There are top comedians, rappers and crooners in town. Plus there are new shopping areas, markets, dim sum lunches and more. Basically, there’s something for everyone in Dubai this weekend.

Here’s your next few days sorted…

Thursday 31

1. See Shrek the musical

Everyone’s favourite green ogre has taken to the stage. There’s been no end of hit movie-to-musical adaptations – Beauty And The Beast, Bend It Like Beckham, Priscilla Queen Of The Desert. But who would have thought that Shrek – a story about a surly Scottish ogre, a talking donkey and a posse of fairy tale creatures – would have been a West End smash?

Madinat Arena, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, Dhs250 to Dhs1,950. Various times until April 3. Buy tickets here.

2. See Wiz Khalifa live

Black & Yellow is an absolute tune, and while we hate to admit it we do love a bit of See You Again too. Well, Wiz is in Dubai tonight for a concert at the cricket stadium.

If swaying along to this is your dream Thursday night, be there:

Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai Sports City, 8pm. Dhs350 to Dhs1,200. Buy tickets here.

Friday 1

3. Get elbowy at Gitex Shopper

The Spring edition of this huge technology shopping fair runs over the weekend (Saturday is its last day). Expect crowds and lots of elbows hitting you as you try and nab the best bargain on a flatscreen or a smartphone. Top tip: Many electronic stores do special deals over Gitex Shopper to compete with the bargains, so if crowds aren’t your thing pop to the mall to see if there are any cheap bargains at the normal shops.

Dubai World Trade Centre, Sheikh Zayed Road, 11am to 11pm, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Dhs25 (Dhs10 for students). More info on website.

4. Get a sneak peek of Comic Con

Comic Con will take over Dubai next weekend, but there will also be a sneak peek preview of the action at The Dubai Mall from this Friday until next Wednesday. If you’re a next-level cosplay fan you’ll want to get down to the mall for 5pm this Friday for the cosplay parade. There will also be some games on offer, including Mario Bros Arcade and WWE Pinball. All of the Comic Con stuff will be in The Village part of Dubai Mall (while the Cosplay parade will make its way around the mall). Read more about Comic Con here.

The Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai. Various times until Wednesday 6. More info on Facebook. 

5. Go to Autism Rocks

Autism Rocks is an initiative from British born philanthropist Sanjay Shah who stages gigs around the world to raise money for autism research. Dubai’s edition will start out as a family fun day with laser tag, crazy golf, a petting zoo, face painting, zip lining, a BBQ, inflatable rides, a bouncy castle and more. It will then culminate with performances from Flo Ride and Tyga. (A diverse day out indeed.)

Autism Rocks Arena, Dubai Outlet Mall, 12pm. Buy tickets here. More info here.

6. Dance to the tunes of one of the world’s biggest DJs

His Wake Me Up track is the most streamed track in song history, and this is EDM DJ and producer Avicii’s first show in Dubai: he had to cancel a gig due to ill health in 2014. Read more about why some people love him and others loathe him here.

Zabeel Halls 4 and 5, World Trade Centre, Dubai, 9pm, Dhs395. Buy tickets here.

7. Go to the polo, on the beach

The sultans of sand return to the beach for a jolly fine game of beach polo, where players swap turf for the surf for the Beach Polo Cup Dubai. If you fancy a night out watching the polo you can buy single or two day tournament tickets (there will be food trucks, bars, and a few high tables as well as plenty of space to stand).

Skydive Dubai Drop Zone, Al Sufouh, 5pm to midnight, Friday and Saturday, Dhs95 for one day, Dhs145 for both days. Buy tickets here. More info on website. 

8. Drive to the capital, and laugh till you cry

American actor, comedian, writer and producer Kevin Hart makes his debut UAE performance at the du Arena, Yas Island in Abu Dhabi this weekend –  this is the only stop in the Middle East for his ‘WHAT NOW?’ international tour. If you’re a fan of the man, it’ll be worth the return drive to the capital.

Yas Island, Dhs395. Friday, 7.30pm. Buy tickets here and at all Virgin Megastores across the UAE.

9. Scoff unlimited mussels

For the whole of April urban bar & kitchen in Mövenpick Hotel Jumeirah Lakes Towers is serving up all-you-can-eat mussels for Dhs140 per person, day and night (all the mussels come from Shetland in the UK). You can get an umami hit with the miso broth mussels, or go for Thai green curry or the classic creamy garlic. Yum. Oh, and if you’re a broth buff, chips and bread are served on the side so that you can soak up the sauce.

Urban Bar & Kitchen, Mövenpick Hotel Jumeirah Lakes Towers, 12pm to 11pm, daily until April 31. Tel: (04) 438 0000. More info on website.

10. Check out a new shopping area

The Canal Promenade shopping zone of Dubai Sports City has just cropped up – some of the new shops at the promenade include Greek restaurant Wooden Cellar, a Wanna Banana, an Al Maya supermarket and The Study Room early learning centre.

Dubai Sports City, free, 4pm to 9pm today. 

Saturday 2

11. Listen to Lebanese pop in a mall

Ramy Ayash is a bit of a superstar with over 3 million social media followers, and he’s singing in Mirdif City Centre tonight. There will also be catwalk shows at the mall throughout the weekend for those who want to know what’s on trend for Spring.

Mirdif City Centre, Mirdif. 7.30pm, free. More info on Facebook.

12. Shop at Reform

The Pretty Chic Boutique markets are back at this leafy and green bistro and bar today, there will be 20 stalls to buy wares from (including 2 Birds, Child of Tropics and Mr Fox), there will also be deals on bottles of bubbles (Dhs150).

Reform Social & Grill, The Lakes, Dubai. 11am to 6pm, today. More info on website.

13. Check out a new nail salon

Dubai pampering classic The Nail Spa has just launched a huge new salon right on Jumeirah Beach Road that features a new concept called artbar – where you can get next-level nail art sorted out for your digits. Oh, and this branch has over 300 polish colours (how will we ever choose one?!), newly designed (more comfortable) pedicure stations and dryers at every chair (so you don’t have to go sit at a drying station).

Jumeirah Beach Road (near Al Thanya Street), Umm Suqeim. 9am to 9pm, daily. Tel: (600) 544 001. More info on website.

14. Down some dim sum

Zheng He’s – one of the best Chinese restaurants in town in our opinion – is doing a special dim sum lunch, that starts today (and runs until April 30). For Dhs120 you’ll get to choose 10 pieces of handmade dim sum each (there’s the steamed duck bao, the pan fried seafood pot sticker and the classic ‘char siew bao’ – aka a BBQ chicken bun).

Zheng He’s, Mina A’Salam. Dhs120, 12pm to 3pm, from today until April 30. Tel: (04) 432 3232. More info on website.

15. Go to a family friendly rave

Piknic Electronik, the family-friendly rave on a golf course returns this weekend. If you want a day out with your little ones but still want it to feel like a ‘day out’, then this is your best option. Oh, and it’s the season closing party so will be your last chance to go to this for a while.

The Address Montgomerie Dubai, 1pm to 9pm, Dhs170. More info on website.