Global Village - From shopping to stunt shows, amazing cultural experiences to live performances, fabulous globetrotting food options, thrilling theme park-style rides, adventure zones and more, Global Village really does have it all. Dubai’s favourite al fresco family entertainment destination shuts down for the summer at the start of April, so you’ll want to start planning a visit soon.
Ripe by the Bay
Community vibes, live music, gorgeous waterside views, laser fountain shows, brilliant local businesses and craftspeople touting their eclectic wares (jewellery, art, clothing, homeware and more) and fabulous street food eats all offered up in a lovely outdoor setting – what could be better? Make sure you visit
Dubai’s best night market before the humidity calls curtains on the al fresco event in May.
Ramadan
The city comes alive with sparkling lights and beautiful iftar experiences during Ramadan. Be sure to keep an eye on our comprehensive listings on iftars and suhoors to find the best places to dine of an evening. You can also participate in donation drives for food, clothes and money through registered charitable organisations. Ramadan is the time of year to try out the local cuisine and to immerse yourself in the rich Middle Eastern culture to be found on our doorstep here.
Dubai Food Festival
A gastronomical gala, Dubai Food Festival is the event of the year for the city’s foodies. The festival sees local chefs putting on special set price meals at their restaurants and creating immersive foodie experiences across Dubai. Keep an eye on your favourite eateries as they’ll likely announce set-menu experiences that give patrons the chance to experience the food at their most affordable price of the year.
Dubai Comedy Festival
Get ready to belly laugh your way through the month of May, as the annual Dubai Comedy Festival hits the city again. The 11-day comedy festival (taking place at venues across the city) will see some of the world’s best comedians throwing quips and whipping up crowds. Earlier editions have seen the likes of comedy-greats Maz Jobrani, Nemr, Eddie Griffin, Mina Liccione, Vir Das, Gad Elmaleh and Ali Al Sayed taking to Dubai’s stages.
Dubai Summer Surprises
Shelter from the sweltering heat inside a giant air-conditioned mall as you make the most of Dubai Summer Surprises. From incredible sales to raffle draws and entertainment, this is when to budget for some serious retail therapy.
Downtown Design
In November, dive into a world of all things art, design and architecture at Dubai’s most arty district. Taking place at D3, Downtown Design brings a buzz of exhibitions, workshops and creative related events to the city.
UAE National Day Holidays
The UAE National Day falls on a Friday this year, which means we’re guaranteed a long weekend. As per usual the city’s hotels, restaurants and malls will be offering a top-notch roster of things to do. You could also take the chance to hop on over to one of the other emirates for a cultural and home-away-from-home staycation.
Fri Dec 2 – Sun Dec 4. Keep an eye out for our National Day articles for specific deals and ideas.
Emirates Airline Dubai 7’s
If you’ve been in Dubai for a while, you’ll be no stranger to the sporting festival of the year. Indeed, Emirates Airline Dubai 7’s is the largest sports and entertainment festival in the Middle East, and this year it promises to be even better than ever before. Teasing better music, bigger sport and bolder entertainment, we’re sure this one is going to be great.