• On the Brink! A Celebration of Afro-Arab Identity

    Zayed Theatre, SUAD Campus Hazza Bin Zayed St, Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

    The AlMultaqa Harmonic Orchestra blends African rhythms, Arabian melodies, and Sudanese pentatonic notes; this celebration of Afro-Arab culture and identity is realised through On the Brink, described as a "groundbreaking" composition that forges "a brave new path in orchestral music [ ... ]

    Free
  • Singin’ in the Rain

    Dubai Opera

    The highly successful stage adaptation of the iconic MGM film about silent film actors who face their share of struggles over the gradual transition to talkies. The plot isn't what matters, of course; it's the songs – classics like Good [ ... ]

    AED 450
  • Jazz At The Island: Mezzotono / Nesrine

    Al Noor Island Buhairah Corniche Road, Khalid Lagoon, Sharjah

    Jazz under the stars on Sharjah's Al Noor Island – though the evening might be stretching the definition of 'jazz'. The headliners are Mezzotono, the Italian a cappella five-voice group with a unique style which blends vocal harmonies, beatboxing, and [ ... ]

    AED 100
  • Cineolio’s Cinenigh

    Mohammed Bin Rashid Library Al Jaddaf, Dubai

    Three short films that reflect diverse visions and experiences from around the world, presented with Cineolio founder and film director Nawaf Al Janahi: Frog: dir Jung-In Kim (South Korea, 2011: 15 mins) The story of a young girl who dreams [ ... ]

    Free, but pre-register
  • Afterlife

    Yas Gateway Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

    Abu Dhabi gets a taste of the premium electronic music festival founded in 2016 by the Italian music production and DJ duo Tale Of Us. The Afterlife brand has evolved from a club night into an event series and record [ ... ]

    From AED 655
  • Peau d’Âne: dir Jacques Demy (1970)

    Jardins Germaine Tillion Hazza Bin Zayed St, Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

    Jacques Demy's musical fantasy comedy proved to be his biggest success in France, and is regarded now as a cult classic. It's based on a fairy tale about a king (Jean Marais) who wishes to marry his own daughter (Catherine [ ... ]

    Free, but pre-register
  • It’s All Been Done Before

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

    An evening of short plays written and directed by Sanjeev Dixit for Third Half Theatre: The Monkey's Paw: A story of a family whose lives are altered when an old friend brings a strange talisman into their home.  (adaptated from [ ... ]

    AED 120
  • Singin’ in the Rain

    Dubai Opera

    The highly successful stage adaptation of the iconic MGM film about silent film actors who face their share of struggles over the gradual transition to talkies. The plot isn't what matters, of course; it's the songs – classics like Good [ ... ]

    AED 450
  • Singin’ in the Rain

    Dubai Opera

    The highly successful stage adaptation of the iconic MGM film about silent film actors who face their share of struggles over the gradual transition to talkies. The plot isn't what matters, of course; it's the songs – classics like Good [ ... ]

    AED 450
  • LAST CHANCE Ayesha Sultana: Fragility and Resilience

    Ishara Art Foundation Alserkal Avenue, Dubai

    The first major solo show in the GCC for the Bangladesh-born US-based artist. Her practice spans drawing, painting and sculpture, "exploring the material and conceptual possibilities of form and medium ... Sultana proposes that fragility can be a form of [ ... ]

  • Colour Gives Me Life

    Firetti Contemporary Unit 29, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai

    A group show of works by Ludmilla Radchenko, Rachel K (above), Ihab Ahmad, Laurent Perbos, Yana Abramova and Samuele Ventanni curated by Celine Azem. The aim is to explore how colour extends beyond visual experience, "shaping memory, emotion, and perception [ ... ]

