Christmas Day 2026 is Friday 25 December, and it is not on the UAE's list of public holidays. Hotels, malls and restaurants still decorate and many serve festive meals. As of 2 November, one festive event is dated: Winter City at Expo City Dubai on 11 to 13 December. Most markets last year opened between 5 and 8 December, and their 2026 dates have not been announced yet. This guide gives what is confirmed, what to check, church services, brunch and trees, and a simple plan for Christmas week.
By SB Excursions · Published 3 November 2026 · Updated 3 November 2026
Tour on this route: Full-Day Desert Safari in Dubai — From $45 per person, 7 hours.
Is Christmas a public holiday in Dubai in 2026?
No. Christmas Day falls on Friday 25 December 2026 and it is not on the official UAE public holiday list on u.ae. Hotels, malls and restaurants decorate and many serve festive meals, but banks and government offices work as normal.
This guide also answers:
- Are there Christmas markets in Dubai in 2026?
- Can you go to church in Dubai at Christmas?
- Where can I see Christmas trees and lights in Dubai?
Five Christmas options in Dubai
#1
Winter City at Expo City Dubai
The Expo City site lists Winter City and Disney+ presenting Once upon a holiday on 11, 12 and 13 December, from 4 pm to 10 pm, with a note that more dates may exist. It is outdoors and family friendly, and the site recommends booking ahead. Last year Winter City ran for most of December, so more dates may follow.
#2
Madinat Jumeirah Christmas Market
Khaleej Times reported last December that the market ran from 5 to 31 December, opening at 3 pm on weekdays and 12 pm at weekends, with free entry and paid activities. The resort page we read on 2 November listed no 2026 market. Use last year's pattern as a guide only, and confirm with the resort before you plan an evening.
#3
Malls, lights and trees
Gulf News photos from last Christmas showed a giant tree at Al Habtoor City and artists entertaining visitors at Mall of the Emirates. Malls and hotels decorate every year, so you can find a tree almost anywhere without a ticket. Opening hours differ by mall, so check the mall's site for 24 and 25 December.
#4
LEGOLAND Dubai Festive Bricktacular
Last year Khaleej Times listed the festive event at LEGOLAND Dubai from 8 December to 4 January, at AED 295 per person online and AED 330 at the gate. We found no 2026 dates or prices. It is a theme-park ticket, not a free market, so decide first whether you want a park day.
#5
Christmas Day brunch
Christmas falls on a Friday this year, which is the traditional brunch day in Dubai, so festive brunches are likely to sell out. We have no verified 2026 menus or prices yet; hotels announce them closer to the date. Book early, read the cancellation terms and check whether the price includes drinks.
Christmas in Dubai 2026: the short answer
Christmas Day is Friday 25 December 2026, and it is not on the list of UAE public holidays. The official list on u.ae names New Year's Day, the Eid holidays, Arafah Day, the Hijri New Year, the Prophet's birthday and National Day, and Christmas is not among them. That means banks and government offices work as normal, while hotels, malls and restaurants decorate and many serve festive meals, as Gulf News photo reports showed last Christmas.
As of 2 November 2026, one festive event is dated: Winter City at Expo City Dubai on 11, 12 and 13 December. The other markets that ran last December have not been announced on the official pages we could read. Everything below says which facts are confirmed for 2026 and which are last year's pattern, so you can plan without being misled.
What is announced and what is not
The table separates 2026 information from last year's reports. Last year's dates come from Khaleej Times, published on 17 December.
| Event | Dates | Where | Status as of 2 November |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter City and Disney+, Once upon a holiday | 11, 12 and 13 Dec, 4 pm to 10 pm; more dates may exist | Al Wasl Plaza, Expo City Dubai | Listed on the Expo City site; booking recommended |
| Madinat Jumeirah Christmas Market | Last year 5 to 31 Dec | Madinat Jumeirah | No 2026 listing found |
| Wafi's Whimsical Wonderland | Last year 6 to 24 Dec | Wafi City Mall | No 2026 listing found; the Wafi page we tried returned an error |
| Winter District | Last year 13 to 28 Dec | Square in front of the Museum of the Future | No 2026 listing found; the museum is closed |
| Festive Bricktacular | Last year 8 Dec to 4 Jan | LEGOLAND Dubai Resort | No 2026 listing found |
| Dubai Shopping Festival | 4 Dec to 17 Jan | Citywide | Listed by Visit Dubai |
| Global Village, Season 31 | Open to May 2027 | Dubailand | No Christmas programme listed on the official site |
| Christmas Day | Friday 25 Dec | UAE | Not on the official public holiday list |
As of 2 November 2026. Last year's dates are a guide, not a promise. Confirm each event on the organiser's own page.
The Museum of the Future has been temporarily closed since 1 September 2026, with reopening reported for the first quarter of 2027. Do not plan on the museum itself; our Museum of the Future guide has the current status.
Winter City at Expo City Dubai
The Expo City Dubai site lists the event at Al Wasl Plaza, outdoors and family friendly, in English. It shows 11, 12 and 13 December, from 4 pm to 10 pm, and says booking ahead is recommended with tickets sold through an online ticketing site. Two ticket types are listed: general admission at 60 and an express entry pass at 175. The currency symbol did not display clearly in our copy, so confirm the price and the currency on the ticket page. Children aged 3 and under are free.
Last year Khaleej Times reported that Winter City ran from 6 to 31 December, from 4 pm to 10 pm, at AED 50 per person. The 2026 page shows only three dates so far, so more may be added. Our Expo City guide covers the district and how to reach it.
