Things to do in Dubai this weekend
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. Here’s our things to do in Dubai this weekend…
ENTERTAINMENT: A few crackers hit the cinema screens this weekend. Check out the trailers and quick hit reviews right here.
THURSDAY
OKTOBERFEST AT BARASTI
The middle deck at Barasti will host live performances from German band Die Lauser every night from 6pm, and there’ll be ample hops, schnitzel, wurst and frites. Running until October 25.
Le Méridien Mina Seyahi, Al Sufouh, Dubai Marina. Tel: (04) 3181313. Metro: Nakheel. barastibeach.com
EXPERIENCE WORLD OF NOBU
Model Poppy Delevingne, Chanel ambassador and sister of supermodel Cara, is heading to the UAE for a special event at Nobu, where she’ll be joined by Made In Chelsea star turned fashion designer Millie Mackintosh and model Zara Martin. The girls will be among the guests of honours at the inaugural World of Nobu event, which will see Chef Nobu Matsuhisa himself team up with the executive chefs running his kitchens around the world for a two-day stint in a pop-up restaurant at Atlantis, The Palm. Kicking off with a lavish cocktail party on Thursday night, attended by Poppy, Millie and Zara, World of Nobu will also incorporate the ‘ultimate’ brunch on Friday afternoon, and a six-course gala dinner on Friday night, complete with live music and cooking demonstrations from Chef Nobu and his team. As well as the chance to party with Poppy and Co, guests at Thursday’s ‘Nobu Night Out’ will get to feast on unlimited tapas prepared by Chef Nobu and his skilled team. Tickets to the event, which will take place from 9pm to 3am at Asateer, start at Dhs250. The brunch is Dhs595 per person, and tickets to the gala dinner cost Dhs995.
October 16 and 17
Tel: (04) 4262626. worldofnobu.com
FEEL THE FORCE
Zero Gravity has certainly emerged from the new season traps as a strong contender. The relatively new venue recently unveiled its new outdoor stage and production values, and both get massive thumbs up. Velocity is the new Thursday night at Zero Gravity and it focuses on local and international DJs. Progressive house pioneer Hernan Cattaneo flies in from Argentina to headline on October 16. Don’t miss it.
Skydive Dubai Drop Zone, Al Seyahi Street, Dubai, Thursday, October 16, 8pm to 3am, ladies free until midnight, Dhs100 for guys after 10pm. Taxi: Skydive Dubai. Tel: (04) 3990009. O-gravity.ae
SIGN UP FOR AN ART COURSE
The world of luxury art auctions can be an intimidating. To make the experience less daunting, Christie’s Education is running a two-day course at Jumeirah Emirates Towers next month. The Introduction To The International Art Market is perfect if you’re interested in the local and global scene, but don’t really know where to start. There’ll be eight modules covering everything from how auctions work to bidding on luxury handbags, as well as presentations, panel discussions and private gallery tours.
October 19 to 20
Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, 10am to 5pm. Tel: (04) 4255639. Metro: Emirates Towers. christies.edu
WELCOME TO JAMROCK
The originators of a dedicated Caribbean night here in Dubai, the guys behind Jamrock are no strangers to the club scene, having emerged from humble beginnings in 2011 at Sublime, at the Ibis World Trade Centre. Jamrock was the first club to bringing reggae, socca and dancehall artists to perform in the Middle East, and now it’s settled into a new Thursday night residency at The Basement, in Tecom. You’ll find local likely lads Dany Neville (above), Taz and Crown Prince on rotation.
Boutique 7 Hotel, Tecom, Dubai, every Thursday, 10pm to 3am, free entry before 11pm, Dhs100 after. Taxi: Boutique 7 Hotel. Tel: (050) 5091378. facebook.com/Jamrockdubai
FOOD TOUR
You can try all four food and drink spots at Melia Dubai during their new Foodie Hop night. Have an aperitif at Quantum, sushi at Alfonso X, curry at Signature By Sanjeev Kapoor, and desserts at rooftop restaurant Estrellas.
Melia Dubai, Kuwait Street, Bur Dubai, Dubai, daily 7pm to 11pm, Dhs179 with soft drinks, Dhs229 with house beverages. Tel: (04) 3868111. Metro: Al Fahidi.
melia.com
LOVE, LOSS AND WHAT I WORE
It’s no secret that women are emotionally attached to their clothes. From her first party dress to her wedding gown, the contents of a girl’s wardrobe are made of hopes, dreams and memories as much as cotton, silk and thread. In Love, Loss And What I Wore, the late Nora Ephron – best known as the writer behind classic rom-coms like When Harry Met Sally and Sleepless In Seattle – explores pivotal moments in the lives of a diverse cast of female characters through the items of clothing they hold most dear. A rotating cast of four actresses will take on the series of monologues in the new production, set to run this month at the Madinat Theatre.
