13 things to do in Dubai in December

It's hard to sum up in words the number of events and plans you can opt for in Dubai. In December, being a very attractive month for tourists, you can find all kinds of events such as the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters, the International Film Festival, the Shopping Festival or the International Jewellery Week.

On the other hand, being a very pleasant month in terms of weather, you can opt for other less punctual plans such as strolling through the most spectacular gardens of Dubai, get to know the other side of Dubai or even spend New Year's Eve in Down Town.

While many associate Dubai with the sandboarding you can do in the Dubai desert, you can also enjoy ice skiing at Ski Dubai, an indoor ski resort located in the Mall of the Emirates. Ski Dubai is open every day in December, although with a brief change in opening hours on weekends.

It's true that Dubai is not the best place for those who love cold weather and warm clothes, but if you want to make your winter clothes stand out and get a taste of western Christmas, don't hesitate to book a ticket to this giant ski resort, one of the largest in the world - 22, no less! 500 square metres of skiable area, so you won't get bored!

It also has other winter entertainment, such as the famous snow tubing, sledding, climbing and even Arctic penguins! 100% recommended!

The UAE' s Independence Day from Britain is celebrated every year on the 2nd of December, back in 1971. It's a very important holiday with a lot of fun and good atmosphere.

This festive day of the year is celebrated both in the suburbs and in the most emblematic buildings such as the Burj Khalifa, so I recommend that you take the opportunity to go up to the Burj Khalifa on this day and see the atmosphere from the top.

What's more, it's very common to see balls, shows, concerts, parades, special exhibitions in museums, lots of fireworks and other events that you shouldn't miss if you find yourself wandering around the huge streets of Dubai in December.

Sometimes it's hard to separate Dubai from the world of excellence and luxury, and try as we might! This time it's Dubai International Jewellery Week, a global event where the finest jewellery on the planet is on display and for sale. Although the exact day of the year is unknown, it usually takes place in the month of December in the gift-giving season.

While the exhibition is organised by the Dubai International Trade Centre (DWTC), the event can take place anywhere in the city including inside the Burj Khalifa andthe Dubai Mall.

To give you an idea, the week-long exhibition will feature luxury items from over 300 companies representing more than 25 countries around the world. Inside you will see everything from Aisha Jewels, Al Nahar Jewellery to Collaro Gioielli, JAR and Johnathon Arndt.

December is a great month for cruising in Dubai as temperatures are not cold. However, they do drop slightly at night, so it might be a good idea to take a jacket.

The hard part is choosing the type of cruise you want to take, because there are so many options in Dubai: from dinner on board a sailboat while enjoying the spectacular views, to a cruise on a mega-yacht that will make you feel like a VIP. Or, if you prefer, there is an in-between option: a sunset buffet dinner cruise. Great plan!

Can you imagine seeing the Dubai skyline or the desert dunes with the spectacular colours of the sunrise aboard a hot air balloon? Well, don't imagine it and live it, because in Dubai you have the opportunity to do this unique activity that will undoubtedly leave you with your mouth open.

On this occasion I present two options, both fabulous: on the one hand, you can enjoy a balloon flight at sunrise in which, in addition to the experience, you will get the best views of Dubai. On the other hand, you can book a balloon flight that includes a gourmet breakfast and a ride over the desert dunes in an off-road vehicle- an unforgettable experience!

If you're in Dubai in December, one plan you can't miss is a trip to the desert, as the temperatures are infinitely more pleasant than at other times of the year, making this activity much more enjoyable.

Dune safari, camel ride, sandboarding, falcon experience, desert dinner, quad bike ride, fire show, henna tattoo, shisha smoking, visit to the Al Khayma camp... The options are almost endless. Choose the one you like best and don't forget to take pictures!

The Omega Dubai Ladies Masters is perhaps the most important women's golf event in the world, held in early December at the Emirates Golf Club and attended by the best golfers in the world. To find out the ticket prices and what activities are usually held I recommend you visit the main website ofEmirates Golf Club

The tournament is usually awarded with a minimum prize of 500,000 euros! The tournament usually lasts for 3 days, and every corner of the venue is worthy of praise. So if you are planning to visit Dubai for 5 days or more in December, it wouldn't hurt to include it in your Dubai tours.

If you happen to be in the largest city in the UAE around this time and love golf, you shouldn't miss the tournament. And, as usual in Dubai, any tournament of this magnitude is accompanied by entertainment, atmosphere, fireworks...

The month of December, as you can already guess, is full of interesting events. The Dubai International Film Festival takes place in mid-December and usually lasts between seven and eight days. The festival takes place at the Madinat Jumerai resort and admission is "usually" free.

The festival aims to raise the profile of UAE cinema by inviting the world's leading foreign actors and actresses. The event consists of a film marathon featuring over 100 films, most of which are foreign films shown in their original language with English subtitles, and most of which are nominated for various awards.

