Abu Dhabi has rolled out a full slate of Christmas Eve dinners for 2026, and this year's line-up covers almost every mood and budget — laid-back pubs, big hotel buffets with Santa, a Brazilian churrascaria, and even a free dive-in movie night.
The cheapest full dinner deal is at COYA on Al Maryah Island, where a three-course Peruvian-inspired festive set lunch runs Dhs140 per person, with à la carte specials going all the way up to Dhs1,265. In Al Ain, Flavours at the Radisson Blu is the budget pick, with a seafood, turkey-carving and live-grill buffet at Dhs179 soft drinks or Dhs289 with house beverages.
Families are well catered for. La Terrazza at the Radisson Blu Corniche has a buffet with carving stations and a Santa visit at Dhs199 soft, Dhs299 house, and just Dhs99 for kids aged six to 12. The Village at Le Méridien goes bigger — samba dancers, a DJ, a live artist and Santa — with children under six dining free. La Piscine at Al Raha Beach Resort adds turkey, beef Wellington, a Christmas choir and a kids' activity station with face painting from Dhs270. Over at The WB Abu Dhabi, The Matinee screens festive classics outdoors as a dive-in cinema with hot chocolate and popcorn — completely free, though you need to book ahead for the 4.30pm or 7pm screenings.
If you'd rather skip the buffet, there's plenty of à la carte. Belgian Café at the InterContinental keeps things casual by the marina at around Dhs300 for two, while Butcher & Still at the Four Seasons brings 1920s Chicago vibes with festive additions from 6pm. Café Milano, also at the Four Seasons, does a Feast of Seven Fishes — think red prawn tartare with Oscietra caviar and turbot in bread crust — at roughly Dhs600 for two. Fishmarket at the InterContinental lets you pick your own seafood from the market display and have Chef Sawai's team cook it to order. For something different, Mijana at the Ritz-Carlton Grand Canal serves a five-course Arabian menu with live oud music, and Pappas Taverna at W Abu Dhabi has a one-night Greek menu with charred octopus, turkey or lobster linguini, and a pistachio baklava Yule log at Dhs380.
At the top end, Broadway at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental does a five-course sharing dinner with a live band for Dhs350, while Marco Pierre White Steakhouse at the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr runs Dhs475 soft up to Dhs850 with champagne. Li Jiang at the Ritz-Carlton pairs a five-course Asian menu with views of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, and Asia Asia at Yas Bay is running a ladies' night with three hours of free-flow wine and Prosecco for a Dhs150 minimum spend.
Most venues run from around 6 or 7pm until 11pm, and several — including the InterContinental Residences' Bistro 81 and Byblos Sur Mer — stay open past midnight. With prices ranging from Dhs140 to Dhs850 a head and plenty of kids' deals, booking early is the smart move; most venues take reservations by phone or WhatsApp.
