• Omar Kamal

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

    With influences ranging from Sinatra’s jazz and swing to Arab idols like Mohammed Abdel Wahab and Fairuz, Omar Kamal’s broad repertoire and emotional delivery promise to make for an enchanting evening. Kamal’s vocals have been described as powerful, emotive, and [ ... ]

    From AED 300
  • Siwon Ghim: The Sense of Living

    Korean Cultural Center, Yas Yas Creative Hub P2, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi

    Abstract paintings by the Seoul-bawed artist, a Slade graduate who has “consistently expressed her determination to define her identity through her artwork". Said Siwon Ghim: "For The Sense of Living, I have carefully selected paintings that exemplify my ever-changing internal [ ... ]

    Free
  • SAF Book Club: Readings on diaspora and migration

    Al Mureijah Square Sharjah

    This SAF Book Club meeting begins with a tour of the current Al Mureijah Art Spaces exhibition, the rather good In the Heart of Another Country. The show is about diaspora and migration, and that's the theme of the book [ ... ]

    Free, but pre-register
  • Victor Sitali: African Hues

    Le Meridien Fairway Al Garhoud Road, Dubai

    An exhibition for the Zambian (but Dubai-based) artist in the hotel's lobby (why don't more hotels do this?) that promises "a wide range of bold artistic styles, mediums, and themes". Sitali says he takes inspiration from" the colourful nature of [ ... ]

    Free
  • Women Expressions

    Oblong Contemporary Art Gallery Al Khayat Art Avenue, Al Quoz, Dubai

    A group show that "celebrates the unifying spirit of art, showcasing how these talented artists from different parts of the world have found common ground through their creativity and unique expressions" ... which sounds like a somewhat vaporous theme. Hopefully [ ... ]

    Free
  • Sohni Mahiwal

    The Junction Unit H72, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    An award winning treatment by Yusra Irfan of an epic love story, timed for the Independence Day weekend of India and Pakistan, and set in Punjab (which is part of both). Sohni Mahiwal (or Suhni Mehar) is a established tragic [ ... ]

    AED 100
  • Sohni Mahiwal

    The Junction Unit H72, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    The second and final performance of this epic love story, timed for the Independence Day weekend of India and Pakistan. Sohni Mahiwal (or Suhni Mehar) is a long-established tragic romance from Sindh and Punjab, dating back to the 10th century [ ... ]

    AED 100
  • Bill Burr

    Etihad Arena Yas Island, Abu Dhabi

    The Emmy-nominated US comedian gets a big stage for his quick wit, dark humour, and unrivalled storytelling with rants about relationship advice, sports and the Illuminati ...

    From AED 250
  • Star Wars: A New Hope dir George Lucas (1977)

    Cinema Akil Warehouse 68, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai

    The first, and arguably the best – if only because of the impact of the opening titles. Universally acknowledged as a landmark in action films and featuring Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher in their prime (plus Alec Guinness [ ... ]

    Free, but pre-register
  • Candlelight: Beethoven’s Best Works

    Raffles The Palm West Crescent, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    The title of this concert certainly sets the bar high, though it seems a pretty good selection of the composer's works for piano. The pianist is Magdalena Wajdzik, and the other plus is the way these recitals are lit by [ ... ]

    From AED 150
  • Aftersun: dir Charlotte Wells (2022)

    Cinema Akil Warehouse 68, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai

    Charlotte Wells’ stunning feature debut movingly portrays a father-daughter relationship. Calum (Paul Mescal) and Sophie (Frankie Corio) are on a week’s holiday in Turkey; it’s a chance for the two to re-bond, and they do. Twenty years later, Sophie's tender [ ... ]

    Free, but pre-register
  • Summer Editions 23

    Mestaria Gallery Unit 35, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai

    A curated exhibition of work from six artists -- energetic street and pop art fusion from Mr Brainwash, capturing iconic cultural moments; Dan Pearce's innovative mixed-media explosions; intricate hyperrealistic paintings of figures by Craig Alan; textured tales of city life [ ... ]

  • Candlelight Concert: Vivaldi’s Four Seasons

    Raffles The Palm West Crescent, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    One of the most successful productions in the Candlelight Concerts series of "classical music concerts aimed at democratising access to classical music by allowing people all over the world to enjoy live music candlelit performances".  The Vivaldi favourite was written [ ... ]

