Santa’s Grottos in Dubai: The best places for kids to meet Santa in Dubai 2023
School’s out, the festive season is upon us and it’s the time of year when little ones are making their wish lists and (hopefully) on their best behaviour. Kids can catch Mr Claus himself at a number of fun festive venues around the city – here is our pick of the very best places in Dubai to meet Santa this year…
The Green Planet Dubai’s Winter Wonderland
In the spirit of the UAE’s Year of Sustainability, Santa is turning himself literally green in a specially designed outfit that is also in keeping with the natural aesthetic at Green Planet, the Middle East’s largest indoor rainforest. Kids can take selfies with the big man in green every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 11am, 12noon, 1pm, 3pm, 4pm and 5pm within Green Planet’s new outdoor Nature Park. Moreover, ‘Friends of The Green Planet Dubai,’ the rainforest’s beloved animal mascots, will meet and greet their young fans at 11am, 12noon, 4pm and 5pm at The Green Planet Dubai’s Nature Park. While there, guests can also explore the Nature Park’s nine vibrant botanical gardens, treehouse adventure trail, skyline walks, and nine viewing platforms – or, you can upgrade your ticket for entry into the indoor biodome too.
Dates: 6 December 2023 – 7 January 2024.
Timings: 10am – 6pm in the Nature Park
Price: Visit the ‘The Green Planet Dubai Winter Wonderland’ with The Green Planet Dubai’s Nature Park Day Pass for only Dh69 pp. Or you can extend your journey with a standard Green Planet Dubai Day Pass to access to both the indoor rainforest (where you can also catch indoor snowfall sessions and Santa’s workshop arts and crafts in addition to the usual Green Planet flora and fauna attractions) and the Nature Park, from Dh175 pp.
Expo City Dubai’s Winter City
Hot on the heels of its activities as the host venue of COP28, Expo City’s wintery wonderland has a sustainable focus this year. Join Santa’s vital eco mission to save the North Pole and visit Santa’s house, where children will discover how he cleverly reuses, reduces, and recycles – from repurposed decorations to energy-efficient lighting. The whole family can get in on the action, joining together to follow clues, conquer challenges, and mingle with iconic Christmas characters, all while wholeheartedly embracing the planet-saving magic of sustainability.
Dates: 15 Dec 2023 – Jan 2024
Timings: 3pm – 11pm
Price: Dh 20 entry fee pp (kids under 12 free) for entry to Winter City at Expo City, going up to Dh50 pp between 20-24 December. Some acitivites may incue an extra charge.
Ski Dubai’s Snow Village
For the frostiest Father Christmas experience that’s possible in the Dubai desert, it has to be Ski Dubai. The Ski Dubai Santa experience is famously jolly, and with the Meet Santa pass for Dh150 per person you get a special meet-and-greet, printed photo with Santa Claus himself, and a surprise gift made by Santa’s elves. Plus, you can warm up with the ridiculously thick and sumptuous Ski Dubai signature hot chocolate and fleece gloves included too.
Dates: 1 – 25 Dec 2023
Timings: 3pm – 11pm
Price: From Dh150 pp, family tickets available from Dh550. Pass does not include access to the Snow Park, and children under the age of 2 years are not permitted inside Ski Dubai for safety reasons. Be sure to arrive 40 minutes before your booked session!
Wafi Mall’s Sweet Celebration
An annual visit to Wafi’s Santa is a festive rite of passage for many Dubai kids, whose bedrooms are often filled with the iconic cuddly toys that are always gifted by the Wafi Santa; a different animal every year. The offering has expanded over the years, and always features a whole raft of well-designed festive activities, as well as a fun themed winter village. This year the theme is about all things sweet, and the mall has been transformed into a larger-than-life, sugar-tastic candy land. Kids will have a fantastic time enjoying the Christmassy challenges and arts and crafts, before meeting Santa in his cosy grotto and walking away with a photo card and this year’s soft toy gift. There js also the chance to win Dh15,000 and cool weekly prizes. Get your ticket at the Main Atrium ticket counter and be a part of the super sweet festivities! Be warned; it’s worth heading to the mall first thing in the morning, as queues can get long, and it’s not possible to book tickets in advance.
Dates: 8 – 24 December 2023
Timings: 8.30am – 9.30pm
Price: Dh70 per child. Tickets may be bought at the mall’s Main Atrium (they cannot be booked in advance), so allow for possible queuing time.
Find out more here or by calling 04 324 4555.
Time Square Center’s Winter Wishes Santa Grotto
Times Square Center has magically morphed into a whimsical winter village this month, with a series of delightful festive workshops running at set times throughout the week and weekend – including baking gingerbread with Mrs Klaus, wreath and ornament making with elves, and a variety of festive musical performances. Top of the list, of course, is a visit to Santa’s grotto, where children can enter an enchanting world, meet the man himself, and take home a photo and special holiday keepsake.
Dates: 15 – 24 December 2023
Timings: 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm | 4:15 pm – 6:00 pm | 6:45 pm – 8:00 pm
Price: Free to access.
See the full schedule of free activities here.
Legoland Dubai’s LEGO Santa’s grotto
There is a Festive Bricktacular at LEGOLAND Dubai Resort from Thursday, December 14, 2023, to Sunday, January 7, 2024. Families can take part in the LEGOLAND Countdown to Christmas, an advent calendar offering daily chances to open a door and win a LEGO® box set until December 24, 2023. For an additional fee, children can also explore Santa’s Grotto and meet LEGO Santa himself (an additional Dh125 when visiting LEGOLAND Dubai in December). LEGO Santa has an abundance of very special presents, including a limited edition Festive Bricktacular bag, a photo with LEGO Santa, an exclusive Santa’s Grotto LEGO Brick, a LEGO box set, and a letter from LEGO Santa. Additionally, guests can enjoy daily prizes with the new Countdown to New Year advent calendar from December 25 to December 31.
Dates: Dec 1 2023 – Jan 7 2024 (Santa experience only available in December).
Timings: 10am to 7pm
Price: Santa experience is an additional Dh125 on top of the Legoland entry free (Dh295 pp from age 3 upwards).
Book tickets here.
Madinat Festive Market’s Santa Abra
Forget sleigh rides – it’s all about abra rides with Madinat’s Santa experience, where children can hop aboard a floating abra and meet the big man himself on a mini boat trip around the Madinat Jumeirah canal. Covering 1,750 square meters, the well-loved Madinat Festive Market also features a magnificent 36-foot Christmas tree, a snow fight zone, bungee jumping, a North Pole train ride, a Venetian carousel, and the chance to decorate gingerbread houses. All this against a backdrop of cheering festive music, and amongst stalls selling a cornucopia of deliciously festive food and drink.
Dates: 15 December 2023 – 7 January 2024
Timings: Mon-Thu from 3pm till late, Fri-Sun from 12pm till late
Price: Free entry, there may be an additional cost for some experiences.
Find out more here.
Habtoor Winter Garden
Catch Santa perusing the many fantastic food trucks at Habtoor Winter Garden’s gastronomic spectacular of street food and festive delights. The ultimate gourmand, Father Christmas will make intermittent appearances to meet and greet children, and ask them about the Christmas lists. The rest of the time, you can sample the gourmet treats on offer, while kids will love the specially designed kids zone (extra cost), which features a fun bungee trampoline, bouncy castles, games and much more.
Dates: November 1 2023 – January 31 2024
Timings: 4pm until midnight, daily
Price: Dh25 pp entry, food and kids’ area entry incur additional costs.
Find out more and book your tickets in advance here.
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