• The Secret of Pin-Up Island: dir Alecs Nastoiu (2024)

    RAK Chamber of Commerce Al Nakheel, Ras al Khaimah

    Cutting-edge AI-driven therapy has revolutionised treatment for depression; but Alesia's subconscious embarks on a virtual journey where reality and fantasy intertwine, forcing her to confront past demons to reclaim her mental health ... This Romanian film shows as part of [ ... ]

    Free
  • Wednesday Night Impro: Maestro

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

    The Courtyard's popular evening of elimination improv. 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 [ ... ]

    Free
  • The Two Walks: Works on Paper selected by Judy Karkour

    CARBON 12 17th Street, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    A group show of new and archival works on paper selected by Judy Karkour that brings together 14 artists with distinct material and artistic backgrounds – Sarah Almehairi, Faris Alshafar, Olaf Breuning, Bernhard Buhmann, André Butzer, Nadine Ghandour, Monika Grabuschnigg, [ ... ]

    Free
  • Alia Zaal: In Plain Sight

    Gallery Isabelle Unit 17, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    Alia Zaal’s first exhibition with the gallery features new paintings – on canvas, paper, and ceramic tiles – depicting intimate fragments of landscapes loved by the artist. Highlighting details of familiar plants, trees, and flora from the scrublands and forest [ ... ]

    Free
  • Van Gogh: Light from Darkness

    LoLo House Street 28a, Al Quoz 1, Dubai

    Art historian Rose Balston leads a deep dive into Van Gogh's life, art and legacy with a talk that goes behind the myth of the “tortured genius”, the madman, the failure "into the real story of an artist whose convictions [ ... ]

    AED 495
  • CANCELLED Meet the artist: Samar Hejaz

    Aisha Alabbar Gallery Warehouse C19, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai

    An intimate artist talk that offers a closer look into Samar Hejazi’s evolving artistic practice and the conceptual threads that shape her work – particularly her exhibition In Circulation, currently showingat this gallery. The evening will unfold around the themes [ ... ]

    Free, but pre-register
  • Homegrown and happening

    Cinema Akil Warehouse 68, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai

    Cinema Akil has been active in promoting the principle that we should get behind the small entrepreneur, both for support and because they provide the roots of growth; and it's difficult to argue with that, on so many levels. This [ ... ]

  • The Comedy Lab

    Radisson Red Dubai Digital Park, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubai

    Mad Cat Comedy's regular Thursday stop in Silicon Oasis promises "insane laughs every week".  The door price of AED 99 includes one drink and popcorn.

    AED 99
  • Ismail Abdi: Visa Required

    Pepperoni Comedy Club 25 Jump Street 25h Hotel, One Central World Trade Center, Dubai

    A stand-up show that delves into "life, travel, identity, and the everyday struggles we all face". Abdi is definitely an engaging storyteller, so this should be a good night ...

    From AED 150
  • LAST CHANCE Inherited Lines

    La Galerie, Alliance Française Dubai Alliance Française Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    Combining language, heritage, and expression, the world of Arabic calligraphy offers centuries of tradition for artists to draw upon. Curated by DiarBid ArtHouse and presented by Dubai Culture and Alliance Française Dubai, this exhibition features established artists, calligraphers, and instructors [ ... ]

    Free
  • Kensuke’s Kingdom: dir Neil Boyle and Kirk Hendry (2023)

    RAK Chamber of Commerce Al Nakheel, Ras al Khaimah

    An animated adventure based on the 1999 children's novel by Michael Morpurgo. On a worldwide sailing trip with his family, young Michael and his dog are swept overboard during a storm in the Pacific. They wash ashore on a desert [ ... ]

    Free
  • Nial Dursun

    Meyana Theatre Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Jumeirah Street, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    A chance to see a genuine Dubai-grown prodigy: born with Irish and Turkish roots and raised in the UAE, 14-year-old pianist and composer Nial Dursun offers a concert programme that reflects both his heritage and his upbringing – drawing on [ ... ]

