• Essia Jaïbi: Metamorphoses #2

    Sharjah Art Foundation -- Calligraphy Square Sharjah

    In this performance piece, Essia Jaïbi revisits the memories seared into her mind since childhood – she locks her mother, Jalila Baccar, in the glass-walled dressing room of an imagined theatre and pressures her to address the audience. Devised as [ ... ]

    Free
  • Laughter Factory: ‘Start The Year, With 100% Guaranteed Happiness!’

    Media Rotana Hessa Street, Al Barsha Heights, Dubai

    Second of three gigs for the first Laughter Factory of the year. The comics: Keith Johnson LA-based, less frenetic and more thoughtful than many American comics Eleanor Tiernan top Irish comedian, loads of experience, a comedy festival regular Saanya Abbas [ ... ]

    AED 160
  • Traversing Landscapes

    Jameel Arts Centre Al Jaddaf, Dubai

    The Jameel is running a third season of Night School, a seminar programme where UAE residents can discuss urbanism and history in Dubai. Under this season's theme, There You Are, participants will assess how much we can know about a [ ... ]

    Free, but pre-register
  • NEOclassica by Vlad Rotberg

    Theatre of Digital Arts Souk Madinat Jumeriah, Dubai

    "A transformative musical experience at 360°" featuring a virtuoso pianist playing modern classics by the likes of Hans Zimmer, Yanni Chryssomallis, and Yann Tiersen, accompanied by ToDA's 360° visuals ...    

    From AED 190
  • Saadiyat Nights: Googoosh

    Saadiyat Nights Jacques Chirac Street, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi

    This new open-air musical event series (in a purpose-built venue that will "boast a stunning backdrop of Saadiyat Island vistas" – though otherwise we're not sure exactly where it is) continues with a concert from the iconic Iranian pop singer. [ ... ]

    From AED 200
  • Ludovico Einaudi

    A second night (of three) for the Italian composer and pianist, one of the best-selling classical artists of all time. He performs again on 21 January.      

    From AED250
  • Essia Jaïbi: Metamorphoses #2

    Sharjah Art Foundation -- Calligraphy Square Sharjah

    A second performance of Essia Jaïbi's exploration of the memories seared into her mind since childhood – she locks her mother, Jalila Baccar, in the glass-walled dressing room of an imagined theatre and pressures her to address the audience. Devised [ ... ]

    Free
  • Laughter Factory: ‘Start The Year, With 100% Guaranteed Happiness!’

    Dukes The Palm Palm Dubai, Dubai

    The final gig in the first Laughter Factory of the year. The comics: Keith Johnson LA-based, less frenetic and more thoughtful than many American comics Eleanor Tiernan top Irish comedian, loads of experience, a comedy festival regular Saanya Abbas staple [ ... ]

    AED 160
  • Jazz Quake by Lava

    Theatre of Digital Arts Souk Madinat Jumeriah, Dubai

    An evening of jazz at ToDA, which means immersive 360° visuals to accompany "four world-class jazzmen weave together jazz, pop & rock into a sonic earthquake", from Summertime and Moon river to Ain’t no sunshine ...    

    From AED 140
  • Ludovico Einaudi

    The final night (of three) for the Italian composer and pianist, one of the best-selling classical artists of all time.        

    From AED250
  • Comedy at Melrose

    Melrose Paramount Midtown, Al Mustaqbal Street, Dubai

    Dubomedy's regular Sunday evening stand-up gig has quickly become established, not least because it's free (you do have to pre-register to get on the list) and always entertaining – you never know who you're going to see, and while the [ ... ]

    Free, but pre-register
  • Essia Jaïbi: Metamorphoses #2

    Sharjah Art Foundation -- Calligraphy Square Sharjah

    A final performance of Essia Jaïbi's exploration of the memories seared into her mind since childhood – she locks her mother, Jalila Baccar, in the glass-walled dressing room of an imagined theatre and pressures her to address the audience. Devised [ ... ]

    Free
  • Hazem Harb: Gauze

    Tabari Artspace Gate Village Level 2, DIFC, Dubai

    A solo show by the Palestinian visual artist, curated by Munira Al Sayegh, which "invites viewers to explore the profound connections between material, the body, the context and the artist’s personal journey as a Gazan native in exile". Gauze offers [ ... ]

