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 [... more]
Free
35 events found.
Events
Calendar of Events
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15 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 [... more]
AED 50
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 [... more]
From AED 180
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
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
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. [... more]
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 [... more]
Mostly AED 52.50
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 [... more]
Weekend pass AED63
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. [... more]
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 [... more]
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 [... more]
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 [... more]
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 [... more]
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 [... more]
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 [... more]
Free
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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 [... more]
Free, but pre-register
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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, [... more]
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 [... more]
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 [... more]
From AED 350
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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 [... more]
[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, [... more]
From AED 350
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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, [... more]
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 [... more]
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 [... more]
Free
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An adaptation of Kurosawa’s Rashomon transposed to Punjab (and delivered in Punjabi, with English subtitles). A man is found dead and his wife abused; a bandit confesses, but the wife’s story is different – and the dead man himself has [... more]
AED 100
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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 [... more]
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 [... more]
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 [... more]
Free
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An adaptation of Sidney Lumet’s courtroom drama 12 Angry Men, transposed to Punjab in the 1890s (and delivered in Punjabi, with English subtitles). The members of a jury deliberate a guilty verdict that means death for the accused; one of [... more]
AED 100
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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 [... more]
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 [... more]
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 [... more]
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 [... more]
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 [... more]
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: [... more]
From AED 199
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12 events,A journey in 360° space through the worlds created by Hayao Miyazaki & Joe Hisaishi with the Armenian pianist Gayane Aslanyan. "In 60 minutes, she will transport you to a realm of wonder and fantasy where imagination knows no bounds [... more]
From AED 240
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Charlie Chaplin’s tramp goes looking for gold and fortune in the Klondike, gets mixed up with some burly characters, falls in love with the beautiful Georgia (Georgia Hale) and tries to win her heart ... It's the now-familiar mix, but [... more]
Free
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The Xinjiang Art Theatre Song and Dance Troupe celebrate the Chinese New Year with this colourful, large-scale epic of music, dance and spectacle that depicts the colourful culture of Xinjiang – a vast region of deserts and mountains in northwest [... more]
From AED 150
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7 events,
—
Shehan Karunatilaka, the 2022 Booker Prize Winner, talks with NYUAD Visiting Professor of Literature and Creative Writing Harshana Rambukwella. Karunatilaka’s fiction combines the surreal and the drakly humorous, notably in his Booker winner The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida – [... more]
Free
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A warm-hearted and thoughtful holiday story of three lonely, shipwrecked people who find support in the most unlikely of places. A curmudgeonly teacher (Paul Giamatti) is forced to remain on campus at a New England prep school over Christmas to [... more]
Free
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6 events,
—
Dina Stars closes out Series 42 with her dynamic performance and a set that runs the gamut from power ballads to dance-pop. Support comes from singer-songwriter Yohaan Samuel.
AED 70
|
8 events,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
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ÖKOZID / ECOCIDE Director: Andres Veiel Feature, Germany, 2020, 90 min. Starring Nina Kunzendorf, Friederike Becht, Edgar Selge and Ulrich Tukur February 7, 2024 @ 7pm, at Manarat Al Saadiyat It is the year 2034 and drought and flooding are [... more]
Free
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The world premiere of a new dance piece, devised and performed by two of the pre-eminent South Asian dancers of their time – Aakash Odedra, well known to Abu Dhabi audiences from previous visits; and Aditi Mangaldas, a dancer and [... more]
