You don’t have to wait until December 25 to celebrate, and for many Christmas Eve represents the highlight of the festive calendar. So we’ve got a list of all the best parties, drinks deals, dinners and things to do in Dubai on December 24.

Raffles Dubai The ballroom is transformed into a market with roast chestnuts, a four-metre-high gingerbread house and carvery.
Raffles Hotel, Oud Metha, Dubai, 7pm to 11.30pm, Dhs345, Dhs495 with beverages. Tel: (04) 3248888. Taxi: Raffles. raffles.com/dubai 

Reform Social And Grill Inside is a set menu of traditional British Christmas food. Outside will be a family-style BBQ serving up turkey burgers with mince pies afterwards.
The Lakes, Emirates Hills, Dubai, 7pm to 11pm, Dhs350 with beverages. Tel: (04) 4542638. Taxi: The Lakes Club. reformsocialgrill.ae 

Marco Pierre White Grill For a classic British feast Marco Pierre White Grill offers a festive menu of chestnut soup, scallops with a beetroot, yuzu and truffle sauce, followed by Barbary duck with butternut squash and juniper berries. The grand finale is a delicious sticky toffee pudding with whisky parfait and a hazelnut crêpe. Enjoy all this in the handsome surroundings of dark wood and cream leather booths, as a live pianist tinkles in the background.
Conrad Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, Dec 15 to 24, 8pm, Dhs650. Tel: (04) 4447444. Metro: World Trade Centre. conraddubai.com

MPW

The Huddle Sports Bar And Grill Kick off your Christmas with a two-course festive feast. Included in the deal is one house beverage – plus complementary mulled wine all day at this fun sports bar.
Citymax Hotel, Al Barsha, noon to 11pm, Dhs75. Tel: (04) 4098000. Metro: Mall Of The Emirates. citymaxhotels.com

The Ivy Christmas songs in a jazz style from singer Ciaran Fox accompany your festive dinner.
Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Dubai, 8.30pm. Tel: (04) 3198767. Metro: Emirates Towers. theivy.ae

Teatro A four-course set menu or specially selected signature dishes from the a la carte menu.
Towers Rotana, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, Dhs399. Tel: (04) 3438000. Metro: Financial Centre. rotana.com

Teatro

Fogo Vivo Carols fused with Latino music and a Brazilian buffet – this could be the most unusual way to spend Christmas Eve.
JA Ocean View, Jumeirah Beach Residence, Dubai, 7pm to midnight, Dhs245, Dhs345 with beverages. Tel: (04) 8145599. Metro: Dubai Marina jaresortshotels.com 

Jamie’s Italian A festive Venetian fish stew is at the heart of the Christmas set menu, which also includes the restaurant’s popular antipasti planks and plenty of mince pies.
Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Jumeirah Road, Dubai, noon to midnight, Dhs429. Tel: (04) 3808890. Taxi: Jumeirah Beach Hotel. jamieoliver.com/italian/dubai 

Armani Ristorante Armani’s lavish six-course Christmas degustation menu is a blend of classic and contemporary Italian dishes.
Armani Hotel, Emaar Boulevard, Downtown, Dubai, 7pm to 11.30pm, Dhs1,250 with paired beverages. Tel: (04) 8883444. Metro: Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall. dubai.armanihotels.com 

Armani Ristorante

Rixos The Palm Enjoy seafood under the stars at Rixos’ Turkish-influenced Christmas seafood fair, with a live saxophonist providing the tunes.
East Crescent, The Palm Jumeirah, 7pm to 11pm, Dhs275. Tel: (04) 4575555. Taxi: Rixos The Palm. rixos.com

Ruth’s Chris Olive-stuffed pheasant, turkey or beef marinated for 24 hours are the options at this three-course menu. They’ll pack up your leftovers to take home or you can collect the whole menu and take it home with you. Be aware, the beef must be ordered seven days in advance and the turkey 48 hours.
The Address Dubai Marina, Dubai, Dhs350. Tel: (04) 4549538. Metro: Dubai Marina. ruthschris.ae