A Christmas Carol 2026 in Dubai

A Christmas Carol 2026 in Dubai brings Charles Dickens’s festive classic to Theatre by QE2, on board the Queen Elizabeth 2 at Port Rashid, from Thursday 17 to Saturday 26 December. This is a bright, comedic adaptation, full of humour, magic and Christmas spirit, made for audiences aged three and up and performed in English. With performances running right through to Boxing Day, it is an easy family tradition to fit into the festive fortnight.

The story, told by Bob Cratchit

This version is narrated as a tour of Victorian London by Bob Cratchit, the hard-working clerk whose world is turned upside down by his employer, the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge. While the streets fill with Christmas celebrations, Scrooge is determined to keep the festivities at a distance. Then, on Christmas Eve, he is visited by the ghost of his old business partner, Jacob Marley, and taken on a journey through Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Yet to Come.

Along the way audiences meet Tiny Tim and Mrs Cratchit, and Scrooge is given a chance to rethink the life he has chosen. The production celebrates kindness, generosity and togetherness, which is exactly why the story has lasted.

Why Dickens’s tale endures

Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol in around six weeks and published it in December 1843, and it has rarely been out of print or off the stage since. It did much to shape the way the English-speaking world thinks about Christmas, from family gatherings around the table to the idea that the season is a time for generosity. Scrooge’s name has become shorthand for a miser, and Tiny Tim’s “God bless us, every one” is one of the best-known lines in English literature. For children seeing it for the first time, the ghosts provide the thrills; for adults, the redemption story still lands.

A family-friendly take

This production leans into comedy and magic rather than gloom, so it works as a first theatre trip for younger children while giving grown-ups plenty to enjoy. The running time is listed at around 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours, including an interval, which is a manageable length for little ones with a break in the middle.

The team behind it

The show comes from the creative team behind several family shows, including The Great Christmas Elf Bake-Off, The Great Elf Escape, Sinbad The Sailor, Around the World in 80 Days and The Wizard of Oz. If your family has seen any of those, you will know the style: lively, funny and designed with children in mind. The cast has not been named on the ticket page.

The venue: Theatre by QE2

Few theatres have a setting like this one. The Queen Elizabeth 2 was launched in 1967 and sailed for Cunard from 1969 until 2008, when she retired and arrived in Dubai. After an extensive refurbishment she reopened in 2018 as a floating hotel at Mina Rashid, and her on-board theatre now hosts regular shows, including musicals and children’s plays. At around 293 metres long, the ship is a landmark in its own right, so it is worth allowing a little extra time to take it in when you arrive. Watching a Victorian Christmas story inside a classic ocean liner adds a real sense of occasion to the outing.

Before the show

• The bar opens an hour before each performance, and doors open 30 minutes before curtain up.
• Food and drink can only be taken into the theatre if bought at the theatre bar.
• Strollers cannot go inside the theatre, but they can be left outside.
• Professional cameras and audio or video recorders are not allowed.
• Latecomers are admitted at the duty manager’s discretion.
• For level access, wheelchair spaces or other needs, contact tickets@otbuae.com before you book.

Tickets and ages

Everyone aged three and over needs a ticket, and children under 12 must be with an adult. Seats are allocated at booking, and tickets are valid only for the date and time you choose. Specific performance times vary across the run, so check the time for your date when booking.

Getting there

By car, take Sheikh Zayed Road towards Port Rashid and follow the signs for Queen Elizabeth 2. By Metro, take the Red Line to BurJuman station, then continue by taxi or ride-hailing app. Most Dubai taxi drivers know the ship.

Who it suits

A Christmas Carol is ideal for families with children from three upwards, grandparents looking for a festive treat with the grandchildren, and anyone who loves Dickens or a classic Christmas story. It also makes a good first theatre experience, thanks to its humour, its interval and its unusual venue, and it suits visitors and residents spending Christmas in Dubai who want a familiar seasonal tradition away from home.

For more festive plans, browse kids’ events in Dubai, our guide to shows and theatre, or more things to do in December.