weekends. Expect pavilion markets from 90-plus cultures, fireworks on selected nights, and rotating stage entertainment; programme specifics are updated through the official site and app.
Before You Go
Treat timings as fluid; in Dubai, the festive calendar often shimmers with last-minute updates, so it is always worth checking each organiser’s page before setting out or visiting one of Dubai’s Christmas Markets. Weekday evenings carry a calmer glow, while weekends gather the crowds and camera flashes. Expo City remains the most seamless to reach by metro. Madinat Jumeirah is the most evocative when approached by abra, and city-centre venues tend to fill their car parks by sunset. If new pop-ups appear at Times Square Center, Al Barari, JLT Park or within design-led courtyards, they will simply add to the constellation of events, extending the season’s sparkle across the city.
