Dazzling Christmas decorations in Dubai and Abu Dhabi: from Expo 2020 to Al Maryah Island

Plenty of Christmas trees, festive markets and Santa Claus letter boxes can be found around the UAE

Dubai Festival City Mall is looking festive with its Winter Wonderland set-up in the main atrium. Pawan Singh / The National

The entrance to Dubai Festival City Mall's Winter Wonderland. Pawan Singh / The National

A view of the festive atrium at Dubai Festival City Mall. Pawan Singh / The National

The giant Christmas tree at Dubai Festival City Mall. Pawan Singh / The National

Hanging Christmas decorations at The Dubai Mall. Pawan Singh / The National

A view of The Dubai Mall at Christmas in 2021. Pawan Singh / The National

Mall of the Emirates installed a carbon-neutral LED tree at the centre of its Winter Wonderland Festive Market in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

The tree turns different colours. Pawan Singh / The National

The decorations at Mall of The Emirates' Winter Wonderland Festive Market. Pawan Singh / The National

The entrance to Mall of the Emirates' Winter Wonderland Festive Market. Pawan Singh / The National

Expo 2020 Dubai's Christmas tree being put up by the elves. Victor Besa / The National

A gingerbread house at the entrance of the Sustainability Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Leslie Pableo for The National

Children can mail their Christmas letters to Santa at Expo 2020 Dubai. Leslie Pableo for The National

Expo 2020 Dubai's Al Wasl Dome lit up with Christmas projections. Leslie Pableo for The National

Festive performances are taking place at Expo 2020 Dubai. Leslie Pableo for The National

More views of the Christmas decorations around Expo 2020 Dubai. Leslie Pableo for The National

The centre atrium all set for Christmas at Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Colourful Christmas Santa boot decor at Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

A young girl poses in front of the Christmas gingerbread house decoration at Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

A shopper takes photos of the centre atrium Christmas decoration at Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Festive Christmas decorations in Santa's Winter Village at The Galleria Mall Al Maryah Island. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Extravagant and festive Christmas decorations at The Galleria Mall Al Maryah Island. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Santa Claus in the holiday spirit at The Galleria Mall Al Maryah Island. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Santa Claus and his elves giving out presents to the children that wrote him letters at The Galleria Mall Al Maryah Island. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

A young boy opens his gift at The Galleria Mall Al Maryah Island. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

A young boy writes Santa a letter at The Galleria Mall Al Maryah Island. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Curling game at the Winter Wonderland along the waterfront promenade of The Galleria Mall Al Maryah Island. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Extravagant and festive Christmas decorations at The Galleria Mall Al Maryah Island. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Now National Day celebrations are over, the UAE is looking festive again, this time for Christmas.

As with every year, malls and public places across the Emirates have dressed up in red and green to celebrate the annual tradition.

Christmas trees, festive markets and Santa Claus letterboxes can be found across malls in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, as well as people dressed up like Father Christmas and his elves.

At Expo 2020 Dubai, visitors will find decorations across numerous pavilions, alongside live roaming entertainment and festive projections at Al Wasl dome.

Mall of the Emirates is playing host to its annual festive market, where people can feast their eyes on a carbon-neutral LED Christmas tree that changes colours while shopping for last-minute gifts at the stalls by Ski Dubai.

Outside Dubai Festival City Mall is a gigantic Christmas tree that towers above shoppers, while inside there's a Winter Wonderland with reindeer, faux snow and candy cane sculptures.

Over in Abu Dhabi, Al Wahda Mall is particularly festive, with big nutcracker statues and a gingerbread house for visitors to take photos of.

In The Galleria Al Maryah Island, it's a veritable winter wonderland, with Santa Claus handing out gifts to children who wrote him letters, plus other family-friendly activities and a whole host of elegant decorations, including Santa's sleigh and reindeers hanging from the vast atrium's ceiling.

Scroll through the photo gallery above to see more of the UAE's Christmas decorations in 2021.