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.
THURSDAY May 21
Laugh out loud at Whose Line Is It Anyway?
Improvising is usually something we do in a crisis, but for the talented comedians ofWhose Line Is It Anyway?, making stuff up on the spot is a laugh-a-minute profession. This month, fresh batches of sketches come to Dubai, with the biggest names in improv at the helm. Read an interview with one of the cast.
May 20 to 23
Madinat Theatre, Souk Madinat, Dubai, Wed and Fri 8pm, Sat 7pm. Dhs180. Tel: (04) 3666546. Taxi: Souk Madinat. madinattheatre.com
Sway to The Wailers
Formed almost 50 years ago by Bob Marley alongside Bunny Walker, Peter Tosh and the Barrett Brothers (Carlton and Aston), the Jamaican outfit are responsible for some of the best loved reggae music to ever come out of the country.
The Irish Village, Al Garhoud, Dubai, 7pm, Dhs130. Tel: (04) 2395000. Metro: GGICO. theirishvillage.com
Try a new menu for golfers
Swirl Bar And Lounge at Jumeirah Golf Estates has launched a new menu featuring dishes such as chicken wings in Mexican chipotle sauce; a chicken Waldorf salad; a pasta salad of feta, olive and tomato, and ravioli stuffed with spinach and feta cheese. Just the ticket after 18 holes.
Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai, daily 6am to 11.30pm. Tel: (04) 8182000. Taxi: End of Al Khail Road, near Motor City. jumeirahgolfestates.com
Enter a secret garden
Vii, the newest terrace bar and lounge located in the Conrad Hotel Sheikh Zayed Road, is officially opening its doors this evening. Tucked away on the seventh floor of the hotel, Vii is nothing short of a luxurious secret garden – which we imagine wont be too secret for long. Check it out before everyone else does.
Conrad Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, daily 7pm to 3am. Tel: (04) 3276000
Witness Africa, as seen from a motorbike
Any traveller who has been to Africa will be familiar with the word ‘mazungu’. It’s the word commonly heard in Africa (usually by excited children) when they see a foreigner in their neighbourhood. The Beirut-born photographer Christian Ghammachi has used mazungu as the title for his new photography exhibition in Dubai. Subtitled The Aimless Wanderer (another translation of mazungu), the photos show Ghammachi’s 19,000km trip through 16 countries in Africa, from Cape Town in South Africa to Djibouti in the east of the continent. The journey took six months and was aborted after Ghammachi crashed his motorbike on the first attempt. He got back in the saddle to take the 25 photographs on display this month – this is one exhibition that’s worth a wander through.
La Galerie Nationale, Al Quoz 1, Street 8, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai, Sat to Thur 10am to 7pm, free. Tel: (04) 3804652. Taxi: Alserkal Avenue. galerie-nationale.com
Barbecue by the pool
Chill out by the pool and tuck into barbecue stations outside while the weather still permits. On Thursdays, a live jazz singer performs.
The Pool Bar & Lounge at Mövenpick Hotel Jumeirah Beach, 8pm to 11pm. Tel: (04)4498836.
Attend Square
While most clubs are starting to wind down for the summer, a new Dubai club hopes to make its mark before Ramadan. Square nightclub, which aims to become “a hub for international and local talent” every Tuesday and Thursday, launches at the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel this weekend with Noon Records boss Reboot booked for the launch party. Describing the venue as a club for “real people”, Tomas Vindasius, General Manager of NAWWARA, the outfit behind the venture, said: “We are strong and serious here, and about to give a different shape to your nights. You do not go to Square to be seen. You go to dance. We say no to commercial nonsense and yes to the best underground music supplied by solid performers.”
JW Marriott Marquis Hotel, Business Bay, Dubai, Thursday, May 21, 10pm to 3am, free guestlist before midnight, Dhs100 after. Metro: Business Bay. Tel: (056) 2240956. facebook.com/squaredxb
Visit the new Pantry Cafe
The pretty home-grown gourmet café and delicatessen has opened its second branch in Bay Square serving breakfast and lunch every day. We suggest you tuck into the Pantry Breakfast Burger, a proper breakfast sandwich on brioche bread with a fried egg, beef tomato, turkey ham, aged cheddar, avocado & spiced mayo. Now that’s a breakfast of champions.