    Free
  • Jazz At The Island: Aleksandra Krstic / Tania Kassis

    Al Noor Island Buhairah Corniche Road, Khalid Lagoon, Sharjah

    Jazz under the stars on Sharjah's Al Noor Island – though again we're not sure either artist would regard themselves as characteristic of (or confined to) the jazz genre. The Dubai-based Serbian singer, songwriter, pianist and composer Aleksandra Krstic has [ ... ]

    AED 100
  • Dubai Motorcycle Film Festival 2024

    Warehouse Four Al Quoz, Dubai

    The Dubai Motorcycle Film Festival – a filmic celebration of al fresco motoring with handlebars – returns for its fourth iteration, promising "the best dramatic, documentary and short films that reveal the passion of riders and the soul behind riding [ ... ]

    AED 65
  • It’s All Been Done Before

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

    A second evening of short plays written and directed by Sanjeev Dixit for Third Half Theatre: The Monkey's Paw: A story of a family whose lives are altered when an old friend brings a strange talisman into their home.  (adaptated [ ... ]

    AED 120
  • The Mask of Zorro: dir Martin Campbell (1998)

    25hours Hotel Dubai One Central Trade Center Street, Dubai

    Antonio Banderas, Anthony Hopkins and Catherine Zeta-Jones have great fun in this easy-to-watch action/adventure movie. Hopkins is Zorro, escaping from prison to find his long-lost daughter (Zeta-Jones) and avenge the death of his wife. He is aided by his successor [ ... ]

    Free
  • LAST CHANCE William Kentridge: A Shadow of a Shadow

    Sharjah Art Foundation – Bait Al Serkal Arts Square, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

    A master draughtsman, illustrator, filmmaker and sculptor, William Kentridge is also a prolific theatre-maker who has collaborated with local theatre groups and world-renowned opera houses. This is the first exhibition to focus solely on Kentridge’s theatre practice and surveys 23 [ ... ]

    Free
  • LAST CHANCE Antonio Dias: The Search for an Open Enigma

    Sharjah Art Foundation – Bait Al Serkal Arts Square, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

    Work by Antonio Dias (1944–2018), an artist who relentlessly transgressed material and conceptual boundaries, tackling complex sociopolitical issues across diverse mediums. Drawing upon Hélio Oiticica’s 1969 analysis of Dias’ practice, the title embraces the versatile, ever-changing and subversive nature of [ ... ]

    Free
  • Singin’ in the Rain

    Dubai Opera

    The highly successful stage adaptation of the iconic MGM film about silent film actors who face their share of struggles over the gradual transition to talkies. The plot isn't what matters, of course; it's the songs – classics like Good [ ... ]

    AED 450
  • LAST CHANCE Steven Naifeh: Found in Translation

    Artbooth Gallery Centro Capital Center, Al Khaleej Al Arabi Street, Abu Dhabi

    The first solo exhibition in Abu Dhabi in 50 years of works by Steven Naifeh, Pulitzer Prize-winning author, businessman and artist – particularly of large-scale geometric abstractions that owe much to hos appreciation of geometric art in the Middle East. [ ... ]

    Free
  • Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial: Bik Van der Pol’s The poem that jumps the fence

    Abu Dhabi Beach Al Hisn Street, Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

    Artist duo Bik Van der Pol (Liesbeth Bik and Jos Van der Pol) engage in collaborative projects on how art constructs public spaces for speculative thought and collective creativity. The poem that jumps the fence features weekly performances on Abu [ ... ]

    Free, but pre-register
  • Remote Abu Dhabi by Rimini Protokoll

    Rimini Protokoll pushes the boundaries of conventional theatre. During this performance walk within the collective’s ‘Remote X’ series (2013–ongoing), you are invited to explore the growing presence of artificial intelligence in future cities; for this tour, designed specifically for Abu [ ... ]

    Free, but pre-register
  • Remote Al Ain by Rimini Protokoll

    Rimini Protokoll pushes the boundaries of conventional theatre. During this performance walk within the collective’s ‘Remote X’ series (2013–ongoing), you are invited to explore the growing presence of artificial intelligence in future cities; for this tour, designed specifically for Al [ ... ]

