Why You Should Visit Dubai in December
Places To Visit in Dubai During December
Best Things to do in Dubai in December
The world famous architectural wonder Burj Khalifa is visible from every point of the city of Dubai and is a must-visit place during your winter holidays. This 825-meter-tall iconic miracle offers a stunning 360-degree view of the city. Visit the place on New Year’s Eve to witness an amazing sound and light show. Zoom up to the 124th and 125th floors of the Burj in the world’s fastest elevator to soak in this stunning view. You can also reach the 148th floor to view the city from the highest observation deck in the world. Opt to enjoy a meal at The Lounge, Burj Khalifa, which is the tallest lounge on planet earth.
Book Now: Tickets for Burj Khalifa
Journey through Dubai Creek in a wooden traditional Dhow boat to get an experience of the city's true spirit, where the modern world coexists with traditional Arab charm. Enjoy the vista of the city, well decorated in December, to welcome the festival season, during your two-hour cruise. As you navigate through the Dubai Creek, look out for the popular city attractions such as the Dubai Creek Park, Dubai Frame, Deira Creekside, Museum Of Illusions, Grand Bur Dubai Masjid and others.
One of the exciting things to do in Dubai in December is to go for a Desert Safari. Tour the vast Arabian Desert during a dune drive and participate in a series of desert activities such as quad biking, sandboarding, sand bashing, camel ride etc. You can also opt to spend the night in a Bedouin tent, and be entertained with local folk songs and belly dancing. Relish a mouth watering local cuisine sitting under the starlit sky.
An exciting place to explore in Dubai is the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, the winner of the Guinness World Record for the world's Largest Acrylic Panel. Feel excited visiting this vast aquarium that houses over 33,000 aquatic animals belonging to over 150 species. Visiting this aquarium, you will be able to take a look at creatures such as Giant Spider Crabs, Otters, Water Rats, SeaHorses, Sea Jellies etc. Walk through the 48-meter underwater tunnel, and look at various marine creatures swimming all around you. Visit the underwater zoo at level 2 to meet the King Crocs, the world’s largest reptile and also other creatures.
Shopaholics must not miss out on visiting the famous Dubai Mall, the home of the Dubai shopping festival, known for providing shopping extravaganzas to its visitors. It is one of the world's largest shopping malls spread over 500,000 square meters where you will not only enjoy shopping options at more than 1200 stores but will also be able to indulge in an array of entertainment options. You can combine your shopping trip with visiting the large walk-through aquarium, skate at a world-class ice skating rink and have more exciting experiences. While visiting in the month of December, you will be able to get a unique shopping experience at the Dubai Shopping Festival which is held towards the end of the month.
December is a good time to visit Dubai’s newest landmark Dubai Frame as you will be able to enjoy the glittering skyline of Dubai that is illuminated for the holiday season to create stunning vistas. The attraction will let you enjoy the unique view of old and new Dubai from a 150-meter-high sky glass bridge that connects two towers. Go to the center of the bridge to enjoy a 360-degree view of the city. The Dubai Frame will also tell you about the city’s past, present and future as you embark on an hour-long tour of the place.
Checkout Now: Dubai Frame Tickets
Take a stroll in the World’s most extensive garden of 72,000 square meter with over 45 million flowers creating a colorful paradise on earth. Spend some time in the floral wonderland amongst lush greenery and flowers with vibrant hues at Dubai Miracle Garden. Delight in looking at the beautiful displays of marigolds, petunias and geraniums blooming all over the place in unusual layouts and heart-shaped massages. Do not miss out on visiting the butterfly garden to spot 15000 free-flying butterflies.
Also Checkout: Dubai Miracle Garden Offers
Spend a fun day at Dubai Garden Glow, the world’s most uniquely themed park, situated in the vast stretch of a well-designed colossal garden. Visit its various areas such as a magic park, art park, ice park and dinosaur park and feel mesmerized looking at the park areas glimmering with magical exhibits, ice cravings, animated dinosaurs, mammoth figurines and a lot more. Enjoy watching its various attractions including glowing animals, a replica of Burj Khalifa and many more.
