InterContinental Abu Dhabi Announces Christmas Dining and New Year's Eve Events
A December 9 tree lighting will open the 2026 festive season at InterContinental Abu Dhabi Hotel & Residences, followed by a waterfront market, Christmas meals and New Year's Eve celebrations. The schedule includes family dining, live performances and beverage-tiered brunch and gala packages.
Layla Haddad
Tree lighting and waterfront market
The hotel's annual Christmas tree lighting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on December 9. An Alpine-inspired market at Marina Garden will follow on December 11–13 and December 18–20, offering mulled wine, treats from local vendors and seasonal goods along the waterfront.
The five-star hotel has 390 guest rooms and suites, a private beach and its own marina, and holds the Green Key sustainability award. Its Marina Walk dining area brings together six restaurants with outdoor terraces: Byblos Sur Mer, Fishmarket, Belgian Café, Porto Gina, Chamas Churrascaria & Bar and Cho Gao.
Christmas Eve dining
Christmas Eve options range from à la carte meals to four-course dinners. Belgian Café will serve its à la carte menu from noon to 1 a.m. At Bistro 81 and Beach Café, four-course Mediterranean menus start at AED 225, with dinner from 7 p.m. to midnight and entertainment from flamenco dancers.
For an earlier family meal, Porto Gina will offer an Italian Christmas dinner from 5 to 11 p.m., starting at AED 275 per person, with a Santa visit for children. Chamas Churrascaria & Bar will serve dinner from 6 to 11 p.m., starting at AED 350 per person, with a dessert station among the offerings.
Fishmarket will offer à la carte dining from noon to 11 p.m. Guests can choose from the seafood on display for Chef Sawai to prepare to their preference. According to IHG, the recently renovated restaurant has operated since 1989 and specializes in Thai-style seafood.
Byblos Sur Mer's late-night service will run from 10:30 p.m. to 2 a.m., with a sharing set menu, marina views and live singers, starting at AED 250 per person. The Lebanese restaurant has been recognized by the Michelin Guide for four consecutive years; the hotel describes it as "four-time Michelin-selected."
Christmas Day brunches and dinner
On December 25, the Christmas Mega Brunch will run from 1 to 5 p.m., pairing seasonal food with a live band and DJ. The hotel's festive program lists packages at AED 450 per person with soft beverages, AED 650 with house beverages and AED 950 for the premium option. The price for children under 12 is AED 285.
Lebanese artist Sobhi Tawfiq will perform at Byblos Sur Mer's Christmas Day brunch, which also runs from 1 to 5 p.m. Packages cost AED 400 per person with soft beverages or AED 600 with alcoholic beverages, while children under 12 are priced at AED 150.
At InterContinental Residences Abu Dhabi, Bistro 81 will serve a Mediterranean brunch with live carving and pasta stations from 12:30 to 5 p.m., starting at AED 375 per person.
Selections will offer a later meal, with an international dinner menu and live entertainment from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Prices start at AED 225 per person.
New Year's Eve dinners and entertainment
The December 31 gala dinner will run from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m., with a five-piece band and a DJ. Packages are priced at AED 550 per person with soft beverages, AED 750 with house beverages and AED 950 for the champagne package.
Bistro 81 and Beach Café will host four-course dinners with an all-white dress code from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Pricing at the Bistro 81 brasserie starts at AED 425 per person.
Byblos Sur Mer will begin its New Year's Eve celebrations at 10 p.m. and continue until 3 a.m., with terrace dining starting at AED 550 per person.
