A mall in Dubai has set up a telephone booth with 'Santa Claus' on the other end of the line. Photo: City Centre Deira
A mall in Dubai has set up a telephone booth with 'Santa Claus' on the other end of the line. Photo: City Centre Deira
A mall in Dubai has set up a telephone booth with 'Santa Claus' on the other end of the line. Photo: City Centre Deira
A mall in Dubai has set up a telephone booth with 'Santa Claus' on the other end of the line. Photo: City Centre Deira

Things to do in the UAE this week: Chat with Santa or meet Ronaldo


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While festive fun continues this week, there is also plenty more to do, including a thrilling basketball match, a glittering soccer awards ceremony, a new skating rink and the return of Monster Jam.

Here, The National rounds up seven things to do around the Emirates, from December 23 to December 29.

Monday, December 23

Start the week by telling Santa Claus your Christmas wish over the phone. Head to City Centre Deira, where there is a Santa Hotline booth, which allows people to chat with “Father Christmas” between 2pm and 10pm.

This bit of festive fun aside, the mall is replete with roaming entertainment, a dazzling Christmas tree centrepiece, plus a meet-and-greet spot with Santa Claus and his merry helpers between 5.45pm and 9pm.

Daily, until December 25; City Centre Deira, Dubai; 800 226 255

Tuesday, December 24

Basketball fans can support Dubai BC, an Emirati professional team, as they go against a European powerhouse at Coca-Cola Arena on Tuesday. The basketball team is facing Igokea, a Bosnian club, which has competed major international leagues with several championship and cup titles.

December 24; from Dh75; doors open 5.30pm; Coca-Cola Arena, Dubai; 800 223388

Wednesday, December 25

Families with young children will enjoy Christmas day in The Galleria Al Maryah Island mall. Photo: The Galleria
Families with young children will enjoy Christmas day in The Galleria Al Maryah Island mall. Photo: The Galleria

Take the children to The Galleria Al Maryah Island on Christmas day. In the mall's north atrium, children can explore makeshift tinsel woods and become honorary pine scouts, uncovering treasures and earning badges along the way. Other activities in the area include cane-fishing, bauble-painting and gingerbread-decorating. Also check out the Santa's Grotto, which runs until December 26.

The mall's promenade area has also been transformed into a winter wonderland with festive activity huts, stage shows and roaming performers. There's also an ice-skating rink and snow slide until December 31.

Daily, until December 31; 10am-10pm; The Galleria Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi; 02 493 7400

Thursday, December 26

Off the back of Wicked's cinematic release, journey through the world of The Wizard of Oz at Theatre by QE2. The family-friendly production brings a festive twist to the classic tale, featuring Dorothy and her friends, who travel down the yellow brick road to Oz, meeting other beloved characters Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion along the way. Audiences can expect lively songs, humour and interactive moments throughout the show.

December 26; 10.30am-1pm and 2.30pm-5pm; from Dh120; Queen Elizabeth 2, Port Rashid; 058 838 3107

Friday, December 27

A constellation of football stars is descending upon Atlantis The Palm for the 15th Globe Soccer Awards. The event is a celebration of the sport, attended by top-tier athletes, visionary coaches, astute club managers and more.

For the first time in its history, the ceremony will be open to the public, giving fans a chance to be in the same room as some of the biggest names in the industry and a chance to meet them up close. Some of the attendees include English footballer Harry Kane, Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe and Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who currently plays with Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr.

Two ticket categories are available, including one that allows access to the main auditorium and the after-party celebrations, as well as a ticket that gives entry to the red carpet and the winners' enclosure.

December 27; from Dh3,000; doors open 5.30pm; Atlantis The Palm, Dubai; info@globesoccer.com

Saturday, December 28

Spider Man truck. Photo: Monster Jam
Spider Man truck. Photo: Monster Jam

Gigantic truck extravaganza Monster Jam is returning to the capital, at Moreeb Dune in Liwa. Watch the quirky and colourful five-tonne trucks defy gravity in various competitions, including racing, freestyle and skills categories – set against the picturesque desert landscape.

