Cinderella Pantomime 2026 in Dubai

The Cinderella pantomime comes to Dubai from Saturday 5 to Thursday 24 December 2026, bringing a classic British Christmas tradition to New Covent Garden Theatre at Mall of the Emirates. Live Nation Middle East, New Covent Garden Theatre and Patter Productions present Cinderella as a spectacular musical pantomime, with laughter, songs, romance and a generous sprinkle of festive magic for children and grown-ups alike.

Performances run across the three weeks before Christmas, with daytime and evening shows, so families can fit a trip to the theatre around school, work and the rest of the December calendar.

The story of Cinderella, panto style

Cinderella is one of the best-loved pantomime stories, and this version follows the familiar fairy tale. Cinderella dreams of a life beyond the cinders, meets her Prince Charming and discovers that a little courage, kindness and theatrical magic can make dreams come true.

What turns the fairy tale into a pantomime is the way it is told. Panto is loud, joyful and silly in all the right ways, built on music, broad comedy and audience participation, with jokes aimed at children and a few that land just for the adults. Songs carry the story along and give the show its upbeat pace, while the romance at its heart is wrapped in Christmas sparkle. For many British and Irish families a December panto is as much a part of the season as the tree and the decorations, and this production brings that tradition to families in Dubai.

If you are new to panto, a little background helps. In the British tradition, Cinderella is the story that gave the form some of its best-known characters, from the scheming stepsisters played broadly for laughs to the Fairy Godmother who sends Cinderella to the ball. Audiences are expected to cheer the heroine, boo the villains and shout back at the stage, and children usually pick up the call-and-response within minutes. The Dubai producers have not published a character list or cast, so the exact line-up of characters is something to discover on the night, but the spirit of joining in is the heart of any pantomime.

Running time and who the Cinderella pantomime in Dubai suits

The show runs for around two hours including an interval, a proper theatre outing that is still manageable for younger audience members. The interval breaks the performance into two halves, which helps small children who find it hard to sit still for long.

Cinderella is suitable for ages three and up. It works as a first theatre trip for young children, a nostalgic treat for parents who grew up with pantomime, and an easy outing for visiting grandparents over the holidays. Groups of friends who enjoy a bit of seasonal silliness will feel at home too. The organisers pitch it as a way to make Cinderella part of your family’s festive tradition this December.

Several performances run each week across the season, at different times of day, so check the date and time on your ticket before setting off.

New Covent Garden Theatre at Mall of the Emirates

New Covent Garden is the arts and entertainment hub that Majid Al Futtaim opened inside Mall of the Emirates, inspired by the theatre district of London. The theatre had its soft opening in June 2025 and staged its first festive family musical, Rapunzel and Her Holiday Wish, in December 2025. Cinderella continues that idea of a Christmas family show in the heart of one of Dubai’s busiest malls.

The theatre is on Level 2 of Mall of the Emirates in Al Barsha First, just off Sheikh Zayed Road. Doors open 30 minutes before each show.

Getting there is straightforward. According to the ticketing page, the closest parking is on Level 2 in Orange Zone A5 and A6. By Metro, the nearest stop is Mall of the Emirates station on the Red Line, connected to the mall. Taxis can drop off at Entrance A, where a lift or escalator takes you up to Level 2. Mall of the Emirates is particularly busy in December, so allow extra time to park before the doors open.

Making a day of it at the mall

Because the theatre sits inside the mall, the show is easy to combine with lunch or dinner, festive shopping or a look at Mall of the Emirates’ seasonal decorations. A morning performance followed by lunch, or an afternoon show before an early dinner, keeps the day simple for families with young children.

Tickets are sold through Platinumlist via the link on this page. For more festive ideas, browse our kids events in Dubai and shows and theatre in Dubai. Families with older children who want a more classical Christmas outing can look at The Nutcracker by the Bolshoi Ballet at Dubai Opera, and our guide to things to do in December covers the rest of the season.