Quick answer
Plan about two hours, start in the late afternoon and build the party around one moment: Santa at the door. La Folie, the Dubai kids entertainment company, sends Santa and his elf to homes anywhere in Dubai for 15, 30 or 40 minutes, from AED 950 + VAT. For a party, we recommend the 40-minute Santa's Magic. Book early: 23 to 25 December goes first.
How do I plan a kids Christmas party at home in Dubai?
Make three decisions first: the date, the guest list and how long Santa stays. Everything else can stay simple. Children remember the moment Santa walks in, not the napkins.
We are La Folie, founded in Dubai in 2017 and one of the UAE's top-rated kids events companies: ★ 5.0 from 184 Google reviews and 700+ events a year. Every December our Santa visits homes all over Dubai, and this is the plan we share with parents.
When should I book Santa for a Christmas party in Dubai?
Book Santa first, then send the invitations. December slots go fast, especially 23 to 25 December.
On our Santa page, choose 15, 30 or 40 minutes, tick any extras, and give your preferred date and the best two times. It reaches us as one WhatsApp message, we confirm your slot, and you pay before the visit by bank transfer or payment link (+2.5%). Book Santa on our Santa page.
Our tip: tell the parents, not the children. Santa is a far bigger surprise that way.
What time should a kids Christmas party start, and how long should it last?
Two hours suits most families: time for games, Santa and food, with toddlers still smiling at the end. A late-afternoon start works for mixed ages, after nap time, and the December weather in Dubai is at its best for the garden. Plan Santa about an hour in, once every guest has arrived.
What does a simple Christmas party plan look like, from arrival to goodbye?
Here is a two-hour plan with a 4 pm start, built around Santa's Magic, our 40-minute visit. Move the times to suit your day.
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 4:00 pm | Arrival. Christmas songs, name stickers and a colouring table. |
| 4:20 pm | Games. Freeze dance, pass the parcel and "find the elf", a soft toy hidden around the room. |
| 4:45 pm | Snack break, while you put the gifts by the door. |
| 5:00 pm | Santa's entrance and gifts. The knock, jingles, letters, dancing, an ornament with the elf, a Christmas story, gifts by name and a group photo. |
| 5:40 pm | Cookies. With cookie decorating, 15 extra minutes with the elf and a box for every child. |
| 5:55 pm | Photos and goodbye. A last picture by the tree, then home with gifts, ornaments and Santa certificates. |
With a 15 or 30-minute visit, the plan simply gets shorter in the middle.
Which La Folie Santa visit works best for a party?
For a party, we recommend Santa's Magic, our favourite: time for every child, plus something to make and keep. Transport anywhere in Dubai is included in every visit.
- Santa's Hello, 15 minutes, AED 950 + VAT: Christmas jingles, picture time with Santa, gifts by name and a personalised Santa certificate.
- Santa's Party, 30 minutes, AED 1,700 + VAT: Santa's Hello, plus the kids' letters read by Santa, dancing, Santa's games and a little giveaway for every child.
- Santa's Magic, 40 minutes, AED 2,300 + VAT: Santa's Party, plus a Christmas ornament to make with the elf, a Christmas story, a group photo with Santa and the elf, and 5 instant printed photos.
There is no maximum number of children, but with more than 10 kids we advise the 30 or 40-minute visit, so every child gets real time with Santa. Full detail is in our Santa visit at home guide, or book Santa on our Santa page.
Which Santa add-ons are worth it for a party?
Four extras that really help at a party:
- Cookie decorating with the elf, AED 400 + VAT: 15 extra minutes, and every child takes a box home, a ready-made party favour. With Santa's Party or Santa's Magic, up to 10 kids.
- Santa Snapshot, AED 250 + VAT: 10 instant printed photos in Santa frames, so 15 in total with Santa's Magic.
- Musician elf, on request: live Christmas songs on the guitar for the kids to sing along to. AED 750 + VAT for 15 minutes, AED 1,250 + VAT for 30 or AED 1,600 + VAT for 40, up to the length of your visit.
- Nice List letter, AED 150 + VAT: a personal letter from Santa for each child, delivered the week before. Per family, up to 4 kids, so best for your own children.
What food and drink should I serve at a kids Christmas party?
Keep it simple: small bites kids can eat with one hand between games.
- Savoury: mini sandwiches cut into stars and trees, small pizzas, cheese cubes, vegetable sticks.
- Fruit in Christmas colours: strawberries, green grapes, kiwi, watermelon stars.
