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UAE winter tourism season offers rich, diverse cultural experiences
Gulf Today
|December 15, 2025
The UAE is witnessing the launch of the winter tourism season with growing momentum, underscoring its status as one of the world's leading tourist destinations during the winter months.
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This year's season arrives with expectations of notable growth in both domestic and international tourism, driven by increased demand for outdoor activities, heritage festivals, entertainment shows, and winter camps. These have become key pillars of winter attraction in the UAE, further cementing the country's position as a major hub for seasonal tourism in the region.
From mid-December through the end of April, the UAE hosts a wide array of winter events catering to diverse interests. Attention is drawn to major events taking centre stage nationwide, foremost among them the Liwa International Festival in Abu Dhabi's Al Dhafra Region. Running for 23 days from 12th December to 3rd January, the festival features an expanded programme that includes heritage events, sporting showcases on the dunes of Tal Moreeb, artistic performances, music concerts, and shopping zones, reflecting the richness of Emirati heritage and the depth of the desert experience that appeals to winter visitors.
Abu Dhabi also offers several winter programmes, including the "Winter Season Programme at Umm Al Emarat Park," which continues to provide family-oriented recreational activities through April 2026.
This story is from the December 15, 2025 edition of Gulf Today.
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