Set out on an exploration of the IMG Worlds, known to be Dubai’s first themed entertainment park. The themed park is spread across 1.5 million square feet and is the largest temperature-controlled indoor-themed entertainment park in the world. Kids feel excited to visit this fun destination with its four exciting adventure zones - two of which are themed on two well-known brands - Cartoon Network and Marvel. Both zones have lots of thrilling rides that both adults and kids would find entertaining. Out of the other two zones, the Lost Valley will take you to the era of dinosaurs and the IMG Boulevard will take you on a journey through a Haunted House. Apart from rides, each zone also has stores selling themed merchandise, as well as eateries. The entertainment park also has a 12-screen movie theater, making it an ideal destination for a fun-filled day.
Book Now: IMG World Ticket Online
An excellent thing to do on a winter evening in Dubai is to witness a spectacular view of the largest choreographed fountain show in the world. Feel mesmerized looking at the 6600 glittering lights playing with the water dancing to the rhythm of Arabia, Classical and world music by artists such as Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson and Andrea Bocelli. The Dubai Fountain show of 5 minutes set in the Burj Khalifa Lake will surely enchant you. Opt to get closer to the fountain by walking on the Dubai Fountain Boardwalk or going for the Dubai Fountain Lake Ride to enjoy the show from traditional Abra boats on Burj Lake.
Those visiting Dubai in December would be delighted to be a part of the city’s celebration. The city prepares itself to spend their Christmas in a grand way and has seasonal markets where you can enjoy your Christmas shopping. You can also attend sing-along carol performances and sing the Christmas Carol with others. During the celebration, you can spend time on glittering winter terraces or head towards the smug ski chalet to spend your Christmas there. You can also opt to visit some of the amazing world-famous attractions of Dubai which are donned with fairy lights and spectacular pyrotechnics on a special day.
The New Year’s Eve celebration of Dubai is like no other, with luxury parties, exciting clubbing, fireworks and more. If you are visiting Dubai in December, then you should consider spending your New Year’s eve participating in a wide range of activities or visiting exciting places to celebrate the day in a grand way. You can opt to go for a spectacular view of the light and sound shows in Palm Jumeirah or hit one of the well known clubs for the New Year’s Eve parties. The city also has various star-studded events where internationally famous artists perform which you can check out.
Know Before you go for Dubai in December
- Travel Essentials:
Dubai Time Zone: GMT +4
Currency: Arab Emirate Dirham (AED)
Country code: +971
Emergency numbers: Police: 999; Ambulance: 998; Fire Department: 997
- What to Wear:
Wear lightweight comfortable clothing during the daytime as it is likely to be relatively hot.
Carry a jacket along to wear in case it is a little chilly.
In the evenings, wear lightweight cardigans and jackets as it is slightly cool.
While attending Christmas or New Year’s Party, wear casuals and shoes.
Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes and a head cover such as a cap, hat, bandanas, or scarf for your head.
Carry all types of suitable power adapters such as Type C, D, And G.
You must carry a high SPF sunscreen to protect your skin from UV rays
Carry an umbrella to use during brief showers if any
Swimsuits with coveralls and comfortable flip-flops for swimming and other beach activities.
Wear a hat or cover your head with a bandana to keep away the heat of the sun.
Sunglasses to protect your eyes from harmful sun rays.
A camera with suitable lenses to capture the surrounding beauty and create memories.
- By Metro:
Commute by the Dubai metro, which is the most cost-effective way to explore the city. Dubai metro runs mostly above ground and provides a breathtaking view of the city.
- By Bus:
Buses are a very convenient way for moving around within the city or to travel to neighboring places. Most buses have a wifi connection for travelers to use and charge less compared to cabs.
- By Cabs:
One of the convenient ways to travel in the city at your own pace. You can either rent them over the phone, book them through apps or flag them down on the street.
