Christmas in the UAE: peek into the most festive homes in Abu Dhabi and Dubai

From candy cane entrances to resplendent trees, here’s a look at some of the best-decked houses this year

A look inside the home of Robert and Alena Palmer in Barsha. Photo: Pawan Singh / The National

The Palmers have a Santa Claus-themed dining table. Photo: Pawan Singh / The National

Two Christmas trees and an abundance of stockings feature in the Palmer household. Photo: Pawan Singh / The National

The staircase is lined with stockings. Photo: Pawan Singh/ The National

Inside Dubai resident Kimberley White's home. Photo: Pawan Singh / The National

Much of the Christmas decor, including the garlands and hanging branches, are hand-made in White's home. Photo: Pawan Singh / The National

The White home also features a hot chocolate station. Photo: Pawan Singh / The National

Festive decorations in Abu Dhabi resident Jinna Cabel DeLa Roca's home. Photo: Jinna Cabel DeLa Roca

DeLa Roca has a collection of miniatures she has used to create a winter wonderland. Photo: Jinna Cabel Dela Roca

Inside the Jumeirah Islands home of Yasmin Cotgrove. Photo: Khushnum Bhandari / The National

The staircase of Cotgrove's home is lined with garlands. Photo: Khushnum Bhandari / The National

A 2.75-metre-tall Christmas tree takes pride of place in the Cotgrove home. Photo: Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Dubai resident Liesje Korff's chic Christmas decor, with many of the elements brought in from the UK. Photo: Liesje Korff

Korff bought a Christmas tree from Al Rifaa Nursery in Warsan, which imported it from the Netherlands. Photo: Liesje Korff

Korff has gone for a romantic, delicate and feminine theme for Christmas. Photo: Liesje Korff

Inside Dubai resident Lucy Gregory's home. Photo: Lucy Gregory

Gregory's backyard Christmas decor features a gold theme. Photo: Lucy Gregory

A festive bedspread in the Gregory home. Photo: Lucy Gregory

A candy cane entrance at the Gregory house. Photo: Lucy Gregory

A blue-and-white 'dashing through the midnight snow'-themed tablescape in Janet Manning Waite's home. Photo: Janet Manning Waite

A candy cane and peppermint tree at Manning Waite's home. Photo: Janet Manning Waite

Dubai resident Elaine Wolfenden's modern festive decor. Photo: Elaine Wolfenden

Wolfenden has done up her grandson's bedroom with stuffed toys and twinkle lights. Photo: Elaine Wolfenden

UAE resident Annabelle Kelly has made a festive fireplace out of Kibson boxes. Photos: Annabelle Kelly

Putting up festive decor is half the fun of the holiday season and some UAE residents have gone above and beyond to get their homes in shipshape in time for Christmas.

From DIY hot chocolate stations and miniature ornamental collections to Santa Claus-themed tablescaping and imported trees, scroll through the gallery above for a look at some of the best-decorated homes.

This year is all the more special for many, as it signifies a reunion with family and friends, after a hiatus in 2020 owing to the coronavirus pandemic.

Elaine Wolfenden, who has lived in the UAE for 23 years, says she has gone all out this year with the bedroom of her grandson, 6, as a surprise since he’s visiting for Christmas.

“I’ve tried to see it through a child’s eyes,” she says of the festive decorations that feature stuffed toys and twinkle lights, plus a Christmas tree by the television in the living area.

Jinna Cabel DeLa Roca, a stay-at-home mum of two, has created a miniature winter wonderland in her home in Abu Dhabi.

“I dream of spending a Christmas with real snow and pine trees with my family someday. I guess, it’s everybody’s dream considering we don’t have snow back home in the Philippines. For us, spending Christmas with family is what makes it more meaningful.

“The miniature collection is my own Christmas village. I’d love to get my children to spend Christmas in Lapland someday. For now, we will enjoy it here in our small home in Al Reem,” she says.

Decking up the house for loved ones seems to be a common theme. Janet Manning Waite, an interior designer, has created a “land of sweets” complete with a themed pastel Christmas tree, with her granddaughters in mind.

Other decorations in her Umm Suqeim home include a blue and white “dashing through the midnight snow”-themed tablescape, and a ginger and peppermint tree featuring a turquoise twist.

“I am passionate about Christmas decor, and spend hours researching and planning and shopping for each theme. I love how it all turned out this year,” she says.

She isn’t alone in meticulously planning seasonal decoration. Liesje Korff, who lives in Dubai’s Trade Centre 1 area, has been building her collection for about a decade now.

“I go for a romantic, delicate feminine theme – the same every year. Most of the decorations come from the UK.”

Korff is particularly fussy about her Christmas tree, she says. This year, she’s got a Nordmann Fir Prima, imported from the Netherlands, where she is from.

“They need to have the perfect shape, especially the crown, with several levels so I can hang silver chain baubles.”

On the topic of going all-out for Christmas, Lucy Gregory, whose house was featured in The National last year for its creative candy cane backyard and snowmaker, has done it again this Christmas. This year, the family have changed everything up, with a gold-themed backyard and candy cane entrance.

The mother of three says decorating the tree is a “highlight of the year.”

“I spend all year looking for and collecting items, not just in November and December. Christmas is never far from my mind.”