Summer is over. At least on the calendar it is, even if the wall of humidity outside says otherwise. But what it means for Dubai is that everyone has trickled back into the city after their holidays and there are tons of things to do. From epic immersive events to dreamy ballets and memorable concerts, here’s our guide to the 36 best things to do in Dubai this September.
As much as we whinge incessantly about the Dubai heat (it’s a love language), the weather is edging towards winter, at snail-pace but there’s progress. With longer evenings and shorter days, the perfect outdoor activity to try is a hike at Mushrif Park’s new 10km trail. Find details here.
The Ice Warrior Challenge is back for its 15th edition at Ski Dubai with a 3.5km assault course. Participants will brave the cold by overcoming 20 different obstacles from monkey bars, climbing walls, net crawls and an ice pool. Registrations close on September 12. Register here
This one-of-a-kind lunar eclipse is set to be 2025’s most spectacular celestial phenomenon, so make sure you’re out and about under open skies. More so because the next time you can see a lunar ecplise in Dubai is only in 2028. Find more info here
Garage Nation Dubai is back after its summer hiatus with a daytime rave featuring the best bands of this niche music genre. Artful Dodger of hits like Re-wind and Please Don’t Turn Me On and Scott Garcia of It’s a London Thing fame are the headliners. Homegrown DJs from Dubai like Tom Karno, Engr & Kizo, Walia and DJ Moky will also play sets.
Punjabi music star AP Dhillon is making his Dubai comeback this Sunday. Expect a high-octane performance of hits like Excuses, Brown Munde and other tracks that skillfully blend Punjabi music, hip-hop and rap. Get tickets here
Onam, the harvest festival of the South Indian state of Kerala, is happening in September this year! Prep your appetites to feast on extravagant meals of over 20-25 dishes and slip into a food coma. Find the full list of restaurants here.
The showmanship, exaggerated rivalries, and insane stunts make Dubai’s only wrestling tournament a thrilling live experience. Returning for 2025 at Warehouse 4 in Al Quoz, the wrestler to emerge triumphant from the ring will win the title of Dubai World Wrestling Champion. Pro Wrestlers, both regional names such as Jay Lamrod and Shaheen, will battle for glory. Other wrestling stars such as Kuya & The Abnormals and The Xxclusives also make appearances.
This fairytale masterpiece featuring cursed princesses, witches and a 100-year nap is a canonical work of classical ballet. We Call It Ballet marries technology and tradition with glow-in-the-dark costumes and light displays that grabs eyeballs. Get tickets here
Indian playback singer Sunidhi Chauhan is bringing her I Am Home tour to Dubai this September. The voice behind iconic Bollywood anthems such as Crazy Kiya Re and soulful ballads like Zehnashee, Chauhan’s expansive vocal range has garnered him a staunch following among Hindi music lovers. Hear her belt out all her biggest hits live on stage
The Italian drink Negroni is considered one of the most sophisticated cocktails, but it’s serving some let-you-hair-down fun in Dubai this month. The Lana Dorchester is quadrupling down on celebrations and stretching their Negroni Week deals for a month. The classic cocktail gets makeovers inspired by the power of the sun and infused with unique ingredients such as Parmesan cheese, truffle, and squid ink. Yum! More info here
It might be called Oktoberfest, but the festival kicks off in late September. Dubai is keeping in step with Munich and hopping on board the hops party. A variety of pubs and bars around town are rolling out the beer barrels for the German folk and harvest festival.More info here.
Emirati stand-up legend Ali Al Sayed is gifting a brand new comedy special in English to Dubai’s comedy fans called Alphabet Soup. The award-winning comic’s sharp wit and enlighteningly hilarious commentary on lightning topics like culture, identity, language, and the weird wonders of life will bring the roof down.
Dubai Fashion Week Spring-Summer 26 will unveil its trends and tastes for the season ahead of New York, London, Milan and Paris from September 1-7. Discover the leading trends, designers, and fashion discourse from this head-turning event. More info here
