December is considered to be the best month to visit Dubai. One of the main reasons for this is the weather in December. The Dubai temperature in December is comparatively low, giving locals and tourists the chance to enjoy pleasant weather throughout the day, especially during the evenings. Moreover, most seasonal attractions remain open during this month. Apart from all these, December is a month of festivities and celebrations, giving the city a different air altogether. While you can do all the regular tourist activities during this month, we present to you the 10 best things to do in Dubai in December.
1. Enjoy Retail Therapy during Dubai Shopping Festival
One of the most awaited festivals in Dubai is the Dubai Shopping Festival, which usually begins in December. The Dubai Shopping Festival or DSF is considered one of the biggest shopping festivals in the world, as people enjoy some amazing deals and discounts. The best part about the DSF is that the entire city participates in this festival. Right from the enormous shopping malls to small stores, you will enjoy mega deals and discounts (sometimes 70%-90%) on a range of goods, including clothes, electronics, home goods, jewelry, etc. Moreover, there are some amazing prizes to be won too, including cash prizes, luxury cars, holidays, etc. One of the best places to visit during the Dubai Shopping Festival is Dubai Global Village, where you can indulge in shopping, dining, entertainment, and fun.
2. Visit Christmas Markets
Christmas is celebrated with great aplomb in Dubai. You will find Christmas trees and decorations in almost every mall in the city. But the best way to celebrate Christmas in Dubai is to visit one of the festive Christmas markets, and Dubai offers plenty of them. One of the best among them is the Madinat Jumeirah Festive Market, where you can enjoy traditional food, delicious drinks, and live music. This is also a great place to buy Christmas presents as well as have a good time. While the adults indulge in shopping and merriments, kids will also have a good time at this festival market, playing at the gingerbread house, snowball zone, etc. You will also find similar Christmas markets at Habtoor Palace, Ripe Market, Bab al-Shams, etc. The hotels and restaurants of Dubai also host Christmas brunches during December.
3. Welcome the New Year
Dubai is most popular for its New Year celebrations. From fireworks to dinner galas and lively parties, there are different ways to welcome the New Year in Dubai. One of the best New Year fireworks happens at the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. Burj Al Arab and Palm Jumeirah are also great places to watch splendid fireworks, which get better and better with each passing year. While almost every hotel and restaurant host a New Year’s party, you can opt for a yacht or dhow cruise dinner party if you want your New Year’s Eve celebration to be unique. Do not forget that New Year’s Eve in Dubai is a busy time. So, you can also escape to the desert and enjoy luxurious camping. Also, make your bookings in advance, so you can welcome the New Year the way you want to.
4. Experience the Nightlife of Dubai
If you are visiting Dubai with your friends, exploring the nightlife of Dubai should be on your agenda. The city is home to some of the best nightclubs and bars where you can have a whale of a time. Most nightclubs in Dubai stay open till 3 in the morning, giving you the opportunity to party and enjoy till the wee hours of the morning. It is important to remember that you should be a minimum of 25 years of age to visit a nightclub in Dubai. Some of the most popular nightclubs in Dubai are Nasimi Beach, People by Crystal, Club 360, Trilogy, Boudoir, Chi@The Lodge, etc. Most bars and nightclubs have a special ladies’ night at least once a week, where women not only enjoy free entry but also complimentary drinks.
5. Be Part of the UAE National Day Celebrations
If you visit Dubai at the beginning of the month, you will get to be a part of the UAE National Day celebrations. The UAE National Day falls on December 2, and the entire country celebrates the union of the 7 Emirates with great fervor. The city is decorated in the colors of the UAE national flag. If you are in Dubai during the National Day celebrations, you will get to see interesting parades, extravagant fireworks, and other spectacular shows. La Mer, Dubai Festival City, and Global Village are great places to watch the fireworks. As the locals enjoy a 2-day public holiday, expect most places in the city to be crowded during these days.
6. Explore Dubai Garden Glow
Dubai Garden Glow is a seasonal attraction that remains open from October to April. So, if you are in Dubai in December, this is a place you must visit. As the name suggests, Dubai Garden Glow is a unique theme park where you will find illuminated sculptures and installations made with handmade lights. Most of these sculptures will be found at Glow Park. What makes these sculptures special is that they are eco-friendly. Apart from Glow Park, the Dubai Garden Glow has other zones, which are Magic Park, Art Park, Dino Park, and Ice Park. Another specialty of the Dubai Garden Glow is that the garden has a different theme every year, and you will be able to see different types of sculptures and installations each year.
7. View the Beautiful Flowers at Dubai Miracle Garden
Another seasonal attraction that remains open in December is the Dubai Miracle Garden. Home to more than 45 million flowers, the Dubai Miracle Garden is a true miracle, as it is the natural flower garden existing on earth today. What makes this garden extra special is that the flowers are displayed in unique ways. Here, you will get to see a floral Burj Khalifa, floral Emirates Airbus A380, heart-shaped arch passage, floral castles and houses, floral peacock, floral train, floral clock, etc. You will also get to see floral structures of your favorite Disney characters like Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Minnie Mouse, Daisy Duck, etc. Do not forget to check out the Butterfly Garden here.
8. Try Skydiving
If you are into extreme sports, skydiving is an activity you can indulge in while in Dubai in December. SkyDive Dubai is the company that offers skydiving in Dubai, and you get to choose between the desert and the palm island for diving. As the weather is pleasant and mostly clear during December, this is a great month to try this activity. If you are a beginner, you can go tandem skydiving, where you dive while being attached to a professional diver. You will be given proper training and instructions before you jump from a plane 4000 feet above the ground. Skydiving in Dubai is safe and thrilling, and you get a video of your jump to flaunt on your social media handle.
9. Go on a Desert Safari
The desert safari in Dubai is one of the unique experiences that the city has to offer. Filled with excitement and adventure, the desert safari gives you the chance to visit the grand desert of the city and have a fun time. Here, you get to indulge in adventurous activities like dune bashing, quad biking, sandboarding, and camel riding. During the desert safari, you will also get to witness a glorious sunset. Desert safari in Dubai also includes entertaining cultural activities like Tanoura dancing, belly dancing performances, henna designing, and more. It usually ends with a delicious BBQ dinner. If you want to make your desert safari tour even more special, you can go for an overnight desert safari, where you can get to stay in the desert during the night.
10. Go Beach Hopping
Dubai has some amazing beaches, and December offers the perfect beach weather, making it possible to go beach hopping during this month. Some of the best public beaches in Dubai are Jumeirah Beach, JBR Beach, Kite Beach, Sunset Beach, etc. These beaches not only give you a splendid view of the blue waters but also offer the chance to indulge in beach activities. In Dubai, you can try water activities like jet skiing, parasailing, kite surfing, kayaking, banana boat riding, etc. If you are interested in water sports, you can also try scuba diving and snorkeling in Dubai. On the other hand, the beaches of Dubai are also the perfect place to relax and have fun. Many of the beaches have airconditioned cabanas, jogging tracks, and even parks for the kids. There are picnic spots, restaurants, cafes, and eateries for visitors as well.
Conclusion
These are the 10 best December things to do in Dubai. While December is a great time to visit Dubai, it is important to remember that the city is extremely crowded during this month. Also, you need to make your hotel bookings and other reservations months in advance, so you get to experience Dubai in December without any hassles or delays.