DUBAI // Children need not worry – the shifting sands of the desert will not cause Santa Claus’s sleigh to skid on Christmas Eve.
Father Christmas, who is visiting the UAE to hear children’s gift wishes, vouches for his versatile sledge, saying it delivers a soft landing on snow or sand.
“My sleigh and reindeers are very flexible, they can land whether on snow, ice or land,” said Santa, who is at Ski Dubai’s grotto in the Mall of the Emirates.
Children crowded around him on Friday for red goodie bags stuffed with sweets, with more due to visit him in the coming days.
Santa says his trusty reindeer will be guided to homes by the UAE’s famous landmarks on Christmas Eve – although he admits the new address system will come in handy.
“With the street name and number in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, of course it will help,” he said. “For other emirates, landmarks will also do.”
And the absence of chimneys will not pose a problem to the North Pole resident, who has been posing for pictures with parents and children and even dropping in on birthday parties.
“I can squeeze into the windows easily,” he said with a shrug, despite most children at the grotto listing his girth – and kindness – as their favourite things about Santa.
Santa also said his reindeer have become acclimatised to the UAE’s weather.
“They are used to dashing through snow,” he said. “But my reindeer absolutely love the sand and the sunny weather here.”
Snacks left for Santa by families here tend to be healthier than his usual cookies, with dates a common midnight treat.
“They are so kind and thoughtful with their hospitality, leaving dates and milk for me and my reindeer,” he said.
As for gifts, toy building bricks, cars, dolls and clothes are topping the lists he has received this year from children in the UAE.
Some children have made him laugh, he said, by trying to negotiate deals for the coming year instead of ensuring they are always obedient so he could reward their good conduct and behaviour.
In one letter, a boy “promises to be good in school if I give him the present that he wished for – ho ho ho”, Santa said.
Being kind to one another was the only gift the man himself asked for.
“My dear children, spreading love is the best way to enjoy the season. Be good, obey your parents and love one another,” Santa said.
Children from across the world visiting the UAE for Christmas pointed out what they loved most about Santa.
“I like him because he is fat, because his beard is funny and also because he is very nice and kind,” said Dalal Dahrab, 9, visiting from Kuwait with her six-year-old brother, Meshal, and her family.
While Dalal asked for a doll, Meshal was specific that he wanted “a big, big, police dog”.
“I want this from Santa because he gives whatever you ask for,” he said.
Benedetta Ciani, 7, said she needed a tablet this Christmas, and asked for it in a letter she had dropped off at a large box in the town centre of her home city, Varese, in northern Italy, before heading to Dubai with her family.
“I like everything about him, but mainly because he is kind and good and like a grandfather,” she said.
Maha, 5, and her brother Abdul Rahman, 3, from Qatar, were among the children who squealed with joy when they were handed red gift bags from Santa.
“I really like his hat and I like this present,” said Maha.
“We didn’t ask him for any presents because we’re Muslim but I met him, and I like him.”
Some children made requests for their older siblings.
“I want a doll house and I would like a PlayStation 4 for him,” said South African Talia Naidoo, 5, pointing towards her 15-year-old brother.
“All the time he has been asking for a PS4, so I asked for him.”
rtalwar@thenational.ae
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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How to volunteer
The UAE volunteers campaign can be reached at www.volunteers.ae , or by calling 800-VOLAE (80086523), or emailing info@volunteers.ae.
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
What is an FTO Designation?
FTO designations impose immigration restrictions on members of the organisation simply by virtue of their membership and triggers a criminal prohibition on knowingly providing material support or resources to the designated organisation as well as asset freezes.
It is a crime for a person in the United States or subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to knowingly provide “material support or resources” to or receive military-type training from or on behalf of a designated FTO.
Representatives and members of a designated FTO, if they are aliens, are inadmissible to and, in certain circumstances removable from, the United States.
Except as authorised by the Secretary of the Treasury, any US financial institution that becomes aware that it has possession of or control over funds in which an FTO or its agent has an interest must retain possession of or control over the funds and report the funds to the Treasury Department.
Source: US Department of State
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The biog
Title: General Practitioner with a speciality in cardiology
Previous jobs: Worked in well-known hospitals Jaslok and Breach Candy in Mumbai, India
Education: Medical degree from the Government Medical College in Nagpur
How it all began: opened his first clinic in Ajman in 1993
Family: a 90-year-old mother, wife and two daughters
Remembers a time when medicines from India were purchased per kilo
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Getting there
The flights
Flydubai operates up to seven flights a week to Helsinki. Return fares to Helsinki from Dubai start from Dh1,545 in Economy and Dh7,560 in Business Class.
The stay
Golden Crown Igloos in Levi offer stays from Dh1,215 per person per night for a superior igloo; www.leviniglut.net
Panorama Hotel in Levi is conveniently located at the top of Levi fell, a short walk from the gondola. Stays start from Dh292 per night based on two people sharing; www. golevi.fi/en/accommodation/hotel-levi-panorama
Arctic Treehouse Hotel in Rovaniemi offers stays from Dh1,379 per night based on two people sharing; www.arctictreehousehotel.com
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
Women & Power: A Manifesto
Mary Beard
Profile Books and London Review of Books
World Cricket League Division 2
In Windhoek, Namibia - Top two teams qualify for the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, which starts on March 4.
UAE fixtures
Thursday February 8, v Kenya; Friday February 9, v Canada; Sunday February 11, v Nepal; Monday February 12, v Oman; Wednesday February 14, v Namibia; Thursday February 15, final
World Cricket League Division 2
In Windhoek, Namibia - Top two teams qualify for the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, which starts on March 4.
UAE fixtures
Thursday February 8, v Kenya; Friday February 9, v Canada; Sunday February 11, v Nepal; Monday February 12, v Oman; Wednesday February 14, v Namibia; Thursday February 15, final
