Things to do in Dubai this weekend

What’s On has a list of things to do in Dubai this weekend, including brunch, drinks deals, festive events, live entertainment and new openings.

You know that moment on a Thursday afternoon when your work buddy asks what you’re doing this weekend and your mind goes blank? Well worry no more, friends, because What’s On has the perfect solution, whatever mood you are in.

THURSDAY

Emirates Classic Car Festival
If you’re impressed by the daily automobile eye candy in Dubai, then the annual Emirates Classic Car Festival will be right up your street. Held on the 3km-long Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard in Downtown Dubai, this annual event is back for the seventh time taking place from March 19 to 22. But don’t expect a small handful of old school Ferraris or Porsches. The collection on display is set to span an entire century of motoring history.

March 19 to 22
Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard, Downtown Dubai, 3pm, free. Tel: (04) 3673588. Metro: Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall. emiratesclassiccarfestival.com

Inside Rolls-Royce
Following recent successes in both London and Berlin, the Dubai exhibition allows guests to step into the world of Rolls-Royce’s consummate luxury.  The exhibition takes place over eight rooms, each focusing on one key aspect in the creation of a Rolls-Royce motor car.  You can even create your own bespoke Rolls-Royce via an iPad configurator.

March 19 to 23
The Beach Opposite JBR, Dubai Marina, Thur 4pm to 10pm, Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon 10am to 10pm. insiderolls-royce.com

Jack Dee
A stand-up comedian for almost 20 years and a regular fixture on TV panel shows in Britain and in his own BBC sitcom, Lead Balloon, Jack Dee brings his frustration-filled act to Dubai this month. Check out Jack Dee’s funniest quotes.

March 19
Dubai World Trade Centre, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, 8pm, Dhs300. Tel: (04) 4390900. Metro: World Trade Centre. doneevents.com

Street Life
Street Life is a 70-minute high-energy riot of dance from internationally renowned French performance company The Hey Crew. Devised and directed by Madinat Theatre manager Joseph Fowler, the show uses video projection to accompany the dancers while the soundtrack is provided by the likes of Macklemore, Lil Wayne, Avicii, and Clean Bandit. Swan Lake it is not.

March 18 to 21
Madinat Theatre, Souk Madinat, Dubai, Wed 8pm, Thur 8pm, Fri 3pm and 8pm, Sat 7pm, Dhs160. Tel: (04) 3666546. Taxi: Souk Madinat. madinattheatre.com

Hybrid Heroine
A collection of digital images celebrating influential women of today and yesteryear goes on display this month. Dubai-based Jennifer Stelco has created illustrations of two influential female figures and morphed them into a single picture to portray powerful women in history. Jackie Onassis meets JK Rowling, Pink blends with Pocahontas, Princess Diana is paired with Motown group The Supremes, while Lady Gaga joins artist Frida Kahlo. The collection, Hybrid Heroine, will be exhibited at the Cartoon Art Gallery and images can be bought in A1 size (60cm by 80cms).

The Cartoon Art Gallery, 4b Street, Al Quoz 1, Dubai. Tel: (04) 3266467. Metro: First Gulf Bank. cartoonartgallery.org

Ripe pop-up market
The Ripe market is popping up at the Showcase Gardens at Al Barari. From 2pm to 6pm, you will find all the best bits from the Ripe Market including fresh, organic food, jewellery, art, fashion and food set amongst the waterways and greenery.
facebook.com/ripeuae

FRIDAY

DJ Camilo Franco
If you fancy an evening of Balearic beats without having to travel to Ibiza, you only need to hop foot it to Buddha Bar where world-renowned deck-master DJ Camilo Franco is making a one-off special appearance. Usually found spinning tracks at legendary Spanish super club Space, the Columbian-born artist is back to show off his mixing skills. Head down to the impressive venue for an evening of Balearic beats, lounge electro and tech house.

Grosvenor House Dubai, Dubai Marina, 8pm. Tel: (04) 3176000. Metro: Dubai Marina. Buddhabar-dubai.com

Art Dubai 2015
The ninth edition of Art Dubai returns to Madinat Jumeirah from March 18 to 21, with a record line-up of 500 artists and more than 90 galleries from 40 countries. Wear your trainers and stroll the exhibition halls to view works of art, and hobnob with the people who made them. Find out more about Art Dubai 2015.

