• 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 Miramar Al Nayyar: Moving Through the Ether

    Tabari Artspace Gate Village Level 2, DIFC, Dubai

    A collection of abstract figurative works on canvas, "inviting viewers into a realm of recognition and constant metamorphosis ... Each 190 x 120cm canvas serves as a conduit for Miramar's endeavour to encapsulate the essence of the natural formations of [ ... ]

    Free
  • Art History Evenings: Orientalism in Decorative Arts, Architecture and Fashion

    BFAF Culture District, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi

    BFAF's art history lecture programme continues with art historian and researcher Maryam Jalali, who will explore how Eastern motifs and styles were romanticised in Western design from the 18th to the early 20th centuries. Above: Fabio Fabbi, Women Resting on [ ... ]

    Free, but pre-register
  • Les Monologues du V.

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

    A reprise of Culture Emulsion's careful and effective treatment of the Vagina Monologues; the dramatist Eve Ensler based her text on more than 200 interviews with women who confided their sensations, their traumas, their aspirations, their anxieties, their joys … [ ... ]

    AED 110
  • PowerPointless

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

    One of the most consistently funny of the Courtyard's classic improv gigs is back after a couple of months' hiatus: the speakers have to give a presentation on a slide deck they’ve never seen before, with the topic determined at [ ... ]

    Free, but donations welcome
  • LAST CHANCE Mr Brainwash

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

    A solo show for the French-born LA-based street artist who started filming graffiti art and subsequently became an artist in his own right after an off-hand suggestion from Banksy. As it happens, many of the 10 works on show here [ ... ]

    Free
  • Mohamed Yousif and Maggie Otieno: Solace in Soil

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

    A duo exhibition for Emirati artist Mohamed Yousif and Kenyan sculptor Maggie Otieno that "celebrates the grounded connections between the practices of the two artists and the cross-cultural exchange between the Middle East and Africa". Or as curator Shamma Al [ ... ]

    Free
  • Spectacle d’improvisation

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

    Ninety minutes of unplanned improv, performed (in French, of course) by students of Culture Emulsion's Dubai-based drama school as part of its annual Tous en Scène festival of Francophone theatre.

    AED 110
  • Ballet Hispánico

    Cultural Foundation Qasr al Hosn, Abu Dhabi

    An Arab World Premiere for Ballet Hispánico, the largest Hispanic cultural organisation in the States. The company (and subsequently its associated School of Dance and Community Arts Partnerships) was founded in 1970 to challenging stereotypes and demonstrate the joy and [ ... ]

    From AED 100
  • Hans Zimmer Live

    Coca-Cola Arena City Walk, Dubai

    Hans Zimmer is probably best known for some of the most listened-to soundtracks in the history of cinema – The Lion King, Gladiator, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Dark Knight, Dune - but his live show is also pretty special. [ ... ]

    From AED299
  • LAST CHANCE Sheher, Prakriti, Devi

    Ishara Art Foundation Alserkal Avenue, Dubai

    Riffing on the interwoven relationship between cities, the natural environment and the sacred, this show presents work by 12 artists and collectives working across diverse contexts of urban, rural, domestic, communitarian, public and non-material spaces. In this show are works [ ... ]

    Free
  • Sean McLennan: key of the glass door

    Mahaweb Art Studio Goshi Warehouse Village - 14 22nd St, Al Quoz 3, Dubai

    A short exhibition of work by the Scottish Mawaheb artist, his first solo show. To 6 June.

    Free
  • Les Tontons flingueurs

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

    A stage version of Michel Audiard's screenplay. Former mobster Fernand is living a quiet life, but things change when a dying friend asks him to take care of both his daughter and his shady business ... Gripping stuff. Performed (in [ ... ]

    AED 110
  • Ballet Hispánico

    Cultural Foundation Qasr al Hosn, Abu Dhabi

    A second and final Abu Dhabi performance for Ballet Hispánico, the largest Hispanic cultural organisation in the States. The company (and subsequently its associated School of Dance and Community Arts Partnerships) was founded in 1970 to challenging stereotypes and demonstrate [ ... ]

    From AED 100
  • Same Same, but Different: A Sit Down with Shawn and Friends

    VOX Mercato Mercato Mall, Jumeirah Beach Rd, Dubai

    An update of the show he did at this venue a month or two ago; Shawn Chidiac, aka ‘My Parents are Divorced', is doing this chat-plus-comedy evening once a month at VOX Cinemas Mercato Mall until the end of the [ ... ]

    AED 175
  • Hans Zimmer Live

    Coca-Cola Arena City Walk, Dubai

    The second of two spectacular shows where the multi-instrumentalist composer Hans Zimmer recreates some of his exceptional film scores – The Lion King, Gladiator, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Dark Knight, Dune – arranged for live performance with a large [ ... ]