AED 105
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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 with the lowest score is eliminated. Eventually only [... more]
Free but donations welcome
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9 events,A solo show from one of Carbon 12's regulars. Butzer's style is characterised by "Disney figures painted by Munch": iconic characters, expressive language, deceptively careful use of colour, all done in "in honour of Henri Matisse" says the artrist. "Simultaneously [... more]
Free
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The second and final performance of the world premiere of a new dance piece, devised and performed by two of the pre-eminent South Asian dancers of their time – Aakash Odedra, well known to Abu Dhabi audiences from previous visits; [... more]
AED 105
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Rossellini’s follow-up to his breakout Rome Open City (Roma città aperta) is an ambitious and moving look at the final days of war in Italy and the confusion that follows in its wake. This classic of neo-realist cinema is presented [... more]
Free
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Francis Veber's highly successful modern French farce gets the Culture Emulsion treatment. Pierre Brochant is one of the Parisian businessmen who have a weekly 'idiots' dinner', where guests bring along a dimwit who can be ridiculed. Brochant finds an excellent [... more]
AED 150
|
10 events,Borrowing its title from Khulood Al Mualla’s fourth book of poetry Rubbama Huna, Perhaps Here explores the orbits of contemporary imagination through a variety of live performances. This event will feature artists from diverse disciplines who will share their works [... more]
Free
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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 ... [... more]
From AED 170
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A second performance of Francis Veber's highly successful modern French farce by Culture Emulsion. Pierre Brochant is one of the Parisian businessmen who have a weekly 'idiots' dinner', where guests bring along a dimwit who can be ridiculed. Brochant finds [... more]
AED 150
—
An evening featuring some of the favourite pieces of violin virtuoso Timothy Chooi – notably Pablo de Saraste’s thundering Zigeunerweisen (Gipsy music) and Massenet's more delicate Méditation from Thaïs – in a programme that mixes popular works of the classical [... more]
From AED 50
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This Laughter Factory tour carries a label that sets the bar quite high, but we do like a bit of ambition. The comics: Steven Biggs Netflix and HBO alumnus making his Middle East debut. Signing him is described as "a [... more]
AED 160
|
9 events,A semi-fictional sound-walk in the Jaddaf Waterfront Sculpture Park, departing from the Jameel and following the Dubai Creek along the Jaddaf waterfront. It is an immersive and interactive experience narrated by a 12-year-old girl, leading audiences through contrasting natural and [... more]
Free, but pre-register
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The Lebanese/American comic is touring a new stand-up show (his eight major tour, by our count). Expect inch-perfect delivery, a great ability to work the room, and especially spot-on commentary on the world's recent experiences. Recommended, even at these prices. [... more]
From AED 200
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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 [... more]
From AED 190
|
11 events,A solo exhibition that presents a newly commissioned large-scale installation rooted in the instability and fragility of the human experience — more than 200 fantastical ceramic objects arranged as surreal sculptures and structures that replicate and reimagine healthcare spaces, such [... more]
Free
This exhibition presents projects by 12 of the participants in 421’s Homebound Residency Program, which ran annually from spring 2020 to fall 2023; it is both a celebration of the work produced during the programme and an acknowledgement of the [... more]
Free
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Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Olivia de Havilland and Hattie McDaniel star in one of the classic American movies. It won 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture. A genuine bucket-list movie, and good value for a run time of nearly four [... more]
Free
—
South African soprano Pretty Yende and the Sardinian tenor Francesco Demuro come together for an Abu Dhabi Festival programme that includes extracts from Donizetti, Verdi, Bellini, and Gounod. Vincenzo Scalera (piano) accompanies. Programme: Puccini Che Gelida Manina, from La Bohème [... more]
AED 100
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Dubomedy does Valentines in an evening of stand-up, musical, improv, "and more themed surprises". Admission is free but you need to RSVP if you want a seat ...
Free, but pre-register
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6 events,
—
This critically acclaimed Chilean documentary film follows the relationship of Chilean journalist Augusto Góngora, one of Chile's most prominent cultural journalists and TV presenters, and actress Paulina Urrutia (who served as Minister of Culture and the Arts of the country [... more]
Free
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A night of romance, love, heartbreak, and guaranteed laughter as the Courtyard's improvisers turn the audience’s real life stories into entertaining scenes for our benefit. First of three consecutive nights (each of which will probably be completely different).
