30 May 2023

LAST CHANCE Mahmoud Obaidi: Mosquito Effects

Meem Gallery Umm Suqeim Rd, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

An exhibition of new work by the noted Iraqi artist. Obaidi's art looks beyond simplistic politics and perceptions of identity, says the gallery, "instead seeking to uncover and understand trauma from a historical, structural and geographical lens ... As with [ ... ]

Free

CineMAS – Without Her / The Dam

Manarat al Saadiyat Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

7pm Without Her|Bi Roya dir Arian Vazirdaftari (2023) Just two weeks before Roya is set to emigrate from Iran to Denmark, she encounters a quiet young girl who appears to be lost and doesn’t remember anything. Roya takes her in, [ ... ]

AED 30

CineMAS – Foragers / Tara

Manarat al Saadiyat Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

7pm Foragers dir Jumana Manna (2022) Shot in the Golan Heights, the Galilee and Jerusalem, the film employs fiction, documentary and archival footage to capture the joy and knowledge embodied in the traditions of foraging for wild edible plants alongside the [ ... ]

AED 30

Monty Python’s Spamalot

The Arts Center @ NYUAD NYUAD Campus, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

You probably won't have more fun in the theatre this year: based on ("ripped off from") the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, this highly irreverent musical parody of Arthurian legend has lyrics and book by Python's Eric [ ... ]

AED 130

Wednesday Night Impro: Maestro

Courtyard Playhouse Street 4B, Al Quoz 1, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Ten actors converge for a night of scenes, songs and games based on audience suggestions. After each round you score the players on a scale of 1 to 5, and the one with the lowest score is eliminated. Eventually only [ ... ]

Free but donations welcome

Ever-Present

Efiɛ Gallery 2 Al Khayat Art Avenue, First Al Khail Street, Dubai

A group show by six African artists presenting “a captivating and thought-provoking collection of artworks that highlight the diverse landscapes and thematic intersections of African art across generations … The exhibition offers a glimpse into the complex histories, traditions, and [ ... ]

Free

Talal Al Najjar, Ziad Al Najjar: Symbiotic Hyperreal

NYUAD Arts Center Project Space NYUAD Campus, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi

This exhibition marks the first duo show for Emirati brothers Talal Al Najjar and Ziad Al Najjar. They each maintain a distinct individual artistic practice, but developed in close proximity to one another; and both draw upon their relationship to [ ... ]

Free

Connecting Minds Book Club: Ben Okri

Terra Auditorium Terra – The Sustainability Pavilion, Expo City, Dubai

“Books alone can’t save the world,” says the blurb for this new book club. “But passionate readers can.” At the opening event of what we’re told will be a regular LitFest-style session with “renowned authors from around the world”, the [ ... ]

AED 50

CineMAS – 19B / White Building

Manarat al Saadiyat Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

7pm 19B dir Ahmad Abdalla (2022) The richly-layered narrative centres on the elderly caretaker of an abandoned Cairo villa known as 19B. The owners have been absent for so long that no one even knows how to contact them, and the [ ... ]

AED 30

Monty Python’s Spamalot

The Arts Center @ NYUAD NYUAD Campus, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

A second performance of this highly irreverent musical parody of Arthurian legend, based on the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail with lyrics and book by Python's Eric Idle and a score by Idle and John Du Prez. [ ... ]

AED 130

The Addams Family – A New Musical

Sunmarke School Jumeirah Village Triangle, Dubai

MTDXB (Musical Theatre Dubai) is – as far as we know – the first and only adult theatre group in Dubai to specialise in musicals. Formed in 2021, they have done four performances to date, and they tend to be [ ... ]

AED 150

LAST CHANCE Notations on Time

Ishara Art Foundation Alserkal Avenue, Dubai

A group exhibition that explores "the philosophical and political dimensions of time" through the works of 20 contemporary artists from South Asia and its diaspora. This sounds like a typically thoughtful Ishara show. The gallery says it "explores ontological systems [ ... ]

