As you count down the hours to Friday and that well-earned break from the weekly hustle, we’ve curated a list of unmissable events and things to do in Dubai this weekend. The city is set to surprise you with cool parties, brunches, two amazing sales, a cool ice show and so much more.
1 . The winner takes it all at this ABBA-themed Bingo party
Bongo’s Bingo, the brilliantly bonkers and fun party concept from Liverpool is throwing one ultimate bash before it retires for the summer. A mix of a rave, a karaoke party, and a spot quiz, expect to have some boisterous off-the-wall fun on May 26 at Zero Gravity. Crazy prizes and dance-offs are in store for winners. Find all the details here.
2. Hit the malls and shop till you drop at the 3-day super sale this weekend
Snap up almost 90 per cent discounts across fashion, beauty, lifestyle and electronic products from May 26-28. Over 500 brands are participating in the sale and there are plenty of prizes to be won, from rewards point worth thousands of dirhams to a brand-new car. Read about it all here.
3. Plan ahead and book a staycation for a steal at Address Grand Creek Harbour
This brand-new hotel is launching a 72-hour sale on stays where bargain hunters can book staycations on the hotel’s website. Get a 30% discount on the best available room rates. The best part? Bookings are valid during the Eid Al Adha holidays too. So, be one step ahead of the rest! Find details here.
3. Grab a free drink at Salmon Guru on Sunday when you mention this secret password
To celebrate its first anniversary in Dubai, Salmon Guru (Spain’s best cocktail bar) is offering guests a free drinks deal from May 28-31. That special free drink is yours if you can hand Salmon Guru’s staff a secret password. Founder of Salmon Guru and renowned mixologist, Diego Cabrera himself will pour out this special drink to guests on May 28. So hurry! Find more details here.
4. Bask in the glow of this candlelit sound therapy session for some zen
Relax at this refreshing Mindful Glow candlelit sound bath experience on May 27 at Kilachand Studio in the Mall of the Emirates. You’ll practice relaxing breathing exercises and mindful meditation under an experienced practitioner’s guidance while waves’ soothing sounds play in the background. Book tickets here
5. Take yourself and the family out to Peter Pan On Ice show for some cool nostalgia
Cool off this summer with some nostalgia. World-class ice skaters will recreate Neverland at the Peter Pan On Ice show from May 26-28. The childhood classic gets an ice-skating treatment at The Mall of The Emirates. Wendy, Peter Pan, Tinkerbell, Captain Hook, The Lost Boys and even a hungry crocodile appear out of the fairytale and onto the rink. Book tickets here
6. Blow off some steam with a hubble bubble brunch at Joe’s Backyard
Shake off the week’s worries with some shisha at Joe’s Backyard every Friday. The BBQ restaurant at Holiday Inn in Festival City has a special Hubble Bubble Brunch that serves a 3-course meal with 3 selected beverages and shisha for AED199 per person. Add AED 100 for a decadent upgrade that’ll get you unlimited drinks and shisha. You can choose between an earlier brunch slot of 2pm-5pm, or unwind with a late night sesh at 8pm-11pm
Call 055 709 4509 or email reservations@joebackyard.com
7. Have a jumbo good time at this Elephant Bath brunch in Masti
We’ve all heard of the elephant in the room proverb. But have you ever seen an elephant relish a bath? Well, much like the pachyderm splashes around in a river, you’ll be having a ball at this ‘Elephant Bath Brunch’ at Masti. Every Saturday and Sunday, the Indian fusion bar and restaurant in Downtown Dubai will be hosting this extensive South Asian feat featuring biryanis, momos and beef rendang and an array of cocktails.
From 1pm -4pm and 2pm -5pm; from AED 250 per person. Call 800-MASTI (62784) or email info@mastidubai.com
📍The Dubai Edition Hotel, Downtown Dubai
8-14. Have a picture-perfect meal at one of the prettiest restaurants in Dubai
From trattorias with thousands of lemons hanging from the ceiling to spectacular sky-high views of international eateries located on the 51st floor, we’ve compiled a list of 7 beautiful restaurants in Dubai. Gorgeous interior designs come together with marvellous menus so you can have an Instagram-worthy meal in an equally Instagrammable backdrop. Make sure to check out one of them this weekend! Full list here
15-18. Have a blast this weekend at these 3 different parties by The Spot
Event mavens The Spot have gone the whole nine yards to guarantee social butterflies have the most memorable things to do in Dubai this weekend. It’s time to spread your wings and flit from brunches to nightlife spot to concerts and more to play hard after working hard all week long.