Free, but donations welcome
|
6 events,
—
The young Palestinian violinist was appointed concertmaster of the Vienna State Opera Orchestra in 2022 (he was previously concertmaster with the Daniel Barenboim’s West-Eastern Divan Orchestra) but he maintains a busy career as both a soloist and chamber musician. His [... more]
AED 100
—
A night of romance, love, heartbreak, and guaranteed laughter as the Courtyard's improvisers turn the audience’s real life stories into entertaining scenes for our benefit. Second of three consecutive nights (each of which will probably be completely different). [... more]
Free, but donations welcome
|
6 events,
—
The Sharjah Architecture Triennial (SAT) is hosting the final day of public programme for its second edition, The Beauty of Impermanence: An Architecture of Adaptability, which runs until 10 March. 'Material & Land Narratives' explores the regenerative potential of earthen [... more]
Free
—
A night of romance, love, heartbreak, and guaranteed laughter as the Courtyard's improvisers turn the audience’s real life stories into entertaining scenes for our benefit. The last – and most apposite – of three consecutive nights (each of which will [... more]
Free, but donations welcome
|
9 events,
A performance film, the second in a series of three performance projects by the artist in which the act of glossolalia — speaking in tongues — can be seen as a ceremonial performance. Transcending ordinary verbal communication, it keys in [... more]
Free
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
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Some of the sessions in the Museum of the Future's Future Experts talks series have been a tad over-technical, but this one should hit the mark. Apparently it's designed "to ignite intellectual discussions and foster collaborative exploration at the intersection [... more]
AED 100
—
A poignant love story, delivered impeccably (as always) by Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr who fall in love on an ocean liner headed for New York. Sadly they're each engaged to someone else, so they take the mature option and [... more]
Free
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The second weekend for this Laughter Factory tour. It carries a label that sets the bar quite high, but we do like a bit of ambition. The comics: Steven Biggs Netflix and HBO alumnus making his Middle East debut. Signing [... more]
AED 160
|
11 events,A group exhibition, presented by Barjeel Art Foundation and curated by Sama Alshaibi and Amir Hazim, described as "a mediation of" the Barjeel's photography collection."In the spirit of photography’s defiance of uniformity, the exhibition articulates Middle Eastern and North African [... more]
Free
Fiorenzo’s artworks aims to encapsulate the essence of the millennial era, capturing the dynamic interplay between technology and human experience. This collection offers "a contemplative exploration" of how virtual reality and artificial intelligence are making a comeback (sic) in our [... more]
Free
Works by three prominent Iranian contemporary artists – Farah Ossouli, Elham Pourkhani, Abbas Shahsavar, Khadim Ali – whose practices are profoundly influenced by Persian miniatures. Presented by Bavan Gallery and curated by Takin Aghdashloo. To 24 March.
Free
A collaborative project by Kim Asendorf, Andreas Gysin, and Leander Herzog that "glorifies" the computer through generative art and architectural coding. Their work seamlessly integrates aesthetic elegance and complex algorithms. Presented by Fakewhale and curated by Giuseppe Moscatello, this is [... more]
Free
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Another big name for Abu Dhabi's new open-air venue, Saadiyat Nights. By all accounts the venue on Saadiyat's Jacques Chirac Street is a great success: it's quite big, but manages a quite intimate feeling (and the seats are comfortable). But [... more]
From AED 295
—
The second weekend for this Laughter Factory tour. It carries a label that sets the bar quite high, but we do like a bit of ambition. The comics: Steven Biggs Netflix and HBO alumnus making his Middle East debut. Signing [... more]
AED 160
|
11 events,
—
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
—
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
|
12 events,A romantic evening of popular tunes, played by a string quartet and lit by candlelight. An evening stroll along the edge of the mangroves should help the mood, too. The programme lasts about an hour; there are performances at 6pm [... more]
From AED AED 150
—
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 [... more]
Free, but pre-register
—
A warm-hearted and thoughtful holiday story of three lonely, shipwrecked people who find support in the most unlikely of places. A curmudgeonly teacher (Paul Giamatti) is forced to remain on campus at a New England prep school over Christmas to [... more]
Free
—
A Dubomedy comedy night with alumni of its stand-up courses, at least 18 of them – they each get just one minute to make you laugh, there will be prizes, and it's free with no minimum spend (you need to [... more]
Free, but pre-register
—
"Soft and classy" – an evening with pianist/singer Ryann Gibb, accompanied by ToDA's 360° visuals ...
