• Roots and Reflections: A Journey through Time and Nature

    Firetti Contemporary Unit 29, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai

    A group show for four contemporary artists, curated by Mara Firetti around three central themes: memory and identity, nature and environment, and innovation and experimentation. Californian Robert Santoré explores his personal history and cultural roots; African-American artist Halim Flowers draws [ ... ]

    Free
  • An Odyssey of Identity

    Firetti Contemporary Unit 29, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai

    A group show for six African artists, curated by Celine Azem and exploring the nature of identity. "The exhibition draws on the influential theories of Bell Hooks, emphasising the importance of compartmentalising existence and acknowledging the ever-evolving construct of individuality" [ ... ]

    Free
  • Candlelight: 100 Years of Warner Bros

    Theatre at Mall of the Emirates Level 2, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    In celebration of Warner Bros Studios’ 100th anniversary, this concert features arrangements of popular music from the Warner Bros back catalogue played by the Belle Corde String Quartet and lit by candlelight. There are performances at 6.30pm and again at [ ... ]

    From AED50
  • Open Mic Night

    Mirage City Cinema Al Mureijah Art Spaces, Sharjah

    In collaboration with Blank Space, the open mic community initiative co-founded by Mohammed Abdelhakam and Mathani Mohamed, Sharjah Art Foundation is trying out an open mic night at Mirage City Cinema. Poets, musicians, performers or comedians "at any level of [ ... ]

    Free
  • Memórias Afro-Atlânticas: dir Gabriela Barreto (2019)

    Al Hamra Cinema Al Arouba Street, Sharjah

    This Brazilian documentary revisits the Afro-diasporic research of the African American linguist Lorenzo Turner in Brazil during the early 1940s. The film focuses on the terreiros de candomblé across the city of Salvador and the Recôncavo Baiano region in Bahia, [ ... ]

    Free, but pre-register
  • 421 Winter 2023 Exhibitions Closing Program

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

    An evening session at 421, with guided tours of the current shows (5-5.30pm Of Mythic Proportions, led by the artist, Mahshid Rafiei: 5.45-6.30pm And The Mirrors Are Many, led by curator Mona Al-Jadir and including a performance by Reem Almenhali). [ ... ]

    Free
  • 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
  • Dorsa Asadi: Strange Fruit

    Green Art Gallery Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    A first solo show for the Tehran-based artist, who had exhibited little outside Iran before Green Art Gallery brought her to Art Dubai 2022. Asadi works across a variety of media, including, ceramic sculpture, painting, drawing and embroidery; material is [ ... ]

    Free
  • Fridge Concert Series 40: Karman Line / WYWY

    The Fridge Alserkal Avenue, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    For the 40th Fridge Concert Series, the Fridge's people have paired new acts with alumni of past concert series for one-off guest collaborations – "merging voices, genres and artistic styles to create memorable music moments". Karman Line, who will be [ ... ]

    AED 80
  • Fridge Concert Series 40: Oxygen Trio by Tarek Skaikar / Imbue

    The Fridge Alserkal Avenue, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    For the 40th Fridge Concert Series, the Fridge's people have paired new acts with alumni of past concert series for one-off guest collaborations – "merging voices, genres and artistic styles to create memorable music moments". This gig celebrates International Jazz [ ... ]

    AED 80
  • 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
  • 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
  • Dubomedy Secret Comedy Show

    Melrose Paramount Midtown, Al Mustaqbal Street, Dubai

    The official launch of Dubomedy's new weekly gig at Melrose, the bar in Business Bay's Paramount Midtown. The 'secret' bit is the line-up: "you never know who will drop in ..." RSvP recommended since space is limited.

    Free, but pore-registration recommended
  • PechaKucha | On Space

    Etihad Museum 1 Jumeirah St, Dubai

    A dynamic lineup shares perspectives on space and the UAE's role in exploring it. “From stunning space photography to inspiring strategies for promoting STEM education, our speakers will take you on a journey through the cosmos and offer a glimpse [ ... ]

    Free but preregister
  • Chaillot – Théâtre national de la Danse / Rachid Ouramdane: Corps extrêmes

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

    It’s not often that a dance piece involves a climbing wall on the stage. But then it’s not often you’ll come across a dance piece that tests the ensemble’s physical strength, emotional barriers, and trust in each other in quite [ ... ]

    AED 105
  • Almost, Maine

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

    John Cariani’s play is made up of a series of interconnected vignettes that explore love and loss in a remote, mythical New England town called Almost. A charming exploration of love's many facets, filled with wit, warmth, and unexpected surprises, [ ... ]

    AED 100
  • The Jazz Night with Lady J

    Theatre of Digital Arts Souk Madinat Jumeriah, Dubai

    Jazz at the Theatre of Digital Art with Lady J and her trio. We're promised "a sparkling arrangement of the Grooviest Classics together with jazzed-up Radio Hits in 360° space" ...

    AED 180
  • Jason Manford LIVE!

    Emirates Palace Auditorium Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

    The effortlessly entertaining Jason Manford is always good value – aimable, quick-witted, good at sharp observational comedy ... Recommended.

