From ginormous new brunches to free talks, super sales, music legends and more. Here’s how to fill your weekend…

Thursday 18

1. Go to an immense feast

Imagine an evening where you could start with sushi in Nobu, followed by Gordon Ramsay’s Beef Wellington, and finish with an underwater dessert surrounded by 65,000 marine mammals, all for one price. Well, that’s exactly what you’ll find at Atlantis The Palm’s one-off mega brunch tonight called Cirque De Cuisine. Sounds epic.

Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai, 7.30pm to 10.30pm, Dhs595. Tel: (04) 426 2626. More info on website.

2. Laugh the week away

The always-reliable Laughter Factory is back tonight, taking over Tecom. It’s the last installment before summer, and tonight you’ll get to see Kai Humphries, Addy van der Borgh and Dominic Holland.

Grand Millennium, Barsha Heights, 8pm to 11pm, Dhs140. Buy tickets here. More info here. 

3. Ready, set, shop…

Don’t forget, there’s a super sale happening across the city’s malls and shops today, tomorrow and Saturday. You’ll find up to 90% off at many of the malls and stores across the emirate. Head here for more info.

Various locations across the city. 

4. Book a Michelin-level dinner at At.mosphere

If you’ve ever fancied dining near the top of the Burj Khalifa then this weekend is the time to do it, as this Thursday and Friday only Chef Lode de Roover – who helms Michelin-starred kitchens in Belgium and the Netherlands – will be taking over the food. He has created a menu with ingredients sourced from 12 countries for the occasion. Should be a great meal.

At.Mosphere, Burj Khalifa, Downtown Dubai, 7pm, Dhs660 for a six-course meal, Dhs880 for an eight-course meal. Tel: (04) 888 3828. More info on website.

Friday 19

5. Walk for wellness

Dubai’s first Mental Health Mates walk will provide a non-judgmental environment this morning (and a bit of exercise) for anyone who would like to meet like-minded people with experience of mental health issues. There’s no need to register – simply look for the balloons.

Walk leaves from outside Surf Cafe Dubai, Jumeirah Beach Road, Umm Suqeim 2, free, 8am start. Email mentalhealthmates@motivate.ae for more info. 

6. Learn how to make dim sum

Want to learn how to whip up Har Gao, Shiu Mai, Liu Sa Boa and more for your next dinner party? Well then, get yourself down to this Vietnamese dim sum workshop today – you’ll pay Dhs299 for the lesson, the ingredients, lunch and printed recipes. Message them on Facebook to see if you can get a place (if you miss out this time you can head to the next one).

Jumeirah 3, 10am to 1pm. More info and booking on Facebook (check discussion tab on Facebook event page for details). 

7. Get a free hair consultation

Joe, who is a top stylist at Pastels Salon in the Ritz Carlton, will be giving free 15-minute consultations all weekend and will assess your hair, diagnose its condition and then recommend what products you should use. This is a great idea if you’re unsure about what to do with your tresses over summer.

Pastels Salon, Ritz Carlton, JBR, all weekend, free. Call to book. Tel: (04) 399 5016. More info on website.

8. Don’t forget to see Mary Poppins

We’re calling it: Mary Poppins has been the best-received musical at Dubai Opera so far. It’s joyful, well-acted (Mary is a phenom’) and loads of fun. Definitely one to see if you’re into musical theatre (or Poppins).

Dubai Opera, Downtown Dubai, from 3pm or 7.45pm, Dhs300. Tel: (04) 440 8888. Buy tickets and more info on website.

9. See two musical legends at once

This will be a good one for any fans of Punjabi music – both Mika Singh and Daler Mehndi will perform at Trade Centre together tonight. Singh has more than 35 hits under his belt, while Mehndi is effectively the reason that Bhangra is so popular around the world today. Should be a good one.

10. Go to a rowdy pyjama party

Societe Dubai is celebrating its founder Gary Holliday’s birthday tonight with a Heff Party – and the best bit is that the club owner will give anyone who turns up to the club in pyjamas free drinks from 10pm to midnight. You can expect 80s, 90s and noughties hits, and a relaxed, rowdy vibe.

Societe, Marina Byblos Hotel, Dubai Marina, 10pm to 3am, free entry, table bookings for four to 30 from Dhs1,300. Tel: (050) 699 3191. More info on Facebook. 

Saturday 20

11. Find Ripe Market indoors

You know summer has come when Ripe Market has gone inside – the popular organic and craft market is now inside Times Square Centre, and will run every Saturday from 9am to 3pm throughout summer.

Times Square Centre, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, Saturday 9am to 3pm, free entry. Tel: (04) 315 7000. More info on website. 

12. Learn how to stay fit during Ramadan

There’s a new series of talks being held at excellent Emirates Towers cafe Flow at the moment – and today the free talk is with Abeer Al Khaja, the co-founder of the Ana Gow Running Club and a Cross Fit coach. She will be talking about how to balance training and fasting during the Holy Month.

Flow, Emirates Towers, Sheikh Zayed Road, 11am, free (and free parking in the Boulevard). Tel: (055) 293 4430. More info on website.

13. Learn about Arab culture

Afikra is a monthly salon-style evening where two members of the community present about cultural and historical topics they are curious about. The purpose of each evening is to bring together a community of like-minded individuals and have fruitful conversations about things we don’t know much about. Topics up for discussion are kept secret until the last moment, leaving an element of surprise. Previous topics have included 1960s Egyptian film, Omani architecture, the history of the hair salon industry in Casablanca and the great authors of post-modern Sudan. Everyone is welcome and it’s free to attend.

Blue Cave, 701 Prime Tower Business Bay, free, 6pm. For more information on the speakers and the event check out their website.

14. Wave goodbye to Freshly Ground Sounds

Hear 16 different musicians across two stages at Alserkal this Saturday, when Freshly Ground Sounds, the UAE’s beloved homegrown music movement, stages its last ever show. Yes, after 26 brilliant community gigs, this Saturday marks the last one. But all is not lost. The team hopes to return in the new season with a fresh spin on music. Until then, you can hear all your local favourites one last time at A4 Space.

A4 Space, Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz. Sat 4pm to 7pm, free. Taxi: Alserkal Avenue. More info on Facebook.

15. Keep cool on Kite Beach 

Planning on heading to Kite Beach this weekend? Well, would-be sweltering beachgoers have the chance to cool down with ice-cold soft drinks. And by ice-cold, we mean literally ice-cold, served up in contour Coca-Cola bottles made of actual ice. Once you’ve slurped the lot, the packaging melts away, leaving nothing to throw away or recycle. We like the sound of that! Saturday from 10am is the last day to grab your ice bottle. Relax on a deck chair, play games for your chance to win free drinks, or bypass all that and pick up your own ice bottle for Dhs15. Closes at sunset.

Look for the Coca Cola stand in front of the Kite Beach kiosks.

16. Support local comedy (and see a show for free)

Dubomedy Arts School’s students are all taking to the stage tonight for a Comedy Mix Tape, which means a combo of stand up and improv. And yes, there will be audience participation.

Centre for Musical Arts, Gold and Diamond Park, from 7pm, free. Rsvp at (800) Comedy or rsvp@dubomedy.com. More info on Facebook. 

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