From AED 170
—
A second chance to see this 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 in the world and benefits from being associated with the [... more]
From AED 300
—
A second show for this performance piece, co-presented by Ishara Art Foundation, which invites the audience to practise the precious gift of attention through active, participatory listening. It interweaves three stories of human trials and tribulations, tied together by the [... more]
Free
|
2 events,
—
The Dutch brothers have both been performing in public since early childhood, typically as a piano duo. For this Abu Dhabi Festival recital their programme includes works by Mozart, Schumann, Widmann, Debussy and Rachmaninov. Programme: Mozart Sonata in C Major [... more]
AED 100
|
2 events,
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
|
4 events,
—
The first of three more performances of the culture Emulsion production of Francis Veber's highly successful modern French farce. Pierre Brochant is one of the Parisian businessmen who have a weekly 'idiots' dinner', where guests bring along a dimwit who [... more]
AED 150
—
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 with the lowest score is eliminated. Eventually only [... more]
Free but donations welcome
|
10 events,
The Culture Foundation's big summer show is a major survey of four decades of work showcasing the multidisciplinary practice across painting, drawing, collage and sculpture of an artist acknoweldged as one of the UAE’s key postmodernists (he was one of [... more]
Free
NYU Abu Dhabi Art Gallery is celebrating its ten-year anniversary with a characteristically interesting exhibition. In Real Time is a dynamic show – over the course of three months the curators will be adding artists, and the artists and performers [... more]
Free
A retrospective for Kristel Bechara’s 15 years in the Emirates, curated by Astrid Lesuisse. kanvas described as "groundbreaking" the way Bechara’s art has been blended with cutting-edge technology – works animated by motion designer Viktor Lukacs are set against a [... more]
Free
An exhibition that explores the plants indigenous to the UAE, looking at the surrounding atmosphere that affects its growth and gives it its unique variations of colour, texture, size and behaviour. "From the iconic Ghaf tree to the resilient desert [... more]
Free
For the first time in the region, the work of the noted illustrator and children’s book author (more than 70 titles to his name, including of course The Very Hungry Caterpillar) is celebrated through Carle’s brilliant imagery of the seasons, [... more]
Free
—
The famous French a cappella boys' choir – made up of boys between 9 and 15 years old, and for some reason styled in English as The Little Singers of Paris – is coming to the Sorbonne for a free [... more]
Free, but pre-register
—
This critically acclaimed Chilean documentary film follows the relationship of Chilean journalist Augusto Góngora, one of Chile's most prominent cultural journalists and TV presenters, and actress Paulina Urrutia (who served as Minister of Culture and the Arts of the country [... more]
Free
—
The penultimate performances of the culture Emulsion production of Francis Veber's highly successful modern French farce. Pierre Brochant is one of the Parisian businessmen who have a weekly 'idiots' dinner', where guests bring along a dimwit who can be ridiculed. [... more]
AED 150
|
12 events,The inaugural exhibition of the Lebanese-British artist at this gallery, where she has recently joined the roster. Aya Haidar’s practice addresses themes related to womanhood, invisible labour, forced displacement, Homeland and territory, social constructs and inequalities; positioned at the intersection [... more]
Free
The inaugural solo exhibition at Lawrie Shabibi for London-based artist Mandy El-Sayegh is a combination of painting, installation, video, sound, and performance that showcases her characteristic ‘bricolage’ approach, connecting disparate visual cultural knowledge to create new meanings. Says the gallery: [... more]
Free
A group show by three artists from Karakalpakstan, an autonomous area of Uzbekistan: Bakhtiyar Serekeyev, Timur Shardimetov and Salomat Babajanov. "They introduced the rebellious spirit of expressionism and uninhibited painting into local art, which was very traditional in themes and [... more]
Free
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
The brand new Rizq Art Initiative in Abu Dhabi continues to impress. Its second exhibition is an experimental examination of the enduring impact of conflict on people, places, language, and relationships through the medium of sound; it's curated by Cathy [... more] 
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
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ToDA transforms into a jazz venue for live performance accompanied by a 360° immersive show: this time it's Lady J & her trio in a 90-minute set. "Expect a sparkling arrangement of the Grooviest Classics together with jazzed-up Radio Hits [... more]
From AED 140
—
The fifth and final performances of the culture Emulsion production of Francis Veber's highly successful modern French farce. Pierre Brochant is one of the Parisian businessmen who have a weekly 'idiots' dinner', where guests bring along a dimwit who can [... more]
AED 150
—
The latest in this fourth Alliance Française series of concerts highlighting locally-based classical musicians features two returnees in an East-meets-West programme – works by Bach, Bloch, Sarasate, Pärt, Lecuona, Berliner and Tchaikovsky. (The price here is for non-members; AF members [... more]
AED 130
—
A Mad Cat Comedy gig: local standups "with a few international dropins". The ticket price includes a free drink.
