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Events in Dubai and Abu Dhabi: the calendar from November 2026 to January 2027

Updated on 1 November 2026 · Reading time: 5 min

Winter is high season in Dubai and the calendar fills up fast: sport, art, trade shows, national celebrations and the big shopping festival. Here is what has been announced, with practical pointers on whether it could affect your trip (traffic, hotel prices, bookings).

November 2026

Dubai Run, 22 November. The race takes place on Sheikh Zayed Road, which is closed to traffic along part of the route. If you have a transfer or an activity near Downtown or the Museum of the Future that morning, allow extra time, or ask us to check your pickup time.

The Dubai Fitness Challenge runs all month: it is mainly a program of sessions and sports events across the city. You do not have to take part, but it explains why parks and waterfronts are lively early in the morning.

December 2026

National Day (2 and 3 December). These are public holidays: many residents are off work, popular venues are busy and hotels fill up. If Friday 4 December were also declared a holiday, it would make a five-day weekend; this is not confirmed at the time of writing.

Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix (3 to 6 December). The race closes the 2026 Formula 1 season and comes with a program of concerts and entertainment on Yas Island. Hotels in Abu Dhabi and on Yas are in high demand that week, so book accommodation early. If you want to combine the race with a stay in Dubai, allow roughly an hour and a half on the road between the two cities, depending on traffic.

Dubai Shopping Festival (4 December to 17 January). The festival is billed as the longest ever, with promotions in malls, prize draws, concerts and open-air markets. The detailed program is published on the official Visit Dubai site; the weekend fireworks and drone shows are not yet confirmed.

January 2027

New Year's Eve is one of the busiest moments of the year in Dubai. Official programs (fireworks, shows around the Burj Khalifa, parties) are usually announced a few weeks beforehand: we will update this page as soon as the details are published.

Openings and reopenings to know about

• Global Village: season 31 opened on 14 October. Entry from 25 AED, open in the evening; read our full guide.
• Theme parks and water parks: the Dubai Parks and Resorts parks have reopened, as have the Miracle Garden and Dubai Safari Park for the cool season.
• Closures to keep in mind: the Museum of the Future is closed for an overhaul (reopening expected in the first quarter of 2027) and the Burj Al Arab is under renovation until 2027. Details are in our article what is closed or under renovation.

Our tips for planning your stay

• Book early around 2 to 6 December and the year-end period. National Day, the F1 and the start of the Shopping Festival follow each other: hotels, safaris and cruises fill up first on those days.
• Avoid tight schedules on race days. Dubai Run, F1 and big events change traffic and lengthen journey times. Leave a margin before a flight or an activity.
• Trade shows push prices up. Shows such as ADIPEC (2 to 5 November, Abu Dhabi) or Big 5 (23 to 26 November, Dubai) fill hotels on weekdays.
• Check dates with the organiser. An event can be moved or changed. We collect this information from Visit Dubai, Gulf News, Time Out Dubai and What's On.

Frequently asked questions