    Free
  • Revoir Paris: dir Alice Wincoer (2022)

    Alliance Française Dubai Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    Wincoer's gently searing drama is loosely based on the Bataclan concert hall attack in Paris in 2015 (her brother was a survivor). Virginie Efira is excellent as Mia, a woman struggling with the trauma of having survived a brutal assault [ ... ]

    AED 35
  • Politically Incorrect Comedy

    The Clavichord Signature Hotel, Barsha Heights, Dubai

    An all-new MadCatComedy lineup for this standup up "with a few international dropins". The ticket price includes a free drink.  

    AED 70
  • Fridge Concert Series 42: Bull Funk Zoo | DJ Frezidante

    The Fridge Alserkal Avenue, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    This should be a good night: Bull Funk Zoo is usually excellent, mixing hard rock with funk and some indie strains of occasional psychedelia. But frankly it is mostly hard rock: "imagine a big bad bull rocking out, fornicating & [ ... ]

    AED 70
  • Rouge (Red Soil): dir Farid Bentoumi (2020)

    Manarat al Saadiyat Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

    An occupational nurse in a chemical plant turns whistleblower over toxic discharges but has to balance fighting for the truth against the risk of alienating her entire family. The result could be a goodies vs baddies thriller or a dogmatic [ ... ]

    Free, but pre-register
  • On the Roster

    Elmarsa Gallery 23 Alserkal Avenue, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    A suitably explicit title for a group show of Elmarsa artists – or to put it another way, "a comprehensive exploration of the artistic endeavours undertaken by the gallery's esteemed cadre of represented artists". On display: Jellal Ben Abdallah, Nejib [ ... ]

    Free
  • Le Petit Prince

    Dubai Opera

    A spectacular dance/circus interpretation of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s fable of an aviator who lands in the middle of the desert and meets the Little Prince, who’s travelling from one planet to another looking for his sheep. We're told that this [ ... ]

    From AED250
  • Posters for Gaza

    Zawyeh Gallery Warehouse 27, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai

    An exhibition of posters produced specifically for this exhibition by 26 artists who come together to shed light on the ethnic cleansing and horrific massacres taking place in the Gaza Strip and to demand the recognition of Palestinian rights to [ ... ]

    Free
  • Dhai Dubai Light Art Festival

    Al Wasl Plaze Expo City, Dubai

    Dubai is finally getting a light festival. The inaugural Dhai Dubai Light Art Festival features installations by seven established Emirati artists and runs for 10 nights (26 January to 4 February, 6 to 11pm) in Expo City's Al Wasl Plaza. [ ... ]

    Free
  • Reel Palestine 2024

    Cinema Akil Warehouse 68, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai

    The UAE's annual festival of Palestinian stories delivered via independent and alternative cinema is back, and with massively enhanced relevance. The films, mostly in Arabic with English subtitles, are ... The Teacher dir Farah Nabulsi (2023) A Palestinian school teacher [ ... ]

    Mostly AED 52.50
  • UAE Classical Talents: A Night at La Belle Époque

    Alliance Française Dubai Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    A new year of Alliance Française’s series of chamber recitals by locally based musicians continues with the return of soprano Isabel Cañada Luna, accompanied by two UAE Classical Talents newcomers – Enkhmaa Tuvshin (cello) and Pin-Chun Linis (piano) – in [ ... ]

    AED 130
  • Le Petit Prince

    Dubai Opera

    A second performance of this spectacular dance/circus interpretation of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s fable of an aviator who lands in the middle of the desert and meets the Little Prince, who’s travelling from one planet to another looking for his sheep. [ ... ]

    From AED250
  • Chinese New Year: The National Ballet of China

    Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi

    This Arab World Premiere kicks off this year’s Abu Dhabi Festival. It’s a reimagined version of The Nutcracker, and it is an established part of the repertoire of a company noted for its dazzling hybrid of western ballet and Chinese [ ... ]

    From AED 150
  • Village Comedy

    The Irish Village 31A Street, Al Garhoud, Dubai

    Standup at The Irish Village, featuring two sharp Irish comics – Ian Coppinger and Eric Lalor – plus Dubai's very own Miqdaad Dohadwala.    