AED 70
|
14 events,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
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
Sharjah Art Foundation presents the first major museum exhibition of works of the Casablanca Art School, whose revolutionary approach following Morocco’s independence in 1956 proposed a bold new visual culture. This landmark exhibition, first seen at Tate St Ives, brings [... more]
Free
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
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
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
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]
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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
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"Dubai's wildest comedy nigt", courtesy of Mad Cat Comedy. The ticket price includes two drinks.
AED 100
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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
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10 events,
The always enjoyable Alserkal Art Week, a taster for Art Dubai that has become established in the own right, runs this time from 25 February to 3 March. All the Alserkal Avenue galleries seem to be committed, along with guest [... more]
Free
This show looks like something of a coup for Alerkal Avenue. Widely considered the pioneer of video art in India, and embodying the role of the artist as social activist, Malani has a 50-year multimedia practice that includes photography, painting, [... more]
Free
Montazeri's solo show emphasises the mirror's role as a time capsule, capturing time layer by layer – "with a single gaze, time halts, letting the audience see themselves in the present, amid past moments and a myriad of images within [... more]
Free
This exhibition of carpets designed by artists and curated by Behrang Samadzadegan is described by the gallery as "a territory where artists navigate unbridled fantasies ... Like architects of dreams, they go beyond the surface, delving into the unseen, weaving [... more]
Free
A group show, curated by Sanaz Askari, that brings together artists whose works explore nature's sanctuary amidst the urban sprawl, forging an intimate connection. The starting point is Mark Foster Gage's proposal that urbanisation has transformed architectural edifices into the [... more]
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Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Olivia de Havilland and Hattie McDaniel star in one of the classic American movies. It won 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture. A genuine bucket-list movie, another good pick by the inestimable Cinema Space, and good [... more]
Free
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For this Abu Dhabi Festival appearance the American bel canto tenor will sing operatic selections from Rossini to Verdi, to the piano accompaniment of Fabio Centanni.
AED 100
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7 events,
The first solo exhibition in the MENA region for the Finnish artist. Her work draws inspiration from ancient basilicas, cathedrals, and other Scandinavian wooden structures. Using wood as her primary medium, Lappi establishes a direct connection to her homeland and [... more]
Free
Sotheby's has an upcoming London auction devoted to artists from or inspired by Lebanon's capital, and Dubai is getting a preview in the form of a selection of the works that will be in the sale. The full complement includes [... more]
Free
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Graduates of Dubomedy's Winter Stand-up Workshops take the stage to perform new stand-up material. It's free, but you're advised to preregister as space is limited ...
Free
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Amid the ruins of war-torn Berlin immediately after the Second World War, 12-year-old Edmund struggles to support his ailing father; he gets caught up in black market schemes and falls to a Nazi-sympathising former teacher – with tragic consequences. The [... more]
Free
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17 events,The Brazilian artist has been given regular solo shows at Green Art Gallery every couple of years, and they're always interesting. Her widely (and sometimes wildly) experimental practice appropriates different materials, connecting to the environments in which she works; art, [... more]
Free
Paintings and drawings by Manjit Bawa (1941-2008), a modernist master of 20th-century Indian figuration whose work is distinguished by expressive line and colour. To 30 April. The exhibition marks the inauguration of Volte Art Projects’ new Alserkal Avenue space under [... more]
Free
A group exhibition of 20 artists and designers in the central atrium of ICD Brookfield Place, curated by Michèle Lamy and presented in collaboration with Carpenters Workshop Gallery. The exhibition “finds inspiration in the city’s starkly contrasting landscape as it [... more]
Free
A group exhibition curated by Faridah Folawiyo, showcasing artists of African origin across the world and examining how artists from Africa and the diaspora see the restrictive concepts of Eurocentric cultural superiority. The show aims to stretch audiences’ limits and [... more]
Free
The latest work from the Zimbabwean artist is described by the gallery as "a vibrant celebration of life's unexpected lessons, captured through a fusion of neo-expressionism, Japanese Manga, Pop Art, and African art influences ... Her art – alive with [... more]