🛟 OOO Friday Party at Wane Palm, the stylish beach club in Radisson Beach Resort is making a splash on Fridays with a poolside party like no other from 1pm-9pm. Chilled-out tunes and breezy vibes make this the perfect excuse to grab those flamingo floats and clock out early on Fridays. Until May 19
🙊 Did someone say free party? Fun comes without a price tag at Monkey Bar’s Just Friends event on Sundays. The swanky rooftop bar in 25Hours Hotel will keep Monday blues at bay as you groove the night away from 5pm to 1am while noshing on BBQ snacks. Until May 28.
🥂 Soul Brunch at Papa Dubai, one of the city’s most beautiful restaurants, is offering up a brunch and afterparty from 4pm until 9pm on Saturdays. Bangin’ Afro beats, HipHop and RnB tunes are paired with blissfully delish jerk wings, quesadillas, empanadas and more.
🪩 What gets you on the dancefloor? Afrobeats or Dancehall. That dance debate will be resolved with a DJ Battle at WALL2WALL at Lekki Club in the Millennium Hotel every Saturday. With some incredible regional and international DJs taking to the turntables here, you’re sorted.
Find tickets to all events here19. Jam to Jazz Garden’s Friday night live music sessions
The Jazz Garden’s weekly Friday night concert called The Big Jam Series is running at Phileas Fogg Arena in Montgomerie Golf Academy. This Friday, you can party the night away to Jazz and Blues session by Roy Young and the Alexey Cheremizov Jazz Band. The 3-hour concert kicks off at 8 pm and winds up at 1am. Get your tickets here.
20. Visit the Dubai Miracle Garden for a blooming good weekend before it closes in June
Grab your buds and check out the world’s largest flower garden before it wraps up for summer. This 11th edition of the Dubai Miracle Garden has amazing 3D floral sculptures, a Smurf Village, a field of sunflowers and so much more. We’ve created a guide of the 8 unmissable things you have to check out before the garden closes on June 4. Read about it here.
From 9am-10pm on weekends
21. Attend a stunning candlelight tribute concert celebrating the music of Bruno Mars
Your favourite Bruno Mars ballads and anthems get a classical twist at this dazzling candlelight concerts in Skylight at Arjaan by Rotana. On May 27, you can hum along to Uptown Funk, Just The Way You Are, and many more under the high arched ceilings of the spectacular venue that is Skylight. The Bruno Mars tribute concert happens at 7:30pm. Book tickets here
22-23. Cool off with a delicious summer swim at these 4 new beaches in Dubai
Are you a self-confessed water baby? Then you’d like to H2know that there 4 new fabulous beaches have sprung up in our seaside city giving us some free things to do in Dubai this weekend.
🌊There are 3 beaches in Dubai that now allow night swimming with special lighting and lifeguards for safe 24/7 swimming. Find details here.
🏖️The fourth is a brand new public beach that is Dubai’s first pet-friendly beach. Click here for full details.
That means you get to not only enjoy some dreamy moonlight swims this summer, but also splash around in the waves with your canine and feline friends. Ain’t Dubai life a beach?
24. Reach for the stars at this ladies’ night on the 64th floor of Paramount Hotel
Okay, so the twinkling heavenly bodies are out of reach but this definitively divine deal of a ladies’ night comes in at less than AED 100. Every Saturday, Malibu Sky Bar is hosting a fun ladies’ night hang that gets you and your girlfriends three drinks and a snack platter for AED 99 per person. Coupled with the stunning infinity pool views of Dubai and a dramatic swing that’s begging to be Instagrammed makes this of the unmissable things to do in Dubai this weekend.
From 8pm-11pm; WhatsApp 058 826 5729 for bookings
25. Sweep away Sunday scaries with a musical evening at Bagatelle
Another French restaurant is coming to our rescue this weekend. Bagatelle’s Unplugged nights are back, which means every Sunday you’ll get to relish live music and great food. This Sunday, musical duo Heart & Soul will croon for guests while they nibble on French classics from a sharing-style menu. This little soiree runs into the wee hours of the morning, so the only reason you’ll feel the Monday blues are that you were up all night having a ball in Dubai this weekend.
📍Fairmont Dubai
From 8pm to 3am; call 04 354 5035 for details