The winter months in Dubai is arguably the best period to travel to the Middle Eastern country. The crowd loves Dubai as a year-end destination for its cooling weather, beautiful outdoors and futuristic landscapes.
Before the clock strikes 12, there is a multitude of attractions and gastronomic delights to explore in Dubai–especially during the year-end. The festive season makes everything extra memorable with seasonal menus, famous Dubai fireworks showcase and festive markets to go to.
Here is to the start of an exciting Dubai adventure in December.
Day 1: Desert Days
Al Marmoom Desert is the newest addition to Dubai’s amazing set of nature reserves. It boasts of ten animal and bird observation platforms, star and sunset observation decks, and one outdoor theatre. The Marmoon Bedouin Experience lets visitors experience life on the desert by saddling camels, having traditional meals and being part of a caravan.
Spanning across 10 hectares, Al Qudra Lakes is a captivating oasis on Dubai’s Saih Al Salam desert. Free-roaming local wildlife such as flamingos, swans and migratory birds can be leisurely spotted in the habitat.
Love Lake is the latest collection to the cluster of man-made pools. The cool weather in December would make a perfect picnic or cycling ride at Al Qudra.
Day 2: Outdoors at Hatta
A getaway from the city brings travellers to an enclave, high in the Hajar Mountains with scenic mountain ranges and rich heritage background. Hatta is an absolute paradise where outdoor lovers can immerse themselves with kayak, swimming in rock pools, hiking, safari ride, rope course, archery and a water park in nature.
The unmissable night view at Hatta draws visitors to overnight at the mountain lodges or trailer hotels for stargazing.
Day 3: All Things Award-Winning
Dubai’s famous world-class performance takes place all year-long at Al Habtoor City. La Perle hosts 10 performances a week, twice a night, in a purpose-built theatre to accommodate daredevil acts (acrobatics, flying and diving) and state-of-the-art technology (waterfall, torrents and rains) in the show.
Atlantis, The Palm’s “Cirque de Cuisine” welcomes a Winter Wonderland menu this year starting on 6 December. Besides the extravagant festive food, the world-renowned resort features showstopping performers from Cirque le Soir with a fire-blazing show, magicians and acrobats.
Day 4: Festive Celebrations
The annual Festive Market at Madinat Jumeirah or the Winter Garden Market at Habtoor Palace is a local favourite. As a highlight for Christmas in Dubai, the festive markets across the city sell holiday-themed food, jewellery, homeware pieces as well as onsite activities for market-goers.
All this would not be complete without Dubai’s legendary fireworks display. The New Year celebrations in Dubai is the event-of-the-year as amazing fireworks illuminate most of the city’s night view.
Text by Jessy Wong
