Beneath a canopy of shimmering lights, children play in artificial snow and penguins parade past a marching band of Candy Cane men, all while families queue to meet Father Christmas. This scene, however, is not set in frosty Lapland but in the heart of the United Arab Emirates, where December temperatures are a balmy 24°C. In Dubai, where Islam is the state religion, Christmas has evolved into a spectacular, large-scale celebration that rivals—and in some cases surpasses—traditional Western festivities.
A Desert Winter Dreamscape
From the start of December, the city's futuristic districts are transfigured into immersive festive landscapes. One of the most popular events is the Winter Festival at Expo City, which attracted close to 170,000 visitors last December. The site features colossal, dazzling Christmas trees, breathtaking light installations, and character meet-and-greets. An indoor food market offers a blend of British and international cuisines, while a Disney+ cinema screens classic holiday films.
Other major hubs include the Winter District at Jumeirah Emirates Towers, a hotspot where children can play freely as parents relax in the lounge, and the sprawling Global Village. This cultural epicentre, with pavilions representing nations worldwide, credited much of its record 10.5 million visitors last season to the Christmas period, as people flocked to experience global traditions.
The scale of Dubai's Christmas markets dwarfs many European counterparts. The bustling events at Madinat Jumeirah and Dubai Festival City Mall draw enormous crowds, with social media videos showing packed streets where stalls sell pigs in blankets and steaming mulled wine. The city also offers ice skating, magically decorated gardens, and stunning firework and drone displays.
Cultural Fusion and Occasional Friction
With an estimated quarter of a million British expatriates now calling Dubai home, and December being a peak tourism season that draws around five million visitors, tapping into the Christmas market is a logical move for the city's entrepreneurial leaders. However, this very public embrace of a Christian holiday in a Muslim-majority nation has sparked some backlash online.
Safa Siddiqui, a star of the Netflix reality series 'Dubai Bling', faced a torrent of criticism after posting an innocent family photo during the festive season. Commenters accused her, a Muslim, of committing 'shirk' (a sin) by celebrating. Others on TikTok have labelled festive visitors as 'invaders', reminding them that the UAE is a Muslim country.
Even Emirates Airline's playful animated Christmas video, which reimagined an A380 jet as Santa's 'Sleigh380', drew ire. Some social media users declared the airline had 'lost credibility', while others unfavourably compared it to rivals like Qatar Airways. Despite this, many praised the city's inclusive and extravagant approach.
Expatriate Experiences: Bittersweet Festivities
For the large British community, Christmas in the desert brings a complex mix of emotions. Expat and blogger Sarah Osman described the experience as 'very bizarre', expressing how she misses the familiar chaos of a British Christmas—the board games, arguments, and laughter around a family table. Her sentiments resonated with many in her comments section, where fellow expats shared their own feelings of displacement during the holidays.
Conversely, other residents have fully embraced Dubai's hybrid version of the season. One expat told the Mail that she wouldn't want to spend Christmas anywhere else, praising the over-the-top displays in every mall, hotel, and restaurant. She noted the prevalence of pantomimes and explained that, much like in the UK, the season is often an excuse for excessive consumerism, with major displays sponsored by brands like Sephora and Christian Dior.
New arrivals are also finding festive cheer. One influencer who moved from the UK in December posted a TikTok video stating that Dubai had finally made her feel 'so Christmassy', claiming a carol concert she attended was 'ten times better' than ones back home. For those worried about missing a traditional roast dinner, Dubai's hotels and restaurants cater extensively, offering festive buffets that expats scramble to book.
Ultimately, Dubai's Christmas is a testament to the city's identity as a global crossroads: a dazzling, sometimes controversial, and undeniably unique fusion of desert heat and winter fantasy.