October 16 to 18
Madinat Theatre, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, Dhs150. Tel: (04) 3666546. Taxi: Madinat Jumeirah. madinattheatre.com
FRIDAY
DESERT WARRIOR CHALLENGE
You’ve just belly-crawled through a narrow, concrete tunnel. Ahead of you, after a 100m dash up a dune, monkey bars slant upwards. This is kilometre five of ten. You’re bruised. You’ve swallowed sand. You’re exhausted. But a “Come on man, you can do it” from your teammate makes you take the leap. For a glorious second, you think you’ve got it. Then you plunge down into a pool of icy, muddy water. Your muscles scream in protest. But for some reason, you keep going. Why? Because this is the Desert Warrior Challenge, Dubai’s first 10km extreme obstacle course race, and quitting is not an option.
JA Jebel Ali Golf Resort, Dubai, Fri 7am to 4pm, Dhs315 to Dhs475 (depending on race category). Tel: (052) 6543617. Taxi: JA Jebel Ali Golf Resort. desertwarriorchallenge.com
GARY BARLOW
It’s hard not to like Gary Barlow. A former teen heartthrob, critically acclaimed songwriter, charity campaigner, X Factor judge and all round nice guy, Barlow rose from post-boy band obscurity to dominate the charts once again following Take That’s grown-up reboot in 2005. On October 17, Barlow will treat his Dubai fans to a live performance of his latest material – along with classics from that impressive back catalogue – with his first solo gig in the UAE.
Dubai Media City Amphitheatre, 6pm, Dhs295. Tel: (04) 3253330. Metro: Nakheel. virginmegastore.me
TALL ORDER
Most athletes retire to a quiet life of golf, punditry, endorsements. Not Rony Seikaly. When the former Miami Heat centre retired from professional basketball, he pursued his dream of becoming a DJ and producer. A string of lauded releases and slam-dunk club sets later, the big man (6’11”) breezes into Blue Marlin to play alongside Jean Claude Ades and Cirillo.
Blue Marlin, Golden Tulip Al Jazira Hotel & Resort, Ghantoot, Abu Dhabi, 1pm to 11pm. Tel: (055) 3333928. Taxi: Golden Tulip Al Jazira Hotel & Resort. bluemarlinibiza-uae.com
EVEN TALLER ORDER
Dubai has a new highest point open to the public after a new exclusive lounge 148 floors above the ground was revealed this week, adding a further 24 floors to the building’s previous record. The viewing platform “At The Top” currently ranks as the world’s third highest, at 452 metres, but the new vantage point will stand at 555.7 metres, higher than anywhere else in the world. Tickets for the VIP experience cost Dhs500.
TRUFFLE EVENT
Armani Ristorante’s head chef Alessandro Salvatico will serve two menus using black and white truffles, one classic, one contemporary, each offering seven courses.
Armani Hotel, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard, Dubai, daily 7pm to 11pm, Dhs900. Tel: (04) 8883444. Metro: Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall. armanihotels.com
CRAZY P
The same sense of unbridled joy, feel good vibes, excitement, fun and enthusiasm that pervades the musical output of Crazy P also characterises a chat with the band’s frontwoman, Danielle Moore. She might have been a late addition (along with instrumentalists Tim Davies and Matt Klose) to the original studio duo of James Baron and Chris Todd, who had been working together on well-received albums since 1996, but with her on board the band really soared. You can feed off some of Crazy P’s cosmic disco energy when they return to Dubai this weekend to play at Zero Gravity.
Crazy P live at Aurora, Zero Gravity, Skydive Dubai Drop Zone, Dubai, Friday 6pm to 3am. Taxi to Skydive Dubai. O-gravity.ae
NEW BRUNCH
Waldorf Astoria Palm has unveiled three new Friday brunch packages: the ‘classic’ at Mezzerie (1pm to 3.30pm, from Dhs345), featuring international cuisine; an Asian-inspired feast at Lao (12.30pm to 3.30pm, from Dhs268); and a ‘fine-casual dining’ experience at Social By Heinz Beck – think oysters and Italian fare (12.30pm to 3.30pm, from Dhs345).
Waldorf Astoria Palm, The Palm, Dubai. Tel: (04) 8182222. Taxi: Waldorf Astoria. waldorfastoria3.hilton.com
SEE ONE DIRECTION – WHERE WE ARE
After the incredible success of the 1D concert film that sold almost 10,000 tickets on its first day across the Middle East last week, ‘Where We Are’ is back for one last time on Friday. Bringing it back on a weekend will give all the fans a last chance to watch the concert film on the big screen, which also includes the 22 minute interview that is exclusive to the cinema release; it will not be available anywhere else, not even the DVD. The film can be seen in 2D or in 4DX at these locations: City Centre Ajman, Marina Mall – Abu Dhabi, City Centre Deira (in 4DX), Mall of the Emirates, City Centre Mirdif (in 4DX), City Centre Fujairah, Mercato.
To book tickets go to voxcinemas.com
RIPE MARKET
After a triumphant return – or rebirth – Ripe Food & Craft Market Market is now bedded in at Zabeel Park. Don’t turn up with your reusable shopping bags at Safa Park – Ripe has moved. As well as organic fruit and veg, there’s a petting zoo, handmade art, live music, yoga, and stuff for kids to do.
