Dubai: Santa Claus is officially airborne — and millions across the world, including families in the UAE, are watching his journey unfold live.
As Christmas Eve celebrations begin, the NORAD Santa Tracker has gone live, allowing parents and children to follow Santa’s sleigh in real time as he delivers gifts across continents. According to live tracking data and historical patterns, Santa is expected to reach the UAE late on December 24, typically between 9pm and midnight, after completing stops across Asia and parts of Europe.
The tracker confirms that the Middle East remains firmly on Santa’s global delivery route — placing the Emirates among his final stops before Christmas morning.
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LIVE: Track Santa’s Journey Around the World
As Santa makes his way across continents on Christmas Eve, viewers in the UAE can follow his journey in real time through NORAD’s official tracking coverage.
Watch Santa Live (NORAD Tracker)
The live feed updates Santa’s location continuously as he travels from the North Pole across Asia, Europe, and toward the Gulf region.
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When Will Santa Reach the UAE?
Based on historical data and live tracking trends, Santa usually arrives in the UAE late on Christmas Eve, after completing deliveries in East Asia, South Asia, and parts of Europe.
Parents hoping to spot Santa’s arrival are advised to check the tracker periodically — although tradition holds that Santa only visits when children are asleep.
How Santa Is Tracked Live
Santa’s movements are monitored by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), the US–Canadian military organisation responsible for aerospace warning and control.
Each year on Christmas Eve, NORAD temporarily shifts part of its focus to tracking Santa’s sleigh, combining real defence technology with festive storytelling.
According to NORAD, Santa is tracked using:
- Early-warning radar as he departs the North Pole
- Infrared satellites that detect the heat signature from Rudolph’s glowing red nose
- Santa Cam satellites, which capture short videos of Santa over major cities
- Military aircraft, including US and Canadian fighter jets, which escort Santa during parts of his journey
NORAD says Santa travels at altitudes of around 60,000 feet, well above commercial air traffic, and at speeds fast enough to complete worldwide deliveries in a single night.
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An Accident That Became a Global Tradition
The origins of the NORAD Santa Tracker date back nearly 70 years — and began entirely by accident.
In 1955, a newspaper advertisement in Colorado Springs invited children to call Santa Claus directly. A misprinted phone number, however, routed calls to the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) — the predecessor of NORAD.
Instead of hanging up, US Air Force Colonel Harry Shoup, the commander on duty, chose to play along. He instructed his radar operators to “check the skies” for Santa’s sleigh and reassured children that Santa was on his way.
Throughout the night, military staff answered calls from children eager for updates — unknowingly creating a tradition that would go global.
When NORAD was formally established in 1958, it inherited the role.
“The role of tracking Ole St. Nick was handed to NORAD when the command was formed in 1958, and it’s been getting more popular and more technologically savvy ever since,” a Pentagon report later noted.
A Christmas Eve Tradition Watched Worldwide
Last year, NORAD recorded tens of millions of visits to its Santa Tracker across websites, mobile apps, and social platforms. Thousands of military personnel and civilian volunteers participate annually, answering calls and updating live data throughout Christmas Eve.
For many families — including thousands across the UAE — tracking Santa has become as much a part of Christmas Eve as decorating the tree or leaving out cookies.
Final Ground Handling Instructions
With arrival expected at any moment, UAE households are advised to:
- Clear Rooftops: Ensure AC units and satellite dishes do not block the landing zone.
- Prepare Snacks: Carrots for the reindeer (Dasher and Dancer are reportedly exhausted) and cookies for the Captain.
- Stay Asleep: This cannot be stressed enough!
Stay tuned. The skies are clear, and the jingle bells are approaching.