Markets and festive events last December
Khaleej Times listed five Christmas or winter events last December. They show what to look for, but none is confirmed for 2026 yet:
- Madinat Jumeirah Christmas Market: 5 to 31 December, from 3 pm on weekdays and 12 pm at weekends, free entry, with paid activities.
- Wafi's Whimsical Wonderland: 6 to 24 December at Wafi City Mall, with tickets sold online.
- Winter District: 13 to 28 December on the square in front of the Museum of the Future, free, open from 12 pm to midnight on weekdays and until 1 am at weekends.
- Festive Bricktacular: 8 December to 4 January at LEGOLAND Dubai Resort, AED 295 online and AED 330 at the gate.
- Winter City: 6 to 31 December at Expo City Dubai, AED 50, free for ages 3 and under.
Our December guide covers the weather and the traditions, and the December 2026 events guide lists National Day, the Shopping Festival and the Grand Prix around them. We will update this page when the markets announce their dates.
Church services at Christmas
Christmas is celebrated openly in the UAE. Gulf News reports that Christian expats attend church services, sing carols and share festive meals, and Arab News reported that the UAE has about 40 churches, according to government statistics. Christmas Eve is Thursday 24 December and Christmas Day is Friday 25 December.
We found no published 2026 service times, and times differ by church, language and denomination. Each church publishes its own schedule close to Christmas, so check the church's website or notice board. Arrive early, because services can fill, and dress neatly. If you are a visitor and want to attend, confirm whether a service needs a ticket or registration.
Christmas Day: what is open
Because Christmas is not a public holiday, the UAE treats Friday 25 December as an ordinary day. Hotels, malls and restaurants decorate, and many serve festive meals; hours differ by venue, so check the venue's site. The Dubai Shopping Festival is running, from 4 December to 17 January, according to Visit Dubai. Global Village is open to May 2027, from 4 pm to midnight from Sunday to Wednesday and 4 pm to 1 am from Thursday to Saturday on the official site.
Friday is also Dubai's brunch day, and Christmas is likely to be a popular brunch date, so book early. Our Friday brunch guide explains the packages, dress and rules. For the rules around holidays in general, see what closes on public holidays.
A Christmas week plan with our tours
December is peak season, so book the fixed-slot things first. The weather helps: long-term averages for Dubai International Airport give a mean daily high of about 26°C and a mean low of about 17°C in December, so evenings are cool enough for a jacket in the desert.
- Thursday 24 December: the shared Marina yacht tour, from $32 per person, an hour on the water that needs full prepayment and a punctual arrival.
- Friday 25 December: the full-day desert safari, from $45 per person or $65 with a 30-minute quad bike ride, with hotel pickup and no prepayment. It is an easy day out for families.
- Saturday 26 December: a Burj Khalifa slot from $55, issued for a fixed date and time and not refundable or changeable once issued.
Send us your dates on WhatsApp early and we confirm availability. For the next big night, read our New Year's Eve guide.
FAQ
Is Christmas a public holiday in Dubai in 2026?
No. Christmas Day falls on Friday 25 December 2026 and it is not on the official UAE public holiday list on u.ae. Hotels, malls and restaurants decorate and many serve festive meals, but banks and government offices work as normal.
Are there Christmas markets in Dubai in 2026?
One event is dated so far: Winter City at Expo City Dubai on 11, 12 and 13 December, from 4 pm to 10 pm. Last year the Madinat Jumeirah market ran from 5 to 31 December, but its 2026 dates had not been announced as of 2 November.
Can you go to church in Dubai at Christmas?
Yes. Arab News reported that the UAE has about 40 churches, and Gulf News reports that Christian expats attend Christmas services. We found no published 2026 times, so check each church's own schedule. Christmas Eve is Thursday 24 December.
Where can I see Christmas trees and lights in Dubai?
In malls and hotels. Gulf News photos from last Christmas showed a giant tree at Al Habtoor City and entertainers at Mall of the Emirates. Entry is free, but opening hours differ by mall, so check for 24 and 25 December.
Are shops and restaurants open on Christmas Day in Dubai?
Yes in general, because it is not a public holiday, though hours vary by venue. The Dubai Shopping Festival runs from 4 December to 17 January, and Global Village is open from 4 pm. Check each venue's own page for 25 December.
Is there a Christmas brunch in Dubai?
Many hotels and restaurants serve festive brunches and dinners. Christmas Day is a Friday, the usual brunch day, so expect them to sell out. We have no verified 2026 prices yet, so book early and read the terms.
What is the weather in Dubai at Christmas?
Mild. Long-term averages for Dubai International Airport give a mean daily high of about 26°C and a mean low of about 17°C in December. Bring a light jacket for evenings and the desert.
Does Christmas in Dubai affect our tours?
December is peak season, so book early. The full-day desert safari is from $45 per person with no prepayment, and the shared Marina yacht tour is from $32 with full prepayment. Send us your date on WhatsApp and we confirm availability.
Recommended Dubai tours for this guide
Full-Day Desert Safari in Dubai
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- Duration
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- Area
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- Format
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Photos: Winter City at Expo City Dubai — Ahmad Dalain, CC BY-SA 4.0, Malls, lights and trees — Fabio Achilli from Milano, Italy, CC BY 2.0, LEGOLAND Dubai Festive Bricktacular — Sarion, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons).