Christmas With Kids in Dubai: Festive Things Worth Booking
Free markets, festive theatre and films under the stars. Where to go, what it costs and when to book.
yapped Editors · Nov 3, 2026 · 5 min read
Quick facts
- A free festive wander
- Madinat Jumeirah Festive Market
- A lower-cost theatre trip
- Mission Elf-Possible from AED 75
- Make a night of it
- Winter City at Expo City
- A free Boxing Day outing
- A Christmas Carol at JLT Park
The children want Santa, snow and a turn at everything. You’d quite like to know what it costs.
Here’s the festive shortlist: markets to wander, shows to book and a Christmas film you can watch from a picnic blanket. There’s also a concert where one adult ticket covers two children. A welcome bit of Christmas maths.
Pick the plan that gets your lot excited. Leave time for snacks.
Christmas Markets and Winter Festivals
Madinat Jumeirah Festive Market
Fort Island · 4–27 December · Free entry
A large Christmas tree, live music, market stalls and waterways dressed for the occasion. Madinat is an easy choice when you want Christmas atmosphere without paying admission for the whole family.
The mini train, carousel and festive abra rides add plenty of temptation. Free entry is the useful bit, but it is not a promise of a completely free afternoon.
Go from 3pm Monday to Thursday or noon Friday to Sunday. Jumeirah recommends taking a taxi because parking is limited.
Winter City With Disney+
Al Wasl Plaza, Expo City · 11–31 December · 4pm–10pm
Give this one the evening. Winter City brings Disney, Pixar and Marvel-inspired zones to Al Wasl Plaza. Agreeing which one to visit first may take longer than expected.
Entry is AED 60, or AED 175 for express entry. Children aged three and under enter free, as do People of Determination and one caregiver.
Going with other families? Agree on the date and ticket type before everyone books their own version of the plan.
Meet Santa and Stay a While
DXB Winter Festival
Dubai Festival City waterfront · Listed for 1 December–10 January · Prices to be announced
Santa has company: a funfair, market stalls, workshops and performances turn the grotto visit into a full outing. Leave room in the plan for “just one more go”.
Opening is 4pm on weekdays and 2pm at weekends, with the festival running until midnight. The earlier weekend start gives you a head start on bedtime.
Early-bird registration is open, but ticket inclusions are still to come. Don’t promise rides or a Santa visit as part of entry just yet.
“One festive plan. Plenty of time for “one more go”.”
Dear Santa
New Covent Garden Theatre · Children from AED 157 · Adults from AED 114
The Christmas wish list gets a personal delivery service. Families follow Quill, the letter sprite, through six enchanted rooms before children hand their letters to Santa himself.
A grotto visit with a story to follow, and a chance to make absolutely sure he’s understood the dinosaur request.
Adults need tickets too, so count the whole party when booking.
Festive Shows Worth Booking
Mission Elf-Possible
Theatre by QE2 · 5, 6 and 12 December · 11am and 3pm · From AED 75
Santa’s Nice List has vanished. Holly and Pepper Elf are on the case. You’d think someone would have kept a backup.
Morning and afternoon performances leave room for lunch either side. Check age and ticket requirements if you’re bringing little ones.
Magic Phil’s Croc ’N’ Roll Christmas
Meyana Theatre · 11–13 December · From AED 110
Magic Phil loses his cruise ticket and ends up aboard a pirate ship. Cue magic, songs and a Christmas holiday going spectacularly off course.
At 75 minutes, it’s one of the shorter shows here. Billed for all ages, with tickets required from age three.
A Christmas Carol
Theatre by QE2 · 17–26 December · From AED 79
Scrooge gets three ghostly visitors and some fairly direct feedback on his Christmas spirit.
For ages three and up, this family adaptation runs for around two hours, including an interval. Book before Christmas or save it for Boxing Day, when everyone could use a reason to leave the sofa.
Tickets start at AED 79, depending on the performance and seat.
Free and Lower-Cost Outings
Christmas Cracker Concert
The Irish Village, Garhoud · 12 December · Doors 6pm, concert 7pm
Christmas favourites with singers and a 21-piece orchestra in the garden. Enough musical backing to carry even the most enthusiastic family singalong.
Here’s the good bit: each AED 120 adult ticket covers up to two free tickets for children under 16. Add the children’s tickets when you book; they still need their own.
A Christmas Carol Under the Stars
JLT Park · 26 December · 7.30pm
Pack snacks, bring a blanket and let Scrooge handle the Boxing Day drama.
Watching from the lawn is free, and you can bring your own chair. AED 30 gets you a beanbag and popcorn, subject to availability.
This is the film screening. For Scrooge aboard a ship, see the QE2 stage production above.
yapped editor’s note: More festive plans are on the way. We’ll keep adding them here, so save this guide and check back.