The biggest Christmas market in Dubai, the Madinat Jumeirah Festive Market on Fort Island, runs from 4 to 27 December 2026 with free entry. It opens from 3pm Monday to Thursday and from noon Friday to Sunday, with a 36-foot tree, a Venetian carousel, a mini train and festive abra rides. Expo City’s Winter City is the main ticketed option, usually from about AED 40 to 50. In Abu Dhabi, Yas Winter Fest on Yas Island and the free festive villages at The Galleria, Reem Mall and Abu Dhabi Mall are the main picks. Most other venues announce their 2026 dates in November, so we show last year’s dates as a guide below and update this page as each is confirmed.
At a glance
- Biggest market
- Madinat Jumeirah Festive Market, 4 to 27 December 2026, free
- Best for young kids
- Winter City at Expo City; Yas Winter Fest in Abu Dhabi
- Free picks
- Madinat Jumeirah, Winter District, The Bay at Dubai Festival City, the Abu Dhabi mall villages
- Ice skating
- Yas Winter Fest and Ferrari World‘s Winterfest in recent years
- Getting there
- Take a taxi to Madinat Jumeirah; parking is limited and paid
- Christmas Day
- A normal working day in the UAE; schools are on winter break from mid-December
Last checked: 13 October 2026. Madinat Jumeirah’s 2026 dates are confirmed by Jumeirah. Other dates are from the 2025 season and will be replaced as 2026 dates are announced.
On this page
Every festive market compared
| Market | Where | Dates | Entry | Hours | Kids | Parking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madinat Jumeirah Festive Market | Fort Island, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai | 4 to 27 Dec 2026 (confirmed) | Free, first come first served | Mon to Thu from 3pm; Fri to Sun from noon; until late | Carousel, mini train, abra rides, bungee, gingerbread | Limited, paid; taxi advised |
| Winter City | Al Wasl Plaza, Expo City Dubai | 6 to 31 Dec in 2025 | About AED 40 to 50; under 3s free | Afternoon to about 10pm | Very good: themed lands, cookie decorating, letters to Santa, snowfall | Large car parks |
| Winter District | Jumeirah Emirates Towers, by the Museum of the Future | 13 to 28 Dec in 2025 | Free | 2pm to midnight; 1am weekends | Inflatables, workshops, Santa’s grotto | Mall and hotel parking |
| The Bay by Social | Dubai Festival City Mall waterfront | 12 Dec to 4 Jan in 2025-26 | Free; activities extra | Afternoon until late | Inflatable park, games, fountain and laser shows | Free mall parking |
| Global Village festive season | Global Village, Dubai | 10 to 28 Dec in 2025 | Normal entry, AED 25 to 30 | From 4pm | Tree lighting, elves, rides | Large car parks |
| Yas Winter Fest | Yas Gateway Park, Abu Dhabi | 12 to 21 Dec in 2025 | From AED 25; under 3s free | 4pm to 11pm | Very good: rides, ice rink, snow globe, Santa’s Village | On site |
| Christmas market under the dome | Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, Abu Dhabi | Usually early December and 24 to 26 Dec | Free | Evenings | Tree lighting, crafts | Hotel parking |
| Winter Wonderland | The Galleria Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi | Early to 26 Dec in 2025 | Free; register for Santa | 10am to 10pm | Santa’s grotto, crafts, games | Mall parking |
| Fa La La Land | Reem Mall, Abu Dhabi | To 28 Dec in 2025 | Free | 10am to 10pm; midnight Fri and Sat | Play area, letters to Santa, snow globe photos | Mall parking |
| Winter Village and Festive Market | Abu Dhabi Mall | About 10 Dec to early Jan; market to 24 Dec | Free; activities extra | 10am to 10pm | Parades, workshops, Santa | Mall parking |
Dubai’s Christmas markets
Madinat Jumeirah Festive Market
Dubai’s best-known Christmas market fills Fort Island in the middle of the Madinat Jumeirah waterways, between Jumeirah Mina A’Salam and Jumeirah Al Qasr, with the Burj Al Arab behind it and European-style wooden stalls. For 2026, Jumeirah lists it from 4 to 27 December, a slightly shorter run than 2025’s 5 to 31 December.
- What is there: curated gift and craft stalls, seasonal food, a 36-foot Christmas tree with light and sound shows, a Venetian carousel, North Pole-style mini train rides, bungee jumping, gingerbread house decorating, live bands, and festively decorated abra rides along the canals; in 2025 Santa Claus joined some abra rides.
- Entry: free on a first come, first served basis; rides, workshops and food are paid.
- Hours: Monday to Thursday from 3pm and Friday to Sunday from noon, until late.
- Getting in: non-resort guests enter through Souk Madinat Jumeirah.
- Parking: limited; the paid options are the Madinat Jumeirah Conference Centre car park and Sahat Al Qasr parking. Jumeirah recommends a taxi.
- Drinks: licensed outlets serve mulled wine and other drinks to adults; alcohol stays within those areas.
Winter City at Expo City Dubai
The most child-focused festive event in Dubai, under the Al Wasl Plaza dome. The 2025 edition had themed lands (Sugarplum Land, a Reindeer Academy and Nutcracker Land), Mrs Claus’s Bakery for cookie decorating, letters to Santa, a daily tree lighting, snowfall moments and Carols by Candlelight from 20 to 24 December. Tickets were about AED 40 to 50, with under 3s and people of determination free. Winter City is part of Expo City’s Al Wasl Season; see our Expo City winter guide for 2026 dates when they are announced.
Winter District at Jumeirah Emirates Towers
A free, grown-up market beside the Museum of the Future, with gourmet food, designer pop-ups and a big festive tree, plus a children’s zone with inflatables, workshops, an escape room and Santa’s grotto. Live entertainment ran hourly from 4pm in 2025.