Zabeel Park, Gate 1, Dubai, Fri 9am to 2pm. Tel: (04) 3807602. Metro: Al Jafiliya. ripeme.com
FAMILY-FRIENDLY BRUNCH
Bystro’s new brunch is an alcohol-free family-friendly option. The café in Al Manara offers up its popular dishes – including beetroot hummus, burrata with gremolata and piri piri chicken – alongside classic desserts and mocktails.
Al Manara, Umm Suqeim, Dubai, Fri 11am, Dhs125. Tel: (04) 3368056. Taxi: Opposite Times Square Centre. facebook.com/bystrodubai
SATURDAY
WATER FOR WORKERS
The hugely popular Water For Workers campaign returns on October 18. After the overwhelming turnout at the August edition of Water for Workers, organisers The Sameness Project has stepped it up a gear for their last drive of the year. Three months ago, the initiative saw more than 5,000 bottles of water given away in less than an hour to Dubai’s labourers. Approximately 500 volunteers braved the 40°C heat to take part in the project, including children, families, and Dubai-based companies sending their staff to take part. This time, PepsiCo have doubled the water to 10,000 bottles. Volunteers are asked to meet at Collegiate American School, Umm Sequim 2 at 10am on Saturday October 18.
For more information, contact fiona@thesamenessproject.com or call 055 220 6727.
PLAY TENNIS AGAINST A FORMER WORLD NUMBER ONE
Former world number one Jelena Jankovic is hosting a very special one-off tennis clinic at Habtoor Grand this weekend, offering the public changes to play her on the resort’s state-of-the-art courts. Running between 3pm and 4.30pm, anyone who takes part will then be granted 25 per cent off all food and beverage in Luciano’s, Al Basha, Fish Bazaar, The Underground Pub, or Polo Bar on the same day. To get your space on court, call 04 408 4260.
Habtoor Grand, Dubai Marina, Dubai. Tel: (04) 4084260. Metro: Dubai Marina. Taxi: Habtoor Grand. facebook.com/habtoorgrandresortandspa
DUBAI CREEK GOLF AND YACHT CLUB OPEN DAY
The doors will be flung open at Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club between 1.30pm and 5.30pm to encourage visitors of all ages to sample the golfing and recreational activities across the club. The day includes complimentary lessons from The Academy, pitching, chipping, putting and short game clinics, closest to the pin and putting challenges and a caring car challenge on the indoor simulator. Also on offer will be fitness sessions and demonstrations from the Fit Lab team including Zumba, golf specific training, circuit training, Fit for Kids and Yoga as well as children’s games and activities and the PING and Titleist Try and Buy event.
Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club, Deira, Dubai, Saturday 1.30pm to 5.30pm. Taxi: Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club. dubaigolf.com
OKTOBERFEST AT SHERATON JBR
The ten-day celebrations at the hotel come to an end on October 18, and will include a traditional German band as well as authentic food and drinks.
JBR, Dubai, 7pm to midnight, Dhs195. Tel: (04) 3995533. Taxi: Sheraton Jumeirah Beach Resort. sheraton.com/jumeirahbeach
IRISH VILLAGE TURNS 18
It’s one of Dubai’s cult favourites, a throwback to an old European destination, dominated by the tennis stadium. And now, 18 years after it first opened its doors, Irish Village is celebrating coming of age. Still sticking to the original premise of hiring a predominantly Irish staff, the gorgeous outdoor spot is holding a party featuring Irish Village regulars, DJ Marky Mark and the MapleJacks, as well as brilliant drink and dinner deals for all. There’s also a chance to win guitars signed by Texas, The Wonderstuff, Bob Geldof, UB40, Boyzone and The Human League. So get down and enjoy the miniature lake, grassy lawns, and the kitschy “village” itself packed with unpretentious, tasty pub fare in big portions.
Al Garhoud, Dubai. Tel: (04) 2395000. Metro: GGICO. theirishvillage.com
VISIT A COFFEE MUSEUM
Drinking coffee is much more than getting a caffeine hit – it’s a ritual, whether you French press at home or grab and go on your way to the office. It’s integral to Arabic traditions of hospitality too, which is why it’s surprising that there hasn’t been anywhere in the region that showcases its coffee culture – until now. Thanks to Khalid Al Mulla, owner of coffee company Eastern Men and Co, Dubai is now home to the largest coffee museum in the Middle East.
Al Fahidi Heritage Village, near Sheikh Mohammed Centre For Cultural Understanding, Al Musallah Road, Al Fahidi Historical District, Dubai. Tel: (04) 3806777. Metro: Al Fahidi. coffeemuseum.ae
GET YOUR NAILS DONE
A stunning concept salon combining beauty, art and fashion, has opened its doors in The Galleria Mall, Dubai. From manicures, trendy nail art and progressive hair treatments, to pop art displays and eclectic events – SoH welcomes fashionistas, beauty aficionados and the arty, creative crowd to try it this weekend.
The Galleria Mall, Al Wasl Road, Dubai. Tel: (04) 344 4147. Taxi: Emirates NBD, Al Wasl Road. facebook.com/SoHDubai
