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2 events,
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Twelve hours of non-stop improv to raise money for the Gulf for Good Citizen’s Foundation campaign to provide quality education for 180 children in a rural village in Pakistan. There are performances of the Courtyard's regular improv sessions and free [ ... ]
Free, but pre-register (and expect to donate)
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 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) kicks off with a concert from the best-selling American singer. [ ... ]
From AED 250 |
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0 events,
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1 event, A solo exhibition that showcases works which play with perspective – "horizon lines expand outward and urban vistas are cut into parts, interrupted like the lines of a window frame". Architecture becomes a subjective reality, painted paper collages symbolise the [ ... ]
Free |
2 events,
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Now this looks like a fine way to start the new year: Stephon Alexander, Professor of Physics at Brown University, talks about the intriguing connections between the realms of physics, cosmology, and quantum physics with the music that defines an [ ... ]
Free, but pre-register
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 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 |
2 events, A group exhibition in collaboration with Selma Feriani Gallery, featuring work by the Tunis gallery's artists: Nazgol Ansarinia, Rossella Biscotti, M’barek Bouhchichi, Hera Büyüktaşcıyan, Elena Damiani, Yazid Oulab and Massinissa Selmani. This could be a very interesting show. Established in [ ... ]
Free
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 A cinematic meditation on humanity’s massive reengineering of the planet, this epic Canadian documentary by the multiple-award winning team of Baichwal, de Pencier and Burtynsky was four years in the making; it follows the research of an international body of [ ... ]
Free |
7 events, Five digital artworks created from sections of the original The Voyageur, shown originally as a single large-scale canvas back in 2022. “I always like to blend and combine the disciplines of traditional and digital art," says the artist, who has [ ... ]
Free  Pouran Jinchi was inspired to embark on this new body of work after reading an article about a Guatemalan farmer forced to flee due to the impact of climate change on agriculture; her inspiration for this series stems from landscapes [ ... ]
Free  Kamran Samimi's first exhibition with The Third Line draws inspiration from the land's rich tapestry of natural materials. Delving into the concealed narratives of the UAE's mountainous terrain, Samimi's practice is deeply rooted in a profound sense of place. As [ ... ]
Free  The second solo exhibition at Lawrie Shabibi for the always interesting Peruvian artist who characteristically transforms fundamental geometric models into objects echoing the poetry of utility. Each of the works "weaves through the domains of architecture and design, anchoring themselves [ ... ]
Free An exhibition featuring 21 Egyptian artists and curated by Farah Hallaba, Farida Youssef, and Ali Zaaray. It's the result of an collaboration that was first presented in Cairo in 2022 and brings the authors of this project together with research [ ... ]
Free
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Ten-minute performance slots at The Fridge's well-equipped Alserkal Avenue warehouse venue. It's first-come first-served, but we'd expect some judicious balancing (if you're up for it, here's the online registration form); the gig starts at 7pm, so by our reckoning that's [ ... ]
Free
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 An evening with one of the contemporary stars of the piano. Garlanded with accolades yet still only in her mid 30s, Khatia Buniatishvili brings passion and vulnerability to her performances; she acknowledges that the folk music of native Georgia has [ ... ]
From AED 250 |
2 events,
Unveiling the Shadows of the Past: J.K. Bruce-Vanderpuije – the hidden icon of photography in Africa
Unveiling the Shadows of the Past: J.K. Bruce-Vanderpuije – the hidden icon of photography in Africa The first gallery show to be dedicated to the work of the noted Ghanaian photographer's seminal works, telling the story of Ghanaian modern history through the lens of a local and one which captures the nation in the throes of [ ... ]
Free
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 Your chance to remind yourself what the fuss was all about: it's the 50th anniversary of Mike Oldfield's masterpiece mashup of classical, jazz, folk, prog rock, and electronica – the highest-selling instrumental album of all time. This special tribute concert [ ... ]
From AED 225 |
5 events, An interesting take on the ‘six degrees of separation’ theory – the idea that all people are no more than six social connections away from each other. In an intimate setting, spectators are seated at a large oval table, each [ ... ]
Free  A solo show for the young Syrian painter. "Those who follow Kasha’s experience will notice his transition from expressive realism shortly after his graduation from the College of Fine Arts to expressionism, which tends toward abstraction in a fluid experimentation [ ... ]
Free
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 Mahesh Dattani’s play, a critical and commercial success for the noted Indian playwright, was first performed in 2001 but retains a contemporary relevance. Two of Dubai better theatre groups, Third Half Theatre and EnAct, are collaborating on this potentially difficult [ ... ]
