1. The "Desert Meets Forest" Garland
Instead of buying plastic tinsel, make a natural garland that smells incredible.
- How to do it: Pick up a bag of oranges from Union Coop or Lulu. Slice them thin and pop them in the oven at a low heat (around 100°C) for 3–4 hours until they’re dried out.
- The Dubai Twist: Thread the orange slices onto a piece of jute twine, but here’s the secret: go outside and find some fallen, dried date palm leaves. Weave small strips of the palm between the oranges. It creates a beautiful, rustic look that perfectly blends UAE nature with traditional holiday vibes.
2. Salt-Dough Camel Ornaments
This is a classic "Dubai Homemade" hack that replaces expensive glass baubles with something personalized.
- How to do it: Mix two parts flour, one part salt, and one part water to make a dough. Use cookie cutters to make stars, or if you're feeling creative, hand-shape them into camels or palm trees.
- The Finish: Bake them at a very low temperature until they are hard. Once they’re cool, grab some metallic gold or silver spray paint from a hardware store like ACE. It gives them a high-end, "boutique" look for just a few fils.
3. The "Sand Globe" (Dubai’s Version of a Snow Globe)
Since we don’t get snow in the desert, why not celebrate what we do have?
- How to do it: Find an empty glass jar (an old jam jar or honey jar works perfectly). Clean it well and fill the bottom with about an inch of clean, white desert sand.
- The Decor: Place a small plastic reindeer, a tiny tree, or even a miniature Burj Khalifa inside. Instead of filling it with water, keep it dry and add a few tiny battery-operated fairy lights. It looks stunning on a bookshelf or coffee table and is a literal "Dubai Christmas" in a jar!
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