Al Jubail Winter Festival opens across Sharjah on Monday 15 December 2025 as part of the emirate’s broader winter programmes, bringing markets and family entertainment to Souq Al Jubail in Sharjah city, as well as to Al Dhaid and Kalba. The description sets the festival dates from Monday 15 December to Monday 29 December 2025, with outdoor kiosks, food stalls and children’s activities spread across these three key market towns (children/family-friendly). The concept builds on Souq Al Jubail’s role as a regional fresh market and gathering point, extending that atmosphere into a seasonal winter celebration. At the same time, the event dovetails with Sharjah Shopping Promotions, which brings extra retail campaigns to the emirate during the same period. Opening day therefore feels like a combined launch for both the winter festival and the wider seasonal shopping programme.
Opening day atmosphere across Sharjah, Al Dhaid and Kalba
On Monday 15 December 2025, the atmosphere at Souq Al Jubail in Sharjah city will likely feel the most intense, because many families naturally choose the main market for their first visit. The festival information emphasises that activations run across the three locations from the very start, so Al Dhaid and Kalba markets should also have kiosks, children’s activities and light entertainment in place from opening day. Typically, visitors can expect winter themed decorations, pop up snack stands, small fairground style games and roving performers such as mascots or musicians. However, the exact entertainment schedule may vary from one site to another and is usually announced closer to the date by local organisers. For families who want a quieter experience, starting in Al Dhaid or Kalba on opening day may offer more breathing room than the main Sharjah waterfront. Whichever location you choose on day one, plan for crowds to grow steadily from late afternoon into the evening.
Family focused experiences at Souq Al Jubail in Sharjah
Souq Al Jubail in Sharjah city serves as the flagship location, sitting on Corniche Street opposite the bus station and overlooking the waterfront and Flag Island. During the winter festival, its broad internal aisles and outdoor forecourt are expected to host many of the retail and food kiosks, alongside informal seating areas where families can rest between activities. Because the market already offers sections for fish, meat, fruit and vegetables, visitors can combine festival browsing with everyday shopping, which suits residents planning a regular grocery trip. As a result, early evening on opening day will probably see a mix of regular shoppers and festival visitors, especially between roughly 6:00 PM and 9:00 PM (children/family-friendly). For people who prefer calmer surroundings, it often works better to arrive shortly after sunset and leave before the late evening peak. Drivers should remember that parking around the main Souq Al Jubail complex can feel tight during busy hours.
Al Dhaid and Kalba markets as alternative winter destinations
Al Dhaid’s inland market, surrounded by farms and date plantations, offers a different flavour of the festival, with a stronger focus on fresh produce and traditional Emirati goods. Because it sits away from the dense city traffic, families driving from central Sharjah, Ajman or even Ras Al Khaimah may find it a more relaxed opening day choice (children/family-friendly). Meanwhile, Kalba’s location on the East Coast gives its Souq Al Jubail branch a sea breeze and a more coastal feel, which can be particularly pleasant on cooler December evenings. For residents of Fujairah, Khorfakkan or Kalba itself, the local market is often the most practical option, reducing highway travel on a busy weekday night. Couples or small groups may enjoy combining a short winter festival visit in Kalba with a simple seaside walk or café stop nearby (suitable for couples, solo). The key benefit of choosing Al Dhaid or Kalba on opening day is the likelihood of gentler crowds and easier parking compared with Sharjah city.
Food kiosks, light shopping and budget planning
Entry to Al Jubail Winter Festival is presented as a public, family entertainment event, and current listings do not mention a separate admission ticket, which strongly suggests free general access. Instead, visitors pay for what they choose to eat, drink or buy from the kiosks and existing market stalls. Therefore, a small family can usually shape their own budget, perhaps spending approximately 50 to 100 AED on snacks, drinks and small treats if they keep things modest, or more if they shop heavily for fresh produce or gifts. Children’s activities such as face painting or simple games may carry small individual charges, so it helps to keep some cash or an easy payment card handy. Because the festival operates inside and around functioning markets, prices generally reflect normal Sharjah levels rather than special theme park rates. Families who set a clear spending limit before they arrive usually find the evening more relaxed and predictable.
