Your guide to December 2026 in Dubai and across the UAE. Dated events for the month are listed first, followed by attractions and experiences that stay open throughout.
New events are added as organisers announce them, so check back during the month. Open any listing for confirmed dates, times and booking details.
December is the most festive month on the calendar, and there are more things to do in December in the UAE than any one person could fit in. It opens with the National Day celebrations, builds through the Dubai Shopping Festival and the winter school holidays, and ends with some of the most spectacular New Year’s Eve fireworks in the world. Add the coolest, most comfortable weather of the year so far and you can see why hotels fill up and the roads get busy. Here is how we approach a month that rewards a little planning.
December brings genuine winter sunshine. Average highs in Dubai are around 25 to 26°C, nights drop to about 16°C, and inland or in the mountains it can feel chilly after dark. Humidity rises to an average of around 65%, which can mean misty mornings, and December is one of the wetter months by UAE standards, though that still means only a handful of rainy days at most. The sea is around 23°C, refreshing rather than warm. Bring a jumper for evenings, desert trips and Jebel Jais, and enjoy daytime temperatures that suit almost anything outdoors.
The month starts with the country’s biggest national celebration. Commemoration Day on 1 December honours Emirati martyrs, and UAE National Day on 2 December, also known as Eid Al Etihad, marks the founding of the federation in 1971. Together they usually create a long weekend, with public holiday dates confirmed by the government each year. Expect fireworks, flag decorations, heritage performances and celebrations at venues such as Global Village, The Dubai Mall, Al Seef and Expo City Dubai. Cars and homes are decorated in the national colours, and it is a wonderful time to experience Emirati culture.
The Dubai Shopping Festival, Dubai’s flagship winter festival, usually opens in December and runs into January. Malls across the city offer sales and raffles, and the festival typically adds free concerts, drone shows and nightly fireworks at locations around the city. At the same time, the festive season brings Christmas markets, tree lighting ceremonies in hotels and malls, carol concerts and festive brunches, along with Hanukkah and other celebrations reflecting the city’s many communities. Book Christmas Day lunches and brunches early; our dinner and brunch guide is a good starting point, and seasonal deals appear on our offers page.
Motorsport fans head to Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, where the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit usually closes the season in late November or early December, often with post race concerts across the island. The Emirates Dubai Sevens rugby weekend sometimes falls in early December too. GITEX Global, the region’s biggest technology show, now takes place in December at the Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City Dubai, which is useful to know if you are planning business travel. For fixtures and tickets, see our sports events page.
Most UAE schools usually break up for a winter holiday of around three weeks in mid December, returning in early January, though exact dates vary by school and curriculum. With families at home and visitors arriving, attractions are at their busiest. Our tips:
For family friendly ideas, see our kids events page.
Ramadan and the two Eids follow the lunar Islamic calendar and move about 11 days earlier every year, so in some years they overlap with the winter season and in others they do not. When they do, expect changes to opening hours and festive programming. Official dates are confirmed by the UAE authorities close to the time, so check before booking holidays or events.
December ends with New Year’s Eve, when Dubai puts on one of the world’s most famous fireworks displays at the Burj Khalifa in Downtown Dubai. Other major displays usually include Burj Al Arab, Atlantis The Palm, Dubai Frame, Bluewaters and Global Village, which is known for staging several countdowns for different time zones through the evening. Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah and other emirates hold their own impressive shows. Downtown gets extremely crowded, roads close early and the Metro is very busy, so plan your spot and your route home. Our full New Year’s Eve in Dubai guide covers parties, dinners and viewing spots.
Abu Dhabi is buzzing with Formula 1, the Sheikh Zayed Festival at Al Wathba and the Liwa International Festival in the desert of Al Dhafra, which usually starts in December and brings dune bashing, motorsport and desert camping; see our Abu Dhabi guide. Ras Al Khaimah’s Jebel Jais is cool and crisp, perfect for hiking and its adventure attractions. Sharjah’s heritage areas and waterfronts are lovely on mild evenings, and the east coast of Fujairah offers a calmer escape from the festive rush. Then start the new year with our January guide.
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The list below shows every event we have for December 2026 across Dubai and the UAE, from concerts and comedy to family events and sport.
UAE National Day is celebrated on 2 December because that is the date in 1971 when the emirates united to form the United Arab Emirates. Also called Eid Al Etihad, it follows Commemoration Day on 1 December, which honours Emirati martyrs. The two days usually create a long public holiday weekend, marked with fireworks, heritage performances, flag decorations and family events across all seven emirates.
Yes, you can watch the Burj Khalifa New Year fireworks for free from public areas around Downtown Dubai, and other free displays are usually visible from beaches near Burj Al Arab and The Palm. Downtown fills up hours before midnight and roads close early, so arrive in the afternoon and take the Dubai Metro. See our New Year’s Eve in Dubai guide for viewing spots and events.
Dubai usually gets only a little rain in December, typically a few short showers, although it is one of the wetter months by UAE standards. Most of the month is sunny, with average highs of about 25 to 26°C and nights around 16°C. Pack a light jacket for evenings, and check forecasts before desert or mountain trips, as wadis can flood quickly after heavy rain.
Most UAE schools usually break up for the winter holidays in mid December, for around three weeks that cover Christmas and New Year, returning in early January. Exact dates are set by the Ministry of Education and may differ for private schools and some curricula, so confirm with your school. It is the busiest period for UAE attractions and hotels, so book activities and travel well in advance.
The Dubai Shopping Festival, which usually opens in December and runs into January, brings discounts across Dubai’s malls and souks, raffles with big prizes, free concerts, drone shows and fireworks. Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment announces the dates and programme each year, and promotions at major malls like The Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates and City Centre Deira are the main draws.
Yes, Dubai usually has plenty of Christmas markets, which pop up in December at hotels, malls and community venues, with festive stalls, mulled drinks, gifts, carols and visits from Father Christmas. Big hotels in Jumeirah, Dubai Marina and Downtown often host the most elaborate ones, and community markets appear in residential areas at weekends. Many are family friendly and free to enter, though some charge a small fee that often supports charity.
Yes, December desert nights in the UAE are usually cold enough for a jumper or light jacket, because temperatures can fall to 15°C or lower after sunset, especially inland. Closed shoes or sandals that handle sand are best, and a scarf helps against wind and dust during dune drives. Daytime is warm, so a T shirt underneath works well, and modest clothing is respectful at heritage camps.
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