Feel that nip in the air? Let’s pretend we can. November is here and along with it comes the promise of crisp, humidity-free Dubai winters. While we don’t get snow here, there’s an avalanche of things to do in Dubai this November to make up for it. From night runs, Thanksgiving dinners, food festivals and art nights, this cosy month is also flush with outdoor events set to knock your socks off. Hopefully, we get socks-wearing weather soon!
1 . Live the sweet life at the world’s first Candy Museum
Forget being tempted to touch museum artefacts, you’ll be tempted to lick the exhibits at the Museum of Candy. This is your chance to live out your Willy Wonka dreams and walk through 15 immersive rooms, each dedicated to a type of candy. Sculptures made of gummy bears, ice cream, and cotton candy, along with plenty of photo-ops and interactive games, make this pastel TikTok haven a must-visit. The best part? You can scarf down on sweet treats as you explore the museum. Get tickets here
📅: Until December 31
🎟️: AED 119 onwards
📍: 32 Street, Umm Hurair
2. Take a hike along Mushrif Park’s free 10km trail
The free-to-use hiking trail that opened up in Mushrif National Park is open all year long, but there’s no time like winter to actually test out this 10km trail’s length and breadth and enjoy a fresh walk in a ghaf tree forest. Find full details here
3. Walk around DIFC to enjoy DIFC Art Nights
The 18th edition of the DIFC Arts Nights is kicking off on November 7. The nine-day event will see the financial district transform into a vibrant arts hub. You can participate in numerous free painting and ceramics workshops, enjoy live performances and see thought-provokingly stunning art installations, sculptures and multimedia works by international and local artists.
November 7-15; from 5pm-9pm
4. Bounce away on the world’s largest outdoor bouncy castle
Jump X, the outdoor inflatable park that first blew up into existence at Dubai Parks and Resorts this February has now reopened after closing for the summer. Open to kids and adults alike, it’s this bouncy castle’s cutesy facade houses some serious GI Joe vibes that grown-ups will love and definitely counts as a workout. Read more here
5. Catch Dubai’s first professional baseball tournament
The American sport of baseball is gripping the UAE with the start of the inaugural Arab Classics tournament starting November 7. National baseball teams from India, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Palestine will take to the baseball field inside The Sevens Stadium. More info here
📅: November 7 – November 10
🎟️: Tickets from AED 49
📍: The Sevens Stadium, Al Ain Road – E66
6-7. Rock out to these Candlelight Concerts
Radioactive or Viva La Vida, what’s your jam? Well, Candlelight Concerts are ensuring you don’t have to play favourites with their ‘Coldplay vs. Imagine Dragons’ concert on November 23 at Dubai’s Raffles The Palm. Gifted pianist Magdalena Wajdzik will bring songs from both pop-rock bands’ back catalogues at this open-air concert in the hotel’s Royal Lawn. Craving classics? There’s a Beethoven concert at the same venue on the same day. Book your concert of choice below
🎸Candlelight: Coldplay vs. Imagine Dragons
🎹 Candlelight: Beethoven’s Best Works
8. Try Pitfire’s Thanksgiving Turkey pizza
Call it Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving or Turkey Day but the American holiday is one to rejoice in and relish hearty food. This year, Thanksgiving falls on November 28 and pizza maestros Pitfire is rolling out a limited-edition ‘Thanksgiving on a Slice’ pizza. Ditching tomato sauce for a homemade gravy base and toppings of roasted Turkey, candied sweet potatoes, sausage stuffing, and a drizzle of spiced cranberry sauce this is a turkey dinner re-imagined like nothing you’ve seen. Find locations here
📅: Until November 30
🎟️: AED 64 for a 10-inch pizza
📍: Available across all Pitfire pizza locations
9. Don’t miss all the fun at Global Village’s 29th season
Everyone’s favourite theme park made its 2024 comeback in October. The many pavilions, entertainment acts and dining experiences of Global Village are back with some new additions this time. Three new country pavilions representing four counties, a dedicated area for restaurants, fireworks every Friday night, and much more. Find details here.
10. Get sporty with Dubai Fitness Challenge events
Free classes, iconic races like the Dubai Run and plenty of outdoor sports, gyms and fitness activities like yoga, pilates and more await you until November 24 as part of the annual Dubai Fitness Challenge. Try to incorporate 30 minutes of exercise for 30 days as part of the initiative by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai to get the city moving and healthy. Find more details here
11. Roll on over to the DXBike Skate and Paint event
Counterculture is under the limelight at this free adventure sports and street art event at DxBike, the cycling and BMX park. Spray paint glow-in-the-dark graffiti on a wall, or take to the makeshift ramps and land skateboarding, BMX or rollerblading tricks. The family-friendly outing also features a live DJ, and professional stunt displays by athletes from Dubai’s only roller skating rink, Roll DXB and Red Bull. Bikes and roller skates can be rented at the venue.
