December 2026
UAE Top 10 This Month
Each month we pick ten things worth your time in six areas, check the details against official sources and link straight to each place. Nobody pays to be featured.
Things to do this month
F1 on Yas Island, DSF, the MOTN and Liwa festivals, Sharjah cricket nights and more: ten confirmed things to do across the UAE in December 2026.
- Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Abu Dhabi (Yas Island)
- Dubai Shopping Festival (32nd edition) Dubai
- MOTN Festival (10th edition) Abu Dhabi (Corniche)
- Al Dhafra Festival (20th edition) Abu Dhabi (Madinat Zayed, Al Dhafra)
- Sheikh Zayed Festival 2026/2027 Abu Dhabi (Al Wathba)
- Global Village Season 31 Dubai
- Focal Point: Sharjah Art Book Fair Sharjah (Sharjah Arts Area)
- Liwa International Festival Abu Dhabi (Tal Moreeb, Liwa)
- DP World ILT20 cricket at Sharjah Cricket Stadium Sharjah
- New Year's Eve at Burj Khalifa Dubai (Downtown)
New restaurants and cafés
Ten restaurants and cafés that opened in the UAE in 2026, from Gymkhana in DIFC to Emirati cooking at Falwa and Persian kebabs in Al Bateen.
- Gymkhana Dubai Dubai (DIFC)
- Falwa Abu Dhabi (Al Jubail Island)
- Berenjak Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi (Al Bateen)
- SUPA Uzbek Culinary House Dubai (Al Barsha)
- Bayroot Deli Dubai (Sheikh Zayed Road)
- Malgudi Abu Dhabi (Al Hisn)
- Supernova Abu Dhabi (Al Bateen)
- Rosa's Thai Abu Dhabi (Al Maryah Island)
- tashas Al Ain Abu Dhabi (Al Ain)
- The Reformatory Lab, Aljada Sharjah (Aljada)
Free things to do
Ten free ways to enjoy the UAE in December 2026, from National Day and the Dubai Fountain to Al Qudra Lakes and Jebel Jais, with what costs extra.
- Eid Al Etihad (UAE National Day) All emirates
- The Dubai Fountain Dubai (Downtown)
- Kite Beach Dubai (Jumeirah / Umm Suqeim)
- Ripe Market at Academy Park Dubai (Umm Suqeim)
- Alserkal Avenue Dubai (Al Quoz)
- Al Qudra Lakes Dubai (Al Marmoom desert)
- Heart of Sharjah Sharjah
- Abu Dhabi Corniche (Al Sahil free beach) Abu Dhabi
- Al Ain Oasis Abu Dhabi (Al Ain)
- Jebel Jais Viewing Deck Park Ras Al Khaimah
Day trips and weekend escapes
Ten cool-weather escapes from Dubai and Abu Dhabi for December 2026, from Jebel Jais and Hatta to Kalba's mangroves and Sir Bani Yas.
- Jebel Jais Ras Al Khaimah
- Hatta Dubai (Hatta)
- Al Ain Abu Dhabi (Al Ain)
- Wadi Shawka Ras Al Khaimah
- Mleiha National Park Sharjah
- Khasab, Musandam (Oman) by road Musandam, Oman (via Ras Al Khaimah)
- Fujairah: Al Bidya Mosque and Snoopy Island Fujairah
- Khor Fakkan and Al Rafisah Dam Sharjah (east coast)
- Kalba mangroves and Al Hefaiyah Sharjah (Kalba)
- Sir Bani Yas Island Abu Dhabi (Al Dhafra)
Local shops and Made in the UAE
Ten UAE makers for National Day and holiday gifts in December 2026: chocolate, dates, coffee, perfume, kidswear, skincare and stationery, with honest origin notes.
- Mirzam Chocolate Makers Dubai (Al Quoz)
- Al Foah Abu Dhabi
- RAW Coffee Company Dubai (Al Quoz)
- Nightjar Coffee Roasters Dubai (Alserkal Avenue)
- Camelicious Dubai (Dubai to Al Ain Road)
- Al Nassma Chocolate Dubai
- Ajmal Perfumes Dubai
- Shatha Essa Kids Dubai
- De L'Arta Abu Dhabi (Masdar City)
- Little Majlis UAE (online)
People making a difference
Ten people and groups doing real good in the UAE, from Clean UAE volunteers to Dh3 meals, dog rescue and turtle rehab, with simple ways to join in this December.
- Habiba Al Mar'ashi (Emirates Environmental Group) Dubai (all seven emirates)
- Tatiana Antonelli Abella (Goumbook) Dubai
- Ayesha Khan (Food ATM) Ajman (outlets in several emirates)
- Rana Hajirasouli (The Surpluss) Dubai
- Majed Abdullah Bin Saad (ATHR) All seven emirates
- Thrift for Good (Jennifer Sault) Dubai
- K9 Friends Dubai
- Dubai Turtle Rehabilitation Project Dubai
- Emirates Nature-WWF Abu Dhabi and Dubai (nationwide)
- Dubai Cares Dubai
Not sponsored. Nobody paid to be featured and there are no affiliate links in this article. We share these links to support UAE businesses, creators and causes.
Images are AI illustrations, not photos of the places or people featured.