    From AED 125
  • 100 Years of Bollywood: The Musical

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

    Presented by Malhaar in association with the Indian Embassy, this spectacular production brings alive the golden eras of Hindi cinema through live music, dance, and theatre. More than 40 artists revisiting the songs and style that continue to shape Bollywood across [ ... ]

    From AED 150
  • Politically Incorrect Comedy

    Xandros Singature 1 Hotel, Barsha Heights, Dubai

    Mad Cat Comedy's regular standup night at Xandros in Signature 1 Hotel, TECOM. The cover charge of AED 80 includes one drink.

    AED 80
  • Saaniya Abbas: Hellarious

    Pepperoni Comedy Club 25 Jump Street 25h Hotel, One Central World Trade Center, Dubai

    The razor-sharp Dubai-based comedian with a high-energy standup show packed with sharp observations, relatable stories, and dry wit "My mother always said I’d go to hell, so I figured I might as well write a show about it". Recommended.

    From AED 160
  • Juma Al Haj: Interoception

    Iris Projects Studio 20, Madar 39, MiZa, Port Zayed, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

    Centred on the concept of 'interoception', the body’s ability to sense and process its internal state, this exhibition examines how moments of crisis are internalised and transformed into material expression. Developed in response to the first missile attacks reported in [ ... ]

    Free
  • Cross Scripts

    Lawrie Shabibi Unit 21, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai

    Lawrie Shabibi's summer show is always a good one, bringing together a good range of artists  – in this case a group whose practices, as the gallery has it, "move fluidly between categories, resisting the distinctions that have traditionally separated [ ... ]

    Free
  • Emirati Short Films

    RAK Chamber of Commerce Al Nakheel, Ras al Khaimah

    This free programme screens as part of the European Film Festival, organised by the Delegation of the European Union to the UAE in partnership with the Cultural Foundation Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah Art. The films: Guardians of the [ ... ]

    Free
  • Strings/∅ – an ambient listening experience

    Jameel Arts Centre Al Jaddaf, Dubai

    "An intimate, process-based session exploring calibration through sound, an ongoing negotiation with feedback, error and environment" organised by Assembly 2025-2026 member Saiki Padhy as part of the Youth Takeover 2026. Visitors are invited behind the scenes of music creation, where [ ... ]

    Free, but pre-register
  • Mind to Map – Translating Thought into Form

    Jameel Arts Centre Al Jaddaf, Dubai

    In this hands-on workshop with Meera Abdulrahim Salem, organised by Assembly 2025-2026 member Poorvaja Subramanian as part of the Youth Takeover 2026, visitors will decode their own emotions, routines and data into maps, symbols and form – using colour, grids [ ... ]

    Free, but pre-register
  • RE:SET

    Dubai Opera

    An interesting evening – a total of 13 performers delivering comedy, music, storytelling and digital culture "in a single continuous night that keeps evolving as it unfolds ... Every element is carefully curated to create an immersive atmosphere filled with [ ... ]

    From AED 446
  • Joke Hub

    Canopy by Hilton Dubai Al Seef Al Seef Street, Umm Hurair 1, Dubai

    A regular Mad Cat Comedy night – "Dubai's wildest comedy show on Saturday" at "the first purpose built comedy room in the country". The cover charge of AED 99 includes two F&B coupons.

    AED 99
  • The Laughter Factory Premium Comedy Club

    Studio One Hotel Dubai Studio City, Dubai

    The June Laughter Factory tour again has the usual mix of international visitors and local stars: Michael Shafar – the headliner is the London-based Australian comedian, a fast-rising name on the circuit who combines fearless observation in his razor-sharp writing [ ... ]

    AED 140
  • Luca & Valentina: Aire Condizionata

    Pepperoni Comedy Club 25 Jump Street 25h Hotel, One Central World Trade Center, Dubai

    Dubai's only Italian-language comedy night, we think. These two (Luca Cupani and Valentina Danubio) are comedy naturals  ...