  • Sooshi Mango: Off the Boat in Dubai

    Coca-Cola Arena City Walk, Dubai

    The long-established Australian comedy troupe (two brothers, and their best mate) comes loaded with classic comedy references – the likes of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, the Marx Brothers Laurel and Hardy – and an act that is usually rooted [ ... ]

    From AED 199
  • The Voyage Within

    Zidoun-Bossuyt Gallery 796 Jumeirah Street, Dubai

    A group show with Virginie Ellis, Osama Elolemy, Omar A. Hussein and Amit Kar. To 8 July.

    Free
  • A Journey into Architecture Archives: Beirut, Cairo, Rabat

    Al Qasimiyah School Sheikh Saqr Bin Khalid Al Qasimi St, Sharjah

    A Sharjah Architecture Triennial exhibition, curated by architect George Arbid, that highlights three institutions in the Arab world that hold and preserve key regional architecture archives – the Arab Center for Architecture (ACA) in Beirut (co-founded by Arbid), the Rare [ ... ]

    Free, but pre-register
  • Chaillot – Théâtre national de la Danse / Rachid Ouramdane: Corps extrêmes

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

    A second performance of this extraordinary dance piece choreographed by Rachid Ouramdane, an ambitious, captivating work about confronting danger, mastering the self, the beauty of flight and the desire to escape the chains of gravity; acrobats, rock climbers, flyers, slackliners [ ... ]

    AED 105
  • Almost, Maine

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

    A second evening for the H72 production of John Cariani’s play, a series of interconnected vignettes that explore love and loss in a remote, mythical New England town called Almost. A charming exploration of love's many facets, filled with wit, [ ... ]

    AED 100
  • Wash My Soul in the River’s Flow: dir Philippa Bateman (2022)

    Al Hamra Cinema Al Arouba Street, Sharjah

    This Australian documentary explores the personal relationship and musical partnership of First Nations singer-songwriters Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter as they rehearse and perform for the 2004 premiere of Kura Tungar—Songs from the River, presented in collaboration with Paul Grabowsky [ ... ]

    Free, but pre-register
  • Danú presents: The Dictator

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

    The Dictator is an interpretation in English of the play by the late, great Lebanese playwright Issam Mahfouz. This timely absurdist tale, set in a claustrophobic  fictional world, tells the story of a tyrant (the General, played by Aida Laubach) [ ... ]

    Free
  • Stuart Taylor

    Mövenpick Hotel JBR Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    Top South African comedy from a standup who claims more than 25 years in the business (including seven as host of a hit SABC travel show). He was a founding member of the influential Cape Comedy Collective in 1999, but [ ... ]

    AED 160
  • Almost, Maine

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

    Two final performance for H72's production of John Cariani’s play, made up of a series of interconnected vignettes that explore love and loss in a remote, mythical New England town called Almost. It's a charming exploration of love's many facets, [ ... ]

    AED 100
  • Culture Bus: Maraya Arts Centre

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

    The excellent 421 Culture Bus is visiting Sharjah for the Maraya's current exhibitions (3-4pm) and a guided tour of Al Noor Island (4.15-5pm). There'll be plenty of time for a pre-gallery lunch at Al Qasba (not included in the bus [ ... ]

    AED 30
  • Zakir Khan

    Dubai Opera

    The Indian comedian and actor is known for his “uniquely Indian” style of comedy, riffing on the emotions that are common to every Indian household. This Hindi language show is part of the Dubai Comedy Festival. A second show is [ ... ]

    From AED135
  • Music from the Alps: Swiss Classical Maestros

    Dubai Opera

    An evening of top quality chamber music, presented by SAMIT Event Group as part of the VIP Classical initiative. Violinist Maria Solozobova and pianist Christophe Berruex celebrate the best of the repertoire for their two instruments. The tickets are pricey [ ... ]

    AED500
  • Danú presents: The Dictator

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

    A second performance for this interpretation in English of a timely absurdist tale by the late Lebanese playwright Issam Mahfouz. Set in a claustrophobic  fictional world, it tells the story of a tyrant (the General, played by Aida Laubach) whose grandiose [ ... ]

    Free
  • Alena Lavdovskaya

    ME by Meliá 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 [ ... ]

  • Dara Ó Briain: So … Where Were We?

