Your weekly guide to family fun in Dubai
December 4 – 11, 2025
Hello friends, welcome to December, aka the month we stop pretending we're productive.
School winter break starts Dec 8. The Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) kicks off Dec 5. Winter City opens Dec 6. Christmas markets everywhere. The entire city transforms into a retail/festive/fireworks wonderland for the next five weeks.
If you thought you'd get anything done this month, I’m sorry. Embrace the chaos.
Here's your week.
THIS WEEK (Dec 4 – 11)
1. WINTER CITY OPENS AT EXPO CITY (Dec 6-31)
What: Dubai's biggest Christmas wonderland. 52-foot tree under Al Wasl Dome, Santa's Grotto, festive markets, workshops, nightly tree lighting, Carols by Candlelight (Dec 20-24).
When: Daily 4pm-10pm
Cost: AED 50 (under 3s free)
Why go: This is THE Christmas experience in Dubai. They've themed it around the Candy Cane Comet this year—one lucky kid lights the tree each night.
Pro tip: Weekday afternoons are way less crowded. Weekend evenings = crazy.
2. DUBAI SHOPPING FESTIVAL STARTS (Dec 5 – Jan 11)
What: 30th year. 800+ brands on sale, fireworks every night at JBR/Bluewaters, concerts, raffles, flash mobs, drone shows, and pop-up markets.
Where: Citywide
Cost: Free (except for your wallet)
Why go: DSF is basically Dubai's Super Bowl. If you're not at least window shopping, you're doing December wrong.
Fair warning: Malls will be PACKED. Go early or be ready to rub shoulders with…erm…everyone.
3. MADINAT JUMEIRAH CHRISTMAS MARKET (Dec 5-31)
What: 36-foot tree, snow fight zone, live band, Venetian carousel, festive market stalls at Fort Island.
Where: Madinat Jumeirah
Cost: Free entry
Why go: Perfect for families who want Christmas vibes without the Expo City crowds (It’ll still be crowded, and parking can get a bit tight). Plus, you can grab dinner with Creek views right there.
Open: Daily through Dec 31
4. GLOBAL VILLAGE (Ongoing through April)
What: Still the chaotic, colorful, international pavilion extravaganza it's always been. Plus rides, street food, carnival games.
Where: Global Village
Cost: AED 25-30
Why go: Because it’s incredible, that’s why.
Reminder: Weeknights are your friend. Weekend parking is special.
5. RIPE MARKET (Every weekend)
What: Local produce, artisan goods, food trucks, live music, kids' corner.
Where: Academy Park, Umm Suqeim
When: Saturdays 9am-3pm
Cost: AED 5
Why go: It's become the Saturday morning ritual for a reason - away from the malls, and beaches. Stock up, let kids run wild, grab coffee.
6. KITE BEACH (Daily)
What: Beach life. Kite surfing, paddling, Sunset Yoga (paid), fitness areas, 14km running track, restaurants, and more
Where: Kite Beach
Cost: Free
Why go: I don’t have to tell you this. Water is calming. Nature is great. Beach is fun.
7. JBR BEACH / THE BEACH (Daily)
What: Another busy beach scene with restaurants, cafes, and shops. This one’s more commercial. Nightly DSF fireworks starting Dec 5.
Where: JBR
Cost: Free beach access
Why go: Fireworks over the water + dinner options = efficient family evening.
Parking note: Just Uber. Trust us.
8. JUMEIRAH BEACH (Daily)
What: What, another beach?! Yes, but this one’s the classic quiet beach. The anti-JBR.
Where: Jumeirah Beach
Cost: Free
Why go: When you need beach vibes without the crowds or commercialization.
9. DUBAI FOUNTAIN SHOWS (Daily)
What: Free fountain show at Burj Khalifa Lake. Now with extra DSF energy.
Where: Dubai Mall/Burj Khalifa
Cost: Free
Why go: Still spectacular. Kids never get tired of it. Shows every 30 mins starting 6pm
Get there early: DSF crowds mean Downtown will be BUSY.
10. AL QUDRA LAKE (Weekends)
What: Desert escape. BBQ spots, cycling, and flamingo spotting.