March 18 to 21|
Madinat Jumeirah, Jumeirah Beach Road, Dubai, Dhs50 one-day pass, Dhs80 three-day pass, under-18s free. Taxi: Madinat Jumeirah. artdubai.ae

Dub Fest
Dub Fest takes over the Al Ghurair Centre for ten days, welcoming more than 30 international performers. On the bill for 2015 is Doctor Bucketman, a drummer whose drum kit is made of pots, pans, and buckets. Victor Rubilar shows off his football freestyle tricks; there’s madcap dancing from Spandy Andy; while Checkerboard Guy juggles with axes and machetes. New this year is a circus workshop for children in which performers teach skills such as tightrope walking, trapeze work, and unicycle riding. The workshop runs Sunday to Thursday from 3pm to 9pm, and 2pm to 9pm at the weekend.

March 19 to 28
Al Ghurair Centre, Deira, Dubai, Sun to Thur 3pm to 11pm, Fri and Sat 2 pm to 11 pm, free. Tel: (800) 24227.  Metro: Union Square. dubfest.net

Fina Diving World Series
Taking place at the Hamdan Sports Complex from March 19 to 21, this year’s event features an impressive line up including world champions from China, Great Britain, Russia and the USA. Crowd favourite – and British heartthrob – Tom Daley will certainly be ready to settle a few scores after a disappointing result last year when he left empty-handed from the same games. He returns to the emirate, leading the British team and is set to spring into action for the men’s 10 metre platform battling it out against divers David Boudia from the US, Ivan Garcia and German Sanchez from Mexico, Sascha Klein from Germany, Maxsym Dolgov from Ukraine, Vincent Riendeau from Canada, Vadim Kaptur from Belrus and, of course, Yang Jian and Qiu Bo from China. Watch videos of Tom Daley in action.

March 19 to 21
Hamdan Sports Complex, Emirates Road, Dubai. Tel: (04) 2648717 fina.org

Farmer’s market experience at Na3Na3
Calling all Farmer’s Market enthusiasts! Organic farmer suppliers are invited to setup a booth at Na3Na3 showcasing their fresh organic produce to the public. Visitors will be able to meet those that created the organic food as well as sample it for themselves! Na3Na3’s chefs will even cook it for you after you have chosen your favourite ingredients

The Address Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai, Dubai, Fri 12.30pm to 4pm, Dhs295 (soft drinks), Dhs380 (house drinks). Tel: (04) 8883444. theaddress.com

Acro Yoga
Yoga meets acrobatics at this informal outdoor class. Sessions are suitable for beginners and up and new faces are always welcome. Payment for the class is on donation-based and money raised goes towards a good cause.  

Zabeel Park, Dubai, 10am. facebook.com/openairyogadubai

Dubai Marina Street Festival
The fifth edition of the Dubai Marina Street Festival will see the Mall and surrounding area transformed into a stage for acrobats, street entertainers, singers, dancers and all manor of performers. The likes of New Zealand, Australia, USA, UK, Spain and Chile are all represented across the arts. Among those capturing your attention will be diabolo juggler, magic illusionist and physical comedian Vinyl Burns, award-winning New York trio B-Extreme, and La Bella Tour old-school circus acts. There will also be ladder balancing, juggling, oddball stunts, and improvised clowning. One highlight will be the appearance of ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ semi-finalist act, Faces Of Disco.

Dubai Marina Mall, Dubai, free. Tel: (04) 4361020. Metro: Dubai Marina Mall. dubaimarinamall.com

SATURDAY

Sikka Art Fair
The popular art fair returns to the Al Fahidi historical neighbourhood for its fifth edition, with a string of stimulating displays for young and old. Wander among alleys and wind towers, and step inside any of the restored villas that have been transformed into open studios by the Artists In Residence Dubai programme or occupied by a multitude of local creative organisations. As well as art, the fair welcomes musicians, so expect a few live performances too. Plus, there are plans for poetry readings, film screenings and other entertainment in the evenings. For children, the fair will host interactive arts workshops, and there are interesting culture walks taking place during the day.

Al Fahidi Historical Area, Dubai, free. Tel: (600) 560000. Metro: Al Fahidi. dubaiculture.gov.ae

Design Days Dubai
The fourth edition of the annual Design Days Dubai brings 44 of the world’s most intriguing and inventive design galleries to Downtown in the shadow of the Burj Khalifa.The fair, the most comprehensive in the region, presents the public with the highest quality in collectible and limited-edition design objects and furniture, not to mention some outside the box installations that you might find in a top design museum. It’s possible to visit the very best of design from Paris, Sao Paolo, Cape Town, and Beirut – no plane ticket required.

The Venue, Downtown Dubai, Dhs50. Tel: (04) 3842002. Metro: Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall. designdaysdubai.ae