Free

LAST CHANCE Well Hot

Volery Gallery Maze Tower - 5201, Dubai International Financial Center, Dubai

A show by a diverse group of artists from the UK's Moosey Gallery that promises to showcase "the best of contemporary art". The title is a playful nod to the Dubai climate rather than any statement about the artists, but [ ... ]

Free

Sleeping Beauty

Dubai Opera

Tchaikovsky’s all-time crowdpleaser is danced by the Moscow Ballet “La Classique”. Expect ballet mastery, lavish costumes, and magnificent stage sets; "La Classique" specialises in sumptuous, unashamedly traditional touring productions of which this must be one of the most classic ... [ ... ]

From AED250

Monty Python’s Spamalot

The Arts Center @ NYUAD NYUAD Campus, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

The third of four days of performances for this highly irreverent musical parody of Arthurian legend based on Monty Python and the Holy Grail. It's funny and clever, and it's brought to us by the Abu Dhabi Choral Group, the [ ... ]

AED 130

The Addams Family – A New Musical

Sunmarke School Jumeirah Village Triangle, Dubai

A second performance for this musical sequel to the original Addams Family story by MTDXB. Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family– a [ ... ]

AED 150

Monty Python’s Spamalot

The Arts Center @ NYUAD NYUAD Campus, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

The final two performances (thyere are shows at 2pm and 7.30pm) for this irreverent musical parody of Arthurian legend, based on the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail. It's funny and clever, and it's brought to us by [ ... ]

AED 130

Sleeping Beauty

Dubai Opera

A second and final performance for Tchaikovsky’s all-time crowdpleaser as danced by the Moscow Ballet “La Classique”. Expect ballet mastery, lavish costumes, and magnificent stage sets; "La Classique" specialises in sumptuous, unashamedly traditional touring productions.

From AED250

The Addams Family – A New Musical

Sunmarke School Jumeirah Village Triangle, Dubai

The final performances (shows at 2.30 and 7.30pm) for this musical sequel to the original Addams Family story by MTDXB. Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man [ ... ]

AED 150

CineMAS – Bayn al Khaleej

Manarat al Saadiyat Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Gulf Shorts – Past and Present A program of short films from the Gulf region by filmmakers looking at the past through personal and cultural histories. 3pm Clouds dir Muzna Alumusafer (2020) 15 mins A journey inside a tribal society [ ... ]

AED 30

LAST CHANCE Bollywood Superstars: A Short Story of Indian Cinema

Louvre Abu Dhabi Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi

An exhibition that aims to showcase the depth and richness of the Indian filmmaking industry. There are more than 80 artworks including photographs, textiles, graphic arts, costumes and over 30 film extracts, covering Indian cinema from its beginnings in the [ ... ]

General admission AED63

LAST CHANCE the only constant

NYUAD Art Gallery Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

NYUAD Art Gallery's spring exhibition, curated by the gallery's' director Maya Allison, is part of an ongoing series in which Allison investigates the concept of landscape as it manifests globally in contemporary art practice. "We humans have a complicated relationship [ ... ]

LAST CHANCE Rima Chahine: Almaz

Andakulova Gallery Unit 18, P4 Level Damac Park Towers, DIFC , Dubai, United Arab Emirates

A solo exhibition for the self-taught Lebanese-Canadian artist who “explores the human condition through abstract art in vivid colours and bold brushstrokes” that “embody fearlessness, aggression and an impressionistic style". Chahine's works are undeniably emotional, based on the experiences of [ ... ]

Free

Monday Night Comedy: This Is Impro

Courtyard Playhouse Street 4B, Al Quoz 1, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Exactly what it says: a regular Monday evening of scenes, stories and narrative improvisation influenced by audience suggestions and featuring the Courtyard Playhouse's most experienced improv performers. Classic Courtyard stuff. It's free, but you need to put your name on [ ... ]

Free but donations welcome

Abu Dhabi Classics 2023: Yo-Yo Ma & Kathryn Stott

Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi

The celebrated cellist is accompanied on piano by his long-time friend and collaborator Kathryn Stott. We don’t know what the programme will be, but their pandemic album Songs of Comfort and Hope had 21 tracks ranging across modern arrangements of [ ... ]