    From AED299
  • Sabrina: dir Billy Wilder (1954)

    Manarat al Saadiyat Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

    A newly-restored print of one of Hollywood's classics – romantic, witty, a great director, and full of stars: Humphrey Bogart, William Holden and Audrey Hepburn lead in this Cinderella story of a gauche girl who returns from a trip to [ ... ]

    Free
  • The Saleh Show Live

    Alliance Française Dubai Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    "Wit, charm, and boundless humour" are promised from this "hilarious stand-up comedy show" by Saleh Al-Nawawy. It's also a podcast, and "one or two" audience members will be interviewed on stage. There'll be a guest comic too, though we don't [ ... ]

    AED 170
  • Les Tontons flingueurs

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

    The second performance for this Michel Audiard play. Former mobster Fernand is living a quiet life, but things change when a dying friend asks him to take care of both his daughter and his shady business ... Gripping stuff. Performed [ ... ]

    AED 110
  • 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 plus guests. Classic Courtyard stuff. It's free, but you need to put your [ ... ]

    Free but donations welcome
  • Le Dîner de Cons

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

    A reprise of Culture Emulsion's version of Francis Veber's highly successful modern French farce. Pierre Brochant is one of the Parisian businessmen who have a weekly 'idiots' dinner', where guests bring along a dimwit who can be ridiculed. Brochant finds [ ... ]

    AED 110
  • Rushdi’s Comedy Souk

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

    A regular monthly evening of improv and stand-up hosted by Rushdi. The bar's set pretty high: "from side-splitting stand-up to mesmerising improv, the finest comedic artists from near and far come to showcase their talent."        

    Free, but pre-register
  • Le Dîner de Cons

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

    A second performance for Culture Emulsion's version of Francis Veber's highly successful modern French farce. Pierre Brochant is one of the Parisian businessmen who have a weekly 'idiots' dinner', where guests bring along a dimwit who can be ridiculed. Brochant [ ... ]

    AED 110
  • 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
  • SCHLiNGEL Abu Dhabi: day one

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

    A weekend of films for children and the young, presented by the Goethe-Institut Gulf Region as a taster version of the well established SCHLiNGEL International Film Festival held in Chemnitz, Germany. The Abu Dhabi version runs over the weekend of [ ... ]

    Free, but pre-register
  • Kusay Bader: What Have You Done

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

    Solo exhibition that offers "a unique perspective on the beauty of nature and the urgent need for environmental stewardship". To 14 July.

    Free
  • ChefBurger: Journey Through the Arts – From Tokyo to Paris

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

    A collection of digital and painted art from ChefBurger (aka Mano Gonzalez) that "offers a unique opportunity to experience the convergence of diverse cultures through compelling portraits, French masterpieces, and a profound reverence for nature". Included is a new series [ ... ]

    Free
  • The Last Rifleman: dir Terry Sloane (2023)

    Manarat al Saadiyat Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

    A film for the 80th anniversary of D-Day and inspired by true events, The Last Rifleman is a moving drama starring Pierce Brosnan in one of his best roles as a WWII veteran living in a care home in Northern [ ... ]

    Free, but pre-register
  • Sister Act: The Musical

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

    Deloris Van Cartier seeks refuge in a convent after witnessing a crime, and her vibrant personality and musical prowess injects the convent’s choir with infectious energy and harmony. It's based of course on the Whoopi Goldberg movie of the same [ ... ]

    AED 105
  • The Best of Swan Lake

    Zabeel Theatre Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, Palm Jumeirah West Crescent, Dubai

    A return to Dubai for this touring one-hour version of Tchaikovsky's best-loved ballet, seen here at couple of years ago. It's danced by a company called Worldstars; it's a well established touring outfit that aims to preserve the classical ballet [ ... ]

    From AED 400
  • SCHLiNGEL Abu Dhabi: day two

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

    A weekend of films for children and the young, presented by the Goethe-Institut Gulf Region as a taster version of the well established SCHLiNGEL International Film Festival held in Chemnitz, Germany. The Abu Dhabi version runs over the weekend of [ ... ]

    Free, but pre-register
  • Sister Act: The Musical

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

    Deloris Van Cartier seeks refuge in a convent after witnessing a crime, and her vibrant personality and musical prowess injects the convent’s choir with infectious energy and harmony. It's based of course on the Whoopi Goldberg movie of the same [ ... ]

    AED 105
  • ECSO 10th Anniversary Concert

    Dwight School Dubai Dubai Sports City, Dubai

    The tenth anniversary of the Emirates Community Symphony Orchestra is being celebrated with a programme of crowdpleasers. Jonathan Grover conducts, the piano soloist for the Chopin is Jelena Matveyshaja. Entrance is free, just email ecsosymphony@gmail.com with the number of tickets [ ... ]

