From Formula 1 music concerts to world-class opera, free music festivals and drumming in the desert, Dubai’s serving up something for everyone this weekend. 

Thursday 26

1. Salivate over a soulful supper at Oeno

Soul food treats and slick, smooth beats at this supper club with live music. Get house drinks and  free flowing ‘soul food-inspired’ bites. DJ Soto will also be on hand to drop a mix of R&B, soul, funk, hip-hop, disco and jazz.

Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi, Al Sufouh, Dubai Marina, Dubai, Dhs195. Tel: (04) 5116139. Taxi: Westin. westinminaseyahi.com/en/dubai-hotel-resort-restaurantsandbars-oeno-bar

2. Tuck into some Thanksgiving turkey

For the mere price of Dhs450, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse are offering up a three-course dinner including turkey and trimmings, such as sweet potato casserole, green beans and all the bread stuffing your heart desires. For pudding, there’ll be a smashing pumpkin crème brûlée and more.

The Address Dubai Marina, Dubai, Thur and Fri 5.30pm to 11.40pm. Tel: (04) 4549538. Metro: Damac. ruthschris.ae

*MORE: Thanksgiving dinners in Dubai*

Friday 27

3. Get freakay with Enrique

Mr. Iglesias is soon to grace our shores, performing for the very first time in Dubai this Friday at the du Arena. Iglesias recently broke a record, after his hit single Bailando reached a billion views on YouTube, making it the first Spanish music video to ever do so. Other than Bailando, Iglesias has released a string of other hits in both English and Spanish such as Hero and I Like It.

Here’s a classic though, just because…

du Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, 10am. yasmarinacircuit.com

4. Flap your wings at Flugtag

Thousands of people will gather down at the Creek to watch 49 teams of hopefuls soar off the pier in their homemade creations. The distance to beat is 78.64 metres, set by the Chicken Whisperers (great name) who set the record in Long Beach, California in 2013.

Dubai Creek Park, Dubai, 1pm, free. MetroL Dubai Healthcare City. redbullflugtag.ae

5. Get organic at the Ripe Food & Craft Market

Head down to the Ripe market for a day of market stalls, picnics, farm fresh food, locally grown veg, crafts, and even a petting zoo. There’ll be coffee, sand art, live cooking and music to ensure a chilled out Friday afternoon.

Zabeel Park, Gate 2, Sheikh Rashid Road, Bur Dubai, 9am to 3pm. Tel: (04) 3986888. ripeme.com/market-dubai

6. Urban Lounge around

The InterContinental Dubai Marina unveiled their cool Urban Lounge earlier this month, consisting of a poolside bar serving alfresco tipples late into the evening at weekends. Upstairs you’ll find the shisha lounge, offering up a variety of flavours.

Intercontinental Dubai Marina, Dubai Marina, Dubai, Thur and Fri 8pm to 1am. Tel: (04) 4466777. Metro: Damac Properties. icmarinadining.com 

7. Embrace the opera

The Met Opera’s production of Verdi’s Il Trovatore is to be screened this month at The Courtyard Playhouse. Starring Russin baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky, the love story is set in medieval northern Spain. Rave reviews have been pouring in, describing how Hvorostovksy’s performance ‘dominated’ the stage, and acted with ‘unexpected degrees of expressive intensity’.

The Courtyard Playhouse, Al Quoz, Street 4b, Dubai, 7pm, Dhs100. Tel: (055) 9673927. Taxi: Next to Lime Tree Cafe. courtyardplayhouse.com 

8. Brunch with a view

Brunches are a great way to experience high-end restaurants without the risk of racking up an exorbitant bill. Pierchic’s relaunched Brunch en Blanc starts at a not insignificant Dhs450 per person (with soft drinks), but you’ll get to tuck into lobster bisque, aged Angus Chateaubriand, and the restaurant’s signature seafood platter.

Al Qasr, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, noon until 4pm, from Dhs450. Tel: (04) 4323232. Taxi: Madinat Jumeirah. jumeirah.com/pierchic

9. Dial-A-Battery desert stinker

A two stage race that takes place among the dunes. On Friday you’ll run at 7pm on a flat sand course, before returning for a BBQ and camping. On Saturday, you’ll run the same thing at 7am.

Towards Bab al Shams, Dubai, Fri 7pm and Sat 7am, Dhs350. Tel: (052) 8310017. urbanultra.com

10. Catch a free music festival

(Alserkal Avenue Galleries Night 16 November 2015 photography by Tara Atkinson)

Alserkal Avenue in conjunction with Live Music by The Fridge are set to play host to some of the best bands for Music On The Avenue, showing off an awesome lineup completely free. DJs are coming courtesy of The Flipside and Picnic Vibes by Good Vibes Market.

Alserkal Avenue, Street 8, Al Quoz 1, Dubai, 4.30pm to 9pm, free. Tel: (050) 5569797. facebook.com/AlserkalAve

11. Get your brunch on at UBK

Celebrating two years of being open, UBK are to host a BBQ brunch complete with entertainment, live band, happy hour drink deals and multiple prizes and giveaways.

UBK, Movenpick Hotel JLT, Dubai, 9.30am till midnight. Tel: (04) 4380000. movenpick.com/en/middle-east/uae/dubai/dubai-jumeirah-lakes-towers/restaurants/restaurants/urban-bar-kitchen-ubk

12. Bop to the beat under the full moon                           

Whether you’re snare-savvy, or a complete drumming rookie –  Dubai’s drumming crowd will be heading out into the desert to soak up the desert energy and relax to the rhythm of the drums. The package price includes drumming, a belly dancer, camel rides, sand boarding, shisha, BBQ, food and drink, alongside childrens’ entertainment. Transport to and from the campsite is available, or you can bring your own car.

Gulf Ventures Desert Camp, 6pm to midnight. Dhs250 for adults, Dhs100 for kids. Tel: (056) 7442129. dubaidrums.com 

Saturday 28

13. Corona SunSets Music Festival

Barasti beach are turning Mexican this weekend, launching their first ever Corona SunSets Music Festival. There will be some of the best international and local DJs set to spin across the three day event, with food stalls and market stalls for party-goers to peruse.

Barasti Beach Bar, Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina, Jumeirah Beach, Dubai, Thur to Sat 2pm to 3am, free. Tel: (04) 3181313. barastibeach.com

14. Yasalam After Race Concert with Florence and the Machine

After having headlined at Glastonbury this year, the ‘genre-bending’ music makers are set to grace the stage down at the Abu Dhabi F1. Having recently released their latest album How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful, the group are sure to be playing some of the newer additions to their repertoire.

Yas Marina Circuit, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, 10am. Entry for race ticket holders only. Tel: (02) 4062000. yasmarinacircuit.com

15. Explore Street Nights at JBR The Walk

Street Nights continues with the mix of authentic street culture brought to the beach. Don’t miss the beautiful live street art done by local and regional talent while discovering new street food from UAE-based food trucks and enjoying all kinds of street performances. It takes place on the Rimal cluster on JBR and it’s 100 per cent free to attend.

For more information on the event, check out its facebook page: facebook.com/events/543678709131236

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