    From AED200
  • Bellissima | Beautiful: dir Luchino Visconti (1951)

    Cinema Akil Warehouse 68, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai

    A newly restored print of this black-and-white classic. It’s a pointed satire on the film industry; Maddalena (Anna Magnani) is a screenstruck mother convinced of the star potential of her daughter Maria (Tina Apicella) and desperate to escape of everyday [ ... ]

    Free, but pre-register
  • Sudarshan Shetty: Only Life, Myriad Places

    Ishara Art Foundation Alserkal Avenue, Dubai

    This major solo exhibition for Sudarshan Shetty celebrates the global premiere of the artist’s latest film One Life Many with the first-ever survey of Shetty’s moving image works, including rarely seen videos, multimedia installations and sculptures. A key motif is [ ... ]

    Free
  • Deep Blue: Man + Machine

    Theatre of Digital Arts Souk Madinat Jumeriah, Dubai

    “An immersive showcase that delves into the profound relationship between human creativity and cutting-edge artificial intelligence,” says the press blurb. “This extraordinary event is set to captivate audiences with a fusion of art, technology, and innovation.” Effectively it’s a three-hour [ ... ]

    AED 280
  • Summer Palette: An Artist Soiree

    421 Arts Campus Mina Zayed, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

    Food, music, and art as 421's Artistic Development Program cohort for 2022/2023 – Asma Belhamar, Mahshid Rafiei and Nasir Nasrallah – present their work and process. Asma Belhamar’s practice confronts the visual memory of local landscapes, and offers insight into their [ ... ]

    Free but pre-register
  • Deep Blue: Man + Machine

    Theatre of Digital Arts Souk Madinat Jumeriah, Dubai

    A second pair of shows for this "immersive showcase that delves into the profound relationship between human creativity and cutting-edge artificial intelligence". Effectively it’s a three-hour mini-festival of technology as art that also provides a networking opportunity for practitioners, would-be [ ... ]

    AED 280
  • VIP Classical: Julia Kociuban and Sanaz Sotoudeh

    Dubai Opera Studio Downtown Dubai, Dubai

    A piano recital in SAMIT Group's VIP Classical series presented as two halves: the Polish pianist Julia Kociuban starts with Chopin, the Ballade No.3 Op.47 followed by Mazurkas, Op.24; the three Polonaises Op.71; and finally the Andante spianato et grande [ ... ]

    AED 500
  • Andrew Schneider: N O W I S W H E N W E A R E (the stars)

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

    This immersive theatrical installation uses nearly 5,000 points of lights and hundreds of speakers (496-channel sound) to create an interactive theatrical cosmos where viewers become active explorers, discovering the traces of themselves in light, the universe, and those who have [ ... ]

    Free, but pre-register
  • Candlelight Abu Dhabi: Best of Chopin

    Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi

    Fever brings its candlelight classical music recitals to Abu Dhabi again – "a series of classical music concerts aimed at democratising access to classical music by allowing people all over the world to enjoy live candlelit music performances ... by [ ... ]

    From AED 250
  • Robert Santoré: Timeless

    Firetti Contemporary Unit 29, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai

    An exhibition that traces the Californian artist's evolution as a painter and printmaker, from early years of study in New York to his pursuit of new techniques and expressive styles with works that emphasise a bold colour palette and the [ ... ]

    Free
  • Joanne McNally

    The Agenda Abdullah Omran Taryam St, Media City, Dubai

    McNally was a big hit with Vogue Williams in their Dubai Comedy Festival show My Therapist Ghosted Me; but she's genuinely funny on her own, too – described by The Sunday Times as "a truly gifted stand-up", and now capable [ ... ]

    AED 295
  • Gerda Carina: Gold Codes

    Le Meridien Fairway Al Garhoud Road, Dubai

    A series of abstract acrylics by photographer-turned-painter Gerda Carina that contain ‘codes’ to attract what you most need in life. This is Dubai, so most feature gold paint or gold leaf “because Gerda believes it holds a very special kind [ ... ]

    Free
  • Andrew Schneider: N O W I S W H E N W E A R E (the stars)

