Christmas 2022: Festive Things To Do In Dubai & Abu Dhabi

The Ripe Market is going into full festive mode at Al Barari Winter Wonderland!

Shop and discover amazing and unique local vendors while your little ones enjoy plenty of exciting activities within a festive atmosphere. Kiddos can enjoy pony rides, arts & crafts, a petting zoo, a bouncy castle and a chance to meet Santa at his Grotto while you can shop for homegrown fashion, art, jewelry, homeware, tasty treats and more!

Book through Kidzapp and get 20% OFF your entry ticket! 

Winter Wonderland at The Galleria is really THE place to be this Holiday season with endless festive activities nestled within the most beautifully decorated festive setting! 

There is lots to be done and experienced at The Galleria's Winter Wonderland, first of which is the incredible Tree Lighting Ceremony which will signal the start of the venue's festive season (Dec 9-25). And throughout the season, kiddos will not only be able to meet Santa at his Grotto, they will also have a chance to write him letters with their Holiday wish list.  Winners will then be selected weekly and have their wish list fulfilled by Santa! Kiddos can also participate in the fun Elf on the Shelf game for a chance to win an AED 500 voucher to spend at the mall. 

What's more, at the Winter Village, you will find a packed schedule of shows and activities with festive movies during weekdays and live stage shows at weekends. There is also a snow park, snow globe, snow ice rink, snow slide and activity huts for everyone to enjoy! And if that's not enough, you will also find The Ripe Festive Market every day of the season, and it will include plenty of activities, entertainment, live performances and even a petting zoo! 

This is a wonderful experience to take your kiddos to - The Courtyard Playhouse's Improvised Kids' Storytime in its festive theme ‘The Mystery of the Toilet Monster’. 

During the session, you and your kiddos and other audience members will be able to direct the actions of the characters. You even have the chance to volunteer on stage and become a cast member or simply just jump up and instruct the characters as you wish! 

It's truly a unique fun and interactive adventure with lots of games and festive fun as you guide the heroes to the Toilet Monster's stinky lair and help save Christmas by finding Santa! 

There's nothing more festive than a family-friendly magical musical based on a famous fairy tale. And that is exactly what The Snow Queen is! 

Take your family to this wonderful holiday special show that will mesmerize and captivate you. The spellbinding story, which is based on Hans Christian Anderson's 1844 tale, showcases the struggle between good and evil. Expect lots of audience participation as well, making this an interactive experience for everyone! 

Get an exclusive 20% discount using code kidzapp20 on the first weekend shows! 

Spend a warm and fuzzy festive day in with the kiddos and put on your aprons and decorate your very own scrumptious Christmas cookies courtesy of The Hummingbird Bakery's DIY Christmas Cookie Box. The box comes with six themed gingerbread cookies, three piping bags with red, green and white icing and two boxes of sprinkles - so everything you could need to create delicious and beautiful festive cookies! 

The box is available at all Hummingbird Bakery branches across Dubai, and you also have the option to purchase one online. 

If you're looking for a unique fun festive show then you must check out Rapunzel at the Fairmont The Palm. This production, by the Dubai Panto team, will be filled with captivating music and lots of hilarious Pantomime moments. There will also be lots of opportunities for audience participation throughout the interactive show which follows Finn's adventure to rescue Rapunzel. 

You can use code kidzapp20 for 20% off on the first weekend shows! 

Bond with your little ones over this super festive and fun Gingerbread House Workshop at woo-hoo! 

A medium sized gingerbread house and homemade icing await you at this family workshop, so all you've got to do is show up and be as creative and as festive as you can be. Once complete, you can take your masterpiece home with you to indulge in at home. Oh and kiddos get one hour of gallery exploration after the workshop! 

While watching a roaring World Cup match at Fanzone by McGettigan's, make sure to head to the nearby Winterfest at Dubai Media City Amphitheatre for a festive break from the football. 

Winterfest features over 100 small Christmas trees and one mega huge tree that will leave you in awe! You will find plenty of food outlets offering hearty and delicious food and kiddos have lots to keep them busy with activities such as slime making, inflatable tube slides, snow park, face painting, a pop-up by Roll DXB and a chance to visit Santa at his grotto! 