While the event itself is a delight, the icing on the cake is the Muhr Awards, which is why some of the most acclaimed film personalities attend. If you're looking for laid-back things to do in Dubai at night, this is definitely one of them.

While this festival is mostly held in January, the fact that it starts in December allows us to be the first to inaugurate this famous shopping and fashion show event. The Dubai Shopping Festival starts at the end of December, lasts for a month and takes place in the Dubai Mall.

If you love fashion you shouldn't think twice, as this is a unique event in Dubai where you will enjoy unexpected fashion shows from top designers, shops with exclusive clothing designs and other fashion-related surprises.

However, if you are going to see Dubai in one day I don't recommend going to the Dubai Shopping Festival as it is very large and may take up most of your time there.

The Souk Festive Market is another Christmas event held from the second half of December in Madinat Jumeirah; it is a 1750 square metre market filled with Christmas spirit.

At this Christmas market you can enjoy Christmas as if you were at home, or better! For, despite its market name, it is packed with Christmas cultural activities, Christmas-themed bars and other events both religious and otherwise.

You can also take part in a Santa Run, sing along to a Christmas concert, watch a ceremony full of Christmas lights and trees, and even visit Irish pubs and other venues with a unique atmosphere. It's a bit like travelling without leaving your home town - ironic, but it makes sense!

White Dubai is an event held at the White Club, one of the largest and most famous open-air nightclubs in the world, but White Dubai is more so as it hosts some of the most special night-time activities.
This annual event is held in mid-December between the 12th and 18th of the month, and is only accessible by prior reservation.

It is important to book in advance, as if you don't want to get on the list, it is possible that the event will be sold out due to the high demand, making it one of the top things to do in Dubai at night.

White Club is already famous for its innovative and ultra-modern character, but at White Dubai it becomes a magical place with an unprecedented atmosphere, light shows, an energetic dance floor, professional dancers, food to delight and other luxuries that are only allowed at White Dubai, all while the stars are shining down from above!

Sole DXB is a street event for lovers and fans of Hip-Hop, R&B, urban art and fashion that takes place in early December in the city of Dubai. As it is an annual and one-off festival, it is possible that the location of the event varies from year to year. However, I recommend you visit the official event website to make reservations as well as to find out about any updates.

Sole DXB Dubai is a spectacle for street style fans, as not only will you be able to meet people from all over the world who also love street style, but you'll also be able to pick up some exclusive clothing at great prices.

Also note that as this is a huge weekend-long event, you'll be able to enjoy new items every day.

Do you like sport and want to enjoy a Christmas atmosphere in Dubai? Then I recommend the Dubai Santa Run event in Festival City. In order to participate you have to register and pay a participation fee, which is between 70 and 120 AED.

Participants receive a hat, a boat and a Santa shirt and then run a 5km race for adults or 2.5km for children. It's definitely a great way to do a group activity, keep fit and prepare your body and stomach for the end of year meals.

In December the weather is lovely and pleasant, with temperatures not dropping below a low of 17ºC and a high of 26ºC, a climate that most of us are more than used to. In Dubai a maximum temperature of 26ºC is a privilege, as in the hot months this is not even the minimum.

Christmas in Dubai is a luxury, as you can bathe and recharge your vitamin D levels in the middle of December thanks to the sea temperature of around 23ºC. At this time of year in Dubai you can enjoy a mini-summer during the day and a cooler night that simulates winter weather, but don't expect freezing temperatures as it 's rare to feel that cold in Dubai.

Christmas in Dubai also has a special flavour, as it's common to see Christmas events and places with a Christmas feel to them. If you go to the Souk Festive Market, you can experience a Christmas atmosphere like a Christmas movie, and if you want to add a touch of adrenaline to your Christmas, you can head to Ski Dubai, one of the world's most iconic ski areas.

December along with November are the best months to visit Dubai, as if you wait until January, Dubai's favourite month of the year, you may find that prices rise and the crowds are high.

So, to avoid both of these factors impacting your experience, December is a great month to travel to Dubai. It's true that the number of tourists is higher than in November, but it's not as heavy.

New Year's Eve in Dubai is a real thrill! You will see an indescribable atmosphere, lights and ambience. So, if you can afford to spend Christmas in this pearl of the Gulf, don't think twice!

The best thing about New Year's Eve in Dubai is that it is celebrated in every corner of Dubai, both in Downtown Dubai (the most popular area to celebrate New Year's Eve and which usually hosts more than 1 million people between residents and tourists) and in other more coastal areas such as the beach in Jumeirah or Dubai Marina.

In Dubai there are solutions for everything, you can celebrate the last day of the year in thousands of places, each with its own charm and peculiarity, even taking a night bus tour that will allow you to comfortably see all the illumination. Your big problem will undoubtedly be deciding in front of so many options!