Fifty days of winter festivities at Expo City Dubai will centre around a 16-metre tall Christmas tree. AFP
Fifty days of winter festivities at Expo City Dubai will centre around a 16-metre tall Christmas tree. AFP
Fifty days of winter festivities at Expo City Dubai will centre around a 16-metre tall Christmas tree. AFP
Fifty days of winter festivities at Expo City Dubai will centre around a 16-metre tall Christmas tree. AFP

Expo City Dubai to transform into magical ‘Winter City’ to celebrate the holidays


Hayley Skirka
  • English
  • Arabic

The holidays are coming early this year as Expo City Dubai is transforming into a Winter City later this month.

From November 23, through UAE National Day and into the New Year, the Mobility District, Surreal water feature and Al Wasl Plaza at Expo City Dubai will host 50 days of festivities.

As well as a chalet-style Christmas market, there will be traditional fairground games, a place for children to post their letters to Santa and plenty of decorated pine trees.

Santa poses for a picture with kids during the official Expo 2020 Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony in Dubai. REUTERS / Satish Kumar
Santa poses for a picture with kids during the official Expo 2020 Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony in Dubai. REUTERS / Satish Kumar

The festive celebrations will begin on December 9 with a tree lighting ceremony to illuminate the district’s 16-metre tall Christmas tree. The White Christmas theme will be reflected in the projection show at Al Wasl Dome, which will transform nightly into a glowing wintry spectacle.

With the scent of mulled drinks and mince pies wafting through the air, families can try wreath and ornament-making workshops, take part in gingerbread baking classes and visit Expo City’s toy factory where teddy bears can be customised for each child. There’s also a fully-decorated Santa’s Grotto.

Live entertainment is scheduled with a performance called Mrs Claus Christmas Show running from December 20-29, and Carols by Candlelight will place in the five days including and leading up to Christmas Day.

Dogs are also welcome to join the festive fun, as Expo City Dubai is now pooch friendly with complimentary water bowls, treats and waste bags available for all four-legged visitors.

UAE National Day at Expo City Dubai

Winter City is also where UAE National Day celebrations will be under way at Expo City Dubai this year.

Celebrating 51 years since the UAE was founded, it will feature special commemorations for three days — from November 30, culminating in a special concert on December 2.

And for children who can’t get enough of Expo City Dubai, the two-week Winter Camp will be a place where they can have fun outdoors and take part in interactive indoor activities at Terra at The Sustainability Pavilion and Alif at The Mobility Pavilion. It’s open to children aged 6 to 12 years, and prices vary.

As part of the winter season, Expo City Dubai is also hosting a family-friendly Fan City to show all the action from the Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022. Opening on November 20, the same day as the footballing spectacle, it will kick-start the seasonal transformation.

Christmas celebrations at Expo 2020 Dubai - in pictures

Step by step

2070km to run

38 days

273,600 calories consumed

28kg of fruit

40kg of vegetables

45 pairs of running shoes

1 yoga matt

1 oxygen chamber

EA Sports FC 26

Publisher: EA Sports

Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S

Rating: 3/5

6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 Group 1 (PA) | US$95,000 | (Dirt) 2,000m
7.05pm: Meydan Classic Listed (TB) ) | $175,000) | (Turf) 1,600m
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) ) | $135,000 ) | (D) 1,600m
8.15pm: Nad Al Sheba Trophy Group 3 (TB) ) | $300,000) | (T) 2,810m
8.50pm: Curlin Handicap Listed (TB)) | $160,000) | (D) 2,000m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB)) | $175,000) | (T) 1,400m
10pm: Handicap (TB) ) | $135,000 ) | (T) 2,000m

The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors

Power: Combined output 920hp

Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic

Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km

On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025

Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000

How to apply for a drone permit
  • Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
  • Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
  • Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
  • Submit their request
What are the regulations?
  • Fly it within visual line of sight
  • Never over populated areas
  • Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
  • Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
  • Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
  • Should have a live feed of the drone flight
  • Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
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Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

Power: 819hp

Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm

Price: From Dh1,700,000

Available: Now

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Director: Kangana Ranaut, Krish Jagarlamudi

Producer: Zee Studios, Kamal Jain

Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Ankita Lokhande, Danny Denzongpa, Atul Kulkarni

Rating: 2.5/5

Afghanistan fixtures
  • v Australia, today
  • v Sri Lanka, Tuesday
  • v New Zealand, Saturday,
  • v South Africa, June 15
  • v England, June 18
  • v India, June 22
  • v Bangladesh, June 24
  • v Pakistan, June 29
  • v West Indies, July 4
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Lee%20Sang-yong%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Don%20Lee%2C%20Lee%20Jun-hyuk%2C%20Munetaka%20Aoki%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3%2F5%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Recent winners

2002 Giselle Khoury (Colombia)

2004 Nathalie Nasralla (France)

2005 Catherine Abboud (Oceania)

2007 Grace Bijjani  (Mexico)

2008 Carina El-Keddissi (Brazil)

2009 Sara Mansour (Brazil)

2010 Daniella Rahme (Australia)

2011 Maria Farah (Canada)

2012 Cynthia Moukarzel (Kuwait)

2013 Layla Yarak (Australia)              

2014 Lia Saad  (UAE)

2015 Cynthia Farah (Australia)

2016 Yosmely Massaad (Venezuela)

2017 Dima Safi (Ivory Coast)

2018 Rachel Younan (Australia)

THE CLOWN OF GAZA

Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah 

Starring: Alaa Meqdad

Rating: 4/5

MATCH INFO

Osasuna 1 Real Madrid 4
Osasuna: García (14')
Real Madrid: Isco (33'), Ramos (38'), Vázquez (84'), Jovic (90' 2)

Cricket World Cup League 2

UAE squad

Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind

Fixtures

Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE

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Chelsea 1
Hazard (22' pen)

Manchester United 0

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Biog

Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara

He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada

Father of two sons, grandfather of six

Plays golf once a week

Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family

Walks for an hour every morning

Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India

2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business

 

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1) Organ donors can register on the Hayat app, run by the Ministry of Health and Prevention

2) There are about 11,000 patients in the country in need of organ transplants

3) People must be over 21. Emiratis and residents can register. 

4) The campaign uses the hashtag  #donate_hope

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In Dubai

Pakistan 418-5 (declared)
New Zealand 90 and 131-2 (follow on)

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Updated: November 28, 2022, 6:11 AM`