    Free
  • Hotel California – the Musical

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

    Three nights of exuberant musical theatre to wind up Culture Emulsion’s annual Tous en Scène festival of Francophone theatre. The action takes place on an isolated island in the titular luxury hotel; the owner, who disappeared ten years ago, has [ ... ]

    AED 110
  • LAST CHANCE Valdés

    Anima Gallery 30 La Croisette, Porto Arabia, The Pearl Qatar, Doha, Qatar

    A solo exhibition of works by Manolo Valdés, the Spanish artist known for his unique approach of drawing from art history to create his paintings, prints, and sculptures in a signature style of pared-down forms and unrefined mark-making. Through meticulous [ ... ]

    Free
  • SCHLiNGEL Abu Dhabi: day three

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

    Last day of this weekend of films for children and the young, presented by the Goethe-Institut Gulf Region as a taster version of the well established SCHLiNGEL International Film Festival held in Chemnitz, Germany. The Abu Dhabi version runs over [ ... ]

    Free, but pre-register
  • Sister Act: The Musical

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

    Last chance to catch Deloris Van Cartier seeking refuge in a convent after witnessing a crime, where her vibrant personality and musical prowess injects the convent’s choir with infectious energy and harmony. It's based of course on the Whoopi Goldberg [ ... ]

    AED 105
  • Hotel California – the Musical

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

    A second performance of this exuberant Francophone musical comedy to wind up Culture Emulsion’s annual Tous en Scène festival of Francophone theatre. The action takes place on an isolated island in the titular luxury hotel; the owner, who disappeared ten [ ... ]

    AED 110
  • Saturday Unfiltered Comedy

    Ramee Dream Hotel Midtown Al Asayel Street, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    Another standup evening for Dubai, this one promising "a hilarious evening of unfiltered laughter". Free entry, but there's a minimum spend of AED 75

    Free
  • LAST CHANCE In Real Time

    NYUAD Art Gallery Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

    NYU Abu Dhabi Art Gallery is celebrating its ten-year anniversary with a characteristically interesting exhibition. In Real Time is a dynamic show – over the course of three months the curators will be adding artists, and the artists and performers [ ... ]

    Free
  • Hester Street: dir Joan Micklin Silver (1975)

    Manarat al Saadiyat Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

    Silver’s entertaining debut was an unexpected hit, achieving instant critical acclaim after a screening at the 1975 Cannes Festival. Carol Kane is outstanding as a Jewish immigrant arriving in late 19th-century New York, to live in a tenement apartment on [ ... ]

    Free, but pre-register
  • All That Perishes at the Edge of Land: dir Hira Nabi (2019)

    Jameel Arts Centre Al Jaddaf, Dubai

    Before the Ocean Master met its demise at the Gadani shipbreaking yards in Pakistan, filmmaker and artist Hira Nabi gave it a voice and staged conversations between the vessel and the labourers dismantling it. The stories exchanged between the workers [ ... ]

    Free, but pre-register
  • Dubomedy’s Graduation Showcase

    Paramount Hotel Midtown Al Mustaqbal Street, Business Bay, Dubai

    Graduates of Dubomedy's Spring Stand-up Workshops take the stage to perform new stand-up material. It's free, though you do have to buy a drink or something to eat (but you were probably going to do one or both anyhow). You're [ ... ]

    Free
  • Hotel California – the Musical

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

    A final performance of this exuberant Francophone musical comedy winds up Culture Emulsion’s annual Tous en Scène festival of Francophone theatre. The action takes place on an isolated island in the titular luxury hotel; the owner, who disappeared ten years [ ... ]

    AED 110
  • Open House: al Mawrid Arab Center for the Study of Art

    NYU Abu Dhabi Library Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

    On the occasion of International Archives Week (when "all around the world, archival community professionals join together to explain to the world at large why supporting archives and the profession is so important") NYUAD's al Mawrid Arab Center for the [ ... ]

    Free, but pre-register
  • Dubomedy’s Graduation Showcase

    Paramount Hotel Midtown Al Mustaqbal Street, Business Bay, Dubai

    A second evening for graduates of Dubomedy's Spring Stand-up Workshops to take the stage to perform new stand-up material. It's free, though you do have to buy a drink or something to eat (but you were probably going to do [ ... ]

    Free
  • One Life: dir James Hawes (2023)

    Manarat al Saadiyat Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

    An incredible, emotional and inspiring true story, one that resonates in our time as we grapple with war, refugee crises, and growing hatred around the world. Anthony Hopkins stars as Nicholas Winton, a British stockbroker who helped rescue more than [ ... ]

    Free, but pre-register