In Dubai, Christmas may not sound like the snow-strewn perfect the festive period is widely depicted as, but it can be absolutely bucket loads of enjoyable. There's nothing about a Christmas in Dubai that indicates you have got to miss out on any of your traditions-- from the snow to the stuffing.
And now the UK has added the UAE to its air corridor list, indicating visitors getting here in the UK from Dubai or Abu Dhabi will no longer have to self-isolate for two weeks upon arrival; Christmas in Dubai is a top option. Under present rules, travelers from the UK are also exempt from providing a negative COVID-19 PCR test dated 96 hours before arrival in Dubai. They can instead take a COVID-19 test at Dubai International Airport upon arrival.
So if you're aiming to spend Christmas in Dubai this year, here's whatever you require to understand.
Yes, you're going to have a bright Christmas Day
Dubai Christmases are ideal for anybody who doesn't wish to spend the festive period wrapped up in snowflake-print long johns and frantically trying to warm up in front of a not-so-magical log fire. The skies are blue, the clouds are cotton wool, the weather condition is best for the beach (average highs of 26 ˚C, lows of 17 ˚C), and outdoor eating and drinking is ON.
But you can still have a white Christmas if you want one
Fondue at Après neglecting Ski Dubai? That counts. If you can deal with the salopettes, or hit the slopes. (Shudder.).
And you can still get the turkey
By the container load. They're readily available in grocery stores if you're preparing your own; however, that would be most un-Dubai of you. For those remaining at the house on Christmas Day, the most popular option is to order in one of the city's abundance of takeaway turkeys. First-class hotels, cafés, and restaurants across the city go full-scale with their takeaway birds (and rib-eyes, and legs of lamb, and so on), and you can get several kilos worth of poultry, plus roasties, veg, gravy, cranberry sauce (and a partridge in the proverbial) starting from around Dhs150. However, the super-fancy ones go up to the thousands of dirhams. Most places do not deliver (shock, horror)-- you'll need to go and choose it up from the location yourself on the day or day in the past.
However, the majority of the city heads out to eat
Out? On Christmas Day? You check out that right. For those who reside in Dubai, investing Christmas in the city is just another vast Friday breakfast. With jingle bells on. Restaurants, bars, and hotels throughout the emirate pull out every single last stop-- right down to jolly Santas and gingerbread grottos. Costs vary depending upon the swank-factor (think Dhs350 to Dhs850, on average); however, the majority of put on all the timeless Christmas meals, in addition to a sprawling buffet of seafood, salads, cheeses, grills and desserts, and special festive-themed beverages.
Mentioning going out, the entire city remains open
Hypermarkets, shopping malls, bars-- Christmas Day is service as usual throughout the city. So whether you've forgotten the cranberry, or to purchase your precious other half of 20 years a present (or aren't celebrating the occasion at all), it's no big deal.
If you desire to, you can go to church
The UAE may be a Muslim country, but it is a proudly religiously tolerant one too. Around Christmas and in the lead-up, you'll find lots of services readily available for various denominations at Dubai's churches. St. Mary's in Oud Metha is among the city's biggest, while if you're staying at the southern end of the city, you'll discover St. Francis a bit better.
There are loads of festive markets, fairs, and events
Schools across the city host festive fairs, as does The Irish Village at its hugely popular annual tree-lighting (total with free mince pies). Smaller-scale tree-lighting occasions happen at hotels across the city, typically within the first two weeks of December.
