• 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
  • Felipe Ortiz: Lugares

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

    A night of unique improvised theatre with Felipe Ortiz, an acclaimed performer from Colombia – founding member of La Gata Circo and Picnic Impro, teacher of circus techniques, clowning and theatre improvisation at the Javeriana University in Bogotá, touring around [ ... ]

    Free
  • Parasite: dir Bong Joon Ho (2019)

    Manarat al Saadiyat Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

    The South Korean smash hit and multi award winner (including the Cannes Palme d'Or in 2019 and a Best Picture Oscar) is a black comedy thriller: it follows the street-smart Kim family scamming their way into the household of the [ ... ]

    Free
  • 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 improv. It's free, but you need to put your [ ... ]

    Free
  • C’est si bon: dir Kim Hyun-suk (2015)

    Manarat al Saadiyat Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

    Three young artists bicker over their music in the hip music bar C’est Si Bon, where they formed the C’est Si Bon Trio. Tehn beautiful socialite Ja-young enters the picture and becomes their muse, and a series of moving love [ ... ]

    Free
  • Secret – Untold Meoldy: dir Seo You-min (2025)

    Manarat al Saadiyat Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

    A wrist injury forces promising pianist Yu Jun to return to Korea for treatment. While recuperating at his father’s music college, he comes across a mysterious woman named Jung A in an old practice room; their growing connection takes an [ ... ]

    Free
  • Comedy at the Palace

    The Palace in question is of course Emirates Palace (specifically, the Broadway Brasseries and Bar) where we're promised "a night of smart, sharp stand-up featuring rising voices and seasoned comics from the UAE and beyond ... A laid-back, high-quality comedy night [ ... ]

    AED95
  • The Fridge Concert Series Season 48: Scander X / Blue Saif

    The Fridge Alserkal Avenue, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    The latest edition of the Fridge's showcase gig series gets under way with poetic R&B-adjacent Arabic rap from Alexandria's Scander X. Support comes from Cairo rapper Blue Saif.  

    AED 70
  • The Fridge Concert Series Season 46: Allexa Bash | Joe Girvin

    The Fridge Alserkal Avenue, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    The Fridge's series of showcase concerts continues with Ukrainian pop powerhouse Allexa Bash – echoes of Kate Bush and Adele – with her new single 'Hurricane' plus songs from her debut album Dark Angels. Support comes from singer-songwriter Joe Girvin [ ... ]

    AED 70
  • My Beautiful Girl, Mari: dir Lee Sung-gang (2002)

    Manarat al Saadiyat Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

    Kim Nam-woo is struggling wife life as people around him seem to be constantly leaving him – his best friend, Jun-ho, is going to study in Seoul; his widowed mother is paying more attention to her new boyfriend. Then he [ ... ]

    Free
  • Arab Film Studio Collection

    Manarat al Saadiyat Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

    A curated collection of short narrative and documentary films produced and directed by alumnii from Arab Film Studio, an initiative supporting emerging filmmakers that plays a vital role in nurturing the UAE’s film industry and positioning Abu Dhabi as a [ ... ]

    Free
  • Jaurim, the Wonderland: dir Kim Ji-hwan (2023)

    Manarat al Saadiyat Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

    One of South Korea's top bands, Jaurim, celebrated their 25th anniversary with a special album featuring a live concert and a chorus made up of 117 fans. This film documents the making of the album, intercut with personal anecdotes from [ ... ]

    Free
  • Guys and Dolls

    Sunmarke School Jumeirah Village Triangle, Dubai

    MTDXB's production of Frank Loesser's musical classic has a cast of 50 and a 14-piece live band – should be a suitably dazzling celebration of Broadway by Dubai’s only musical theatre community for adults. There are performances at 7.30pm on [ ... ]

    AED 150
  • The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)

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

    All 37 of the bard's plays, condensed into 97 minutes of fast-paced comedy, silliness, audience participation, and "just the right amount of innuendo". Look out for Othello as a rap song, the History plays as a gridiron football game, Titus [ ... ]