Bay Square, Business Bay, daily. Tel: (04) 5587157. pantrycafe.me
FRIDAY May 22
Listen to some mellow cello
Argentinian cellist Sol Gabetta will perform in Dubai for the first time. She was just ten when she won her first music competition and has since won many awards for her work. Gabetta is constantly travelling as she performs dozens of concerts with the world’s best orchestras. This recital in May will see Gabetta perform great works for cello and piano by Beethoven, Schumann, Mendelssohn, Chopin and Servais.
Ductac, Mall Of The Emirates, Dubai, 8pm, Dhs50. Tel: (04) 3414777. Metro: Mall Of The Emirates. ductac.org
Practice Yoga at the Cove
Looking to get fit and healthy this summer? Well, this is definitely a step in the right direction. Vita Coco Coconut Water has organised public yoga session at Cove Beach. The beach yoga session takes place on at 7.15am and you’ll even be treated to a healthy breakfast by Cove Beach’s talented team of chefs. For further information follow Vita Coco Coconut Water @vitacocoae
Do some good with Clean Desert Drive
CleanDesertDrive launches on Friday with teams of people competing for Dhs3,000 by heading out into the desert to collect what waste has been left strewn across popular camping spots and other hotspots. Launched in part by Ramy 4×4, it is hoped the mass clean up with raise awareness and help provide a cleaner landscape when the camping season restarts after summer. Teams who want to take part are to meet at the Ramy 4×4 Deira Showroom before 3pm on May 22 and can expect to be back by 7.30pm. Read on for more info.
Party at Cielo Sky Lounge’s closing party
After scooping Best New Bar at the recent Hype Awards, Cielo Sky Lounge, at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, closes out the season with a raft of local talent on May 22. Smokingroove, Mark Pickup, Consoul Trainin, Michael Karrera and Carlos drop the tunes as the city’s iconic downtown skyline twinkles in the background.
cielodubai.com
Pack heat with Chris Liebing
Chris Liebing is a modern techno heavyweight, pure and simple. But although he has made a long career out of barreling beats, bleak soundscapes and punishing rhythms, he himself isn’t at all foreboding, despite his rather large physical presence. Read the full article here.
Level 41, Media One Hotel, Dubai Media City, Fri 9pm to 3am, Dhs150 (on the door), Dhs250 (VIP). Tel: (050) 3599798
Party with Ilario Alicante and Dodian Paic
The Blu Marlin crew is at it again, this time bringing the Cocoon experience to the dancefloor. Expect a journey through several dimensions of music courtesy of Ilario Alicante and Dodian Paic.
Golden Tulip Hotel, Al Jazira Resort, Ghantoot, 1pm to 11pm, free. Tel: (056) 1133400 Taxi: Golden Tulip Hotel. bluemarlinibiza-uae.com
SATURDAY MAY 23
Double tap that
You may have seen them battle it out on So You Think You Can Dance, but now Chloe Arnold and her girl group of tappers – the Syncopated Ladies – have chosen Dubai as their next stomping ground. Dancers of all abilities are invited to take part in a six-hour workshop. Classes blend hip hop, Afro funk, salsa, rhythm, and improvisation.
Deira International School, MPH Dubai Festival City, 11am to 5pm, Dhs600. Tel: (050) 7541763. Taxi: Opposite Al Badia Golf Club. syncopatedladies.com
Shop till you drop
LA brand Splendid is having a huge blowout sale today with their range of comfortable and fashionable clothing up to 90 per cent off.
The Address Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai, 10am to 8pm. Tel: (055) 7604875. Metro: Burj Khalifa/ Dubai Mall
Wander through Ripe Market – (indoor edition)
The alfresco market experience is coming inside for summer. Shop for arts and crafts, fashion, jewellery, kids items, gifts and homeware. There’s also the usual array organic groceries from Ripe, including fresh organic fruits and veggies, eggs, local honey, superfoods, tea, gluten free items and more.
Times Square Centre, Dubai, Sat 9am to 2pm. Tel: (04) 3790441. ripeme.com