📅: November 9-24
⏰: 6pm-10pm
📍: 47XP+HM, Meydan Street
12. Celebrate the land of a thousand smiles at this Thai Festival
Love Thai food and culture? A free Thai Festival is shining a light on the best of cuisine, martial arts, fashion and performance arts. The Thai Select Festival is the region’s largest and it kicks off on November 8 with live cooking demos of delicious food, cheer on Muay Thai kickboxers during live fights, and see cultural dance performances and screenings of Thai films. Lucky guests can also win a free trip to Thailand!
📅: November 8-9
⏰: From 12pm-2am
🎟️: Entry is free
📍: Emirates Golf Club
13. See cool installations and art Dubai Design Week
Dubai Design Week is back for its 10th edition with an array of art installations, exhibits, workshops, panels and performances for six whole days. Checkout the market place of retail items by local and international designers, and immerse yourself in engaging cultural experiences at d3. More info here.
14. Be inspired at this Art With Disabilities exhibition
The Art With Disablities exhibition is a tribute to 11 iconic figures including Beethoven, Stevie Wonder, Frida Kahlo and Helen Keller who overcame physical impairments and mental health struggles to create musical and artistic masterpeices. Experience the world the way these pioneering figures did through interactive braille installations, sign language and vibrations of music. Meanwhile, 3D videos narrate the resilience and innovative approaches of these artists. Get tickets here
📅: Until December 23
🎟️: AED 99 per person
📍: Kanvas, Al Khayat Art Avenue, Al Quoz
15. Go wild at the world’s largest book fair
The Big Bad Wolf Book Fair is one of the city’s favourite literary events and it’s returning for a second round in 2024 with 75% discounts. Take your pick from over 2 million titles spanning non-fiction, fiction, classics, bestsellers and more from as little as AED 18. More info here
📅: November 29- December 9
🎟️: Entry is free
📍: Sound Stages, Dubai Studio City
16. Dance your weekend away at the Defected Music Festival
Get those dancing shoes ready, the British record label’s world-class rave is returning to Dubai for a second edition from November 9-10. Headliners this year incleude big house music names like Folamour, A-Trak, Sam Divine and more. More info here
17. Get swept away by this passionate Tango performance
Argentina is a long way off but it’s fiery tango isn’t! We Call It Tango dance show is coming to Dubai at the end of November with a sizzling performance of the traditional Argentine dance form. Live music and professional tango dancers will lock step on the Zabeel Theatre stage and tell a three-act tale of love, desire and romance. Get tickets here.
📅: November 29; 9:15pm
🎟️: AED 140 onwards
📍: Zabeel Theatre, Jumeirah Zabeel Saray
18. Whizz over to this Wiz Khalifa Concert
Grammy-nominated rapper Wiz Khalifa is landing in Dubai for one-day concert on November 16. Expect to ride a wave of emotions from screaming out the hook to iconic party anthem Black and Yellow to swaying sentimentally to the Fast and Furious 7 tear-jerker See You Again all in at the Coca Cola Arena.
Tickets from AED 199 onwards
19. See Vishal Mishra live in concert
The Indian playback singer and composer who is known for lyrically rich indie and Bollywood ballads like Manjha and Pehle Bhi Main (Animal) will croon to Dubai’s Hindi music lovers on November 22 at the Coca Cola Arena.
Tickets from AED 99 onwards
20. Laugh out loud at Munawar Faruqui’s stand-up show
After raising the roof with a rip-roaring debut show in June, Indian comic, rapper and singer Munawar Faruqui is back in Dubai for round two this November at the Zabeel Theatre. His hit Hindi stand-up comedy show Dhando returns for an encore on popular demand. This is your chance to be entertained by the Mumbai native’s gritty humour.
📅: November 17; 8:30pm
🎟️: AED 125 onwards
📍: Zabeel Theatre, Jumeirah Zabeel Saray
21. Dig into these Diwali celebrations
The Indian Festival of Lights is lighting up Dubai with a ton of dining deals, fireworks and light displays in desi neighbourhoods and endless mithai (Indian sweets) to devour. Make the most of the festival with our guide to Diwali in Dubai.
22. Drive down to this car festival celebrating Porsche
Motorheads must visit the Icons of Porsche event at the Dubai Design District. Returning for its fourth edition this car festival celebrates the German automobile company’s heritage with displays of classic cars, race cards and also unveil futuristoc concepts and art pieces. Shop for cool merch from stalls at the venue and also indulge in delicious food trucks parked there. More info here
📅: November 23-24
⏰: 4pm-11pm
🎟️: AED 35 onwards
📍: Zabeel Theatre, Jumeirah Zabeel Saray
23. Enjoy a fun day out at Expo City’s Al Wasl Weekends
Dubai’s fleeting good weather is being celebrated at Expo City’s new outdoor event series called Al Wasl Weekends. Every weekend in November is marked with musical performances under the Al Wasl Dome featuring a mix of DJs and a full orchestra on different dates. Other highlights include Brunch City – a multi-restaurant roaming brunch experience and the Harvest Festival, a farmers market featuring food stalls, entertainment, workshops and more. Details here