    From AED 200
  • Wednesday Night Impro: Maestro

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

    The Courtyard's most peopular 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 [ ... ]

    Free
  • The Laughter Factory Premium Comedy Club

    Aura Skypool Palm Tower 50th floor, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai

    Ths second weekend of this month's Laughter Factory tour. The acts: Aaron Butler engaging Belfast-born stand-up known for his high spirited stage presence Justin Panks observational comic with a genius for approaching seemingly everyday subjects from extraordinary angles. Roxy Yekta [ ... ]

    AED 250
  • LAST CHANCE Halim Al Karim: Mythological Love

    XVA Gallery Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood, Bur Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    Experimental photography works by the Iraqui artist, who says: “Inspired by the Sumerian myth and my archaeological excavations in our invisible life, the mythological love series invites us to contemplate the magical love relationship between human women and the Anunnaki [ ... ]

    Free
  • LAST CHANCE Al Braithwaite: MATAB

    XVA Gallery Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood, Bur Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    Al Braithwaite is a contemporary artist from London who works across a variety of disciplines including sculpture, assemblage, found material and installation. For this show, Braithwaite’s Material Abstraction (MATAB) comprises textured panels arrayed as physical sculptures. Says the gallery: “Their [ ... ]

    Free
  • Dog Days: dir Kim Douck-min (2024)

    Manarat al Saadiyat Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

    Single man Min-sang is a meticulous planner and obsessively tidy. He just wants peace and quiet — but his building has become an unofficial home for stray dogs, thanks to the free-spirited vet Jin-young who is his tenant. A chance [ ... ]

    Free
  • A Tale of Two Sisters: dir Kim Jee-woon (2003)

    Manarat al Saadiyat Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

    After a stint in a mental hospital, Korean teen Su-mi reunites with her beloved sister Su-yeon and they return to live at their family home. The girls' father has remarried, and the siblings are immediately resentful of his new wife. [ ... ]

    Free
  • Carnage: Courtesies, Goodwill, and Other Hypocrisies

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

    This adaptation of Yasmina Reza's Le Dieu du Carnage is described as a "compelling theatrical experience that delves into the fragile facade of civility". The play follows two couples who meet to resolve a conflict between their children – but [ ... ]

    AED 50
  • Guys and Dolls

    Sunmarke School Jumeirah Village Triangle, Dubai

    The second performance of MTDXB's production of the musical classic, with a cast of 50 and a 14-piece live band. There are further performances at 7.30pm on 23 and 24 May, with a 2.30pm matinée on 24 May too; use [ ... ]

    AED 150
  • The Laughter Factory Premium Comedy Club

    Aura Skypool Palm Tower 50th floor, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai

    The Abu Dhabi stop on this month's Laughter Factory tour. The acts: Aaron Butler engaging Belfast-born stand-up known for his high spirited stage presence Justin Panks observational comic with a genius for approaching seemingly everyday subjects from extraordinary angles. Roxy [ ... ]

    AED 160
  • The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)

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

    The second performance for this four-day run of the West End hit – all 37 of the bard's plays, condensed into 97 minutes of fast-paced comedy, silliness, audience participation, and "just the right amount of innuendo". Look out for Othello [ ... ]

    From AED 200
  • LAST CHANCE Michael Sailstorfer: Air Electric

    Carbon 12 Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    Sailstorfer’s fourth solo exhibition with the gallery brings together three series of works that explore one of the artist’s signature themes: energy. He reflects on energy in its various forms – as a source, as storage, as a transmitter, as [ ... ]

    Free
  • LAST CHANCEa radical intimacy of hanging out

    Aisha Alabbar Gallery Warehouse C19, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai

    A group exhibition featuring Emirati artists Asma Khoory, Taqwa Alnaqbi, and Sultan Al Remeithi, curated by Salem AlSuwaidi. "In a world rushing forward, the exhibition invites you to linger—where 'killing time' becomes a quiet, radical act of care, presence, and [ ... ]