    Dubai Opera

    The generally excellent comedian (and writer, amateur astronomer, astrophotographer) is back on tour, and this gig falls right in the middle of another massive stint on the road. Apparently though he likes touring, and he enjoys appearing in front of [ ... ]

    From AED200
  • Atsuko, Beth, and Rachel

    Dubai Opera

    They are three of the best female American standups around at the moment – Atsuko Okatsuka, Beth Stelling, and Rachel Feinstein. LA-based Atsuko Okatsuka was named one of Variety's Top 10 Comics to Watch in 2022; born in Taiwan to [ ... ]

    From AED200
  • V4texx: Late Night Jam

    Theatre of Digital Arts Souk Madinat Jumeriah, Dubai

    The Dubai-based four-piece comes highly recommended, not least by a stonking residency at the Palazzo Versace and a brilliantly versatile repertoire that crosses from jazz to electronica. This is at ToDA, so expect cutting-edge 36o° visuals ... (Don't be fooled [ ... ]

    From AED 180
  • Jimmy Carr

    Dubai Opera

    The marmite comedian is back in town with a brand-new show that contains jokes about all kind of terrible things: “but they’re just jokes – they are not the terrible things ... Having political correctness at a comedy show is [ ... ]

    From AED200
  • Fridge Concert Series 40: Eirini / Jay Abo

    The Fridge Alserkal Avenue, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    For the 40th Fridge Concert Series, the Fridge's people have paired new acts with alumni of past concert series for one-off guest collaborations – "merging voices, genres and artistic styles to create memorable music moments". This gig pairs highly-rated and [ ... ]

    AED 80
  • Monika Grabuschnigg & Nour Malas: Four AM

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

    A two-person show for the summer, cleverly pivoted on that terrible time to be awake – too early to get up, too late to get back to deep sleep ... Says the gallery's essay: "Grabuschnigg and Malas don’t just share [ ... ]

    Free
  • Nostalgia: Annual CFAD Faculty Exhibition

    Ayyam Gallery B11, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    This year’s University of Sharjah annual CFAD faculty and alums exhibition features works by Ahed Al Kathiri, Brian Gonzales, Hala El Abora, Kawthar Alshurafa, Lina Elmalik, Muatasim Alkubaisy, Mohamed Yousef Alhammadi, Nada Abdallah, Nourbanu Hijazi, Thaier Helal, Tor Seidel, and [ ... ]

    Free
  • Rafi Bastos: Unfamiliar Territory

    Theatre at Mall of the Emirates Level 2, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    A 6’7” tall Brazilian "with an accent like Dracula's", Rafi Bastos was one of the first to pioneer the art of stand-up in Brazil. He's particularly good at quick-witted observational humour; this show (in English) is part of the Dubai [ ... ]

    From AED175
  • Joanne McNally & Vogue Williams: My Therapist Ghosted Me

    Dubai Opera

    Vogue Williams and Joanne McNally have been running their weekly chat for 150+ podcast episodes now; My Therapist Ghosted Me is the result of Joanne's therapist doing just that – ignoring her calls, refusing to answer the door at the [ ... ]

    From AED200
  • 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
  • Jim Jefferies: Give ‘Em What They Want

    Dubai Opera

    The Australian stand-up is stopping off at the Dubai Comedy Festival as part of a world tour. He's brash and confrontational, but able to charm and offend in equal measure; and he's a really good storyteller ...

    From AED200
  • Stephen Frost’s Improv All Stars

    Dubai Opera

    Top-quality improv from a British troupe of regulars (Stephen Frost, Steve Steen, Andy Smart, and Ian Coppinger) with no script and not the faintest idea of what will happen. They're very, very good; this show is part of the Dubai [ ... ]

    From AED175
  • Nasir Nasrallah: Poetic of Machines

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

    Nasrallah’s solo show is a mythical exploration of the relationship between humans and machines. Through a collection of intricate drawings, paintings, publications, textiles, and installations, the UAE-based artist takes us on a journey into a world of mechanical creatures that [ ... ]

    Free
  • SYNTHESIS: 2023 MFA Graduate Show

    Marking the second year of collaboration between 421 and NYUAD, the exhibition showcases the research and experimentation of the inaugural cohort of students completing the two-year Master of Fine Arts in Art and Media at NYUAD: For Elizabeth Dorazio, nature [ ... ]

    Free
  • Lloyd Griffith

    Bla Bla Dubai The Beach, Dubai

    Originally trained as a classical choral singer, Griffith is a working-class comedian, actor and choirboy from Grimsby (he was a presenter on Sky Sports show Soccer AM until the end of the 2018–19 season). A stand-up favourite, he has toured [ ... ]

    AED 150
  • Paul Elia & Dave Merheje: Lowkey Comedy

    Theatre at Mall of the Emirates Level 2, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    Raunchy humour and no filters from the Iraqi-American Paul Elia and Canadian Dave Merheje: definitely not suitable for children – “nothing is off limits”. This is a Dubai Comedy Festival Show.

    From AED 150
  • Evolutions in Collecting Art: Practices and Challenges

    Firetti Contemporary Unit 29, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai

    A conversation with attorney Vanja Mégevand, founder of AI-based legal tech company Lawrence Legal, discussing the changing landscape of art collecting and the challenges and practices that collectors and patrons face in their interactions with artists, galleries, and institutions. Expect [ ... ]

    Free but preregister
  • Amit Tandon: Masala Sandwich

    Theatre at Mall of the Emirates Level 2, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    The Indian comic (aka The Married Guy) has clocked up 100 million views across his social media platforms. Generally observational in style, his comedy crosses global boundaries; this Dubai Comedy Festival show – in English, incidentally – is an interwoven [ ... ]

    From AED 150