Where: Al Qudra
Cost: Free
Why go: Perfect weather for outdoor BBQ/camping. Just you, the desert, and some pink birds.
Bring: Everything. There are no facilities.
FOR THE OLDER KIDS (16+)
Because teenagers and young adults exist, and they're bored with family beach days. Here's what's happening for the 16+ crowd this week:
MIRAGE PRESENTS THE DESCENT TECHNO FESTIVAL (Dec 5)
Expo City goes full rave mode. Underground techno vibes, massive production, 6:30pm till late. If your teen is into electronic music, this is it.
PEGGY GOU AT PACHA ICONS (Dec 6)
South Korean DJ legend at FIVE Luxe JBR. Hits like "(It Goes Like) Nanana" live. From AED 150. The vibe: sophisticated nightclub energy; 21+ though, fyi.
ROCK OPERA AT ZABEEL THEATRE (Dec 11, 8:30pm)
Bolshoi Theatre soloists + rock guitars = genre-bending chaos. Opera arias meet electric guitars. It's weird and brilliant. From AED 300.
ILYA SOBOLEV COMEDY SHOW (Dec 6, 7pm)
Russian comedian at Zabeel Theatre. For anyone who speaks Russian or wants to try out international comedy. Jumeirah Zabeel Saray. Again, the comedy is delivered in Russian. Don’t go and act all suprised like I didn’t warn you.
JAMIE LEVER SHOW (Dec 13, 6pm)
Indian comedian's Dubai debut. High-energy, impressions, mimicry. Sheikh Rashid Auditorium, IHS. Tickets from AED 95.
THE MINI LINE UP SEASON 2 (Dec 14, 6:30pm)
Indian comedy trio: Azeem Banatwalla, Urooj Ashfaq, Anirban Dasgupta @ the Emirates Theatre. This one's been selling out across their tour.Tickets from AED 115.
DSF LATE-NIGHT VIBES
Now that DSF is running, malls stay open later, outdoor zones have live music, and the city generally buzzes till midnight. D3 (Dubai Design District) hosts pop-ups and night markets. Check out some of the stuff that happens this week.
GOODIES
🎮 Play
Sporcle – The original trivia quiz site. Thousands of quizzes on everything from countries to movies to science. Great for bored kids.
🎨 Create
Incredibox – Make music by dragging sound icons onto cartoon beatboxers. Kids can create surprisingly good tracks. Also works on phones.
🎧 Listen
Story Pirates podcast – Professional comedians turn kids' stories into sketch comedy. Genuinely funny.
📹 Watch
Primitive Technology channel – Guy builds stuff in the woods using only natural materials. Zero narration, but maximum satisfaction. In the age of AI, this one is weirdly calming.
📰 DSF drone shows nightly at Bluewaters/JBR
Free to watch. Shows at 8pm, 9pm, 10pm. Best viewing from The Beach at JBR or Bluewaters promenade.
KNOWLEDGE BOMB
Did you know? The Dubai Shopping Festival was invented in 1996 to boost retail during the slow winter months. Now it's one of the world's biggest shopping events, attracting 6+ million visitors annually. Your kids are participating in 30 years of retail tradition. (They don't care, but you might.)
DAD JOKE OF THE WEEK
Why don't scientists trust atoms?
Because they make up everything.
Not bad, eh!
HISTORYBOOK
Dec 8, 1980 – John Lennon was assassinated in New York, 45 years ago. Beatles fans worldwide mourned. Play "Imagine" this week and tell your kids about the guy who wrote it.
Dec 10, 1948 – Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 77 years ago, the UN adopted this foundational document establishing basic human rights globally. UNESCO World Human Rights Day is Dec 10.
Dec 11, 1997 – Kyoto Protocol adopted. The international climate agreement was signed by 190+ countries. First major global commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
That's the week.
School break starts Wednesday. Winter City opens Friday. DSF transforms the entire city starting Thursday. The month is going to fly by in a blur of Christmas lights, shopping bags, and kids hopped up on hot chocolate.
Pace yourself. You have four weeks of this ahead.
See you next week (from inside a mall),
Parves
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