    From AED 160
  • LAST CHANCE Jorge Tacla: Time the destroyer is time the preserver

    Al Mureijah Square Sharjah

    While Jorge Tacla was only an adolescent during the 1973 coup against Chile’s democratically-elected socialist president Salvador Allende, the upheaval left an irrevocable mark on his politics and practice. Titled after a line from a TS Eliot poem, Tacla’s "most [ ... ]

    Free
  • The Jazz Room: A Journey to the Heart of New Orleans

    Belcanto Restaurant, Dubai Opera Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Blvd, Downtown Dubai, Dubai

    New Orleans jazz – ragtime, blues, brass – in an intimate, street-style bar setting. Shows last about an hour, and there are performances at 6.30pm and 9pm. Note that there's a AED 150 minimum spend on food and/or beverages in [ ... ]

    From AED 140
  • The Laughter Factory Premium Comedy Club

    Bla Bla Dubai The Beach, Dubai

    The June Laughter Factory tour again has the usual mix of international visitors and local stars. This lunchtime gig is an interesting departure for The Laughter Factory – enjoy a proper roast Sunday lunch before or after the 2pm comedy [ ... ]

    AED 140
  • Imah Dumagay: Hey Daddy

    Meyana Theatre Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Jumeirah Street, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    "Dubai's funniest Filipina" (true dat) with 60 minutes of stand-up, live singing, and crowd work about beauty, confidence, and "the very specific joy of being a Filipina woman living her loudest life in this city".

    From AED 165
  • Imah Dumagay: Hey Daddy

    Meyana Theatre Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Jumeirah Street, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    Dubai’s powerhouse Filipina has a new show – 60 minutes of stand-up comedy, singing, and crowdwork about beauty, confidence, and "the very specific joy of being a Filipina woman living her loudest life in this city".  

    From AED 165
  • LAST CHANCE Urdu Worlds

    Ishara Art Foundation Alserkal Avenue, Dubai

    A contemporary art exhibition dedicated to the Urdu language: according to Ishara, "the show explores how language provides the tools with which we create and shape our internal ‘worlds’. Words, rather than simply describing our surroundings, give rise to our [ ... ]

    Free
  • Ocean with David Attenborough

    The Climate Tribe MiZA, Abu Dhabi

    A special TCT Screening Club evening in celebration of World Oceans Day featuring the stunning, visually immersive 2025 documentary, narrated by Attenborough, which explores the importance of the Earth's oceans and the threats. There'll be a discussion after the screening.

    Free, but pre-register
  • Monday Night Comedy: This Is Impro / Film Noir Improvised

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

    A two-act evening of spontaneous scenes and songs based on audience suggestions, by some of our most experienced players and guests. After warming up with some fun games and scenes, the improvisers bring the 1950’s Film Noir genre to life [ ... ]

    Free
  • An Evening With Xu Zhong

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

    Xu Zhong, one of China’s most distinguished conductors and pianists, takes the baton with the UAE National Orchestra for a concert of shared artistry and cultural exchange. The programme: Liu Tieshan and Mao Yuan Dance of The Yao People Brahms Concerto for [ ... ]

    From AED 100
  • Arts Chat: Building a Life as a Musician

    NYUAD Art Gallery Reading Room أبو ظبي, أبو ظبي, United Arab Emirates

    The latest in an excellent ongoing series on artistic practice, sustainability, and the practicalities of a creative life. Drawing from the panellist's individual experiences, the discussion will explore collaboration, visibility, creative development, navigating local and international scenes, and the opportunities [ ... ]

    Free
  • The Zero Apologies Show

    Easy Tiger Al Ain Palace Hotel, Corniche St, Abu Dhabi

    "A comedy show where you are the joke." Live crowd work at its most aggressive; "no scripts, no filters, no safe spots". Mad Cat Comedy's main man Miqdaad D pushes the boundaries ... and he says he's taking a break [ ... ]

    AED 99
  • Wednesday Night Impro: Maestro

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

    The Courtyard's popular evening of elimination improv. 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 [ ... ]

    Free
  • Comedy Lounge

    The Coterie Level 2, Ibn Battuta Mall, Jebel Ali, Dubai

    Flamingo Live's regular comedy club slot at the Coterie pub in Ibn Battuta Mall. The door price includes two drinks.

