All Day

Xposure International Photography Festival 2025

Aljada Sharjah

The ninth edition of the region's largest, broadest and generally most impressive festival of photography. It is based around a the exhibitions, solo and group, but importantly incudes a very full programme of authoritative talks and useful workshops; portfolio reviews [... more]

Free

Sikka Art and Design Festival 2024

Al Shindagha Dubai Creek, Dubai

The 12th edition of Sikka runs from 23 February to 3 March 2024 at the Al Shindagha Historic Neighbourhood (it’s moved from Al Fahidi to simplify access and increase the range and number of exhibits and event spaces – all [... more]

Free

Lala Rukh: In the Round

Al Mureijah Art Spaces Al Mureijah Square, Sharjah

The first major survey of the late artist, feminist organiser and pedagogue Lala Rukh brings together more than 50 drawings, prints, photographs, videos and animation works from across her three-decade practice. The artist captured the diverse rhythms of lunar movements, [... more]

Free

Henok Melkamzer: Telsem Symbols and Imagery

Sharjah Art Museum Sharjah

With more than 100 works, many on view for the first time, this exhibition is the largest solo presentation by telsem artist Henok Melkamzer. Traditionally termed a healing or talisman art, telsem is a distinctive Ethiopian art form that incorporates [... more]

Free

Olivier Souffrant: In Plain Sight

Zidoun-Bossuyt Gallery 796 Jumeirah Street, Dubai

In his work, the NY-based Haitian artist references both African American masters such as Romare Bearden, Jacob Lawrence, and Jean-Michel Basquiat and European painters like Botticelli, Van Gogh, and Picasso. Souffrant uses everyday materials such as magazines, online publications, computers, [... more]

Free

Ahmad Moualla: Combustions

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

The Syrian artist's first solo exhibition with this gallery (and his first show in eight years) is a series of new works on paper created in 2023. Considered one of the pioneers of modernism and expressionism in Syria, Moualla was [... more]

Free

Echoes of Infinite: Poetry’s Visual Symphony

Farjam Foundation Gate Avenue 3, GF-97, DIFC, Dubai

The Farjam Foundation isn’t a particularly activity gallery, but it does have access to an excellent private collection that spans early Islam to present-day artistic practice across regional geographies and beyond. So when it puts on a show of selected [... more]

Free

Zhivago Duncan: The Rare But Known Phenomenon

Meem Gallery Umm Suqeim Rd, Dubai

It's a pleasure to find an artist who is prepared to expand on their principles, and to do with Zhivago Duncan's level of articulation. "Within this new collection," writes Duncan, "I have endeavoured to distill the complexity of ideas and [... more]

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

All the Wild Things

421 Arts Campus Mina Zayed, Abu Dhabi

A weekend of regional films that explore the climate crisis, cureated for 421 by Cinema Akil. As well as . This expansive program includes film screenings, talks, workshops, activations, and family-friendly screenings too. The mini festival includes screening of feature-length [... more]

Free. but pre-register for individual screenings

Global Notes: Marcos Madrigal

Dubai Opera Studio Downtown Dubai, Dubai

The Global Notes series of recitals from Encore Performing Arts, Dubai Opera and the Royal Grammar School Guildford Dubai continues with Marcos Madrigal, an outstanding young pianist from Havana. One recent review said "he plays with taste, musicality, lyricism and [... more]

AED 265

The Phantom of the Opera

Dubai Opera

Continuing its policy of attracting established blue-chip touring performances, Dubai Opera is running Broadway Entertainment Group's production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's critically acclaimed musical for a three-week run. The story is based on Gaston Leroux's classic novel of a musical [... more]

From AED 350

Politically Incorrect Comedy

Canopy by Hilton Dubai Al Seef Al Seef Street, Umm Hurair 1, Dubai

"Dubai's wildest comedy nigt", courtesy of Mad Cat Comedy. The ticket price includes two drinks.  

AED 100

James Blunt: The Who We Used To Be Tour

Coca-Cola Arena City Walk, Dubai

The hip may find him unredeemably uncool, and his voice is definitely a bit of an acquired taste, but James Blunt's songs are well-crafted, articulate, often accessibly personal, and speak to a broad audience of wildly enthusiastic fans. It helps [... more]

From AED 150