A Christmas event where Santa arrives by camel sounds like something made up, but it's real and coming back to Dubai for a second year. After a fully sold-out debut, Carols in the Desert is returning for three nights in December, and if last year's demand is anything to go by, tickets will disappear fast.
The event runs from Friday December 18 to Sunday December 20, from 5pm to 10pm each evening, at The Fort in Lisaili — a desert spot on Dubai's outskirts that trades skyscrapers for dunes. Organisers MINT Market and Arabian Adventures are promising a Christmas choir singing carols under the stars, plus live performances and festive entertainment through the night. The centrepiece, of course, is Santa's camel-borne entrance, which is exactly the kind of photo op that made the first edition such a hit.
It's not just the singing. Families can book kids into Santa's grotto, take a camel ride, and catch a show from Magic Phil, a popular children's entertainer in the UAE. Adults get their own rewards: mulled wine, marshmallows toasting by the fire, and a festive BBQ serving food and drinks from sundown until late. There's also a MINT Christmas market on site, bringing together a lineup of UAE homegrown brands — a chance to knock out the Christmas shopping list while supporting local makers.
Ticket prices haven't been announced yet. They go on sale in November, and the organisers are asking people to register interest at mintmarket.ae to get first access when they do.
For travellers, this is a genuinely odd and appealing way to do Christmas. Dubai in December is peak season for good reason — the summer furnace has finally switched off, and the city's best events all cluster in these cooler months. If you're already planning a winter-sun trip, an evening of carols in the dunes adds something you can't get at a European market: desert silence, clear skies, and a Santa who apparently prefers camels to reindeer. It also works well for families, since the grotto, camel rides and entertainment give kids plenty to do between carols and dinner.
Worth noting: Lisaili is a fair drive from central Dubai, so plan transport ahead — a taxi or ride-hailing trip each way, or rent a car for the evening. Evenings in the desert can get surprisingly cool in December, so pack a layer even after a warm daytime. And since the event runs 5pm to 10pm, it pairs neatly with a relaxed day elsewhere in the city beforehand.
Keep an eye on ticket release in early November — the debut sold out, and a three-night run won't stretch far if demand repeats.
