The UAE in December 2026
Peak season. National Day on 2 and 3 December, the Grand Prix on 3 to 6 December, the Guggenheim opening on the 11th, the Liwa festival, the Shopping Festival and New Year's Eve.
Highs about 25 to 27, nights about 16 to 17. The first properly cool month.
Big events, festivals and anyone who wants the full programme.
Highest hotel and flight prices of the year, and heavy traffic around Yas Island and the festival sites. Book first.
15 events in December 2026
Dubai Miracle Garden reopens, Season 15
The flower park reopened for its 15th season with weekly themed celebrations and more than 50 floral displays.
Abu Dhabi Festival 2026, autumn programme
The autumn leg of the 23rd Abu Dhabi Festival runs from 10 October to 19 December 2026, opening with the UAE National Orchestra at Etihad Arena and closing at Louvre Abu Dhabi with Dhafer Youssef. Hans Zimmer plays on 13 November.
Dubai Safari Park reopens, Season 8
The wildlife park reopened for its eighth season with the “Live More Wild Life” theme and a Royal Safari Experience for groups of up to ten.
Global Village Dubai, Season 31
Dubai's open-air world fair opened its 31st season on 14 October 2026 and runs until May 2027, with national pavilions, stage shows, rides and food stalls. Tickets are Dh25 on weekdays and Dh30 from Friday to Sunday and on public holidays.
Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial
New commissions bring contemporary art into public spaces, opening first in the Al Ain Region and then in Abu Dhabi, with works remaining on display into 2027.
Sheikh Zayed Festival 2026-27
Abu Dhabi's biggest heritage-and-entertainment festival opens its 2026-27 season at Al Wathba on 30 October and runs for 136 days to 14 March 2027, with new music and theatre, art and photography exhibitions and a redesigned aerial light show.
Dubai Racing Carnival opens
Sixteen race meetings over the winter at Meydan, with new restaurants and hospitality, building to the Dubai World Cup on 27 March 2027. Entry was reported from Dh10.
UAE National Day 2026 (55th)
The UAE marks its 55th National Day (Eid Al Etihad) on Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 December 2026, under the theme “Spirit of the Union”. The city programmes had not been published when this page was checked.
Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2026
Race week runs 3 to 6 December 2026 at Yas Marina Circuit, with the Yasalam after-race concerts (Lewis Capaldi, Imagine Dragons, The Chainsmokers and The Script announced) and an official after-party on 4 December headlined by Anyma.
Dubai Shopping Festival (32nd edition)
The 32nd Dubai Shopping Festival returns from 4 December 2026 to 17 January 2027: 45 days of retail promotions, live entertainment, concerts and citywide experiences.
GITEX Global 2026
The technology show moves to Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City for the first time, with an opening summit at DWTC on 7 December and the exhibition from 8 to 11 December. Hotels and venues in Dubai fill around it.
Culture Summit Abu Dhabi
A gathering of cultural leaders and artists on how culture shapes shared memories, spaces and futures.
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi opens
The Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, a museum of modern and contemporary art designed by the late Frank Gehry, is scheduled to open on Saadiyat Island on 11 December 2026, completing the Saadiyat Cultural District's major museums.
Liwa International Festival 2026-27
The desert festival around Tal Moreeb, one of the world's tallest dunes, returns from 11 December 2026 to 2 January 2027 with motorsport, music, heritage and family programmes. The full 2026-27 schedule had not been released at the time of checking.
New Year's Eve in the UAE 2026
The 2026-27 New Year's Eve programmes had not been announced when this page was checked. Last year's pattern: Burj Khalifa and fireworks at 40+ sites in Dubai, a record-attempt show in Ras Al Khaimah and a drone-and-fireworks night at Sheikh Zayed Festival.
Best in December
December 2026: common questions
What are the biggest events in the UAE in December 2026?+
Dubai Miracle Garden reopens, Season 15 (Opened 8 Oct 2026, runs to 31 May 2027); Abu Dhabi Festival 2026, autumn programme (10 Oct to 19 Dec 2026); Dubai Safari Park reopens, Season 8 (Opened 12 Oct 2026); Global Village Dubai, Season 31 (Opened 14 Oct 2026, runs until May 2027); Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial (Al Ain from 23 Oct 2026; Abu Dhabi from 15 Nov; on show into 2027).
What is the weather like in the UAE in December?+
Highs about 25 to 27, nights about 16 to 17. The first properly cool month.
Is December a good time to visit the UAE?+
Peak season. National Day on 2 and 3 December, the Grand Prix on 3 to 6 December, the Guggenheim opening on the 11th, the Liwa festival, the Shopping Festival and New Year's Eve. Highest hotel and flight prices of the year, and heavy traffic around Yas Island and the festival sites. Book first.
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