The Bay by Social at Dubai Festival City
A food-led festive market on the Dubai Festival City Mall waterfront, free to enter, with a carnival of games, archery, axe throwing and an inflatable park, plus the mall’s fountain and laser show every 30 minutes from 7:30pm. In 2025 it ran from 12 December to 4 January, beyond Christmas into the new year.
Global Village
Global Village marks the season with a tree lighting, a drone show, roaming elves and themed photo spots across Arabian Square and Celebration Walk, all included in the normal AED 25 to 30 ticket. Tuesdays are for families, couples and ladies only.
Abu Dhabi’s Christmas markets
Yas Winter Fest
Abu Dhabi’s biggest outdoor festive event, at Yas Gateway Park, with fairground rides, a festive market, craft workshops, a nightly tree lighting, Santa’s Village with letter writing and meet-and-greets, and Snowfall Park with an ice rink, a giant snow globe and winter inflatables. In 2025 it ran from 12 to 21 December, 4pm to 11pm, with tickets from AED 25 and under 3s free.
Emirates Palace
The Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental holds a festive market under its grand dome, usually over a long weekend in early December and again from 24 to 26 December, free to enter, with a tree lighting, artisan crafts and gourmet food.
The mall villages
- The Galleria Al Maryah Island: Winter Wonderland with Santa’s Winter Fair, crafts, games and a Santa’s grotto with a Polaroid photo; free, but register for Santa.
- Reem Mall: Fa La La Land, with a play area, letters to Santa, a snow globe photo booth and a Make-A-Wish toy drive; Santa’s meet-and-greets are at Snow Abu Dhabi in the same mall.
- Abu Dhabi Mall: a Winter Village and festive market with parades and workshops; in 2025, meeting Santa needed same-mall receipts of at least AED 50.
Yas Island theme parks
Ferrari World’s Winterfest (with a snow playground and ice rink) and Warner Bros. World’s Winter Spectacular ran until 11 January in 2025-26, included with park tickets from about AED 345. See UAE theme parks compared.
Where to meet Santa
| Where | How | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Madinat Jumeirah | Santa on festive abra rides (2025) | Paid ride |
| Winter District | Santa’s grotto | Free entry to the market |
| Expo City Winter City | Letters to Santa, festive characters | Included in the ticket |
| Yas Winter Fest | Santa’s Village meet-and-greets | Included in the ticket |
| The Galleria Al Maryah Island | Santa’s grotto with a Polaroid photo | Free with registration |
| Snow Abu Dhabi, Reem Mall | Meet-and-greets in the snow park | Check the snow park’s packages |
| Abu Dhabi Mall | Meet-and-greet | With AED 50 of mall receipts (2025 rule) |
Which market should you pick?
- Toddlers and under 8s: Winter City or Yas Winter Fest, then the mall villages for a short, air-conditioned visit.
- A free evening out: Madinat Jumeirah on a weeknight, or Winter District.
- Foodies: Winter District and The Bay by Social.
- Ice skating and snow: Yas Winter Fest, or Ski Dubai and Snow Abu Dhabi indoors all year.
- Combine with sightseeing: Madinat Jumeirah with sunset at Sunset Beach; Winter District with the Museum of the Future facade and Downtown.
Tips for a better visit
- Go early on a weekday: Madinat Jumeirah is busiest on Friday to Sunday evenings and the last week before Christmas; arrive at opening time.
- Take a taxi to Madinat Jumeirah and Winter District; parking fills quickly.
- Bring a light layer: December evenings drop to about 18 to 20°C by the water.
- Cards are widely accepted, but carry a little cash for small stalls.
- Book ticketed events online for the weekends before Christmas.
- School holidays: the UAE winter break starts in mid-December, so weekdays from then on are busier; see UAE school holidays.
More festive things to do
- New Year’s Eve fireworks: every location and free viewing spot.
- Dubai Shopping Festival: from December, with fireworks and drone shows.
- Weekend markets: the regular winter markets.
- What’s on this winter: everything opening this season.
Update log: 13 October 2026: Madinat Jumeirah’s 4 to 27 December 2026 dates confirmed. Other venues show 2025 dates as a guide; we will replace each one as its 2026 dates are announced, usually in November.
- UAE public holidays: long weekends to plan around.
- UAE National Day events: fireworks and shows in early December.
- Things to do in Dubai with kids: by age and budget.
- Marsa Boulevard: more seasonal stalls at Dubai Creek Harbour.
Christmas markets FAQs
When is the Madinat Jumeirah Christmas market 2026?
From 4 to 27 December 2026 on Fort Island at Madinat Jumeirah. It opens from 3pm Monday to Thursday and from noon Friday to Sunday.
Is the Madinat Jumeirah Christmas market free?
Yes. Entry is free on a first come, first served basis, but rides, workshops, food and drinks cost extra.
Where can I park for the Madinat Jumeirah festive market?
Parking is limited. The paid options are the Madinat Jumeirah Conference Centre car park and Sahat Al Qasr parking, but a taxi is the easiest way in.
What is the best Christmas market in Dubai for kids?
Winter City at Expo City Dubai, with themed lands, cookie decorating, letters to Santa and snowfall, followed by Madinat Jumeirah for its carousel, train and abra rides.
Are there Christmas markets in Abu Dhabi?
Yes. Yas Winter Fest on Yas Island is the biggest, and Emirates Palace, The Galleria Al Maryah Island, Reem Mall and Abu Dhabi Mall hold free festive markets and villages.
Is Christmas a public holiday in the UAE?
No. Christmas Day is a normal working day, but schools are on their winter break and some private employers give staff the day off.