Think it's too early to start thinking about Christmas? The UAE's retailers clearly don't. Advent calendars for the 2026 festive season are already landing in stores across Dubai and beyond, and this year's line-up runs from a Dhs300 box of tea to a Dhs3,000 Dior showpiece.

At the top end, Dior's calendar is a collector's item in its own right — shaped like the brand's star and modelled on the facade of its legendary 30 Avenue Montaigne address in Paris, with a gingerbread-style couture gown at the centre. Behind the 24 doors: mini fragrances, makeup, skincare and scented candles. It'll set you back Dhs3,000 on dior.com.

Charlotte Tilbury's Hollywood Beauty Wonderland is a more attainable Dhs1,050 and now ships regionally via ae.charlottetilbury.com as well as Beauty Wonderland stores. The 15 products include a full-sized Pillow Talk Matte Revolution lipstick and Beauty Light Wand, plus travel-size versions of the brand's setting spray, serum and mascara.

Lush fans get a choice of two. The flagship calendar comes in a reusable wicker hamper with 25 treats — 10 of them exclusives, including a snowcake and rose perfume — for Dhs1,295. The cheaper 29 ½ High Street version (Dhs795) leans on bath bombs and bubble bars, with exclusives like Snoozy Bear and Honey Bear. Sephora swaps the traditional door format for a sparkly vanity case at Dhs510, packing in 24 items, 17 of them full-size, plus a surprise reserved for Christmas Eve.

For skincare-first shoppers, The Body Shop's Ultimate calendar (Dhs429 at thebodyshop.ae) is built around hydration — mango body butter, strawberry lip butter, satsuma shower gel and pink grapefruit hand cream. Bloomingdale's Beauty Calendar at Dhs2,199 goes luxury with 12 drawers spanning 111Skin, La Prairie, Natura Bissé, MAC, Dolce & Gabbana, Rituals and an Amouage fragrance trio.

Not everything is beauty. Tea brand AVANTCHA has an alpine-themed calendar in red and gold, with a different bio-silk teabag behind each of 24 doors for Dhs300 — available from November 6 at avantcha.com.

Why care if you're travelling? December in Dubai is peak season for good reason — warm days, festive markets and hotel brunches — and picking up an advent calendar on arrival (or ordering ahead to your hotel) is a fun way to count down to Christmas in the sun. They also make easy gifts to take home, and several are available online with UAE delivery if you'd rather sort it before you fly.