From AED 100

Wednesday Night Impro: Maestro

Courtyard Playhouse Street 4B, Al Quoz 1, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Ten actors converge for a night of scenes, songs and games based on audience suggestions. After each round you score the players on a scale of 1 to 5, and the one with the lowest score is eliminated. Eventually only [ ... ]

Free but donations welcome

Jameel Prize: Poetry to Politics

Jameel Arts Centre Al Jaddaf, Dubai

Founded in 2009, the Jameel Prize is a collaboration between the V&A and Art Jameel; it is the world’s leading award for contemporary art and design inspired by Islamic tradition. This sixth edition, the first to have a focus on [ ... ]

Free

LAST CHANCE Aly Ben Salem: A Perfect World

Elmarsa Gallery 23 Alserkal Avenue, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

The first solo exhibition in the UAE for the leading Tunisian modernist Aly Ben Salem (1910-2001). His characteristic style is defiantly original, typically harmoniously composed figures with oval faces and eloquent postures combined with carefully delineated traditional artefacts.

Free

LAST CHANCE Alena Lavdovskaya

ME Dubai The Opus by Omniyat, Al Amal Street, Business Bay, Dubai

Fashion illustrator (and the founder of Russia's first illustration and art-content agency for the fashion industry) Alena Lavdovskaya is the latest Artist in Residence at ME Dubai. This exhibition showcases her 20 years in the industry, with Alena illustrations, a [ ... ]

The Story of Princess Aurora

Dubai Opera

Turning Pointe Youth Ballet – a dance school that consistently delivers very good showcases – presents its adaptation of the well-loved fairy tale of a young girl bewitched at birth but rescued by the fairies and brought up in the [ ... ]

From AED 145

Jazz to Jive

The Club Al Mina, Abu Dhabi

Two nights of fun music (10 and 11 June) from the best of Abu Dhabi's musical talent: a cappella groups Blue Fever and Voices of Harmony (both well established, both excellent) with two local big bands, the British School al [ ... ]

AED 140

Gypsies Go To Heaven

Cultural Foundation Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum Street, Abu Dhabi

An exhilarating musical and dance extravaganza by the Slovak Dance Theatre with the Gypsy Devils orchestra, created by noted Slovak director and choreographer Ján Ďurovčík. Packed with wild virtuoso dancing and thrilling gypsy songs, the show is based on a [ ... ]

From AED 100

LAST CHANCE Sharjah Biennial 15

[various Sharjah locations]

Sharjah Biennial 15: Thinking Historically in the Present includes more than 300 artworks by (at our count) 159 artists and collectives from around the world, plus talks, performances, film screenings and more. It takes place in 19 venues across five [ ... ]

Free

National Youth Orchestra Gala

Dubai Opera

A Gala Performance with the National Youth Orchestra to celebrate its five-year anniversary. The largest and most prestigious youth orchestra in the region, the NYO currently has more than 120 young musicians aged 5-18; this concert features the NYO Concerto [ ... ]

From AED 150

Jazz to Jive

The Club Al Mina, Abu Dhabi

A second night of fun music from the best of Abu Dhabi's musical talent: a cappella groups Blue Fever and Voices of Harmony (both well established, both excellent) with two local big bands, the British School al Khubairat Jazz Band [ ... ]

AED 140

Monday Night Comedy: This Is Impro

Courtyard Playhouse Street 4B, Al Quoz 1, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Exactly what it says: a regular Monday evening of scenes, stories and narrative improvisation influenced by audience suggestions and featuring the Courtyard Playhouse's most experienced improv performers. Classic Courtyard stuff. It's free, but you need to put your name on [ ... ]

Free but donations welcome

LAST CHANCE Sophiya Khwaja: Nooks of Power

Tashkeel Alserkal Avenue Warehouse 58, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai

