Things to do in Dubai this weekend
What’s On has a list of things to do in Dubai this weekend, including brunch, drinks deals, festive events, live entertainment and new openings.
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.
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THURSDAY
Ladies’ golf
The season-ending championship of the Ladies European Tour takes places at Emirates Golf Club all weekend, with Dhs500,000 up for grabs. China’s Feng Shanshan is the highest ranked player in the field at world number five, while Sweden’s Carin Koch also features.
Emirates Golf Club, Emirates Hills, off Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, noon to 3pm, Dhs215. Metro: Nakheel. dubaigolf.com
Dubai Christmas Festival
Dubai Media City Amphitheatre gets glammed up once again with its annual Christmassy additions. The park will be kitted out with rides and attractions, including a snow fight zone, Santa’s grotto, and an ice rink. Also included in the mix, is a pantomime show (tickets are extra) and live entertainment on stage throughout the day. The sprawling market sells decorative sweets and festive treats as well as fabulous Christmas trinkets, hand-crafted gifts and festive home-ware. Look out for crazy colourful stationery from the likes of Tinc, unique furniture from boho boutique Urban Yogi, and beautiful active-wear from yApparel.
*READ ABOUT MORE CHRISTMAS MARKETS IN DUBAI THIS FESTIVE PERIOD*
Dubai Media City Amphitheatre, Dubai, Thur 4pm to 10pm, Fri 3pm to 10pm, Sat 3pm to 10pm, Dhs55 (adults) Dhs25 (children). Tel: (800) 4669. Metro: Nakheel. dubaichristmasfestival.com
Tennis legends
A brand new ‘tennis Champions League’ has come to the UAE, featuring some of the best current and past players, including world number one Novak Djokovic. The International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) pits four teams representing different countries against one another in a round-robin series. In Dubai, proceedings start on December 11 with the Micromax Indian Aces (Federer, Sampras, Gael Monfils, Ana Ivanovic, Sania Mirza, Rohan Bopanna, Fabrice Santoro) pitted against the Singapore Slammers (Williams, Agassi, Tomas Berdych, Lleyton Hewitt, Nick Kyrgios, Daniela Hantuchova, Bruno Soares, Pat Rafter). READ MORE HERE.
Get dinner delivered by drone
No, it’s not April Fool’s Day. Oregano restaurant in Dubai has been experimenting with delivering pizzas via drone. What if you live on the 34th floor? No problem, insists Oregano, map software will guide your pizza to your balcony.
oreganorestaurants.com
New sandwich shop
Hot, gooey, toasted sandwiches have arrived in JLT at a new place called Pressman’s. We tried the roast beef, which came stuffed with cubes of meat, and a creamy, cheesy mayo, all squished between slices of bread. All in all, a very tasty snack.
JLT, Cluster E, Dubai, Sun to Thur 7.30am to 10pm, Fri and Sat 8.30am to 9pm. Tel: (04) 4308282. Metro: JLT. facebook.com/pressmansuae
Maya Jane Coles at BMI
Artists like Maya Jane Coles don’t come around very often. A modern day real deal DJ and producer, she’s managed to maintain an enigmatic air of mystery despite being catapulted into the global limelight. This weekend she is at Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE. READ MORE HERE.
Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE, Ghantoot Al Jazira Island Hotel, Dubai; free. Thursday, 8pm to 3am. Tel: 056 1133400. Taxi: Ghantoot Al Jazira
Slipmatt at Superheroes
When it comes to rave credentials, UK DJ Slipmatt has notched up more than most. At the heart of the UK’s rave culture explosion in the late-’80s and early-’90s, Slipmatt’s name adorned flyers for pretty much every major milestone event worth knowing about – from Fantazia and Universe to World Dance, Dreamscape, Helter Skelter and Rezurrection. Through his World of Rave radio show, Slipmatt – aka Matt Nelson – continues to unite old skool fans with a new generation of clubbers, while his frenetic DJ sets tear dancefloors apart.This weekend he headlines Superheroes at Dek On 8. READ MORE HERE.
