Christmas in Dubai isn’t painted in snowdrifts so much as Brushstrokes of elegance – candlelit tables, linen laid with precision, and menus that carry the Christmas spirit in truffle, clementine, and spice. If winter in older cities is Dickensian – nostalgic and rustic with lanterns, carols, and narrow streets – Dubai’s version is different in spirit, defined by maître d’s who move with quiet precision, musicians who lift the mood, and chefs who sketch the season in truffle and shellfish.
As the soft pop of champagne and the first notes of music mark the start of the celebration, conversation settles into a happy rhythm, laughter flows easily, and stories drift back to winters past. Gifts are exchanged, glasses touch, and the present moment brightens with the warmth of gatherings. Below are some of the finest venues, each presenting Christmas dinner in Dubai as a seasonal tableau, with every sparkle of glass and every shared toast whispering that “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.”
Al Muntaha, Burj Al Arab
At the very top of the Burj Al Arab, Al Muntaha celebrates Christmas with poised and refined detail. With Chef Saverio Sbaragli at the helm, whose background includes classic French training and time at Le Meurice in Paris, the restaurant offers a Michelin-starred French-Italian menu built around seasonal produce and meticulous technique.
Each December, the dining room becomes the setting for a six-course festive degustation served on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, featuring dishes that highlight truffle, seafood, and Sbaragli’s signature sauces. Guests dine against panoramic views of the coastline, framed by floor-to-ceiling glass on the 27th floor of one of the world’s first seven-star hotels.
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Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, Atlantis The Royal
At Atlantis The Royal, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal brings British culinary history to life through artistry and attention to detail. Now led by Chef de Cuisine Chris Malone – who trained under Heston’s team in London and formally took the helm in 2025 – the Michelin-starred restaurant continues to reinterpret centuries-old recipes with contemporary technique. Each Christmas, the menu highlights the restaurant’s celebrated signatures – Meat Fruit (c. 1500s), Tipsy Cake (c. 1858), and Savoury Porridge (c. 1661) – presented alongside seasonal creations that showcase the best of British produce. Guests dine in a sleek, theatrical room that mirrors the artistry of the cuisine – an ode to history, innovation, and modern British dining beneath the glow of Atlantis The Royal’s architecture.
Gordon Ramsay's Bread Street Kitchen & Bar, Atlantis The Palm
At Bread Street Kitchen & Bar – Atlantis, The Palm, Christmas dinner takes on a distinctly Gordon Ramsay touch. The restaurant presents its take on festive dining with roasts, live entertainment, and family fun across a line-up of celebrations – from Christmas Eve Dinner and Christmas Day Brunch to the traditional Boxing Day Roast. Each service captures the warmth and theatre of a British festive table, with signature roasts, Yorkshire puddings, classic desserts, and Ramsay’s celebrated Beef Wellington at the centre of the feast. The lively, family-friendly atmosphere often welcomes a visit from Santa himself, adding to the sense of tradition. Guests may also enjoy complimentary access to The Lost Chambers Aquarium after the Christmas Day brunch – a signature Atlantis touch that extends the celebration beyond the table.
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Pierchic, Jumeirah Al Qasr
Set at the tip of a private wooden pier, Pierchic – Jumeirah Al Qasr offers Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dining with panoramic views of the sea and the silhouette of the Burj Al Arab. Chef Beatrice Segoni crafts festive menus that highlight seasonal Italian flavours – from freshly caught seafood and handmade pasta to desserts inspired by traditional holiday recipes. Guests dine above the water, surrounded by floor-to-ceiling glass that captures the changing light across the coastline. It is an experience created by both the magnificent setting and the artistry of its cuisine – intimate, scenic, and unmistakably festive.
Il Ristorante – Niko Romito, Bulgari Resort Dubai
At Il Ristorante – Niko Romito at Bulgari Resort Dubai, the festive season is defined by Italian finesse and quiet sophistication. The two-Michelin-star restaurant, where resident chef Giacomo Amicucci works in close collaboration with Niko Romito, distils Italian cooking to its purest form – ingredient-led, harmonious, and deeply refined. During the holidays, Bulgari typically unveils limited-edition festive menus and seasonal creations inspired by Italian tradition, reflecting Romito’s philosophy of simplicity elevated to art. Set within Bulgari’s private island resort overlooking the sea, the restaurant has previously celebrated Christmas with a specially curated tasting experience, elegant panettone and chocolate displays from Bulgari’s Il Cioccolato, and a festive décor that mirrors the brand’s Roman heritage. Together, these touches bring a distinctive sense to one of the best Christmas dinners in Dubai.
STAY by Yannick Alléno, One&Only The Palm
At One&Only The Palm, Christmas ushers in the festive season with coastal charm, polished service, and genuine warmth. It begins with an elegant afternoon tea at The Lounge – a polished gathering featuring sweet and savoury treats paired with a glass of fizz. At 101 Dining Lounge & Bar, guests can celebrate Christmas Eve beside the shore with a four-course dinner, fine wines, and live entertainment against the city’s glittering skyline. For a more intimate celebration, private dining experiences offer bespoke festive menus with Champagne service in secluded settings by the water. The resort also embraces the season with family-friendly touches – from its Christmas market on the ZEST terrace to creative activities at the KidsOnly Club. Beyond the table, the Guerlain Spa offers festive rituals and gift collections, creating a celebration that balances sophistication with a genuine sense of togetherness.
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At.mosphere, Burj Khalifa
High above the city on the 122nd floor of the Burj Khalifa, At.mosphere brings Christmas dining to extraordinary heights. Guests can mark Christmas Eve with a five-course tasting menu served across two evening seatings, featuring seasonal dishes such as wild langoustine with caviar, Saint Jacques with foie gras, and signature poultry. On Christmas Day, the restaurant transforms into a festive brunch setting, where dishes like Bresse chicken with chestnut and salsify are paired with views that stretch across the Downtown skyline. From the 122nd floor, guests dine to live music as Santa makes his appearance, with the city’s lights stretching out beneath them – a setting that turns Christmas dinner in Dubai into an experience both indulgent and unforgettable.
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Nazcaa, Address Dubai Mall
At Nazcaa – Address Dubai Mall, Christmas is celebrated in a candlelit rooftop setting overlooking Downtown Dubai and the Burj Khalifa. The restaurant presents a Christmas Eve dinner shaped by its signature Nikkei cuisine – a refined fusion of Peruvian and Japanese flavours expressed through flame-grilled ceviches, torched rolls, and intricate desserts. Festive cocktails, golden décor, and live entertainment create an atmosphere that feels both contemporary and ceremonial. Guests linger over dessert as the Burj Khalifa’s evening light show unfolds across the skyline – a fitting finale to Nazcaa’s Christmas Eve dinner with festive sparkle.
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Closing Thought
Each December, more than two hundred Dubai restaurants design special festive menus, from sky-high degustations to candlelit dinners by the sea, as the season unravels with style and goodwill. As Dickens once said, “Christmas is a season for kindling the fire for hospitality.” In Dubai, that fire burns not in hearths but in kitchens that glow with festive imagination.