Free
The Third Line's fourth solo exhibition with Farah Al Qasimi, Brooklyn based but Abu Dhabi born, is a collection of still and moving images in colour and – for the first time – black and white too. “Black and white [... more]
Free
A solo exhibition with examples of many of the disciplines and media that made up Koraïchi's practice, all "showcasing his abiding fascination with the creation of deeply layered seams within the spiritual, political and intellectual". Koraïchi often speaks of belonging [... more]
Free
Two UAE-based artists reflect on "identity and the eternal quest for belonging within the ebb and flow of time ... the longing for connection amid the bittersweet journey of loss. Sara Al Haddad creates delicate yarn and fibre works that [... more]
Free
The first solo exhibition in the region for the Bolivian artist is a group of six new and five existing works that represent "a journey into a dreamlike universe where her dreams blend vivid memories with powerful symbolic language". The [... more]
Free
Two of the most distinctive Dubai-based artists with works that explore the intricate relationship between labour, rest, and the ever-evolving urban landscape of the UAE. "Considering the dynamics of human existence, alternating between cycles of depletion and restoration, the exhibition [... more]
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A solo exhibition with the second body of work from Faisal Samra’s Immortal Moment project, artworks created through the accumulation of instances that push the viewer to question the opportunities of a single moment. In the first chapter of this [... more]
Free
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Alserkal Lates takes place in the middle of Alserkal Art Week, so there should be more than two dozen exhibitions in Avenue galleries open till 10pm (half of them taking the opportunity to open on the night) – with the [... more]
Free
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The Russian-American concert pianist promises an energetic, interesting and imaginative Abu Dhabi Festival recital spanning various musical traditions. Programme: Chopin Polonaise-Fantasie in A flat major, Op.61 Fauré Nocturne No.13 in B minor, Op.119 Poulenc Three Intermezzi (FP71/118) Liszt Polonaise in [... more]
AED 100
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Abu Dhabi's regular comedy night at an undoubtedly great location ("the UAE’s first Jamaican Restaurant & Lounge"). The AED 95 charge includes two drinks. ...
AED 95
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This eight-month-long Simple Minds tour genuinely is global (they started in January in New Zealand: Dubai is a stop between Australasia and Europe) and they expect to play to over one million people worldwide, showcase their eighteenth studio album Direction [... more]
From AED 195
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9 events,Trevor Noah’s current world tour called in at Dubai last October, and now another UAE date has been added. Noted for his sharp wit and intelligent commentary on people, politics, racism and nationalism, and occasionally himself, he’s also good at [... more]
From AED 250
The eighth and biggest edition of what is arguably the world’s largest in-person photography festival (20,000+ visitors last year) runs 28 February to 5 March in Expo Centre Sharjah. More than 400 photographers from over 50 nations will be showing [... more]
Free
You wouldn't normally put these two artists together; but the gallery describes this show as “a platform that showcases a compelling dialogue between their distinct artistic visions”, one that “celebrates abstract and profound concepts while highlighting the intriguing harmony between [... more]
Free
A solo exhibition for the noted Egyptian artist's vivid and poignant paintings exploring ancient Egyptian beliefs regarding enlightenment and the afterlife. As the artist puts it: “In The world of Mirrors we say what is above is what is below, [... more]
Free
Toni Morrison's novels have reshaped American literature, exploring themes of identity, the human experience, and cultural understanding with remarkable depth. The Africa Institute is inaugurating its Toni Morrison Senior Fellowship in African Diaspora Literature and Cultural Studies with a two-day symposium [... more]
Free, but pre-register
An exhibition of 23 works by the Italian art director/publisher of high fashion magazines. They're highly graphic in style, with bold lines and strong colours, and as the title implies they consider women through the hair, the only precise detail [... more]
Free
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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 with the lowest score is eliminated. Eventually only [... more]
Free but donations welcome
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8 events,
New and existing 3D work by the Egyptian artist, whose practice aims to explore the intersection of tradition and globalisation and the impact of political and economic development. The title Bottle Neck reflects “the overload of information that creates a [... more]
Free, but pre-register
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Emel Mathlouthi, the Tunisian songwriter, composer, guitarist, and singer, is in Abu Dhabi for a concert at the weekend. In this interactive workshop for local musicians and songwriters she aims to explore the importance of music as an act of [... more]