Visitors can pay extra to access the pit party for more off-track fun and a meet-and-greet with the talented drivers. Monster Jam tickets include access to the Liwa International Festival, where a host of other family-friendly activities can be enjoyed.

December 27 and 28; from Dh75; 3pm onwards; Liwa, Abu Dhabi

Sunday, December 29

Visit a new skating rink in Dubai. Photo: Floored
Visit a new skating rink in Dubai. Photo: Floored

Take friends or family to Floored, a new roller skating rink at Oasis Mall Dubai. Skaters of all ages and skill levels are welcome to take the wooden rink floor. The venue, which can also be booked for private events and birthday parties, offers coaching classes to for those who want to take their skating journey more seriously.

Monday to Thursday, 10am-10pm; Friday to Sunday, 10am-midnight; Dh70 for unlimited skating time; Oasis Mall, Dubai; 04 515 4000

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THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick

Hometown: Cologne, Germany

Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)

Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes

Favourite hobby: Football

Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk

GOLF’S RAHMBO

- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)

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Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

The Vile

Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah

Director: Majid Al Ansari

Rating: 4/5

The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors

Power: Combined output 920hp

Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic

Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km

On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025

Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000

Director: Laxman Utekar

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

Rating: 1/5

COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed 

THE NEW BATCH'S FOCUS SECTORS

AiFlux – renewables, oil and gas

DevisionX – manufacturing

Event Gates – security and manufacturing

Farmdar – agriculture

Farmin – smart cities

Greener Crop – agriculture

Ipera.ai – space digitisation

Lune Technologies – fibre-optics

Monak – delivery

NutzenTech – environment

Nybl – machine learning

Occicor – shelf management

Olymon Solutions – smart automation

Pivony – user-generated data

PowerDev – energy big data

Sav – finance

Searover – renewables

Swftbox – delivery

Trade Capital Partners – FinTech

Valorafutbol – sports and entertainment

Workfam – employee engagement

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

The specs: 2018 Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic HSE

Price, base / as tested: Dh263,235 / Dh420,000

Engine: 3.0-litre supercharged V6

Power 375hp @ 6,500rpm

Torque: 450Nm @ 3,500rpm

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic

Fuel consumption, combined: 9.4L / 100kms

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Turkish Ladies

Various artists, Sony Music Turkey 

ULTRA PROCESSED FOODS

- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns 

- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;

- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces

- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,

- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.

Gothia Cup 2025

4,872 matches 

1,942 teams

116 pitches

76 nations

26 UAE teams

15 Lebanese teams

2 Kuwaiti teams

Dolittle

Director: Stephen Gaghan

Stars: Robert Downey Jr, Michael Sheen

One-and-a-half out of five stars

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The President's Cake

Director: Hasan Hadi

Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem 

Rating: 4/5

COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Lamsa

Founder: Badr Ward

Launched: 2014

Employees: 60

Based: Abu Dhabi

Sector: EdTech

Funding to date: $15 million

The specs

Price, base / as tested Dh135,000

Engine 1.6L turbo

Gearbox Six speed automatic with manual and sports mode

Power 165hp @ 6,000rpm

Torque 240Nm @ 1,400rpm 0-100kph: 9.2 seconds

Top speed 420 kph (governed)

Fuel economy, combined 35.2L / 100km (est)

In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
  • Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000 
  • Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000 
  • Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000 
  • Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000 
  • HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000 
  • Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000 
  • Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000 
  • Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000 
  • Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000 
  • Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000 
  • Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000 
  • Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
  • Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
  • Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
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Drivers’ championship standings after Singapore:

1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes - 263
2. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari - 235
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes - 212
4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull - 162
5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari - 138
6. Sergio Perez, Force India - 68

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Updated: December 23, 2024, 2:37 PM