    AED 99
  • Made in the UAE

    JD Malat Gallery ACT 2 Tower, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Blvd 13A ,Downtown Dubai, Dubai

    A group exhibition for seven UAE-based artists – Ahmed Emad (UAE/Egypt), Anila Ashraf (Pakistan), Camelia Mohebi (UAE), Elizaveta Pugacheva (Russia), Samo Shalaby (Egypt/Palestine), Sasan Nasernia (Iran) and Yousif Albadi (Sudan) – chosen from more than 300 submissions received through an [ ... ]

    Free
  • Yahael Camara Onono: Mandé Maqamāt 

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

    Beyond trade routes and history books lies a deeper current: shared rhythms, spiritual traditions, and cultural echoes that have travelled for centuries across deserts and oceans alike. Mandé Maqamāt invites audiences into a world where the Gulf meets the vast [ ... ]

    AED 105
  • The Laughter Factory Premium Comedy Club

    Radisson DAMAC Hills Hessa Street Dubailand, Dubai

    The June Laughter Factory tour again has the usual mix of international visitors and local stars. This is the first of two consecutive nights here. On the bill: Michael Shafar – the headliner is the London-based Australian comedian, a fast-rising [ ... ]

    AED 140
  • The Comedy Lab

    Radisson Red Dubai Digital Park, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubai

    Mad Cat Comedy's regular Thursday stop in Silicon Oasis promises "insane laughs every week".  The door price of AED 99 includes one drink and popcorn.

    AED 99
  • ARTerials

    Total Arts at the Courtyard Al Quoz, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    A popup exhibition celebrating artistic connections between Germany and the UAE via works from six German artists living and working here. Their diverse practices include painting, sculpture and photography. The artists Anja Bamberg Mirjam Collor Petra Kaltenbach Tor Seidel Amir [ ... ]

    Free
  • Gharam Electric

    Dubai Opera Studio Downtown Dubai, Dubai

    Gharam Electric, the Futuro-Arabe project of Lebanese musician and vocalist Wassim Bou Malham, plays the new album Afterlove / ما بعد الحب –eight tracks that fuse Arabic musical tradition with contemporary electronic production: maqam scales through synthesizers, falsetto vocals, soulful grooves, [ ... ]

    AED 250
  • 100th Anniversary of Maya Plisetskaya

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

    Maya Plisetskaya (1925 – 2015) was a Bolshoi star as dancer and choreographer. As a dancer, she developed "an individual, iconoclastic style that capitalised on her electrifying stage presence" as ballet historian Tim Scholl put it. "Her very personal style [ ... ]

    From AED 250
  • The Laughter Factory Premium Comedy Club

    Radisson DAMAC Hills Hessa Street Dubailand, Dubai

    The June Laughter Factory tour again has the usual mix of international visitors and local stars: Michael Shafar – the headliner is the London-based Australian comedian, a fast-rising name on the circuit who combines fearless observation in his razor-sharp writing [ ... ]

    AED 140
  • LAST CHANCE Noritoshi Mitsuuchi: Bloom

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

    A solo exhibition by Noritoshi Mitsuuchi, whose paintings "unfold as living worlds where forms gently emerge from within one another, expanding, dissolving, and reappearing in a continuous state of becoming". Drawing on motifs that evoke plant life, his imagery suggests [ ... ]

    Free