    AED 99
  • Radouan Mriziga: Libya

    Sharjah Art Foundation, Bait Obaid Al Shamsi Arts Square, Sharjah

    In Libya, Radouan Mriziga collaborates with dancers to elaborate on transgenerational shared histories and epistemologies from an Amazigh perspective, where the memories of the body play a pivotal role (the Amazighs are the indigenous inhabitants of the North African littoral, [ ... ]

    Free
  • Schalk Bezuidenhout: Keeping Up!

    Al Habtoor Polo Resort Al Safa 5, Emirates Road 611, Dubai

    Following a couple of sell-out UAE shows in 2022, Schalk Bezuidenhout is back in town – older and now married, but still keen to stay “hip with the youth”. But can he ‘keep up’? Bezuidenhout, one of the most exciting [ ... ]

    AED 160
  • Le Petit Prince

    Dubai Opera

    Two more performances of this spectacular dance/circus interpretation of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s fable of an aviator who lands in the middle of the desert and meets the Little Prince, who’s travelling from one planet to another looking for his sheep. [ ... ]

    From AED250
  • Tom Butler: Monochrome Metropolis

    Mestaria Gallery Unit 35, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai

    In a departure from his usual vibrant collages, Butler's new work speaks of meticulous craftsmanship in fine line ink and graphite to create detailed contemporary representations of some of Dubai’s most well-known cityscapes: “upon deeper reflection, a captivating and intricately [ ... ]

    Free
  • Chinese New Year: The National Ballet of China

    Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi

    Two further performances for this Abu Dhabi Festival opener, a reimagined version of The Nutcracker from a company noted for its dazzling hybrid of western ballet and Chinese culture. Tchaikovsky’s score is the backbone to a colourful tale brought to [ ... ]

    From AED 150
  • Candlelight: Beethoven’s Best Works

    Alliance Française Dubai Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    The title of this concert certainly sets the bar high, though it seems a pretty good selection of the composer's works for piano. The pianist is Magdalena Wajdzik, and the other plus is the way these recitals are lit by [ ... ]

    AED AED 200
  • Quoz Arts Fest

    Alserkal Avenue Al Quoz 1, Dubai

    Quoz Arts Fest returns for its 11th edition, filling Alserkal Avenue with music, food and family-friendly fun for two days. The Quoz Encore stage for emerging musicians of all ages and backgrounds is back, and in total there are more [ ... ]

    Weekend pass AED63
  • Firdaus Orchestra’s Mini Maestros

    Firdaus Studio Al Forsan Zone, Expo City Dubai, Dubai

    An introduction to music generally and the orchestra in particular by Expo City Dubai’s all-female Firdaus Orchestra via a concert of classically arranged music for children aged 0 to 6 years old and their parents. The programme includes a range [ ... ]

    AED 495
  • Closing event: Plaited Time – A Talk + Sonic Interlude with Lubaina Himid, Magda Stawarska, Omar Kholeif

    Al Mureijah Art Spaces Al Mureijah Square, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

    Join Turner Prize-winning artist Lubaina Himid (above right) and collaborator Magda Stawarska (left) as they talk about their rather good SAF exhibition Plaited Time / Deep Water with the exhibition's curator, Dr Omar Kholeif. They will delve into the role [ ... ]

    Free, but pre-register
  • The Jazz Night with Winck

    Theatre of Digital Arts Souk Madinat Jumeriah, Dubai

    ToDA transforms into a jazz venue for live performance accompanied by a 360° immersive show: this time it's Luisa Winck with keyboard and drums in a 90-minute set. Expect a range from soulful ballads to upbeat foot-tappers ...     [ ... ]

    From AED 170
  • Rayyane Tabet: The Return

    Sharjah Art Foundation, Flying Saucer Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

    This performance piece traces the 50-year journey of a marble sculpture depicting a bull’s head, using interviews as well as inventory lists, photographs, legal documents and other evidence presented to the New York Supreme Court from investigations that lasted for [ ... ]

    Free
  • Schalk Bezuidenhout: Keeping Up!

    Mövenpick Hotel JBR Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    The excellent Afrikaans funnyman is back in town – older and now married, but still keen to stay “hip with the youth”. But can he ‘keep up’? This is the second of his two shows in Dubai.    