Free, but pre-register
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A last summer of nanny-child togetherness is detailed in this small but acutely affecting story, a debut made dazzling by an astonishingly intricate performance from its six-year-old star Louise Mauroy-Panzani. The opening film in a short Francophone season (with English [... more]
Free
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One of the most consistently funny of the Courtyard's classic improv gigs: the speakers have to give a presentation on a slide deck they’ve never seen before, with the topic determined at random by the Wheel of Destiny. Each presentation [... more]
Free, but donations welcome
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11 events,Sharjah Art Foundation’s annual convening of artists, curators, scholars and arts practitioners from around the world to discuss issues in contemporary art focuses this time on collectives whose practice intertwines artmaking and community building in various forms of collaboration that [... more]
Free, but pre-register
The New-York based artist gets her first show in the UAE, featuring works she created in Dubai during her time at the NIKA Project Space Research and Residency programme – monumental watercolour triptychs that relate to the narratives and histories [... more]
Free
The self-styled "World’s Biggest Book Sale” is returning to Sound Stages, Dubai Studio City, from 1-10 March, open daily 10am to midnight with something like two million titles in various genres on sale at discounts of up to 75 percent [... more]
Free
"A poetic merging of two distinct artistic voices, each echoing the beauty and spirit of the Arabian landscapes ..." Watercolours explorating the natural and cultural landscapes of the UAE and Oman by two painters who have been integral members of [... more]
Free
Boogie Box has scheduled another of its superlative back-to-the-best-of-yesterday nights – yep, a six-hour warehouse rave in an actual warehouse. It’s another of the Box’s leftfield venue finds, this one The Hangar at JA The Resort, which is actually an [... more]
AED 200
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Four young siblings find themselves abandoned in a house in the woods in Belgian writer-director Michèle Jacob's creepily atmospheric suspense thriller. For much of its running time, The Lost Children has the ominous atmosphere of a slow-burn horror film; "the forest [... more]
Free
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Abu Dhabi's new open-air venue Saadiyat Nights is winding up its three-month programme with two big names -- tomorrow night sees John Legend, tonight we get Sir Thomas Jones Woodward OBE. He's into his 80s now, but the voice is [... more]
From AED 245
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The rich melodic culture of Egyptian music from Dina El Wedidi is set alongside the harmonically sophisticated sounds of American jazz mixed with RnB and post-rock by Samora Pinderhughes. It’s an intimate, cross-boundary double bill, the first of two this [... more]
AED 105
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13 events,
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The Global Notes series – the sponsored replacement for Amira Fouad's long-running Opera Studio recital programme, and now presented by Dubai Opera with Encore Performing Arts and Royal Grammar School Guildford Dubai – continues with the National Youth Orchestra in [... more]
AED 265
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Samora Pinderhughes and his ensemble are in Abu Dhabi for a concert this weekend. In this session for local musicians and songwriters, Samora will discuss his approach to composing and creating music and lyrics, and then work with participants on [... more]
Free, but pre-register
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Dina El Wedidi shares a bill at The Arts Center this weekend with Samora Pinderhughes, but is also leading this workshop which aims to explore the relationship between music, self, common struggles, and more. Working with the idea that music [... more]
Free, but pre-register
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A round trip to the Sikka Art and Design Festival for Abu Dhabi residents. You'll get three hours on site: 3.30pm: Depart from 421 5.30pm: Arrive at Sikka 8.30pm: Depart 10.30pm: Arrive at 421 Get there 10 minutes before departure [... more]
AED 30
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A programme of four shorts in this season of free Francophone films at Sorbonne Abu Dhabi, showing in the Sorbonne's rather nice outdoor garden: A Broken Fan dir Assaad Khoueiry (2021) 13 min Somewhere In Between dir Dahlia Nemlich (2023) [... more]
Free
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The last gig in the inaugural three-month series at Abu Dhabi's new open-air venue Saadiyat Nights sees the uber-smooth multi Grammy award winner John Legend on the stage.
From AED 295
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The groundbreaking vision of the iconic Tunisian artist is spotlighted in a performance ranging from folk music to electronica via straight-up rock. Mathlouthi is a songwriter, composer, guitarist, and singer with an otherworldly voice that sounds equally at home in [... more]
AED 105
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