This holiday season, residents and visitors are invited to DIFC to enjoy an exciting line up of festive events, delicious food offerings and art exhibitions

Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), a vibrant urban destination for culture and community, is spreading festive cheer through the holiday season with an exciting line up of in-store sales, delicious food offerings, events, art exhibitions, and more!

With more than 30 festive and seasonal experiences, events and creative workshops, in-store sales with Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) and art exhibits; the vibrant destination has the perfect experiences for visitors and residents alike through to the New Year.

Explore festive experiences at DIFC

Meet Santa at Gate Avenue’s Festive Village this December! Visitors can snap selfies with Santa and his festive crew, as well as enjoying the best of creative workshops, live performances, and an outdoor winter market. From gingerbread, cupcake and cookie decorations to getting creative with Holiday Card Making, writing Letters to Santa and getting your Polaroid pictures snapped; there is lots of fun-filled activities to explore at Gate Avenue, Zone D this season! Join the fun at Festive Village until December 25, 2022. Free workshops run daily from 2pm to 10pm. Guests can also enjoy the free bubble show, roaming entertainment with Santa and the elves and live festive music, from Friday to Sunday, 3pm to 8pm,

Enjoy the M2L Winter Market at Gate Avenue, Zone B where you can get your hands on the fresh local produce at the farmers’ market, try a variety of dishes at the food trucks with bites from all over the city; take part in family activities, such as food and art workshops, e-games, fitness sessions; enjoy live performances or shop for sustainable fashion and beauty brands. Head down from 4pm until midnight on weekdays and 12pm to midnight on weekends.

Unwind to soothing sounds this festive season

Make the most of the beautiful weather and al fresco dining with soul-stirring live music! “Music at the Balcony” in the Gate District features live performances by talented artists, accompanied by seasonal menus brought to you by some of the most popular and quaint homegrown cafes, bistros and restaurants in Dubai. Visitors can also enjoy the artworks dotted across the open-air Sculpture Park. “Music at the Balcony” takes place on weekends from 7:30pm to 9:30pm. 

And if you love to dance or are curious to learn, you must head to La Casa Del Tango in Gate Avenue, Zone A, where you can express yourself on the dancefloor, or watch the action with an immersive tango dining experience ideal for flavourful business lunches or festive gatherings in a cosy and warm setting. The Tango Dance Studio is open daily from 11am to 7pm. While the Restaurant & Lounge is open from 10am to 1am on weekdays and 10am to 2am on weekends.

At the Jass Lounge in the Gate District, prepare to be transported back to another era with the live sounds of the Sincopati Band playing Cuban music from the Buena Vista social club to Latin Jazz. Head to Jass Lounge in the Gate District from 6pm to 9pm until 31 December.

Explore seasonal menus and the best Christmas brunches in Dubai

‘Tis the season to gather and celebrate with friends and family over breakfast, lunch, brunch, dinner and more! And DIFC offers a wide range of special menus to suit the mood and meet diverse budgets and culinary tastes.

CLAP Dubai has amazing offers for the festive season where you can tantalise your tastebuds with a special a la carte menu until 8 January 2023. There’s also their weekday Business Lunch from 12pm to 3:30pm and Red Sun Happy Hour and food menu from 4pm to 6:30pm. Clap also hosts their exclusive Buranchi Brunch Experience every Saturday from 12:30pm to 4pm which takes places in their secret Ongaku music room.

Head to Amazonico for a special Jungle Bell Brunch on 25 December from 1pm to 4pm and savour signature dishes alongside Latin American inspired Christmas classics and a rooftop afterparty from 4pm to 7pm. Indochine have a range of festive offers, including their casual yet chic Happy Hour Monday to Friday, Room 84 with live music on Mondays, Pour Les Femmes Ladies Night on Wednesday, and their Parisian-themed Bistrotheque Saturday brunch from 12pm to 4pm.

Relax and indulge in the season’s best line up festive treats at some of DIFC’s specialty cafes this winter. Located in Gate District Building 2, Podium Level, Bateel’s all-new seasonal Mediterranean menu which also features festive beverages and desserts such as the popular and decadent Mont Blanc chocolate cake. Pret brings back their much-awaited Christmas menu at their outlet located in Marble Walk and to make your festive gathering extra special, order festive catering platters to "Make Everyday a Little Brighter". Catch up with friends and enjoy a cup of festive cheer at Costa Coffee, reopened now with a fresh new look at Gate District, Building 2.

Ring in the New Year with the most spectacular firework views

Watch the Burj Khalifa fireworks at the most amazing rooftop terraces, celebrate with family and friends or dance the night away as DIFC goes all out to ring in the New Year!

Home to some of Dubai's best Michelin star and Gault & Millau awarded restaurants, there is no better place to celebrate and welcome 2023 with your team, family or loved ones! From a studio 54 inspired night 'Le Freak Cest Chic' at Chic Nonna - the newly opened and one-of-a-kind two-storey gourmet Italian restaurant and lounge at Gate Avenue that offers beautiful views of Burj Khalifa, to Parisian-themed festivities inspired by the fantasy of a Tsar’s table at Dubai’s hottest new restaurant RASPOUTINE opened at the Gate District; CLAP Dubai's largest rooftop terrace party offering views of the Burj Khalifa fireworks, Marea’s exclusive, secret NYE party, Alaya's 70's Arabic retro themed night and Amazonico's Jungle themed New Years' Eve party; the vibrant destination will be a festive haven for foodies, party goers and families too!

Stay tuned as the new ‘Surprisingly DIFC’ campaign showcases the very best that the destination has to offer. From homegrown cafés to Michelin-star restaurants, retail offers to fulfil anyone’s wish lists, curated art shows and activities for the whole community to enjoy, ‘Surprisingly, DIFC’ lifts the lid on this global financial hub and reveals DIFC to be so much more than just a weekday workplace, but an everyday, vibrant destination that promotes culture and community all year round!

For further information, please visit our website: difc.ae/surprisinglydifc