Things to do in Dubai this weekend
Here’s our 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.
THURSDAY
OFF-ROAD AND ADVENTURE SHOW
If your idea of the perfect weekend involves hopping in your 4X4 and hitting the dunes, mountain biking through wadis, or stand-up paddle boarding straight off the beach, then the Dubai Offroad and Adventure Show might be right up your alley. The show will be held at the Dubai Autodrome this weekend and is the first of its kind in the region. Set over an exhibition area of 120,000sqm, it’s the perfect place to pick up some new gear, chat to the experts and even try a new activity; the outdoor playground will feature a climbing wall, off-roading track, swimming pools for kayaking and other watersports, and even bungee jumping. Of course, if you’re more of a spectator, there’ll be plenty of entertainment on hand in the form of demonstrations and workshops. Add to that a chill out area, plenty of healthy food options and a kids’ area complete with bouncy castle, and you’ve got the perfect family day out. Admission is Dhs30 per person and children under 12 go free.
outdooruae.com
SHERLOCK HOLMES
One of fiction’s greatest characters gets the mash up treatment this month. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s sleuth Sherlock Holmes features in a play based on a story by Robert Louis Stevenson, who also wrote Treasure Island, and The Strange Case Of Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde. The play, performed by Backstage theatre group, is titled The Adventure Of The Suicide Club, and sees Holmes become entangled in a club of powerful men who want to kill themselves. Playing Holmes is Arjun Burman; the actor playing his sidekick Dr Watson, David Daly, grew up watching screen great Basil Rathbone (right) as Holmes in the 1940s.
November 6, 7 and 8
Kilachand Studio Theatre, Ductac, Mall Of The Emirates, Dubai, Thur 7.30pm, Fri 7.30pm, Sat 2.30pm and 7.30pm, Dhs100. Tel: (04) 3414777. Metro: Mall Of The Emirates. ductac.org
IBIZA DJs
The Mambo Brothers spin at the Café Mambo Ibiza Global Tour.
Cielo Sky Lounge, Dubai Creek Yacht Club, 9pm. Tel: (04) 4161800. Taxi: Dubai Creek Yacht Club. cielodubai.com
CAVIAR MENU
A five-course set menu featuring caviar from around the world is available during November at Stay by Yannick Alléno. The signature restaurant at One&Only The Palm is serving dishes such as marinated hamachi with caviar, Black Angus beef tartar with caviar, and green apple cannelloni with – you guessed it – caviar.
One&Only The Palm, Dubai, daily 7pm to 11pm, Dhs850. Tel: (04) 4401030. Taxi: West crescent The Palm. thepalm.oneandonlyresorts.com
OLD MEETS NEW
The French restaurant Traiteur will offer a new six-course modern menu running alongside a classic selection in November and December. The idea is that a table orders both menus and compares how the chefs use the same ingredients.
Park Hyatt, Dubai, Sun to Fri 7pm to midnight, Dhs495 food only, Dhs695 with wine. Tel: (04) 3172222. Metro: GGICO. dubai.park.hyatt.com
RACING BACK AT MEYDAN
The first stage of the qualification process for next year’s Dubai World Cup kicks off tonight with the best of the regions racers. Doors open at 6.30pm.
Meydan Racecourse, Nad Al Sheba, Dubai; free. Tel: (04) 381 3405.
FRIDAY
PACHA (FINALLY) OPENS
The legendary Ibiza club finally fires up its speakers on November 7. Pacha will sprawl across three floors in Souk Madinat with its rooftop terrace expected to become the hot new place to watch the sunset. The main room will be akin to a supper club, featuring a Pan-Asian restaurant and a live cabaret show of weird and wonderful acts, as well as big name international DJs. The Red Room, meanwhile, will offer a more alternative music scene. We’ll give you a full review in next month’s issue.
pacha.ae
PLAY MINI GOLF
Squeeze in 18 holes after work at JLT’s mini golf course, which is floodlit so you can practise your putting after dark. The cute course has water features, picket fencing and a coffee shop.