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

    This immersive theatrical installation uses nearly 5,000 points of lights and hundreds of speakers (496-channel sound) to create an interactive theatrical cosmos where viewers become active explorers, discovering the traces of themselves in light, the universe, and those who have [ ... ]

    Free, but pre-register
  • Josh Rowell: Moral Codes

    Firetti Contemporary Unit 29, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai

    Rowell’s first solo exhibition in the Middle East, curated by Celine Azem, invites viewers to contemplate the moral codes that shape our society. At the heart of the exhibition lies an installation of Rowell's Painting Language series, interpretations of Aesop's [ ... ]

    Free
  • Betsayda Machado and La Parranda el Clavo

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

    Building on their participation in The Arts Center’s virtual online season in 2021 with the world premiere of their documentary Las Cantoras, Betsayada Machado leads her group in close harmonies, polyphonic melodies and call and response – a spirit-shaking celebration [ ... ]

    AED 105
  • Swan Lake

    Dubai Opera

    The Hungarian National Ballet is in Dubai for three days with a critically acclaimed Swan Lake. Tchaikovsky’s first (and by many accounts best) ballet has the iconic casting of the same female ballet dancer for both Odette – the pure, [ ... ]

    From AED 350
  • Swan Lake

    Dubai Opera

    The second pair of performances for the Hungarian National Ballet's Swan Lake is danced by a full company including Tatyjana Melnyik and Maria Yakovleva  sharing the Odette/Odile role; Prince Siegfried is danced by Gergő Ármin Balázsi and Louis Scrivener. Gábor [ ... ]

    From AED 350
  • Chopin’s Best Works

    Al Falak Ballroom Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, Dubai

    Chopin favourites by candlelight, a recital for solo piano by Aldo Dotto. These concerts are "a series of classical music concerts aimed at democratising access to classical music by allowing people all over the world to enjoy live candlelit music [ ... ]

    From AED 350
  • Summer Soliloquies: A Writers’ Soiree

    421 Arts Campus Mina Zayed, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

    421’s first Writer’s Soiree promises a chance to meet and connect with other writers in Abu Dhabi – "an evening of food, reading, and greeting".

    Free but pre-register
  • Rosie Holt: The Woman’s Hour

    Theatre by QE2 Queen Elizabeth 2, Port Rashid, Dubai

    This should be interesting. Rosie Holt is a actress and writer who’s best known as a satirist with a massive Twitter presence for her roles as a parody Johnson-worshipping MP (surely not modelled on Nadine Dorries?). This show includes a [ ... ]

    From AED 150
  • Swan Lake

    Dubai Opera

    The final pair of performances for the Hungarian National Ballet's Swan Lake is danced by a full company including Tatyjana Melnyik and Maria Yakovleva  sharing the Odette/Odile role; Prince Siegfried is danced by Gergő Ármin Balázsi and Louis Scrivener. Gábor [ ... ]

    From AED 350
  • Sawsan Al Bahar: 33 Songs, 99 Words

    Maraya Art Centre Al Qasba, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

    The Dubai-based Syrian artist presents a large-scale multimedia installation with 330 printed sheets representing songs inherited from her father over the past 33 years. The songs are an obscure and highly personal collection; the patterns only reveal visual poetry and [ ... ]

    Free
  • Tagreed Darghouth: Gardens & Jungles

    The title of Tagreed Darghouth’s solo show references controversial remarks made by Josep Borrell, the outspoken foreign policy chief of the European Union; he described Europe as an idyllic garden of prosperity, contrasting it with the rest of the world [ ... ]

    Free
  • Madama Butterfly

    Dubai Opera

    The Hungarian State Opera/Ballet company’s second show for its Dubai sojourn is Puccini’s tragic opera, and we’re promised that “elegance meets artistry for an unforgettable evening of beauty and grace”. In turn-of-the-century Nagasaki, the dashing American naval officer Pinkerton (Boldizsár [ ... ]

    From AED 425
  • Letters of Light

    Louvre Abu Dhabi Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi

    Held in partnership with Bibliothèque nationale de France and France Muséums, this exhibition will spotlight the Holy Books of the three Abrahamic religions – the Quran, the Christian Bible, and the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) – exploring the historical context in [ ... ]