From AED 60
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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
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 Tao Ye’s choreographic works explore the potential of the human body beyond the limitations of representation or dramaturgical narrative. In this performance piece, the choreography is abstract – four fluid bodies flow in powerfully controlled movements around a magnetic central [ ... ]
Free |
1 event, |
2 events, Actually, she was king (sort of). This "groundbreaking immersive show" covers the life of Hatshepsut (c. 1507–1458 BCE), the fifth Pharaoh of Egypt's Eighteenth Dynasty – ruling first as regent to her stepson Thutmose III, then as queen regnant. She dressed [ ... ]
AED 50 |
3 events,
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 The new Fridge Concert season opens with Bayou, "an Egyptian singer songwriter who can’t be confined to genres or borders" though we're told his music blends R&B beats and hip-hop. Support comes from Roxane – "raw yet intentional, vulnerable yet [ ... ]
AED 70 |
7 events, The multi award winning musical is making its Middle Eastern debut for an extended run at Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena (to 11 February). Lin-Manuel Miranda’s book, music and lyrics have created something of a revolutionary moment in theatre – it’s [ ... ]
From AED 180
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Abdulrahim Salim is currently showing work at the gallery based on two decades of interest in the folk tale (ends 15 February); this performance piece brings the story of Muheera to life. Blending regional folklore, storytelling, and art using charcoal [ ... ]
Free
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 A world-premiere ballet and video art performance – four professional dancers (Maria Vinogradova, Mila Schmidt, Gabriele Aime, Ildar Gaynutdinov) with choreography by Eno Peci, dancing to Vivaldi's Four Seasons and accompanied by state-of-the-art 5K visuals from The French Kiss Lab. [ ... ]
AED 350 |
8 events, A solo show for the Rome-based Lebanese fashion accessories designer who has developed a fertile sideline as an artist with a characteristic style – expressionist and figurative narratives rendered with abstract forms and lines in both bold and muted colours, [ ... ]
Free Oblong’s 2024 kicks off with a group show featuring work in a variety of media from a disparate group of six (mostly Italian or Italy-based) artists: Roberta Diazzi Italy 3D portraits of endangered animals using Swarovski crystal Resi Girardello Italy [ ... ]
Free
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The second show for this world-premiere ballet and video art performance – four professional dancers (Maria Vinogradova, Mila Schmidt, Gabriele Aime, Ildar Gaynutdinov) with choreography by Eno Peci, dancing to Vivaldi's Four Seasons and accompanied by state-of-the-art 5K visuals from [ ... ]
AED 350
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The first Laughter Factory of the year has the stand-up mix much as usual, except there's no Abu Dhabi appearance this time. The comics: Keith Johnson LA-based, less frenetic and more thoughtful than many American comics Eleanor Tiernan top Irish [ ... ]
AED 160 |
11 events, 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. Sheher, Prakriti, Devi comes from [ ... ]
Free  Ten days of Emirati culture, past and present, in what is probably the traditional heart of Abu Dhabi. There are performances, souks, F&B, arts and crafts, family workshops, camels, and more ... It's open 4pm to 11pm every day.
AED 30  New work by the Syrian artist aims to capture the echoes of thoughts, ideas and experiences of the cities he's lived in: Damascus, Beirut and Istanbul. "His work reflects and expresses the amalgamation of human and urban relationships within each [ ... ]
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The Filipino indie rock/bedroom pop band Merge play their last UAE gig. Also on the bill: R&B/jazz act Kelly and more indie rock from the underrated Charlie 119.
AED 70
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 After sold-out performances at Dubai Opera in 2018, 2019, and 2023, the Italian composer and pianist Ludovico Einaudi – one of the best-selling classical artists of all time – is back in Dubai for a three-night stint. Born in Turin, [ ... ]
From AED250
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 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
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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 |
11 events,
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 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
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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
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 "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
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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
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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
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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 |
9 events,
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 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
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The final night (of three) for the Italian composer and pianist, one of the best-selling classical artists of all time.
