A huge beer festival, staycays for under Dhs500 for two, new theme parks and top attractions for less…

The weekend is nearly here and it’s time to start planning.

From local festival Hopfest at Irish Village, to super-scale EDM festival Tomorrowland and from discounted pool days to luxury staycays for less, we’ve got a stack of top ways to spend your weekend.

Here are 12 things to do in Dubai this weekend.

Thursday July 26

1. Sample a huge range of hops at Hopfest

The Irish Village’s mega-popular summer festival centred around bringing a wide range of the best hops from around the world to Dubai for a weekend of fun-filled sampling is back this weekend. Now in its 14th year, the three-day event will take place in a massive air-conditioned tent adjacent to the popular Garhoud pub. More than 100 different brands of hops will be on offer, many flown in especially for the event, giving punters the chance to sample their favourites as well as discover a few new ones.

Hop Fest, The Irish Village, Garhoud, Thu July 26, 6pm to 12am, Fri July 27 to Sat July 28 12pm to 12am. Tel: (04) 282 4750. theirishvillage.com

2. Kick off the weekend with crowd karaoke

This Thursday, Lucky Voice is set to host it’s first dedicated ballads night called The Big Sing. Hosted by one of our favourite MC’s Alan J. Amazing, expect a night filled with crowd-karaoke classics from icons including Whitney Houston, Aerosmith and Queen. Retro 80s and 90s costume is encouraged, with a prize for the best fancy dress. Bring a big group of ten or more down before 9pm, and you’ll get a free litre of wine, 10 budweisers and three pizzas on the house.

Lucky Voice, Grand Millennium Hotel, Barsha Heights, Dubai, 8pm to 11pm, Thursday July 26, free entry. Tel: (800) 58259. luckyvoice.ae

3. Check in for a luxury staycay at a new hotel

The just-opened Royal Central hotel on The Palm Jumeirah has an opening offer for UAE residents which includes a one night stay with breakfast for two at a reasonable Dhs499. The hotel boasts private beach access, five-star facilities, and a stunning infinity pool lined with cabanas.

Royal Central Hotel The Palm, East Crescent, Palm Jumeirah, from Dhs499. Tel: (04) 454 4900. central-hotels.com

4. Have fun for less at Dubai Bowling Centre

Dubai Bowling Centre in Al Quoz has launched a weekday happy hour from 10am to 5pm, offering 50 per cent off arcade games, bowling, & the ‘Jump Up’ trampoline park.

Dubai Bowling Centre, Al Quoz 1, Dubai, 10am to 5pm, Sunday to Thursday, 50 per cent discount. Tel: (04) 339 1010. bowlingdubai.com

Friday July 27

5. See the city for less at the Burj Khalifa

Dubai Metro and Burj Khalifa have teamed up to make it super simple for you to save half the price of a regular admission ticket to the At The Top viewing deck on the iconic tower. All you need to do is visit a participating Dubai Metro station (see below) to collect a voucher that entitles you to the discount, and present it along with your Emirates ID at the Burj Khalifa ticketing office at Dubai Mall.

At The Top, Burj Khalifa, Downtown Dubai, daily 9am to late, valid until September, Dhs75. tickets.atthetop.ae

6. Get your adrenaline fix at a new theme park

The hotly anticipated Warner Bros. theme park has just opened its doors, so why not be one of the first to check it out? The world’s first Warner Bros. branded indoor theme park, it will be home to a total of 29 rides and attractions based around six lands. Tickets to the theme park are now available on the website, priced at Dhs295 for adults, and Dhs230 for children (under 1.1 metres). An annual pass costs Dhs695.

Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, Yas Island, from July 25. wbworldabudhabi.com.

7. Pamper yourself with two A-list treatments for the price of one

Needing some me time? Nova Clinic has released three buy one, get one free facial offers, ideal for combating the UAE weather. Choose from the Oxygen Facial, Hollywood Facial or the Skinceuticals Facial and receive the second one absolutely free when booked before the end of August. Prices start from Dhs750

Nova Clinic, Utamah Villa 1047, Al Wasl Road, Al Manara, Jumeirah, from Dhs750. Tel: (04) 384 5666. thenovaclinic.com

Saturday July 28

8. Celebrate National Peruvian day with a limited edition menu

To celebrate the 197th Peruvian National Day, City Walk’s Lima will be offering a three-course menu of limited edition dishes for Dhs197 per person all day on Saturday July 28. It’s a choice of two starters, two mains and a signature dessert.

Lima Dubai, The Courtyard, City Walk, 12pm to 10pm, Saturday July 28, Dhs197. Tel: (056) 500 4571. lima-dubai.com

9. Work up a sweat and find your zen with a free beach yoga and fitness event

Whether you enjoy the calming inner-peace of a guided yoga session, or an endorphin-pumping workout, there will be plenty of both this weekend at Club Vista Mare on the Palm Jumeirah. The restaurant strip is set to transform into an open-air workout arena where visitors can enjoy a mix of free fitness and yoga classes as the sun sets over a picturesque backdrop of the Dubai skyline as The ‘Core Beats’ fitness concert returns.

Core Beats, Club Vista Mare, Palm Jumeirah, 6pm to 7pm, Saturday July 28, free. Facebook.com/Clubvmare

10. Cool off with a pool day

This urban landscaped pool area sits on the rooftop of Sofitel Dubai Downtown. The infinity pool has some great views out across downtown Dubai, and stretches across the length of the rooftop terrace. Summer prices start from Dhs170, including a Dhs100 food and drink voucher.

Sofitel Dubai Downtown, Sheikh Zayed Road, Downtown Dubai, daily sunrise to sunset, day pass from Dhs170 including Dhs100 food and drink voucher. Tel: (04) 503 6666. sofitel.com

11. Party hard at Unite with Tomorrowland

The famous EDM event Tomorrowland is set to return to the UAE again this weekend, as Unite with Tomorrowland arrives in Abu Dhabi. The event is set to connect Abu Dhabi, along with Italy, Malta, Spain, Taiwan, Mexico and Lebanon to the main Tomorrowland stage in Belgium with more than 200,000 electronic music fans connected around the globe.

Unite With Tomorrowland, du Forum, Abu Dhabi, 2pm to late, Saturday July 28, from Dhs495. Platinumlist.net

12. Check out a new restaurant by a celebrity chef

American celebrity chef Todd English has just opened his Todd English Food Hall in the Fashion Avenue extension of The Dubai Mall. Covering an impressive 12,000 square feet, there’s no less than 12 open kitchens inside, serving food from eight different sub-restaurants.

Todd English Food Hall, Fashion Avenue, Dubai Mall, now open. Facebook.com/ToddEnglishdxb

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