    AED 60
  • Najat Makki: The Scent of Memories

    Aisha Alabbar Gallery Warehouse C19, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai

    The second solo exhibition with this gallery for a pioneering figure within the local art community investigates the relationship between colour and the memories associated with specific places. In this new body of work, Makki layers colours on top of [ ... ]

    Free
  • Connecting Minds Book Club: Sandra Piesik

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

    The second outing for this now-regular LitFest-style session with “renowned authors from around the world” features the award-winning architect, author and scientist Sandra Piesik in conversation with urbanists and curators Ahmed and Rashid bin Shabib. The conversation will centre on [ ... ]

    AED 50
  • Madama Butterfly

    Dubai Opera

    A second performance of the Hungarian State Opera’s version of Puccini’s tragic opera. Boldizsár László is Pinkerton, Csilla Boross is the tragic Cio-Cio-san; the production is directed by director Miklós Gábor Kerényi, with János Kovács conducting the Hungarian State Opera [ ... ]

    From AED 425
  • Andrew Schoultz: Quantum Storm Rainbow

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

    Set against the backdrop of Dubai's vibrant art scene, Schoultz's solo exhibition delves into the intricate interplay of weather, technology, and societal dynamics, refracted through a rich spectrum of tones and colours. Says the gallery: "The title itself encapsulates the [ ... ]

    Free
  • Documenting a Performing Arts History

    NYUAD Campus, Conference Centre NYUAD Campus, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

    The Arts Center at NYUAD has produced a commemorative five-volume bilingual book The Arts Center – Building a performing arts community on Saadiyat Island to mark its development from before its official beginning in 2015 to its current position as [ ... ]

    Free, but pre-register
  • 1 MINUTE TO KILLIT: The Launch!

    Melrose Paramount Midtown, Al Mustaqbal Street, Dubai

    Another Dubomedy comedy night with alumni of its stand-up courses – they each get just one minute to make you laugh, there will be prizes, there's an after party, and it's free with no minimum spend (you need to pre-register, [ ... ]

    Free, but pre-register
  • A Century of Iconic Arab Music

    Majlis Madinat Jumeirah Dubai

    The Candlelight concerts experience – music with illumination provided by thousands of candles -- is applied to Arabic music by the Fusion Al Arab Group, presenting works such as Tehaddoh El bashar by Rashed Al-Majed, Umm Kulthum's Ana Fi Intizarak. [ ... ]

    From AED 150
  • Art & Sustainability with Sawsan Al Bahar

    CB2 Level 2, Mall of The Emirates, Dubai

    In this artist's talk Sawsan Al Bahar discusses the connection between art and sustainability, offering insights into her creative process and her work. The talk is at CB2, the high-end furniture and interiors store when Firetti is showing some of [ ... ]

    Free
  • Selfdrive Laughter Factory: The ‘Sweety Darling’ Tour

    Mövenpick Hotel JBR Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    Three good standups (two British, one American) for the latest Laughter Factory tour: Jack Gleadow – energetic and quirky performances that feature a mix of physical comedy, witty storytelling, and audience interaction (“if you like Lee Evans you will love [ ... ]

    AED 160
  • Candlelight: Beethoven’s Best Works

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

    Aldo Dotto plays a recital of what does indeed look like 1 pretty good selection of the composer's works for piano, all lit by candlelight. The programme: ♦ Piano Sonata op.13 'Pathetique' – 1st movement ♦ "Für Elise" (Bagatelle no.25 [ ... ]

    From AED 150
  • Buika – An Evening for the Soul

    Cultural Foundation Qasr al Hosn, Abu Dhabi

    The US-based Spanish singer, poet, composer, and music producer Concha Buika, known for her characteristic fusion of flamenco with copla, jazz, soul, and African polyrhythms, brings her new show to Abu Dhabi for a one-off performance. She has a stunning [ ... ]

    From AED 175
  • Selfdrive Laughter Factory: The ‘Sweety Darling’ Tour

    Mövenpick Hotel JBR Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    Three good standups (two British, one American) for the latest Laughter Factory tour: Jack Gleadow – energetic and quirky performances that feature a mix of physical comedy, witty storytelling, and audience interaction (“if you like Lee Evans you will love [ ... ]

    AED 160