This solo exhibition – her first in the UAE – marks the completion of Sophiya’s journey on the Tashkeel Critical Practice Programme, mentored by Salima Hashmi and Dawn Ross. Nooks of Power aims to investigate the ways in which humans [ ... ]

Free

AST CHANCE Talal Al Najjar, Ziad Al Najjar: Symbiotic Hyperreal

NYUAD Arts Center Project Space NYUAD Campus, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi

This exhibition marks the first duo show for Emirati brothers Talal Al Najjar and Ziad Al Najjar. They each maintain a distinct individual artistic practice, but developed in close proximity to one another; and both draw upon their relationship to [ ... ]

Free

Wednesday Night Impro: Maestro

Courtyard Playhouse Street 4B, Al Quoz 1, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Ten actors converge for a night of scenes, songs and games based on audience suggestions. After each round you score the players on a scale of 1 to 5, and the one with the lowest score is eliminated. Eventually only [ ... ]

Free but donations welcome

Rooftop Rhythms Grand Slam Finale Competition / Season Closing

Marketplace, NYUAD Campus Abu Dhabi

The Middle East’s best (and longest-running) poetry and performance open mic night winds up its 11th season with original material from spoken word artists, poets, and musicians. Rooftop Rhythms is hosted by founder Dorian Paul Rogers.

Free, but pre-register online

Culture Bus: Al Sadeem Observatory

421 Mina Zayed, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

The 421 Culture Bus is taking a stargazing trip to the observatory on the outskirts of the city to observe the cosmos using traditional and smart telescopes. We're promised a unique experience; included is a discounted entry ticket for Alsadeem Observatory. [ ... ]

AED 180

Monday Night Comedy: This Is Impro

Courtyard Playhouse Street 4B, Al Quoz 1, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Exactly what it says: a regular Monday evening of scenes, stories and narrative improvisation influenced by audience suggestions and featuring the Courtyard Playhouse's most experienced improv performers. Classic Courtyard stuff. It's free, but you need to put your name on [ ... ]

Free but donations welcome

Wednesday Night Impro: Maestro

Courtyard Playhouse Street 4B, Al Quoz 1, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Ten actors converge for a night of scenes, songs and games based on audience suggestions. After each round you score the players on a scale of 1 to 5, and the one with the lowest score is eliminated. Eventually only [ ... ]

Free but donations welcome

LAST CHANCE Katia Al Tal: Appearance

XVA Gallery Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood, Bur Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

A solo show for the abstract sculptures of the Jordanian-French artist. Appearance explores the intrinsic essence of the artist’s vision and the experiences which led to the creation of these vessels – “a culmination of time specks that are made [ ... ]

Free

Monday Night Comedy: This Is Impro

Courtyard Playhouse Street 4B, Al Quoz 1, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Exactly what it says: a regular Monday evening of scenes, stories and narrative improvisation influenced by audience suggestions and featuring the Courtyard Playhouse's most experienced improv performers. Classic Courtyard stuff. It's free, but you need to put your name on [ ... ]

Free but donations welcome

Wednesday Night Impro: Maestro

Courtyard Playhouse Street 4B, Al Quoz 1, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Ten actors converge for a night of scenes, songs and games based on audience suggestions. After each round you score the players on a scale of 1 to 5, and the one with the lowest score is eliminated. Eventually only [ ... ]

Free but donations welcome

LAST CHANCE Reality Show

Fann à Porter The Workshop, Villa 45, St. 23b, off Al Wasl Road (opposite Box Park), Jumeirah 2, Dubai

An exhibition organisaed by Fann À Porter Dubai and ZAAT Beirut that brings together a group of artists to offer a critical perspective on the current state of living conditions, political climate, social dynamics, and psychological landscapes. Reality Show aims [ ... ]

LAST CHANCE Ever-Present

Efiɛ Gallery 2 Al Khayat Art Avenue, First Al Khail Street, Dubai

A group show by six African artists presenting “a captivating and thought-provoking collection of artworks that highlight the diverse landscapes and thematic intersections of African art across generations … The exhibition offers a glimpse into the complex histories, traditions, and [ ... ]

Free