Whenever December rolls around, most school children go on winter break, making it an ideal time for families to take a trip.
Essa Al Shamsi, senior vice president of terminal operations at Dubai Airports, says there’s always an uplift a few days before the break as residents look to extend their leave.
“Departures peak two to three days ahead of the [Eid Al Etihad] holiday, while arrivals are more evenly spread as residents return at their own pace or continue travelling into the festive season,” he says. “In 2024, the National Day weekend saw guest volume rise by roughly a quarter compared to the November–December average, placing it just behind the major December holiday peak.”
As temperatures cool, tropical destinations often rise to the top of the list.
Thailand, more specifically Phuket, is the most popular search for December travel on Expedia.ae, with a 165 per cent rise compared to search in the same period last year.
Bangkok is among the top five most popular travel search destinations for UAE residents this month. Photo: Ritz-Carlton
Whether it’s the scenic surrounds of Krabi or a laid-back island trip to Koh Samui, the country continues to appeal to many. Rome follows with a 145 per cent jump, while Bangkok, Tokyo and London also make the list, reflecting travellers’ interest in a mix of beach escapes, cultural capitals and big-city adventures.
Some people also use the festive period to head to Europe to visit the Christmas markets. Think twinkling trees, snow-dusted chalets and cobblestones lined with vendors selling everything from roast goose to chimney cakes.
It’s a trend I understand well. A few years ago, I went on a solo trip to Austria and Germany to experience the Christmas magic I’d always heard about. Despite the frigid climes, it lived up to expectations.
But for the ultimate winter adventure, there’s one destination that always sits near the top of many wish lists: Lapland. A vast Arctic wilderness, it offers idyllic experiences such as the northern lights and, more thematically, the Santa Claus Village in its capital, Rovaniemi.
Rovaniemi is an idyllic spot to catch the northern lights. Reuters
That said, whether it’s a day trip, road trip or staycation, there are also plenty of places to explore closer to home.
Road trips to Oman remain popular thanks to the five-hour drive, with options ranging from cultural visits to Muscat to serene stays in Jebel Akhdar and adventures in the wadis.
A quick 75-minute flight to Bahrain is also an option, as my colleague Hayley Kadrou recently found out during a culture-filled 48-hour weekend in the island country. AlUla in Saudi Arabia continues to grow in popularity, while Riyadh is another strong choice as the city is in the midst of Riyadh Season 2025, bringing a packed line-up of performances.
Bahrain is less than a two-hour flight from the UAE. Photo: Four Seasons
For those wanting to stay put in the UAE, there’s no shortage of standout hotels worth spending a couple of nights at.
One of the biggest openings this year was Ciel Dubai Marina, the world’s tallest hotel at 377 metres. Spread across 82 floors with 1,004 rooms and suites, it also breaks another record with the world’s highest infinity pool.
Manila is a great jumping-off point for travellers who want to explore the Philippines' islands. Unsplash
With new flight routes, major cultural events and a wave of hotels opening across the region and beyond, plus global trends shaping demand, 2026 is set to be a year of discovery for UAE travellers.
Europe remains popular, but tourists are exploring other corners of the continent. Asia continues to rise with its mix of affordability and culture. Closer to home, Qatar and Saudi Arabia are reinforcing the Gulf’s position as a travel hub with major cultural and hospitality investments, particularly with the Schengen-style Unified GCC Tourism Visa due to be launched soon. Katy Gillett reports more here.
The hotel is operated by Wynn Resorts. Photo: Encore Boston Harbor
When I travel home to the US for a holiday, my trips usually revolve around family and friends, not five-star hotels. But with Wynn becoming a growing presence in the UAE, I was curious to see how its Boston property, which has brought a new type of luxury to the Massachusetts city, compares.
Encore Boston Harbor is in Everett, which is a 15-minute drive from downtown. Opened in 2019, it is the most recent property from Wynn Resorts – the operator behind Wynn Al Marjan Island, which is set to open in Ras Al Khaimah in March 2027. To know more about the hotel, read here.
My colleague Farah Andrews also has a preview of the extensive art collection that is expected in Wynn Al Marjan Island. Find out more here.
Lucknow has been designated a Unesco Creative City of Gastronomy. Getty Images
At the end of October, Lucknow was designated a Unesco Creative City of Gastronomy owing to its deep-rooted culinary traditions and vibrant food ecosystem.
The city's rich history has something to do with its unique take on North Indian cuisine. From being part of the kingdom of Kosala in the sixth century BC, to being ruled from 1350 onwards by the Mughals, the Nawabs of Awadh (a former kingdom that included Lucknow) and the British East India Company, the city has myriad influences to thank for its cuisine and culture. Read more from Reem Khokhar here.