Slipmatt at Superheroes, The Dek on 8, Media One Hotel, Dubai Media City; free. 6pm to 3am. Metro: Nakheel. Taxi: Media One Hotel. facebook.com/SuperheroesDubai
DJ T
After successfully launching last month, Shibuya welcomes enduring house DJ, producer, journalist and label manager DJ T to party with them this weekend. Born Thomas Koch, he’s been active on the scene for 25 years. The German started out in the mid-’80s with various DJ residencies at his local clubs in Frankfurt, including the now legendary Dorian Gray, where the likes of Sven Väth also started out. Not long later, T founded a magazine that continues to be a bastion of good quality underground music to this day. Although he gave up the editorship ten years ago, Groove magazine has seen the likes of Ewan Pearson and Nina Kraviz writing topical columns on a regular basis and is still a go-to recourse for dance heads in Germany. READ MORE HERE.
DJ T at Shibuya, The Basement, Boutique 7 Hotel, Tecom, Dubai; Dhs100. 10pm to 3am. facebook.com/thebasementb7
FRIDAY
New city market
We love a pop-up concept, and Town Centre in Jumeirah is the latest spot to be be treated to a pop-up market. Marketeerzz is focused on mixing with the region’s 200 nationalities and trading with purpose. The stalls are teeming with handmade goodies and workshops, and talks are scheduled to take place. Bookworms can also get their hands on some cheap reads, with the proceeds going towards The Animal Project.
Town Centre, Jumeirah, Dubai, Thur to Sat noon to 10pm. Taxi: Town Centre. marketeerzz.com
Healthy dinner
It’s already a magnet for Dubai’s clean-eating devotees at breakfast and lunchtime, and now Comptoir 102 is serving dinner too. The organic café and concept store on Jumeirah Beach Road has extended its opening hours to 11pm, and is serving up gluten-, dairy- and sugar-free dishes from 8am until 10.30pm. Comptoir 102 also stocks carefully edited selection of treasures that will catch the eye of art, fashion and interiors lovers. It’s perfect for a browse before dinner.
102 Jumeirah Beach Road, Jumeirah, Dubai, daily 8am to 11pm. Tel: (04) 3854555. Taxi: Opposite Jumeirah Public Beach. facebook.com/comptoir102
Beat Diabetes walkathon
Organisers of the sixth annual community-centric Beat Diabetes walkathon are urging as many UAE residents as possible to come along and raise awareness about diabetes. The 2km walk is open to all and there will also be free blood glucose tests, operated by medical professionals, to help you gauge your levels and your susceptibility to the disease. Entry costs Dhs20 and all funds raised will be donated to Al Jalila Foundation. Show your support by wearing blue.
Gate 3, Zabeel Park, Dubai, 8am, Dhs20. Tel: (04) 8094000. Metro: Al Jafliya. beatdiabetes.me
Support the riders
If you didn’t get round to signing up for the fifth annual Spinneys Dubai 92 Cycle Challenge, easily the biggest cycling event in the UAE, then perhaps you can find the time to cheer on those who did. The 92km race has attracted over 2,000 participants, from local amateurs to international pros. The race will pass Dubai’s most iconic landmarks including the Burj Khalifa, The Dubai Mall and Burj Al Arab.
Nad Al Sheba Cycle Park, Nad Al Sheba, Dubai, 6am, Dhs270. Tel: (04) 3210008. Taxi: Nad Al Sheba Market. cyclechallenge.ae
Visit Cities Boutique
The Galleria mini mall in Dubai has welcomed another stylish boutique to its impressive line-up with the launch of Cities. The quirky design and accessories store is teaming with modern design products hand-picked from both the Middle East and across the globe. With a mission of enabling customers to shop products from all over the world, we predict this boutique will fast get a following as a go-to store for gifts and pieces for the home.
