16 things to do in Dubai this weekend

Admire the skill of some of the world’s finest athletes, train your body up for free, walk your way to mindfulness or watch helpful drones in action. Dubai is a veritable smorgasbord of activity this weekend…

Thursday February 4

1. Watch the world’s best golfers in action

Until February 7 the world’s best golfers will be dueling it out at the Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis course – they’re all vying for a slice of the Dhs9.18 million prize pool. If you’re a fan of golf, a day here is a must. Our mates at Golf Digest ME are there, and will be bringing you lots of info over the weekend. Ooh, and top tip, there’s a Vaniday pampering booth there that will offer free leg and foot massages by Dreamworks, as well as free nail art from Wow Beauty Salon. 

Here’s their preview of the event:

Emirates Golf Club, Sheikh Zayed Road. Tickets from Dhs175 per day. Buy tickets here.

2. See the Dubai Tour whizz past

Sporting greats are everywhere this weekend, because the world’s best cyclists are also here, including Sir Bradley Wiggins. They will pump their legs across a mind boggling 671 kilometres and will be whizzing in and out of the city (and yes, they will close roads – more on that, and the specific routes, here).

Various locations, free to spectate. See website for more. 

3. Hang out with one-third of the mafia

Sebastian Ingrosso, formerly of DJ supergroup Swedish House Mafia, is at Provocateur tonight. His Mafia days are over, but he still collaborates with Axwell. Expect to hear hits like Roar and Reload tonight.

We challenge you to listen to this without feeling the need to at least pop a shoulder occasionally:

Provacateur, Four Seasons Dubai, Jumeirah, Thursday February 4, Dhs300. More info on Facebook.

4. Appreciate smiles from all around the world

Starting tonight at Gulf Photo Plus (the opening is at 7pm), Smile is an exhibition that explores how the simple upturning of the corners of one’s mouth is a universal language. The works are all taken by photojournalists (which is interesting, because smiling is often something that photojournalists discourage). The exhibition runs throughout the month, so might be one to reserve for the next time you find yourself in a seemingly unshakeable bad mood?

Al Serkal Avenue, Al Quoz, from tonight until March 4. 10am to 7pm Sundays to Wednesdays, and 10am and 6pm on Thursdays & Saturdays (closed on Fridays). More info on website. 

5. Check out a new pizza pop up

Pizza Express is springing an open-air pop up restaurant on JBR for the next four weeks, and it opens this weekend. It will run from 12pm daily (and there will be live jazz performances every evening from 6pm to 9pm on weekdays, and 10.30pm on weekends).  The musicians on rotation include Rachael Calladine, Abri & Funk Radius and the Andrew Jankura Trio.

The Walk at JBR, Dubai Marina. From this weekend until the end of the month, from 12pm daily. More info on Facebook.

Friday February 5

6. Develop your camera skills

If you want to snap that perfect portrait, master photo editing or learn how to use lighting properly, Dubai Photo Week (which starts today) will have a workshop for you. For the next eight days, Dubai Knowledge Village will be packed with events run by 14 of the biggest names in photography. Today, American photographer Peter Hurley is hosting a Dhs55 workshop on snapping the perfect portrait (from 9.30am). The picture above is one of his.

Dubai Knowledge Village Conference Centre, Al Bourjoor Street, Knowledge Village, Dubai, Dhs55. More info on website. 

7. Get fit at The Beach

The Beach opposite JBR is hosting a free fitness weekend this Friday and Saturday – there will be yoga at 7am and 6pm every day, volleyball tournaments, tennis clinics, kayak racing, cycling challenges and more. Make sure to register for classes in advance.

The Beach opposite JBR, various activities from 7am to 7pm daily. Free, but register first at getfit@thebeach.ae. More info on Facebook. 

8. Try a new brunch

Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club has a new barbecue brunch happening at the moment, and this is a great venue to go to while the weather’s tame. Family-friendly activities are included. Colourful chinos are not.

Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club, Dubai, 12.30pm to 3.30pm, Dhs295 with soft drinks, Dhs395 with house drinks. Taxi: Dubai Polo Club. More info on website. 