When paying abroad, always choose to pay in the local currency. It’s a small habit that can save a surprising amount over the course of a trip, as card machines often apply unfavourable conversion rates when you opt for your home currency. Selecting the local option means your bank handles the exchange instead, which is almost always cheaper. It’s a quick decision at checkout, but one that adds up, especially if travelling through countries where card payments are the norm.
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The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
The specs
Price: From Dh529,000
Engine: 5-litre V8
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Power: 520hp
Torque: 625Nm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.8L/100km
BRAZIL SQUAD
Alisson (Liverpool), Daniel Fuzato (Roma), Ederson (Man City); Alex Sandro (Juventus), Danilo (Juventus), Eder Militao (Real Madrid), Emerson (Real Betis), Felipe (Atletico Madrid), Marquinhos (PSG), Renan Lodi (Atletico Madrid), Thiago Silva (PSG); Arthur (Barcelona), Casemiro (Real Madrid), Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa), Fabinho (Liverpool), Lucas Paqueta (AC Milan), Philippe Coutinho (Bayern Munich); David Neres (Ajax), Gabriel Jesus (Man City), Richarlison (Everton), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Willian (Chelsea).
Tokenisation refers to the issuance of a blockchain token, which represents a virtually tradable real, tangible asset. A tokenised asset is easily transferable, offers good liquidity, returns and is easily traded on the secondary markets.
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
- Number of children under five will fall from 681 million in 2017 to 401m in 2100
- Over-80s will rise from 141m in 2017 to 866m in 2100
- Nigeria will become the world’s second most populous country with 791m by 2100, behind India
- China will fall dramatically from a peak of 2.4 billion in 2024 to 732 million by 2100
- an average of 2.1 children per woman is required to sustain population growth
Last 10 NBA champions
2017: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-1
2016: Cleveland bt Golden State 4-3
2015: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-2
2014: San Antonio bt Miami 4-1
2013: Miami bt San Antonio 4-3
2012: Miami bt Oklahoma City 4-1
2011: Dallas bt Miami 4-2
2010: Los Angeles Lakers bt Boston 4-3
2009: Los Angeles Lakers bt Orlando 4-1
2008: Boston bt Los Angeles Lakers 4-2
Australia: Steve Smith (captain), David Warner, Ashton Agar, Hilton Cartwright, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Matthew Wade, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Renshaw, Mitchell Swepson and Jackson Bird.
The biog
Job: Fitness entrepreneur, body-builder and trainer
Favourite superhero: Batman
Favourite quote: We must become the change we want to see, by Mahatma Gandhi.
Favourite car: Lamborghini
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
Director: Scott Cooper
Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
The schedule
December 5 - 23: Shooting competition, Al Dhafra Shooting Club
December 9 - 24: Handicrafts competition, from 4pm until 10pm, Heritage Souq
December 11 - 20: Dates competition, from 4pm
December 12 - 20: Sour milk competition
December 13: Falcon beauty competition
December 14 and 20: Saluki races
December 15: Arabian horse races, from 4pm
December 16 - 19: Falconry competition
December 18: Camel milk competition, from 7.30 - 9.30 am
December 20 and 21: Sheep beauty competition, from 10am
December 22: The best herd of 30 camels
England's all-time record goalscorers:
Wayne Rooney 53
Bobby Charlton 49
Gary Lineker 48
Jimmy Greaves 44
Michael Owen 40
Tom Finney 30
Nat Lofthouse 30
Alan Shearer 30
Viv Woodward 29
Frank Lampard 29
Fireball
Moscow claimed it hit the largest military fuel storage facility in Ukraine, triggering a huge fireball at the site.
A plume of black smoke rose from a fuel storage facility in the village of Kalynivka outside Kyiv on Friday after Russia said it had destroyed the military site with Kalibr cruise missiles.
"On the evening of March 24, Kalibr high-precision sea-based cruise missiles attacked a fuel base in the village of Kalynivka near Kyiv," the Russian defence ministry said in a statement.
Ukraine confirmed the strike, saying the village some 40 kilometres south-west of Kyiv was targeted.
Referees: Chris Broad, David Boon, Jeff Crowe, Andy Pycroft, Ranjan Madugalle and Richie Richardson.
Umpires: Aleem Dar, Kumara Dharmasena, Marais Erasmus, Chris Gaffaney, Ian Gould, Richard Illingworth, Richard Kettleborough, Nigel Llong, Bruce Oxenford, Ruchira Palliyaguruge, Sundaram Ravi, Paul Reiffel, Rod Tucker, Michael Gough, Joel Wilson and Paul Wilson.
Key facilities
Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
Premier League-standard football pitch
400m Olympic running track
NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
600-seat auditorium
Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
Specialist robotics and science laboratories
AR and VR-enabled learning centres
Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Results:
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 2,200m | Winner: AF Al Montaqem, Bernardo Pinheiro (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