    Free
  • Guys and Dolls

    Sunmarke School Jumeirah Village Triangle, Dubai

    The third performance of MTDXB's production of the musical classic, with a cast of 50 and a 14-piece live band. There are further performances at 2.30pm and 7.30pm on 24 May; use the promocode 10guys at checkout to get 10% [ ... ]

    AED 150
  • The Laughter Factory Premium Comedy Club

    Radisson DAMAC Hills Hessa Street Dubailand, Dubai

    This month's Laughter Factory tour. The acts: Aaron Butler engaging Belfast-born stand-up known for his high spirited stage presence Justin Panks observational comic with a genius for approaching seemingly everyday subjects from extraordinary angles. Roxy Yekta UK-born Iranian comedian with [ ... ]

    AED 160
  • The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)

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

    The third performance for this four-day run of the West End hit – all 37 of the bard's plays, condensed into 97 minutes of fast-paced comedy, silliness, audience participation, and "just the right amount of innuendo". Look out for Othello [ ... ]

    From AED 200
  • Friday Night Spotlight

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

    A new Courtyard Playhouse community theatre night, described as "a celebration of creativity and experimentation" with community members and in-house performers taking the stage to try out fresh ideas and showcase their talents. The first half features performances from the [ ... ]

    Free
  • Carmina Burana

    Dubai Opera

    The noted choreographer Edward Clug has managed a powerful and poignant reinterpretation of Carl Orff's Carmina Burana for this production by the Ballet of the Slovene National Theatre Maribor, which has received generally enthusiastic reviews en route to Dubai . [ ... ]

    From AED 330
  • The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)

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

    The third performance for this four-day run of the West End hit – all 37 of the bard's plays, condensed into 97 minutes of fast-paced comedy, silliness, audience participation, and "just the right amount of innuendo". Look out for Othello [ ... ]

    From AED 200
  • Carmina Burana

    Dubai Opera

    The final performances of this ballet reinterpretation of Carl Orff's Carmina Burana by the Ballet of the Slovene National Theatre Maribor, with choreography by Edward Clug The original is of course a 20th-century choral classic that draws inspiration from medieval [ ... ]

    From AED 330
  • Guys and Dolls

    Sunmarke School Jumeirah Village Triangle, Dubai

    The final performances of MTDXB's production of the musical classic, with a cast of 50 and a 14-piece live band. There are shows at 2.30pm and 7.30pm; use the promocode 10guys at checkout to get 10% off tickets.

    AED 150
  • LAST CHANCE Elias Sime: Through the Window

    Lawrie Shabibi Unit 21, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai

    The first solo exhibition in the Middle East for the Addis Ababa artist showcases Sime’s distinctive practice of transforming colourful wires, circuit boards, and electronic components into intricate, layered compositions that blur the boundaries between technology, nature, and abstraction. The [ ... ]

    Free
  • LAST CHANCE Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons: I Am Soil. My Tears Are Water

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

    Efie Gallery is opening its new space in Alserkal Avenue with Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons’ debut solo exhibition in the Middle East. The exhibiiton, curated by Faridah Folawiyo, explores diaspora and interconnectedness through the flora and fauna of Latin America, the [ ... ]

    Free
  • LAST CHANCE Maryam Hoseini: Swells

    Green Art Gallery Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    The second solo exhibition at this gallery for the Iran-born, NY-based artist features new paintings that revels in transplanting elements within themselves. Hoseini says “the figures have moved from architecture to landscape"; so the flat figure expands and multiplies in [ ... ]

    Free
  • MyLysses

    XVA Gallery Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood, Bur Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    How do contemporary artists grapple with the shifting role of text, literature and knowledge in an age of AI? This group exhibition curated by Tor Seidel tries to answer that question. As Seidel puts it, "Has access to texts and [ ... ]

    Free
  • LAST CHANCE Mayar Obeido: Ever in Reform

    Fann à Porter The Workshop, Villa 45, St. 23b, off Al Wasl Road (opposite Box Park), Jumeirah 2, Dubai

