You might not find any snow during winter in Dubai—in fact it’ll be warm all the way through—but that doesn’t mean it’s not festive and fun. The city is the perfect place to enjoy the season in an entirely different way.

Winter Waterpark

With the warm weather rolling all year round, there’s always time for a swim—even in December! Grab a ride to one of Dubai’s many waterparks, all suitable for families and people of all ages, for a day of sunbathing and splashing. If you’re looking for a more exciting swim, you can check the Wild Wadi Water park’s wave pool, or for beautiful views and aquatic attractions of every kind, head to the enormous Aquaventure Waterpark on Palm Jumeirah.

Dune-bash December

What better way to celebrate the season than racing through the sand in a 4-wheel land cruiser? Dune-bashing is the perfect white-knuckle thrill to help shake off any end of year sluggishness, so grab a couple of friends and head out for a quick spin. Some dune-bashing packages also include a late-night BBQ and entertainment under the stars in the Dubai Desert, which makes an amazing New Year’s Eve adventure—you might want to bring some extra clothes though as Dubai Desert at night is the one place you’ll be feeling the winterchill!

Desert night run at Al Marmoom

Dubai Desert has even more to offer going into 2019—you can race into the new year, literally, with the  Desert Night Run at Al Marmoom. Made for all ages, this run is open to anyone over 6-years-old and has 2.5km, 5km and 10km paths to choose from. Whichever one you pick, you’ll pass the spectacular natural scenery and local wildlife, which includes more than 350 different species of birds. And don’t worry if your legs are exhausted by the time you reach the finish line—Uber can drop you off home again.

Dubai Motorbike Festival

Beat the January blues at top speed with a trip to the Dubai World Trade Center for the Dubai Motorbike Festival: the largest event of its kind in the region. 2019 will mark the second time the center has hosted the festival, and you’ll find some of the world’s biggest biker names displaying their newest designs throughout the event. There’ll even be a daredevil display at The Dubai Motorbike Stunt Battle.

This season in Dubai is all about food, thrills and fun. Forget about a white Christmas—we’re dreaming of a sun-soaked, thrill-filled, action-packed winter!