Treat your family to a breathtaking water show, Fontana, at Dubai Festival City. 

Fontana is the first travelling water circus in the region and its festive show will surely leave you and your family captivated. It is the ultimate family-friendly aqua theatre experience filled with exciting musical acts, stunning acrobatics, aerial thrills and live entertainment. 

This year's Fontana festive show will feature new festive acts like festive singers, nutcracker soldiers an a liver saxophonist! So do not miss out on this amazing show which will be in full festive gear from December 9th till the 31st. 

Sign up your kiddos for woo-hoo!'s Tree Ornament Painting Workshop and let them create a sentimental ornament that will forever be associated with great everlasting memories. 

Kiddos will be given three wooden holiday themed ornaments at the workshop and they have complete creative power over their appearance. They can paint and decorate them however they like to add a special custom flair to your holiday decorations! 

Go on a festive adventure with your family at the biggest and most festive Christmas market in Dubai: Madinat Festive Market! 

Featuring a stunning 36 foot Christmas Tree and spread over 1750 square metres, this immersive market will be filled with lots of live entertainment, plenty of delicious food and drinks and plenty of fun activities for the kiddos starting from December 15. Activities for the little ones are not short of impressive and include a snow fight zone, bungee jumping, North Pole train ride, Venetian carousel, Abra ride with Santa and gingerbread house decorating!   

Magic Phil has got you covered this Holiday season with a festive family show that will leave you and your family well entertained with lots of laughter and plenty of excitement. 

Witness Magic Phil on a mission to save the Starlight Safari from permanently closing. Will he succeed and save the animals? Will he save Christmas from Pete the Grumpy Polar Bear? Will he restore Ruby the Robin's magic powers? You will find yourself laughing your socks off as you watch the events unfold with lots of silliness, magic tricks and a great dose of festive songs!  

Head with your family to Expo City, which has been transformed into a magical Winter City decked out in all things festive like pine trees, festive fairground and traditional chalet-style huts, for an unbeatable festive experience. 

Winter City comes packed with plenty of awesome activities and exciting events such a 16-metre tree lighting ceremony, a Mrs Claus Christmas Show, a Letter-to-Santa station, Carols by Candlelight concert, toy soldiers show, gingerbread decoration, t-shirt drawing, wreath making and ornament-making workshops. You will also find a toy factory that customised teddy bears and lots of other fun attractions like bag jump, zipline, ice climbing wall, ball games, duck fishing and a frozen lake. Can't really beat that, can you? 

Let your kiddos unleash their imagination at woo-hoo's Holiday Cookie Workshop. 

This awesome workshop will allow your kiddos to test their baking skills and create their very own festive treats. They will also be able to put their creativity to the test by decorating their baked cookies in a festive and fun way. And worry not, they will be coming home with their treats, ready for you to tuck into! 

The Habtoor Palace's Winter Garden is not one to miss! This festive haven features plenty of pop-up shops, family-friendly activities, entertainment and fun Christmas attractions. 

The little ones will not be disappointed with the dedicated kids' play area presented by Extreme Excite. And for the foodies, fifty food kiosks await you! Santa will also be waiting for you daily for a meet and greet and a choir will be on hand to serenade you with festive tunes. 

The entry ticket fee is fully redeemable on food and beverage, so you really don't want to miss out on this great festive experience! 

On December 11, Reform Social & Grill will transform its ground into a festive winter wonderland complete with a Christmas Market. 

Expect to find lots of activities for the little ones, including a snow park with letterboxes ready to be delivered on kiddos' behalf to the North Pole to Mr Claus. You will also find lots of little trinkets and stocking fillers perfect for some last minute Holiday gift shopping!

It seems like an obvious place to visit during the Holiday season, but Ski Dubai really does transform into a snow globe at this time of the year. 

The beautiful set up is complemented with a chance to have a meet and greet with Santa Claus himself, and you even have a chance to grab breakfast with Father Christmas himself! A snow cinema is also on hand to give you all the festive feels, so you can enjoy a movie in the midst of the snow while sipping on a delicious mug of hot chocolate. Doesn't get more festive than this, right?!