    While his previous work was embedded with themes of time, context, and the mutual influence of elements, Fann À Porter's second solo exhibition for Syrian artist Mayar Obeido introduces a focus towards place, location, and grounding. The artist navigates a [ ... ]

    Free
  • The Laughter Factory Premium Comedy Club

    Dukes The Palm Palm Dubai, Dubai

    The final stop for this month's Laughter Factory tour. The acts: Aaron Butler engaging Belfast-born stand-up known for his high spirited stage presence Justin Panks observational comic with a genius for approaching seemingly everyday subjects from extraordinary angles. Roxy Yekta [ ... ]

    AED 160
  • Dubomedy’s Comedy Mix Tape

    Paramount Hotel Midtown Al Mustaqbal Street, Business Bay, Dubai

    Dubomedy's improv evening is back with graduates of Dubomedy's workshops plus special guests – a total of 22 comedians on stage across two shows, apparently – in "a hilarious mash-up of stand-up and improv". This is a double-header, with shows [ ... ]

    Free
  • LAST CHANCE Habuba Farah: Beams of Light

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

    A selection of works from the 1970s to the present by the noted Lebanese-Brazilian artist, including oils on canvas, gouache on paper, and pencil drawings. A highlight is her exploration of 'neutral gray' or coloured gray, achieved by blending primary [ ... ]

    Free
  • LAST CHANCE A Room of One’s Own

    NYUAD Project Space NYUAD Campus, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi

    Curated by Duygu Demir, NYUAD assistant professor of Art History and curator at the Art Gallery, this exhibition features new work by current MFA students Maha Alasaker, Yuehan Dai, Nour Elbery, Almaha Jaralla, Tooba Shaikh, and Shaima Shamsi that has [ ... ]

    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
  • Zodi et Téhu – Frères du Désert: dir Alain Berberian (1993)

    Alliance Française Dubai Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    A tale of courage, friendship, and adventure for all ages. Zodi, a 12-year-old nomad, discovers an orphaned baby camel in the desert. He names it Téhu and forms a deep bond with the animal. He dreams of entering Téhu in [ ... ]

    AED 35
  • Bagjan Oktyabr: Soul Therapy

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

    The noted Kazakhstan / Turkish cellist performs his well-known and much loved 'Soul Therapy; programme, accompanied by a chamber orchestra  – music from famous Turkish movies and TV series, folk songs, romantic ballads, classics, and "simply soulful works that are [ ... ]

    From AED 190
  • LAST CHANCE Huda Lutfi: Unraveling

    The Third Line Alserkal Avenue, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    Huda Lutfi’s fourth solo exhibition at the gallery includes works from three recent series – When Dreams Call for Silence (2019), Our Black Thread (2020–2021), and Healing Devices (2020–ongoing) It also includes a selection of previously unshown miniature collages, offering [ ... ]

    Free
  • LAST CHANCE Hazem Harb: Not There, Yet Felt

    Tabari Artspace Gate Village Level 2, DIFC, Dubai

    Unlike earlier works that centred around collective narratives, this new body of work from Hazem Harb is highly personal and intimate; it aims to draw the viewer into Harb's own lived environment, reflecting his sense of disembodiment, a feeling of [ ... ]

    Free
  • Maitha Abdalla: Between Metamorphosis and Reality

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

    With a mix of painting and sculpture, this solo exhibition by the Emirati artist explores folklore, mythology, psychology, and social constructs that shift between abstraction and representation. Says the blurb: "The exhibition highlights the power of art to spark dialogue, [ ... ]

    Free
  • Workspace Dubai 2025

    Dubai World Trade Centre Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    Index Dubai sprawls around the Dubai World Trade Centre, with its best and most focused element being this 'workplace solutions' tradeshow-within-a-show. More than 100 designers and brands will be promoting their workplace furniture, technology and equipment; the accompanying Workspace Summit [ ... ]

    Free, but pre-register