    Free, but pre-register
  • It’s All Been Done Before

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

    The final performance for this evening of short plays written and directed by Sanjeev Dixit for Third Half Theatre: The Monkey's Paw: A story of a family whose lives are altered when an old friend brings a strange talisman into [ ... ]

    AED 120
  • Mezzotono

    Cultural Foundation Qasr al Hosn, Abu Dhabi

    A Mezzotono concert is always engaging, always interesting. They describe themselves as a small orchestra without instruments – just five voices, quality singing, and a unique style which blends vocal harmonies, beatboxing, and vocal percussion. They aim to cover many [ ... ]

    AED 75
  • Home Alone: dir Chris Columbus (1990)

    25hours Hotel Dubai One Central Trade Center Street, Dubai

    The original and the best of the Home Alone franchise, funny and slightly sad because eight-year-old Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) is accidentally left behind while his family heads to Paris for Christmas and they simply don’t notice that he’s not there [ ... ]

    Free
  • Compagnie Nacera Belaza: La Nuée

    Sharjah Performing Arts Academy University City, Sharjah

    The title of this dance piece by Nacera Belaza holds two meanings in French: a dark cloud and a dense flock of birds. She developed the performance following a research visit to the First Nation Dakota tribes in North America; [ ... ]

    Free, but pre-register
  • Theatresports: Santas vs Elves 1

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

    A newish Courtyard tradition: competitive improv. In Theatresports, teams of improvisors are selected to compete against each other for points awarded by a panel of judges. The teams issue challenges to each other on the seasonal theme, and the judges [ ... ]

    Free, but pre-register
  • Bejeweled: A Symphony of Gemology and Art

    Louvre Abu Dhabi Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi

    A two-part talk exploring the history and craftsmanship of 11 extraordinary pieces from the museum’s permanent collection, presented by L’ÉCOLE Middle East and Louvre Abu Dhabi. There’s a livestream talk on 9 December (3-4pm: the Zoom link is here) followed [ ... ]

    Free
  • Bye Bye Tiberias: dir Lina Soualem (2022)

    Cinema Akil in 25hours Hotel Trade Center St, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    Thirty years ago, Hiam Abbass left her native village in Galilee to follow her acting dream in France. Camera in hand, her daughter Lina questions her mother’s bold choices and the way the women in her family – who she [ ... ]

    Free
  • Imperial Orchestra: Cinema Medley 2

    Coca-Cola Arena City Walk, Dubai

    Imperial Orchestra, described as "a modern-day symphony orchestra from St Petersburg" with 120 musicians on stage under the baton of Lev Dunaev, returns to the Coca-Cola Arena for a second concert of orchestral arrangements of well-known cinema themes – including [ ... ]

    From AED 195
  • Singin’ in the Rain

    Dubai Opera

    The highly successful stage adaptation of the iconic MGM film about silent film actors who face their share of struggles over the gradual transition to talkies. The plot isn't what matters, of course; it's the songs – classics like Good [ ... ]

    AED 450
  • LAST CHANCE Wissam Shawkat: Calligraformism

    Mestaria Gallery Unit 35, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai

    The Iraqi artist and calligrapher introduces the latest examples of his signature style, merging the beauty of classical Arabic scripts with modern design principles; Calligraforms transforms Thuluth script lettering into abstract, fluid forms that are removed their textual meaning and [ ... ]

    Free
  • Men’s Jewelry, Signs & Insignia

    L'ÉCOLE Middle East, School of Jewelry Arts Building 10, Dubai Design District, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    Jewellery is usually treated as a style of female adornment, but these days especially it’s also an important signifier for men – at once a social and cultural marker, an instrument of power assertion, a communication tool, and yes a [ ... ]

