Abu Dhabi comes alive at Christmas with seasonal markets, winter festivals, and family activities spanning all ages. Each December, Al Maryah Island elevates the season’s spirit as its promenades and plazas are transformed into a Winter Wonderland. Glittering décor, seasonal details, and luxury surroundings shape an experience that feels both magical and elegant, and offer a winter immersive celebration against the city’s year-round sun.
The Waterfront at Christmas
Al Maryah Island takes on a quiet glow as the festive season approaches. Palm trees and archways are traced with light, and the waterfront promenade is revealed beneath strands of fairy lights and holiday décor. At its centre, a towering Christmas tree stands illuminated, visible across the island, and adds to the sense of seasonality. Food booths, craft stations, and interactive activity areas are set across the promenade, lending a Christmas-market ambience without the density of a traditional open-air bazaar.
Dining at venues along the promenade and within The Galleria offers views over the festivities, and seasonal menus are introduced throughout December. La Petite Maison lends the waterfront a French-Mediterranean note with quiet savoir-faire, while COYA offers Peruvian-inspired cuisine within richly decorated interiors mirroring the overall mood of celebration. The air is fragrant with the scent of roasted chestnuts and spiced chocolate, instantly evoking memories of traditional European Christmas markets. Vendors pour decadent hot cocoa into souvenir mugs topped with whipped cream, while nearby stands grill bratwurst, kebabs, and specialty burgers to satisfy hearty appetites.
Snowy Adventures
It may never snow in Abu Dhabi, but Winter Wonderland at Al Maryah Island evokes the atmosphere of a winter escape. Families can skate on an outdoor ice rink under the stars – a novelty in the open air with palm trees swaying nearby. Walking further, laughter echoes from a snow park where children make snowballs and tiny snowmen in real fluffy white snow. Not far from the rink, a snow slide draws younger visitors down the gentle slope, their shrieks of delight filling the mild evening air. A life-sized snow globe invites families to step inside for a whimsical photo-op surrounded by swirling snow. A miniature train chugs along the waterfront, offering scenic rides around the promenade for wide-eyed children and nostalgic parents.
Santa’s Grotto and Holiday Traditions
No winter wonderland would be complete without Santa Claus, and at Al Maryah Island, the experience is introduced with a considered touch. Within The Galleria’s North Atrium is Santa’s Grotto, a decorated haven of red and gold where children can meet Santa and share their festive wishes. Families can book a slot or join the queue, and each child enjoys a warm welcome, a cherished Polaroid photo with Santa, and a small festive treat as a memento.
Surrounding the grotto is Santa’s Winter Fair, a series of whimsical interactive zones that spark the imagination. Little ones pen heartfelt letters to Santa, make paper snowflakes and gingerbread ornaments, and drop them in a special mailbox – a tradition embraced by old and new. In a candy-themed arts and crafts corner, they decorate cookies with frosting and sparkles, while a station close by offers bauble painting and gingerbread decorating for creative souls. Each evening, the island also hosts a gentle tree-lighting ceremony, as families gather to count down to the giant Christmas tree illumination. Choirs may softly sing classic carols in the background, forming a part of the grotto experience, while Santa’s team of elves and entertainers engage children in storytelling and games. It’s not uncommon to see an elf reading Christmas stories to a circle of entranced kids or leading a sing-along of Jingle Bells under the mall’s twinkling lights.
Jolly Performances Under the Stars
Every evening, the promenade hosts performances as part of a full schedule of live shows and roaming acts, ensuring there’s never a dull moment. On the central stage, costumed characters enact beloved holiday tales like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs or twirl and waltz in a fairy-tale ballet, bringing classic storybook magic to life.
Not far behind, The Grinch leaps out with comedic mischief in The Grinch’s Festive Spectacular, eliciting giggles as he attempts to spread the joy of Christmas. A particularly cheeky Elf on the Shelf pops up unexpectedly in the crowd, delighting onlookers with playful antics. What elevates the whimsical atmosphere is the interaction between the roaming performers and families along the promenade, blurring the line between audience and show. At a corner, Snow White is found greeting children while a band of toy soldiers marches in formation.
The outdoor cinema invites guests to relax on plush seats or bean bags and enjoy classic holiday films beneath the night sky. On select evenings, families gather with popcorn and hot cocoa to watch favourites like Home Alone, Frozen, and The Polar Express. On New Year’s Eve, as midnight approaches, Al Maryah’s waterfront bursts into light with dancing fountain jets, laser displays, and jet-skiing performers, all timed to celebratory music. This dazzling finale, “Light the Night” water show, heralds the new year in a spectacular fashion, to the delight of families and children.
This is an experience built around children; it nevertheless impresses adults in equal measure, because it unfolds as a memorable journey rather than a single attraction. For the little ones, it is all about snow, colour, movement – Santa on his sleigh, games, and rides at every corner. For everyone else, Winter Wonderland at Al Maryah Island brings an atmospheric pause from the city’s pace, proving itself a seasonal event and cherished spectacle in equal measure.