Next to HDS Business Centre Tower, Cluster M, JLT, Dubai, daily 10am to 10pm, Dhs35. Tel: (050) 9243456. Metro: JLT. facebook.com/hds.mini.golf.dubai
TUCK IN TO POP UP FOOD
Dubai’s indie food scene continues to grow with the opening of Deus Café Pop Up by Ghaf Kitchen. Its weekly-changing menu includes delicious all-day breakfasts, salads and roast beef sandwiches.
Capital D Studio, Street 6, Al Quoz 3, Dubai, Sun to Thur 8.30am to 3.30pm. Tel: (04) 3415339. Metro: First Gulf Bank. ghafkitchen.com
POP CONCERT
Philippine singer Anne Curtis performs.
Zabeel Park, Dubai, 8pm, Dhs100, Tel: (052) 9900112. Metro: Al Jafiliya. facebook.com/SundanceLIVE
DUBAI INTERNATIONAL TRIATHLON
Two-time Ironman World Champion Chris McCormack races in Dubai’s first half Ironman event. It’s a 1.9km swim, 90km on a bike and a 21.1km run taking in The Palm and Atlantis Resort, with other events stretching as far as Motor City. Expect traffic delays in the area.
dubai-tri.com
RUN FOR WOMEN
The Dubai Holding Women’s Run takes place on November 7. It aims to ‘offer women’s running races which motivate and inspire women to come set the pace. The run also enables women to be active, fit and involved.’ For more information click here.
NEW BRUNCH
The rotisserie grill is the star of the show at Caravan’s new brunch.
The Ritz-Carlton, The Walk, JBR, Dubai, Fri 1pm to 4pm, Dhs450 with soft drinks, Dhs560 with cocktails, spirits, beer and wine, Dhs690 with champagne. Tel: (04) 3186150. Taxi: Ritz-Carlton JBR. ritzcarlton.com
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
SATURDAY
QUOZ ART FESTIVAL
Al Serkal Avenue – Dubai’s vibrant creative district – is hosting the third edition of Quoz Arts Festival, and opening its doors to the community. Running all day on November 8, the Quoz Arts Festival includes live art and public murals by local artists, as well as workshops, film screenings, and live music performances. If you feel like getting a deeper understanding of the art on display, Al Serkal galleries will be also hosting guided tours by gallery directors, as well one-on-one meetings with the artists.
Al Serkal Avenue, Al Quoz 1, Street 8, Dubai, 10am to 10pm, free. Tel: (04) 3808545. Taxi: Al Serkal Avenue. alserkalavenue.ae
START YOUR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING
If just reading the words ‘Christmas shopping’ is enough to raise your blood pressure, then perhaps an outdoor shopping fair is more up your street as a place to buy gifts for loved ones. The Festive Family Fair has dozens of Christmas gift stands, offering arts and crafts, clothing, knickknacks, and gifts for pets. The fair will also features giveaways, a bouncy castle, a polo match, free health screenings, plus food and drink stalls.
Dubai Equestrian And Polo Club, Studio City, Dubai, 10.30am to 4.30pm, free. Tel: (04) 3602826. Taxi: Studio City. expatwoman.com
PHOTO WORKSHOP
See Dubai and its people through a lens, with photographers Mimo Khair and Michael Kistler. The workshop includes two days of tuition and lunch.
Creekside, Souk Al Kaber, Bur Dubai, Dhs2,200. Tel: (04) 3599220. Metro: Al Fahidi. findingyourselfinthestreets.com
DINE WITH A MICHELIN-STARRED CHEF
Celebrated Chef Enrico Bartolini of Michelin two-starred Devero Restaurant in Cavenago di Brianza, Italy will have a guest residency at Roberto’s where he will showcase his culinary skills with a specially prepared menu as part of the Italian Cuisine World Summit. Achieving his first Michelin star at the age of 29 and his second at 33, becoming the youngest Italian Chef in history to be recognized with two stars, he is world renowned for his raw natural talent and ingenuity which blends classic Italian dishes with contemporary techniques. Guests will enjoy a four-course set menu from 7.30pm featuring signature dishes along with those prepared specially for the summit.