    AED 50
  • Encore Presents: Benjamin Grosvenor

    Dubai Opera Studio Downtown Dubai, Dubai

    Something of a coup for the Encore Presents series of recitals, curated by Amira Fouad and presented with the Royal Grammar School Guildford Dubai: the stunning British piano virtuoso Benjamin Grosvenor has been accumulating accolades – from reviewers (“everything Grosvenor [ ... ]

    AED 500
  • Theatresports: Santas vs Elves 2

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

    A second evening of festive competitive improv. In Theatresports, teams of improvisors are selected to compete against each other for points awarded by a panel of judges. The teams issue challenges to each other on the seasonal theme, and the [ ... ]

    Free, but pre-register
  • Singin’ in the Rain

    Dubai Opera

    The highly successful stage adaptation of the iconic MGM film about silent film actors who face their share of struggles over the gradual transition to talkies. The plot isn't what matters, of course; it's the songs – classics like Good [ ... ]

    AED 450
  • Abdulla Lutfi: LuffyxLutfi | Emirati-Manga

    Mestaria Gallery Unit 35, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai

    The Emirati artist introduces "a unique fusion of Japanese manga and Emirati culture"; Lufti's bold black-and-white line drawings aim to capture the essence of life in the UAE with humour and insight and a style inspired by Lutfi’s childhood love [ ... ]

    Free
  • LAST CHANCE Tyrrell Winston: Life in the Fast Lane

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

    Winston’s work blends art with sports culture, transforming everyday objects – deflated basketballs, cigarette butts, even the signatures of artists and athletes –into pieces that challenge viewers to reconsider the significance of these items; the results "resonate with resilience, legacy, [ ... ]

    Free
  • The Mask of Zorro: dir Martin Campbell (1998)

    25hours Hotel Dubai One Central Trade Center Street, Dubai

    Antonio Banderas, Anthony Hopkins and Catherine Zeta-Jones have great fun in this easy-to-watch action/adventure movie. Hopkins is Zorro, escaping from prison to find his long-lost daughter (Zeta-Jones) and avenge the death of his wife. He is aided by his successor [ ... ]

    Free
  • Singin’ in the Rain

    Dubai Opera

    The highly successful stage adaptation of the iconic MGM film about silent film actors who face their share of struggles over the gradual transition to talkies. The plot isn't what matters, of course; it's the songs – classics like Good [ ... ]

    AED 450
  • The Laughter Factory: Endless Fun, End of Season, Parties

    Dukes The Palm Palm Dubai, Dubai

    The Laughter Factory’s seasonal tour promises a "hilarious memorable night” with "hand-picked headline comics from across the planet” and "non-stop belly laughs from start to finish”. Sets the bar really quite high … The acts: Chris Washington UK standup with [ ... ]

    AED 160
  • LAST CHANCE An African Story

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

    A group show for four African artists from the Swiss-Zim Heritage stable, all first-timers for Dubai – evocative depictions of heritage and community from Keith Zenda, wildlife scenes by Tonderai Mujuru, Barry Lungu with rich expressions of daily urban life, [ ... ]

    Free
  • Ryoten Ogata: The Essence of Blue

    Hotel Indigo Dubai Downtown Marasi Drive, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    Inspired by his upbringing in Hokkaido, Ryoten Ogata creates artwork with the sea as a recurring theme; each painting represents a singular, unrepeatable moment of movement on the sea's surface To 12 April.

    Free
  • Ginevra Panzetti and Enrico Ticconi: Harleking

    Sima Performing Arts Warehouse 38, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    Ginevra Panzetti and Enrico Ticconi, based between Berlin and Turin, have been working as a duo since 2008 with a style that merges dance, performance and visual art. Harleking is a choreographic work that was first seen in 2018 and has [ ... ]

    AED 90
  • Singin’ in the Rain

    Dubai Opera

    The highly successful stage adaptation of the iconic MGM film about silent film actors who face their share of struggles over the gradual transition to talkies. The plot isn't what matters, of course; it's the songs – classics like Good [ ... ]

    AED 450