![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IN2JUSSQ5NHYBE5AGZRMU64KQU.jpg?smart=true&auth=6d51ff2c615ae2646e0e0c7f2d6625656aac22e2fc51505158923bfe1b4ad788&width=400&height=225)
Mr Martin also has a granddaughter, aged one, and grandson, six, who he has picked up from school in his Father Christmas costume
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DPK66OWPAVAFJPXSF5ZF2N77JA.jpg?smart=true&auth=6e0a1cbc7085f48826072a36189e0969c551d26456f730d8360ce3c7d0f8d5e2&width=400&height=225)
British grandfather Bill Martin, 78, who lives in South Africa, flies in every year to play Santa at various events in Dubai. All photos: Ruel Pableo / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IYB3R5P4NFFUZEIXYB2GTX5YQ4.jpg?smart=true&auth=dd5f26621009999ca53b06cc28ddc0f57667ad8af3df32a3e5f468766a6758a6&width=400&height=225)
Mr Martin takes his Father Christmas duties so seriously that he begins growing his beard in the summer
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CAQ77ZZ4NZHUVIORA6MPURHDRI.jpg?smart=true&auth=a25fa447def4e69fa9a503efcda24a1081548d3a572a29dab84debdfa52c763c&width=400&height=225)
It was his Dubai-based daughter Lorna who convinced him he'd make an ideal Santa Claus
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GBMLPHHTOVDNLHRC7HEZYC5K34.jpg?smart=true&auth=078c4325f54dd7a54cd0ce117345fa2abc34581312d7b7f776d666fcd9304173&width=400&height=225)
Mr Martin, a former engineer, has also acted in TV adverts so he's no stranger to dressing up in costume
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EAWHTAW5ABBZHLRK5K2SYZLHTA.jpg?smart=true&auth=9828251a1e26a315568ecc8235ac169960aec366f4cae709413dd4aa37257695&width=400&height=225)
Mr Martin visits Dubai each year to see his family and considers his Father Christmas job 'a working holiday'
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BJXH7CQCIRB5XBMC7YAS3VA5TU.jpg?smart=true&auth=1655e9596090c4c4c3b0ff0b3d0e56117f103e11148660a888a695395992213d&width=400&height=225)
He attended two schools last month and now has an average of three school visits a day. He has also hosted a 'Christmas at the Hills' event in Dubai Hills, as well as breakfast with one of the local football clubs
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GLTPZUU6PVCNJIA7WI3TU645SI.jpg?smart=true&auth=c8fed93c77c52bc9e83cc4b2858f4f8ece31fb4f9912e62afe1b626ca4e90448&width=400&height=225)
He said children went wild when they saw him at a recent party surrounded by lights and smoke
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IN2JUSSQ5NHYBE5AGZRMU64KQU.jpg?smart=true&auth=6d51ff2c615ae2646e0e0c7f2d6625656aac22e2fc51505158923bfe1b4ad788&width=400&height=225)
Mr Martin also has a granddaughter, aged one, and grandson, six, who he has picked up from school in his Father Christmas costume
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DPK66OWPAVAFJPXSF5ZF2N77JA.jpg?smart=true&auth=6e0a1cbc7085f48826072a36189e0969c551d26456f730d8360ce3c7d0f8d5e2&width=400&height=225)
British grandfather Bill Martin, 78, who lives in South Africa, flies in every year to play Santa at various events in Dubai. All photos: Ruel Pableo / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IYB3R5P4NFFUZEIXYB2GTX5YQ4.jpg?smart=true&auth=dd5f26621009999ca53b06cc28ddc0f57667ad8af3df32a3e5f468766a6758a6&width=400&height=225)
Mr Martin takes his Father Christmas duties so seriously that he begins growing his beard in the summer
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CAQ77ZZ4NZHUVIORA6MPURHDRI.jpg?smart=true&auth=a25fa447def4e69fa9a503efcda24a1081548d3a572a29dab84debdfa52c763c&width=400&height=225)
It was his Dubai-based daughter Lorna who convinced him he'd make an ideal Santa Claus
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GBMLPHHTOVDNLHRC7HEZYC5K34.jpg?smart=true&auth=078c4325f54dd7a54cd0ce117345fa2abc34581312d7b7f776d666fcd9304173&width=400&height=225)
Mr Martin, a former engineer, has also acted in TV adverts so he's no stranger to dressing up in costume
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EAWHTAW5ABBZHLRK5K2SYZLHTA.jpg?smart=true&auth=9828251a1e26a315568ecc8235ac169960aec366f4cae709413dd4aa37257695&width=400&height=225)
Mr Martin visits Dubai each year to see his family and considers his Father Christmas job 'a working holiday'
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BJXH7CQCIRB5XBMC7YAS3VA5TU.jpg?smart=true&auth=1655e9596090c4c4c3b0ff0b3d0e56117f103e11148660a888a695395992213d&width=400&height=225)
He attended two schools last month and now has an average of three school visits a day. He has also hosted a 'Christmas at the Hills' event in Dubai Hills, as well as breakfast with one of the local football clubs
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GLTPZUU6PVCNJIA7WI3TU645SI.jpg?smart=true&auth=c8fed93c77c52bc9e83cc4b2858f4f8ece31fb4f9912e62afe1b626ca4e90448&width=400&height=225)
He said children went wild when they saw him at a recent party surrounded by lights and smoke
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IN2JUSSQ5NHYBE5AGZRMU64KQU.jpg?smart=true&auth=6d51ff2c615ae2646e0e0c7f2d6625656aac22e2fc51505158923bfe1b4ad788&width=400&height=225)
Mr Martin also has a granddaughter, aged one, and grandson, six, who he has picked up from school in his Father Christmas costume
Working Wonders: Meet the UAE's Santa Claus bringing festive cheer to Christmas
British grandfather Bill Martin, 78, spends his annual 'working holiday' donning his big red outfit and handing out gifts at events
David Dunn
07 December, 2023
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