    AED 160
  • Shane Todd: MUMMY

    Theatre by QE2 Queen Elizabeth 2, Port Rashid, Dubai

    The reliably funny Northern Irish comic is currently touring his new standup show – from here he zips over to Australia and New Zealand, then to mainland Europe for a few more dates, all before the end of March ... [ ... ]

    From AED 125
  • Le Petit Prince

    Dubai Opera

    Two final performances for this spectacular dance/circus interpretation of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s fable of an aviator who lands in the middle of the desert and meets the Little Prince, who’s travelling from one planet to another looking for his sheep. [ ... ]

    From AED250
  • Beauty and the Beast: dir Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise (1991)

    Manarat al Saadiyat Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

    A newly restored print of Disney's family-friendly animation: the beast (an enchanted prince, of course) tries to win the love of the young and beautiful Belle with the help of the caste's enchanted staff (who have been transformed into a [ ... ]

    Free, but pre-register
  • Culture Bus: Quoz Arts Festival

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

    The 2024 series of 421's Culture Bus trips from Abu Dhabi kicks off with a visit to the second day of Quoz Arts Fest. You'll get three hours on site: 2pm: Depart from 421 3.30pm: Arrive at Quoz Arts Fest [ ... ]

    AED 30
  • Karama Arts Club: In the UAE Frame – Photography

    25hours Hotel Dubai One Central Trade Center Street, Dubai

    The intelligent networking session for creative peers continues its 'Arts Unfiltered' panel series, this time delving into photography in the UAE. "We aim to cover a broad range of topics, then open up to the floor to hear your questions [ ... ]

    Free with a drinks package
  • NEOclassica with Arash Behzadi

    Theatre of Digital Arts Souk Madinat Jumeriah, Dubai

    Arash Behzadi plays his own compositions, "neoclassical musical narratives reflecting the ups and downs of life ... Passion, love, yearning, heartache and solace: all these feelings will come alive", accompanied by ToDA's 360° visuals. The excellent Soren Lyng Hansen guests [ ... ]

    From AED 190
  • Drinks & Comedy

    Emirates Sports Hoel Al Hebiah Fourth, Park-A2, Dubai Sports City, Dubai

    It's always a pleasure to come across an explicit title. This is a free Comedy Kix standup gig with a bill that includes Noha Bashir, Yash Bhardwaj, Rula Korban, Valentina Danubio (aka 'the ukulady'), Amr Abbas, Rami Salamé and of [ ... ]

    Free
  • Rayyane Tabet: The Return

    Sharjah Art Foundation, Flying Saucer Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

    A second performance for this piece that traces the 50-year journey of a marble sculpture depicting a bull’s head, using interviews as well as inventory lists, photographs, legal documents and other evidence presented to the New York Supreme Court from [ ... ]

    Free
  • Past Lives: dir Celine Song (2023)

    Manarat al Saadiyat Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

    Celine Song's first feature has been nominated in two of this year's Oscar categories (Best Motion Picture category and Best Original Screenplay – but criminally not Best Director). It's the story of a modern romance; Na Young’s family emigrated from [ ... ]

    Free, but pre-register
  • Fridge Concert Series 42: Billu and the Brownies | Chelsey Chantelle

    The Fridge Alserkal Avenue, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    Another good local band, Billu and the Brownies delivers high-energy dance vibes like few others. Also on the bill is sultry-voiced soul/R&B songstress Chelsey Chantelle.        

    AED 70
  • Ballet Gala: The National Ballet of China

    Dubai Opera

    Two performances at Dubai Opera for a company that is noted for its dazzling hybrid of western ballet and Chinese culture. The programme includes Chinese New Year, its reimagined version of The Nutcracker, followed by excerpts from La Bayadère, the [ ... ]

    From AED 350
  • Dark Times

    Radisson DAMAC Hills Hessa Street Dubailand, Dubai

    A Comedy Kix standup gig, promising "a night of bold, dark humour with the brilliantly witty stage actor and comedian Sadiq Saboowala". He is indeed good, and he can indeed be pretty dark ... Also on the bill: Sunil Mashari [ ... ]

    AED 85