- Drinks: water, milk and one juice, in cups with names on them.
- Santa's plate: a glass of milk and a cookie by the door. Our very old, very funny, slightly grumpy Santa will claim he only came for your milk and cookies. Then he remembers the gifts.
Ask about allergies on the invitation, and serve the main snack before Santa arrives.
How do I decorate for a Christmas party at home?
Pick two or three spots and make them shine.
- The tree corner: your photo spot, with floor space for the kids to sit when Santa arrives.
- The front door: a wreath or a handmade "North Pole" sign, so the knock is part of the story.
- Lights and snowflakes: fairy lights, plus paper snowflakes your kids cut out the weekend before.
- A clear floor: move the coffee table and anything fragile. Santa's games mean dancing.
Short on time? Decoration is a paid La Folie add-on, priced on our party add-ons page.
How do Santa's gifts by name work?
You provide the gifts and Santa does the rest: leave them by the door with each child's name on them, and Santa hands them out by name.
- Big, clear names on a tag, not only on the wrapping.
- One plan for guests: the same small gift for everyone, or ask the other parents to hand you a named gift quietly at the door.
- A spare gift and a pen for a surprise sibling or a late guest.
- One basket by the door, so the handover is quick.
What if the kids are different ages, or some are shy?
- Toddlers sit at the front, with a parent close by. A short, gentle moment with Santa is plenty.
- Big kids who feel too old for Santa love a job: leading a game, or helping a little one find their gift.
- Shy children should never be pushed onto Santa's lap. Let them watch from a parent's lap or pose with a sibling. Behind the grumpy act, our Santa is very caring with children.
- Language: Santa speaks your family's language on request. Tell us when you book.
What do Dubai parents say about La Folie's Santa?
Real Google reviews from families who had our Santa at home, quoted word for word.
He had everyone laughing from the start, cracking jokes and even asking the kids to help carry his "heavy" toy sack from the North Pole.
Very nice costume for Santa (he looks real). They also arrived exactly on time and were very professional.
They took details before hand to customise key messages for the kids that made the kids experience so magical.
Already booked for this year!
What should be on my Christmas party checklist?
- As soon as you have a date: book Santa on our Santa page with your preferred date and the best two times.
- Two weeks before: invitations, allergies and the gift plan.
- The week before: letters to Santa written, and Nice List letters arrive if you added them.
- The day before: wrap and name every gift, charge your phone, clear the floor.
- On the day: payment done, gifts by the door, milk and a cookie out for Santa.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Santa cost for a Christmas party at home in Dubai?
La Folie's Santa visits in Dubai cost AED 950 + VAT for 15 minutes, AED 1,700 + VAT for 30 minutes or AED 2,300 + VAT for 40 minutes (Santa's Magic, the one La Folie recommends for parties). Transport anywhere in Dubai is included.
How many children can Santa see at a Christmas party?
There is no maximum for a La Folie Santa visit in Dubai. With more than 10 kids, La Folie advises the 30 or 40-minute visit, so every child gets real time with Santa.
Does Santa bring the gifts to the party?
Parents provide the gifts for a La Folie Santa visit in Dubai. Leave them by the door with each child's name on them, and Santa hands them out by name.
When should I book Santa for a Christmas party in Dubai?
As early as possible: La Folie's December Santa slots in Dubai go fast, especially 23 to 25 December. On the La Folie Santa page, choose your visit and extras, then send your preferred date and best two times in one WhatsApp message.
Can the kids decorate cookies with Santa's elf?
Yes. La Folie's cookie decorating adds 15 minutes to Santa's Party or Santa's Magic in Dubai, for up to 10 kids, and every child takes a box home. It costs AED 400 + VAT.
Can a musician elf play at our Christmas party?
Yes, on request. La Folie's musician elf plays live Christmas songs on the guitar at homes in Dubai: AED 750 + VAT for 15 minutes, AED 1,250 + VAT for 30 minutes or AED 1,600 + VAT for 40 minutes.
Who is La Folie?
La Folie is a premium children's entertainment and events company based in Dubai, founded in 2017. It runs 700+ events a year across Dubai, the UAE, Lebanon and the GCC, and is rated 5.0 from 184 Google reviews.
Ready to plan your Christmas party?
Choose your Santa visit, tick your extras and send us your preferred date and best two times. We'll confirm your slot on WhatsApp.
À chacun sa propre joie
To each their own joy. Michel and the La Folie team, Dubai