How Al Jubail Winter Festival fits Sharjah’s winter calendar
Sharjah Shopping Promotions runs across the emirate’s cities during the same season, creating a background of sales, raffles and retail activation that the winter festival naturally supports. Around the same period, other seasonal events such as Sharjah Events Festival and smaller winter programmes appear on the local calendar, so Al Jubail Winter Festival effectively acts as one of several family anchors in the winter lineup. For visitors, this means the opening day at Al Jubail can double as an introduction to the wider season, giving a quick overview of what different markets and venues are offering. Residents who like structured weekends might plan Friday or Saturday nights for smaller winter events, then keep another evening free for repeat visits to Al Jubail. In this way, the festival supports both tourists and locals who want low cost, open air entertainment during the most comfortable part of the year. Because the event repeats over two full weeks, you can sample opening day then return later for a different atmosphere.
Getting to the opening day from nearby emirates
For drivers coming from Dubai, the most direct routes to Souq Al Jubail in Sharjah are usually via E11 or E311, exiting toward the Corniche and City Centre, then following signs to Al Jubail bus station and the waterfront markets. Traffic on Monday 15 December 2025 will likely reflect a normal weekday pattern, with heavier flows between about 4:30 PM and 7:30 PM, particularly on E11 and at the main Sharjah entry points. From Ajman and Umm Al Quwain, the distance is shorter, yet evening bottlenecks near the border can still add noticeable time; leaving before 5:00 PM helps secure earlier parking. Visitors from Abu Dhabi should expect a journey of approximately two hours by car, so combining the trip with other Sharjah stops, such as Al Majaz Waterfront or a quick dinner, often makes the drive more worthwhile (suitable for couples, solo). Drivers heading instead for Al Dhaid or Kalba will follow the interior highways toward the central and east coast regions, where traffic is typically lighter but speeds are higher, so careful planning remains important. Whatever your starting point, allowing an extra 20 to 30 minutes for congestion and wayfinding can prevent a stressful rush at the start of the evening.
Weekend weather outlook and ground conditions
Mid December weather in Sharjah is generally mild and comfortable, with daytime highs near 26 to 28 degrees Celsius and overnight lows between about 15 and 18 degrees. Around Thursday 18 December, scattered showers are possible, with Friday 19, Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 December showing light, on and off rain, although no severe conditions are expected. Because Al Jubail Winter Festival runs until Monday 29 December, a second weekend from Friday 26 to Sunday 28 December will also fall inside this period; long range outlooks suggest similar mild temperatures and the possibility of occasional clouds, but details will only become clearer closer to the dates. In practical terms, this means open air car parks and some unpaved corners around Al Dhaid and Kalba markets could become damp or slightly muddy after any shower. For families with small children, it helps to bring closed shoes rather than sandals, especially on the first weekend when recent rain is most likely. Even during showers, the markets remain largely usable, but short bursts of rain can temporarily crowd covered walkways and indoor sections.
Warnings, clothing tips and closing advice
For clothing on opening day and both weekends, light layers work best: a T shirt with a thin cardigan or hoodie usually handles the early evening breeze, while long trousers are more comfortable than shorts if you stay until late. Because some rain is expected around Thursday 18, Friday 19, Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 December, families should consider carrying a compact umbrella or light waterproof jacket, particularly if they plan to walk between parking areas and the festival zones. On the road, drivers can expect peak traffic on main routes into Sharjah between roughly 5:00 PM and 8:00 PM, so arriving earlier or aiming for Al Dhaid and Kalba may reduce parking stress; leaving after 10:00 PM often means a simpler exit back to other emirates. Public transport remains a viable option for Sharjah city, with intercity buses from Dubai and other emirates stopping near central terminals and taxis covering the short final stretch to Souq Al Jubail; however, Al Dhaid and Kalba are more practical by private car. Prices for food, drinks and small activities will vary by kiosk, so any figures should be treated as approximately, and visitors should remember that vendors can adjust offers during the festival period. Plan your visit early, because opening day and weekend evenings at Al Jubail Winter Festival can become very busy very quickly. According to recent planning notes inspired by editors at www.few.ae, families who watch the forecast, arrive ahead of the evening peak and keep a flexible budget tend to enjoy this kind of open air winter festival with far less stress.
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