All Day

Hatshepsut: The Woman Who Would Be King

kanvas Dubai Unit 1, Al Khayat Art Avenue, 19th Street Al Quoz 1, Dubai

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 [... more]

AED 50

PLUMA

Festival City Mall Dubai

A circus experience (no animals!) under the big top, courtesy of Cirque du Liban. "Watch in amazement as our acrobats defy gravity, through the air with breathtaking precision"; the narrative, such as it is, concerns a girl (the titular Pluma) [... more]

From AED 95

Sharjah Light Festival

[various Sharjah locations]

Regular readers will know that magpie has always been a fan of the Sharjah Light Festival, the 13th edition of which runs 7 to 18 February. SLF is being joined by two more light festivals that have emerged in the [... more]

Free

UNTOLD Dubai

Expo City Dubai Dubai

Four days of top dance music for the first UNTOLD festival to be held outside Europe – “over 100 talents from around the world, boasting something for every modern-music lover” (some latino, some pop, some afrobeat, but mostly house and [... more]

From AED 300
Ongoing

Judit Böröcz, Bence György Pálinkás and Máté Szigeti: Singing Youth

Sharjah Institute of Theatrical Arts Calligraphy Square, Sharjah

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 [... more]

Free

ElectroFest

The Arts Center @ NYUAD NYUAD Campus, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi

The NYUAD Arts Center's mini festival of electronic music, now in its fourth edition, is getting more substantial: it's still a one-day event "tailored for those with an ear for experimental and electronic genres, as well as those with a [... more]

Free, but pre-register

Visualizing Palestine: Gaza in Context

Jameel Arts Centre Al Jaddaf, Dubai

Aline Batarseh, Executive Director of Visualizing Palestine talks about her organisation's most recent work contextualising the crisis in Gaza — from infographics to videos to interactive platforms – while also providing insight into Visualizing Palestine’s process for data collection and [... more]

Free

Alterations: Aylen Pritchin & Lukas Geniušas

Theatre of Digital Arts Souk Madinat Jumeriah, Dubai

Aylen Pritchin (violin) and Lukas Geniušas (piano) combine with the immersive 360° visuals of TODA (digital art by Ferran Belmon, "carefully curated to mirror the emotional flow of your journey"). The programme: Ravel Violin Sonata No. 1 Desyatnikov Wie Der [... more]

Price tbc

La Scala Theatre Ballet Academy

Dubai Opera

A gala programme by some of ballet's future stars. La Scala Theatre Ballet School is recognised as one of the world's leading classical ballet schools and benefits from being associated with the professional company of Teatro alla Scala Ballet. This [... more]

From AED 300

Mohit Takalkar: Hunkaro

Sharjah Art Foundation -- Calligraphy Square Sharjah

In modern society, where listening to others is often replaced with the consumption of visual media, Hunkaro – meaning ‘verbal affirmation’ in Marathi – is an important counterweight. This performance piece, co-presented by Ishara Art Foundation, invites the audience to [... more]

Free

Laughter Factory: ‘Irrelevant But Hilarious!’

Dukes The Palm Palm Dubai, Dubai

The final gig for this Laughter Factory tour. The comics: Steven Biggs Netflix and HBO alumnus making his Middle East debut. Signing him is described as "a huge comedy coup for the Selfdrive Laughter Factory" Conor Drum London-based Irish comedian, [... more]

AED 160