The Galleria, Jumeirah, Dubai. Tel: (04) 3434301. Taxi: The Galleria. citiesdubai.com
Party at EDEN
DJ Heidi and James Zabiela take to the decks at EDEN, the hot new beach club at Rixos The Palm. Canadian born and London-based Heidi is known for her infectious house, techno and disco beats, while Zabiela comes with huge pedigree and a stellar reputation in the region having previously taken the likes of Nasimi by storm.
Ride and shop
Online retailer Namshi.com celebrates its third anniversary by partnering with Uber to offer shoppers in and around Dubai complimentary rides to shopping destinations between 4pm to 10pm on Friday and Saturday. Users will also be given a Dhs200 gift code for the site.
SATURDAY
Urban Market, Al Quoz
Art and culture lovers, get ready; creative hub Alserkal Avenue has a brand new event coming up you won’t want to miss. The Al Quoz art hub is hosting its first ever Urban Market, and as well as the usual arts and crafts that you’d expect, there’ll also be workshops, kids activities, live music, DJs, fashion and food. The free event will run from 11am to 8pm, and there’s going to be a huge range of things to see of things to see and do. Local creative collective Freshly Ground Sounds will be at the event, bringing their usual mix of chilled vibes and live music from 12.30pm to 3pm. Vitamins and Vinyl are set to have a pop up stand selling vintage vinyl records as well as organic juice. And around noon Dubai Drums will be bringing their beats by walking through the streets of the arts complex. There’ll also be a tour of Alserkal Avenue itself, as well as talks by various creative types including renowned street artist eL Seed. READ MORE HERE.
Alserkal Avenue, Al Qouz 1, Street 8, Dubai. 11am to 8pm, free. Taxi: Alserkal Avenue
Urban Bistro Christmas Market
For a more intimate celebration, head for Media City’s Urban Bistro and their relaxed lakeside setting. Fuel up on the chef’s special mince pies and signature drinks then mooch around a selection of stalls selling arts, crafts, festive goodies and other treats. There’s also face painting for kids.
CNN Building 2, Media City, Dubai; 12pm – 6pm. Tel: 04 3624330. facebook.com/urbandubai
Things Yule Like II
You’ll find plenty more than baubles and gingerbread to tempt you in the DUCTAC piazza. Expect a carefully-curated, hand-picked selection of stalls selling unique gifts and goods made by local creatives and entrepreneurs. Plus there’s street magic on the day from Dubai-based illusionists The 7th Delusion.
DUCTAC, Mall Of The Emirates, Dubai, Sat 12pm to 7pm. Tel: (04) 3414777. Metro: Mall Of The Emirates. ductac.org
CHEESY
The popular French café Paul has added new cheesy dishes to its menu. A goats’ cheese salad, and a filo pastry dish with comté cheese and sundried tomatoes are two starters of note, while among the main courses, the olive bread with tapenade and goat’s cheese, plus the grilled beef tenderloin with melted Raclette cheese, sound just right for these cooler winter days.
Various branches across Dubai including BurJuman, Mirdif City Centre, Mercato Mall, and The Dubai Mall. paul-international.com
Get SushiArty
SushiArt has introduced a range of Japanese mochi, the traditional treats of stick rice with an ice-cream filling. Flavours include classic chocolate and strawberry, to the exotic coconut and mango or the traditional green tea offerings.
SushiArt, Marble Walk, Gate 5, DIFC, Dubai.
SushiArt, The Beach, JBR, Dubai.
Enjoy the Highlife Dubai
A tongue-in-cheek collection of posters depicting a side of Dubai you won’t find in tourist brochures is on display this month. UAE-based artist Clare Napper has taken vintage tourism posters as her inspiration for a collection of 18 pieces that poke fun at the Dubai lifestyle. The collection, Highlife Dubai, will be exhibited at new British restaurant The Scene at Pier 7 in Dubai Marina and are available to buy from size A4 to A1. Hear from the artists here.
The Scene, Pier 7, Dubai Marina, Dubai, daily noon to 11pm. Tel: (04) 4222328. Metro: Jumeirah Lakes Towers. highlife-dubai.com
