Winter Wonderland at Ski Dubai 2026: Santa’s Grotto, Dates and Tickets
Winter Wonderland at Ski Dubai is the closest Dubai gets to a white Christmas. For 25 days in December the snow hall inside Mall of the Emirates turns into Santa’s Village: Santa arrives by sleigh, receives children in his grotto at -4°C, elves run a toy workshop, and a forest of Christmas trees grows on real snow while it is 25°C outside. Last season ran from 1 to 25 December 2025; for 2026 we expect the same dates, to be confirmed by Ski Dubai in the autumn.
Looking for regular Snow Park or ski slope tickets instead? Those are sold year-round and compared on our Ski Dubai tickets page. This page is about the Christmas event only.
Dates and opening hours 2026 (expected)
Based on the 2025 edition, Winter Wonderland at Ski Dubai is expected from 1 to 25 December 2026, daily during Ski Dubai’s opening hours: Monday to Thursday 10:00–23:00, Friday 10:00–midnight, Saturday and Sunday 9:00–midnight. Breakfast with Santa is served from 12 to 25 December at 8:00. Tickets traditionally go on sale around 10 November on Ski Dubai’s website, with an early-bird discount of 20% for visits in the first twelve days when you book before 30 November. We update this page as soon as Ski Dubai confirms the 2026 programme.
What happens at Winter Wonderland
The heart of the event is Santa’s Grotto. Santa arrives by sleigh, and families book a slot to meet him and his elves inside the grotto on the snow. Every child on the Nice List leaves with a surprise gift, a printed photo with Santa from the DigiPhoto counter, fleece gloves and a hot chocolate. Around the grotto lies Santa’s Village: a forest of decorated Christmas trees, a post box to mail your wish list straight to the North Pole, photo spots and, new in 2025, Santa’s Magical Toy Workshop run together with Magic Planet, plus a colouring station for the youngest visitors.
The festive dressing extends across the whole snow hall – lights on the slope, trees along the Snow Park – so even visitors on a normal Snow Park pass get the atmosphere. Expect about 45 minutes to an hour in Santa’s Village, and plan more if you combine it with the rides.
Winter Wonderland tickets and prices (2025 edition, expected similar)
| Ticket | What you get | Price 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Meet Santa | Access to Winter Wonderland and Santa’s Village, meet Santa and the elves in the grotto, gift, printed photo, hot chocolate and fleece gloves. Does not include the Snow Park. | from AED 160 (early bird AED 140) |
| Family Meets Santa | The Meet Santa package for four people | from AED 600 |
| Meet Santa and Snow Park | Winter Wonderland plus unlimited Snow Park rides and attractions | AED 305 |
| Meet Santa and Snow Fun | Winter Wonderland plus unlimited Snow Park rides, one chairlift ride and one Mountain Thriller ride | AED 345 |
| Festive Pass | Snow Park entry with one chairlift and Mountain Thriller ride, plus entry to Santa’s Village and grotto for photos – without the meet-and-greet. Available until 7 January. | see Ski Dubai |
| Breakfast with Santa | Breakfast at North 28 with Santa, 12–25 December at 8:00 | AED 160, under-2s AED 80 |
All Winter Wonderland tickets are sold by Ski Dubai itself, at skidxb.com. Prices include 5% VAT and are those of the 2025 edition; 2026 prices are expected to be similar and will be updated here once published. Children under 2 are not admitted anywhere inside Ski Dubai.
Is Winter Wonderland included in a Snow Park ticket?
No. Santa’s Grotto and Santa’s Village are a separately ticketed zone. Ski Dubai’s own Meet Santa pass states that it does not include the Snow Park, and the reverse applies too: a Snow Park or ski slope ticket lets you enjoy the Christmas decorations in the snow hall, but not the grotto, the meet-and-greet or the gift. That is exactly why Ski Dubai sells the combination passes above.
Our advice: if meeting Santa is the point of the visit, buy the Meet Santa and Snow Fun combination directly from Ski Dubai (AED 345 in 2025) – cheaper than a separate Snow Fun ticket plus a Meet Santa ticket. If the snow is the point and Santa is a bonus, book a Snow Fun or Snow Plus pass below through Tiqets: same price as at the door, free cancellation until 23:59 the day before, and December dates are already open.
Breakfast with Santa at North 28
From 12 to 25 December, North 28 – the alpine-style restaurant with windows onto the slope – serves Breakfast with Santa at 8:00, before the snow hall opens. Santa moves between the tables, there is a small gift for the children, and afterwards you are first in line for the grotto. In 2025 it cost AED 160 per person and AED 80 for under-2s. Seats are limited and the weekend dates sell out first.
Sensory-friendly sessions
On 15 December 2025 Ski Dubai ran sensory-friendly sessions for guests of determination: Breakfast with Santa at 8:00 and Meet Santa at 18:00 and 19:00, with reduced lighting and background noise, trained staff and wheelchair assistance. We expect a similar session in December 2026.
Tips from us
Book the first twelve days of December for the early-bird price and thinner crowds; the last week before Christmas is the busiest. Weekday mornings are calmest. Wear normal clothes – the thermal jacket, trousers and boots are provided – but bring a hat. Combine the visit with the Christmas markets in Dubai or the ice rinks for a full festive day, and see our calendar of Christmas and winter events for what else is on.
Getting there
Ski Dubai is inside Mall of the Emirates on Sheikh Zayed Road, which also hosts the second Santa of the season, The Grotto. Take the red metro line to Mall of the Emirates station, connected to the mall by a covered walkway. Parking is free at weekends and on public holidays. Staying nearby makes an 8:00 breakfast easy: see our Al Barsha hotel picks, several of which overlook the slope.
Ski Dubai’s own film of an earlier Winter Wonderland edition gives a good impression of the grotto and the village.
Winter Wonderland at Ski Dubai: frequently asked questions
Expected from 1 to 25 December 2026, based on the 2025 edition. Ski Dubai usually confirms the dates and opens ticket sales around 10 November.
Yes. Santa’s Grotto and Santa’s Village require a Meet Santa ticket or one of the combination passes sold by Ski Dubai. A regular Snow Park or ski slope ticket does not include the grotto.
In 2025: Meet Santa from AED 160 (early bird AED 140), a family of four from AED 600, Meet Santa with Snow Park AED 305, with Snow Fun AED 345, Breakfast with Santa AED 160. Prices for 2026 are expected to be similar.
No. The Santa packages are sold only by Ski Dubai. Tiqets sells the regular Snow Park and ski slope tickets, which are valid on the same days and can be cancelled free until the day before.
Children from 2 years are welcome; under-2s are not admitted inside Ski Dubai. The grotto, the village and the breakfast are aimed at young children, while the Snow Park rides suit ages 3 and up.
Do you know of an exciting event happening in Dubai this winter? We’d love to hear from you! Share your tips with our editorial team at info@winterindubai.com.