9. Scoff cheese post-brunch

Doing the Mina A’Salam brunch this weekend? Dubai classic The Agency has just launched a new 4pm-8pm option, which means that if you stump up Dhs195 per person you’ll each get one bottle of grape and unlimited cheese to enjoy from 4pm to 8pm. Unlimited cheese?!

The Agency, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai. 4pm to 8pm every Friday. Dhs195 per person. More info on website. 

10. Laugh over physical theatre

Is stuffy theatre your worst nightmare? Well you’ll like the slapstick comedy stylings of Baccala Compagnia, who are Swiss ‘art clowns’ (whatever that is).

Here’s a bit of what they do:

Madinat Jumeirah, Souk Madinat Theatre, Dubai. 8.30pm, Dhs50. Tel: +971 4 366 6546. Buy tickets here.

11. Go Dutch

Dutch DJ and producer Dannic returns to Dubai this Friday – he was last here in June 2015. He came in at No. 26 in DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJs last year and has seen seven No. 1s over the past three years.

Here’s one of his biggest tunes:

White Dubai, Meydan Grandstand, Nad Al Sheba, Dubai, 11pm to 3am. Taxi: Meydan Grandstand. More info on Facebook. 

12. See Gilles live

Another essential gig this weekend is Gilles Peterson – the UK-based DJ and producer is an industry legend with unrivaled knowledge. As our sister mag Hype puts it, “he has an unquenchable thirst for unearthing the new and showcasing the old but forgotten” – so expect to feel the need to get your Shazam out multiple times during his set.

Industrial Avenue, Westin Dubai Mena Seyahi Beach Resort, Jumeirah Beach Road. 9pm to 3am, Dhs100. Buy tickets here. 

Saturday February 6

13. Wake up raving

From 7am this morning trampoline spot Bounce will transform into a bouncy nightclub as they host a morning rave.

There will be DJs, club lights, boxercise, zumba, cardio work and also just a straight-up-and-down, big-fish, little-fish dance floor. You can buy tickets on the hour, or sign up via Guava Pass.

PS: If you are one of those types who maintains a firm level of grumpiness until at least 10am, this may be the worst thing you could ever do (or it could be good for you).

Here’s a bit of what it will look like:

Bounce, Al Quoz, Dubai (tickets available on an hourly basis from 7am, 8am or 9am). Dhs80 (or free with a Guava Pass membership). More info on website. 

14. Walk your way to mindfulness

Another way to wake up on the right side of the bed this morning is with a Conscious Walk. This free meditation event starts at Kite Surf Beach (near the kiosks) at 7.30am. We tried it last month, and while skeptical at first we actually loved it: you walk for 30 minutes with your gaze firmly set on the floor, which means you’re locked totally in the present.

For the first five minutes we were a bit “don’t know if we can make it through this”, and then some lads shouted out “zombies” at the sight of us ambling away heads down. But by the end of the half hour? We felt amazing and had a full pep in our step for the rest of the day. Recommended (especially if meditation is your thing).

Kite Surf Beach, Al Manara Road (near the food kiosks), from 7.30am sharp. Free. More info on Facebook. 

15. See what good drones can do

The final of the UAE Drones for Good Award begins at 11am today – it will run until 5.30pm, at which point the winners of the hefty Dhs3.6 milion award will be announced. Head down throughout the weekend to see machines being put to good use for everything from emergency response to helping those with disabilities. Entry to see the machines in action is free – if science fairs were your thing at school, this will be your dream weekend activity.

Dubai Internet City Ampitheatre (see map here), throughout the weekend, free.  More info on website. 

16. Try CrossFit for free

Always fancied trying CrossFit, but a tad trepidatious? Well, CrossFit Gold Box is offering free classes today, as well as body mass and bone density testing. The whole thing kicks off at 10am with body testing, then the class is at 11am and there will be more testing at 12pm. They promise a detailed discussion with a coach if you head down today, and you’ll also find out things like your hydration percentage and your muscle mass percentage.

CrossFit Gold Box, behind Noor Bank Islamic Metro Station, Al Quoz, Dubai. Free, from 10am. Book at info@crossfitgoldbox.com or by calling +971 4 338 7612. More info at website. 

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