Mark your calendar, Dubai: the Madinat Jumeirah Festive Market is back, and this year’s dates are out. It runs from Friday, December 4 to Sunday, December 27, taking over Fort Island at Madinat Jumeirah, and entry is free.
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That adds up to just over three weeks of festive food, family entertainment and shopping, set against the twinkling waterways and Arabian ambience of Souk Madinat Jumeirah. The market spreads across 1,750 square metres of the souk.
What’s Inside The Market
The centrepiece is a towering 36-foot Christmas tree covered in baubles, stars and candy canes, with oversized red and white wrapped presents stacked around its base. A live band plays seasonal music through the market.
Hungry or thirsty? Festive food and drinks are on offer, and mulled vino is among them.
Activities For Kids
There is plenty for the little ones: a snow fight zone, bungee jumping, a North Pole train ride and a Venetian carousel. You can also take an abra ride with Santa and decorate your own gingerbread house, which should keep younger visitors busy.
Timings And Dates
Opening hours differ by day: from 3pm on Monday to Thursday, and from 12pm on Friday to Sunday. The earlier weekend start suits a long family afternoon.
The run spans four full Friday-to-Sunday stretches, December 4 to 6, 11 to 13, 18 to 20 and 25 to 27, each with the earlier noon opening.
How This Year Compares
If the dates feel familiar, that is because the market keeps shifting its calendar. Its 2019 edition began on December 13, the 2023 run stretched from December 15 to January 7, and last year it opened on December 5 and ran to December 31. This year’s version starts a day earlier than last year’s and wraps up four days sooner, so Christmas Day falls inside the run and New Year’s Eve does not.
Fort Island sits within Madinat Jumeirah, the resort and dining complex with views of the Burj Al Arab, so the setting does a lot of the work before you have visited a single stall.
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Planning Your Visit
Entry is free and the market has a large, loyal following, so weekends are likely to be the busiest stretch. For a calmer wander, a weekday evening after the 3pm opening is the safer pick.
Cover Image Courtesy: Jumeirah/Website
FAQs
What are the opening hours of the Madinat Jumeirah Festive Market?
The market opens at 3pm from Monday to Thursday and at 12pm from Friday to Sunday. Check the official listing before visiting for any schedule updates.
What activities can children enjoy at the festive market?
Children can enjoy a snow fight zone, bungee jumping, a North Pole train ride, a Venetian carousel, abra rides with Santa and gingerbread house decorating.