Tuesday 10 November 2026
Spending Christmas in the sunshine, or shopping for someone who is? This festive gift guide for Dubai and the UAE has something for the foodie, the beauty lover, the homebody and the one who is notoriously tricky to buy for. Highlights include festive sets from Spa Ceylon, fine jewellery from Boom & Mellow, buttery crumbles from Mama Crumble and Christmas Day feasts at The Strand and Ella’s Eatery. Here are five reasons to start your gift hunt here.
1. Beauty gifts and stocking fillers
For the beauty-obsessed, Spa Ceylon’s Starlight Lily Island Treats (AED 99) comes beautifully packaged like a Christmas ornament, bringing together the delicate Starlight Lily fragrance, body care essentials and a glossy lip butter, making it a perfect stocking filler. For a bigger treat, the Spa Ceylon Moonlight Lilies Wellness & Beauty Collection (AED 399) gathers 15 of the brand’s favourites across facial care, body care, fragrance and wellness, for a spa feeling without the booking. Party-season glam gets a lift from the Wet n Wild Chameleon Multi-Chrome Highlighter in Venus (AED 55.99), a silky, highly pigmented formula that shifts and shimmers with every angle, available from Carrefour UAE.
2. Pampering and well-earned me-time
A gift voucher from The Loft Fifth Avenue covers anything from a new hairstyle to a pampering session, with no minimum amount, six months’ validity and redemption at any of its 19 UAE branches. At March14 Beauty Residence in Al Quoz, the Winter Benefits Package (AED 490) combines a manicure, pediceutical pedicure, Kérastase Fusio-Dose treatment and blow-dry, while the Christmas Nail Designs Package (AED 390, reduced from AED 470) features bespoke nail art hand-painted by Nail Theatre artists. For busy mums, Lemonade Play’s Family Play Plan (AED 850) buys 15 hours of screen-free play for children aged 6 months to 10 years, or there is a three-month Play Plan at AED 2,200.
3. Sparkle and statement pieces for hosts
Boom & Mellow has a curated selection of fine jewellery from independent designers, including Kismet by Milka, Sigha Bijoux, Orchid Jewelry and Zorae Unbound. Expect delicate necklaces, stackable rings, statement earrings and sculptural designs, ideal for a festive dinner, Christmas party or New Year’s Eve. For the friend who loves to host, the Silver Stag Ice Bucket from Beyond the Mall (AED 950) makes a striking centrepiece, and the site brings together independent UAE brands for gifting and decorating. Coffee lovers and home baristas, meanwhile, will be thrilled with the Oracle Dual Boiler from Sage Appliances (AED 9,999), part of a strong edit of kitchen pieces that bring style and function.
4. Crumble and soda for the foodies
Forget another scented candle. Mama Crumble is Dubai’s first British crumble bakehouse, set up by a mother-and-daughter duo who take their pudding very seriously. Think buttery, golden crumble over bubbling fruit, finished with lashings of silky custard, just like the crumble your gran made, minus the washing up. Every pot can be customised, there are exclusive new flavours, and you can pick some up at Ripe Market or have it delivered almost anywhere in Dubai. For the Christmas spread, HalaPop’s Feel Good Soda Variety Pack (AED 45) features all five flavours of the UAE’s first locally made prebiotic soda, each with no added sugar and just 29 calories per can.
5. A Christmas Day feast without the washing up
On 25 December, The Strand offers a choice of a three-hour traditional festive lunch or a four-hour evening dinner with live music from Lisette Vega. Expect seasonal starters, roasts including turkey, beef and salmon, all the trimmings and festive desserts, plus a children’s menu, with packages from AED 330 for soft beverages, AED 595 for house beverages and AED 990 with Veuve Clicquot. Alternatively, Ella’s Eatery on Palm Jumeirah hosts a three-hour Christmas Day celebration with roast turkey, beef and salmon, live entertainment and drinks packages from AED 220 for soft drinks, AED 440 for house beverages and AED 990 with Veuve Clicquot. Children under 12 are AED 110 at both, and advance booking is required.
Shop
Spa Ceylon: Starlight Lily Island Treats AED 99; Moonlight Lilies collection AED 399, at spaceylon.ae
Wet n Wild Chameleon Highlighter in Venus: AED 55.99, at carrefouruae.com
The Loft Fifth Avenue gift vouchers: no minimum amount, 19 locations across the UAE
March14 Residence, Goshi City 2, Al Quoz 3, Dubai: book via WhatsApp on +971 58 554 6222 or online via Fresha
Boom & Mellow: Town Centre Jumeirah, The Springs Souk and boomandmellow.com
Sage Oracle Dual Boiler: AED 9,999
Silver Stag Ice Bucket: AED 950, at beyondthemall.me
Mama Crumble: Ripe Market or delivery across most of Dubai
HalaPop variety pack: AED 45, at drinkhalapop.com, Noon, Carrefour, Amazon and leading retailers
The Strand Christmas Day: call 04 430 2221 or DM @strandcraftkitchen on Instagram
Ella’s Eatery Christmas Day, Palm Jumeirah: call 04 557 0984 or DM @ellaseatery on Instagram
Lemonade Play: Arabian Center and Triple 777 Center, Dubai; Marina Mall, Abu Dhabi