- By Boat:
Traveling by Dubai water Taxi is a must at least once to be able to get a unique experience.
- Chelo Kebab:
Chelo Kebab is a complete dish with kebabs served on mouthwatering saffron-scented basmati rice and comes with a dollop of butter.
- Manousheh:
Manousheh is the native Dubai pizza with exotic toppings such as earthy zaatar herbs, salty Akkawi cheese, etc along with a dash of olive oil, on flatbread or stretched dough.
- Al Machboos:
Considered to be the most famous food of Dubai, Al Machboos is a classic recipe consisting of rice, beef and onion which are seasoned with salt, spices and dried lemon.
Tips to Visit Dubai in December
As December is one of the busiest tourist months in Dubai, it is advisable to book your tickets well ahead of time so that you do not miss out on anything on your bucket list.
Dubai has both a traditional side as well as a modern side. Ensure that you get the flavor of both modern Dubai as well as traditional Dubai during your trip.
Although a liberal city, Dubai follows few customs and traditions. While visiting the city, you should respect these customs and traditions.
Wear a comfortable dress but ensure that it is appropriate for the place of visit. Some religious places may need you to keep your shoulders and knees covered, so dress accordingly.
In Dubai, you can only have drinks in pubs, restaurants and discos. You must drink judiciously in order not to get too tipsy.
FAQ's of Dubai in December
Is December a good time to visit Dubai?
Yes, the month of December is an excellent time for visiting the city of Dubai. During this month, Dubai has a cool but not so cold temperature and you will be able to enjoy your vacation to the fullest. You will be able to visit the star attractions of the city, indulge in adventure and water sports and will also be able to enjoy Christmas and New Year celebrations.
What are the best things to do in Dubai in December?
There are several things that you can do in Dubai in December such as exploring the Burj Aquarium, Dubai Aquarium, Dubai Frame etc. You can also go for an enjoyable Dhow cruise in a traditional Dhow boat or go for a Desert safari. December being the time for Christmas and New Year celebrations, the city of Dubai prepares itself for the festivities and you would be welcome to participate in those if you visit the city during this time.
Also Checkout: Dubai Dolphinarium
Is Dubai cold in December?
Dubai’s climate is a tropical desert climate and is never chilling cold, even in the winter months. The lowest temperature the city has in December is between 14°C to 16°C. You will be able to experience comfortable weather during day time and a cool breeze in the evening.
How hot is Dubai in December?
Dubai enjoys dry and hot weather in the month of December and does not have chilling cold weather. The temperature during this time ranges between 16°C to 26°C.
Can you swim in Dubai in December?
Yes, you will be able to swim in Dubai in December as the water temperature during this month is ideal at 23°C. Apart from swimming, you will also be able to participate in a variety of other water sports as well.
Also Checkout: Dubai Garden Glow
Is it sunny in Dubai in December?
Yes, it is mostly sunny in Dubai during the month of December and you will be able to enjoy daylight for 11 hours. However, you may get a few stray showers once in a while.
What clothes to wear in Dubai in December?
The weather in the month of December is pleasant with a comfortable temperature during the day and a cool breeze at night. During day time, you can wear light comfortable clothes following the code for dressing in Dubai. You may need an extra layer such as a jacket or a lightweight cardigan when you go out in the evening. If you are attending Christmas or New Year parties, then wear party casuals and shoes.
Is it rainy in Dubai in December?
Dubai in December is very pleasant and dry with very little or no rainfall. The average rainfall during December is 0.4-1.7 inches which is approximately 1% of rain.
What can I see in Dubai in December?
If you are visiting Dubai in December, you will be able to enjoy sightseeing in pleasant weather. The winter in Dubai is also suitable to participate in swimming and other activities. Some of the cool things that you can do in December include taking a swing in Topgolf Dubai and exploring the exciting Museum of Future. Moreover, you will also be able to take part in the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Attraction Tickets