Until November 11
Tel: (04) 3860066. Dhs480
KIDS EAT FREE
Try an Italian feast at restaurant Positano, where kids eat for free.
JW Marriott Marquis, Business Bay, Dubai, Sat 1pm to 6pm. Tel: (04) 4140000. Metro: Business Bay. marriott.com
NEW NIGHT AT MOVIDA
Prestige Saturdays launched with one of the USA’s most respected DJs, Camilo. Having helped launch similar events in Miami, Cannes and Cap D’Adge, the New York big hitter rolls into town for a very special night at the Dubai club. The first of the shows sets the trend for a series of appearances by respected urban DJs, hip hop heads and up-and-coming artists.
Movida Dubai Radisson Royal, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, 11pm to 2am. Tel: (04) 3866844 movida-dubai.com
PET FESTIVAL
Calling all pet owners, the Dubai Pet Festival is back and bigger than ever. Running from November 7 to 8, the two day event is set to celebrate pet owners and their furry friends with a host of fun activities that you can get involved in. Cat ladies (and cat men) can enter the 10th International Cat Show, which will be judged by the World Cat Federation, while experts will be on hand to dish out advice on welfare and breed identification. If cats aren’t your thing, this year sees the launch of the first International Dog Show, which invites both pedigree and mix breeds to compete in obedience and agility categories. There will also be police dog demonstrations, pony rides for the kids and an extensive petting zoo. There will be plenty of stalls brimming with goodies to treat your pet to and demonstrations by experts. The handy location of Rugby Park in Dubai Sports City is in the heart of Dubai, and those wishing to take part in the competitions can register on dubaipetfestival.com.
Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City, Dubai. Tel: 055 2031650.
LA FABRIQUE POOL COMPETITION
Wrap up your week with a friendly billiards competition every Saturday from 3pm, ahead of the Premier League football matches on the big screens around the bar. This was one of the most popular places in town to watch the World Cup, and it has continued into the new sports season.
Pullman Dubai Deira City Centre Hotel, Deira, Dubai. Tel: (04) 6038201. Taxi: Pullman, Deira City Centre. Metro: Deira City Centre. pullmanhotels.com
LAST CHANCE – WILD WADI FRIGHT FEST
For the next month, Wild Wadi is offering the UAE’s first haunted house in a waterpark with Haunted Heights. While the pairing seemed odd to us, the house itself was surprisingly frightening. Imagine zombies, a long-haired pale-skinned screaming girl reminiscent of The Ring, dark corridors, objects floating in mucus liquid, and plenty startling surprises. While the tour is still fairly small scale (taking under 10 minutes in total), it definitely gets adrenaline pumping. Wild Wadi’s Trick or Treat, on the other hand, is seriously kid friendly. You’re given a Halloween bucket to collect candy and a themed map to plot your course. Costumed attendants wait with barrels of gummy candies or Blink mints (we ended up with eight packs) throughout the park. The Halloween-themed scenes make for great photo ops.
Haunted Heights, Wild Wadi, 1pm to 6pm daily. Dhs295 for general admission over 1.1m, Dhs235 under 1.1m, which includes single admission to ‘Haunted Heights’ or the ‘Trick or Treat’.
GET FREE POOL AND BEACH ACCESS
Habtoor Grand Beach Resort & Spa is offering two complimentary pool and beach passes to guests spending Dhs350 or more at their main dining establishments, or to those who buy Elixir Spa’s signature 60-minute massage. The offer runs throughout November while the passes are redeemable between Sunday and Thursday.
Habtoor Grand, Al Sufouh Road, near JBR, Dubai. Tel: (04) 408 4260. Metro: Dubai Marina. habtoorhotels.com
