emirates palace

Falling Snow Ceremony
abu dhabi 2014–2019

Movie-grade falling snow for a luxury festive tradition

From 2014 to 2019, Desert Snow was entrusted with delivering movie-grade falling snow effects for the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony at Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi.

As one of the UAE’s most prestigious seasonal events, the ceremony required absolute precision, silent operation, and guest-safe atmospheric effects suitable for a luxury hotel environment.

Desert Snow provided continuous support throughout these years, engineering snowfall moments that became a signature highlight of the Emirates Palace festive season.

Design & Technical Delivery

Delivering snowfall inside a luxury hotel atrium required precise environmental engineering.

Desert Snow used cinema-grade snow machines, selected for their ultra-fine particle output, silent operation, and clean dispersal characteristics.

Every installation required:

Exact airflow mapping inside the atrium
Controlled snow density to avoid slippery surfaces
Timed cues synchronised with the lighting and ceremony programme
Rigging plans that preserved the hotel’s architecture

The result was a controlled, elegant snowfall moment that enhanced the ceremony without compromising guest comfort or safety.

Results and Impact

The falling snow effect became one of the most photographed and anticipated moments of the Emirates Palace Christmas season.
Desert Snow’s consistent delivery across multiple years demonstrated our ability to provide high-precision atmospheric effects for luxury venues, VIP ceremonies and broadcast-grade productions.
The project remains a benchmark for indoor snowfall delivery in the region.