From AED250
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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
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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 |
7 events,
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 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
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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 |
7 events,
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An all-new MadCatComedy lineup for this standup up "with a few international dropins". The ticket price includes a free drink.
AED 70
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 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 |
6 events,
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 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 |
7 events,
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 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
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 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 |
14 events,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 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 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
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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
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 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
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 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
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Standup at The Irish Village, featuring two sharp Irish comics – Ian Coppinger and Eric Lalor – plus Dubai's very own Miqdaad Dohadwala.
AED 99
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 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
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 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 |
18 events, 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 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  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 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  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
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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
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 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
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 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
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 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
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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
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 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 |
15 events, 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
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 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
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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
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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
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 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
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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
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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 |
7 events,
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 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 |
10 events,
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 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
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Abu Dhabi needs a regular comedy night. This one is new to us, but by all accounts delivers an excellent standup night at an undoubtedly great location ("the UAE’s first Jamaican Restaurant & Lounge"). We're promised acts from Abu Dhabi, [ ... ]
AED 95
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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
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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 |
8 events,The UAE’s biggest and best literary event is back, with the usual cornucopia of writers, creators and thought leaders – a total of around 160 events at Festival City from 31 January to 6 February. The line-up includes the 2023 [ ... ]
[Various prices]
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The second performances at Dubai Opera from 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, [ ... ]
From AED 350 |
11 events, Vikram Divecha’s exhibition covers the Dubai-based artist’s practice since 2013, showcasing his playful and poetic site-specific works, public art, installations, videos, photography and drawings. In particular, Divecha has long had an in-depth interest in the invisible structures of planning, construction, [ ... ]
Free
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 The Spanish cellist has been racking up accolades from every corner, including a very special one from Anne-Sophie Mutter: “Pablo Ferrández is truly special. Great sound, very refined vibrato, flawless left and right hand and a true musician” (his second [ ... ]
AED 100
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 This harrowing drama about the Nazi occupation of Rome was shockingly authentic, conceived and directed amidst the ruin of World War II. The result has been cited as one of the greatest films ever made; certainly it's a landmark of [ ... ]
Free |
12 events,An evening of opera hits with Isabel Maria Canada Luna (soprano) and Aldo Dotto (piano), lit by candlight and located under the gazebo in the Emirates Palace's Oriental Cafe.
From AED AED 250  Three days of African vibes, described as "the UAE’s largest celebration of Africa’s rich and diverse cultures in all their vibrant expressions and representations"; we're promised "an unforgettable mosaic of performances, artistic, culinary and culturally immersive experiences". It's built around [ ... ]
From AED 150  The original Singing Youth is a larger-than-life memorial statue of three young people by Greek sculptor Memos Makris, a political refugee in Hungary. In 1953, the statue was installed in front of a sports stadium in Budapest; it still stands [ ... ]
Free
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 Ras Al Khaimah Art, the new incarnation of the Ras Al Khaimah Fine Art Festival, opens to the public at 9pm on Friday 2 February. As ever, it’s at the Al Jazeera Al Hamra Heritage Village, which has increasingly been [ ... ]
Free |
15 events, A solo show for Doha's Anima Gallery in which the Belgian-Lebanese artist explores themes of environmental conservation, the wrath of nature, and the impacts of war in the Middle East via several series of works that illustrate the transformative power [ ... ]
Free
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The excellent Culture Bus trip gives you the third and final day of Art Dubai (which is usually the quietest, so it's the best one for seeing art). You'll get three hours on site: 10.30am: Depart from 421 11.50pm: Arrive [ ... ]
AED 30
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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
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 German Cova and his musicians (guitar, piano, tabla and one dancer) in a 75-minute tribute to the Spanish flamenco virtuoso Paco de Lucìa. "Every aspect of this vibrant show will leave you breathless," promises the blurb, and of course there's [ ... ]
From AED 190
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 The top saxophonist and bandleader redefines jazz boundaries with a progressive approach, fusing jazz, hip-hop, R&B, and classical music. For this Abu Dhabi Festival concert he has a 12-strong band and we’re promised “a unique and unforgettable experience” that is [ ... ]
From AED 150
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 The titular cellist is the exciting young Franco-Belgian star Camille Thomas, playing with the Berlin Symphony Orchestra under the noted Norwegian conductor Eivind Gullberg Jensen. This InClassica concert has a lively programme that should bring out the best in her: [ ... ]
From AED 199 |
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