Only in Dubai can the phrase ‘darling buds of May’ hold no meaning but also be the month that lets you relish a freezing cold snow run. Talk about a city of paradoxes. And our wonderfully contradictory City of Gold has some diverse events this May. Food festival events that will leave you in delicious food come, concerts to amp you up with a jolt of energy and a mentalist show to blow your minds… Here’s a sensational list of things to do in Dubai in May.
1-2. Let these magical Candlelight concerts transport you
Jumeirah Zabeel Saray’s artistic heart – the Zabeel Theatre – is hosting not one but two Candlelight Concerts on May 25. Dubai-based string quartet aptly named ‘The Strings’ will treat you to the instrumental versions of musical diva Whitney Houston’s greatest hits at 6pm. You will wanna dance with somebody when iconic anthems such as I Will Always Love You, I Have Nothing and others fill the LED candles-filled halls of this Palm Jumeirah venue. Get tickets here.
Later the same night at 9pm, Hans Zimmer’s rousing scores which have featured in pivotal movie moments will give you goosebumps. The setlist includes soundtracks of The Lion King, Inception, Top Gun, Pirates of The Caribbean and Dune. Buy tickets here.
3. Party it up at the Martin Garrix concert in Atlantis
The landmark Palm Jumeirah hotel will be pulsing with more energy than usual on May 11 when EDM sensation Martin Garrix performs here. Known for some of dance music’s biggest tracks, the Dutch DJ is returning to Dubai for a solo gig after his Ultra Music Festival performance in February. The dancefloor will be packed when hits like Animal, In The Name of Love, and Summer Days start spinning on the decks, so get your tickets now.
4. Sprint through snow at Dubai’s coolest running race
Did you pack away your snow boots from that Europe trip? Time to fish them out of the depths of your closet. You’ll need to lace into them when the starter whistles for the DXB Snow Run blasts through Ski Dubai on May 19. The chilly annual race by Dubai Sports Council is back to help Dubaiites cool off as summer gathers steam. And turns the city into a humid steam room. Will you scale the snowy peaks of Dubai’s beloved indoor ski park waddling like a penguin or will you bolt across the soft powder like a swift arctic fox? Find more details here.
5. Visit Global Village before the 2023-24 season ends
Looks like Global Village isn’t ready to say goodbye and we’re not complaining. In a surprise move, the beloved theme park has delayed its already extended closing date by an additional three days. After moving the closing dates from the scheduled April 28 to May 5, the tourist attraction has now stretched its last date to May 8. This bonus extension applies to timings too – Global Village will be open from 4am to 2am. Check out our Global Village guide to make the most of your visit.
6. Freak out on great food at Dubai Food Festival (DFF)
The popular food festival’s 11th edition boasts a smorgasbord of culinary experiences and deals that get you reservations at fancy fine-dining restaurants for half the usual price. The annual Etisalat Beach Canteen, Dubai Restaurant Week’s discounted meal deals and a series of AED 10 dishes across restaurants are all back to ensure you eat your hearts out. More info here.
8. Have a fluro-tastic time at a Neon Brush experience
If you’re on the lookout to give your weekend gatherings a glow-up, there’s quite a literal option available. The funky Neon Brush workshop series is back at Alliance Francaise to let your creativity shine bright. Neon paints, brushes, canvas and an upbeat atmosphere of peppy music will be ready to welcome you and let your inner artist run riot – a riot of luminous colours. An onsite artist will guide you through the process if you’re short on inspiration and wobbly with a paintbrush. Get your tickets here.
9. Get ready to sway and swerve at the Dubai Tango Festival
It takes more than two to tango at this annual dance festival which is back for a 12th year. Not only will international tango champions Betsabet Flores, Jonathan Spitel, Jeannette Erazu, Leandro Capparelli, Angi Ordonez and Nicolas Sambucetti perform at the Lupita Hotel in Dubai Parks and Resort, but you’ll get to pick up some sultry moves to at the festival’s many dance workshops. From May 23-26, you’ll get to participate in milongas (dance events), attend free yoga sessions, and learn all about tango techniques and music in masterclasses conducted by experts. Find more info here.
9. Let Abida Parveen’s soulful voice mesmerise you
Legendary Pakistani singer Abida Parveen is bringing her Sufiyana Live concert to Coca-Cola Arena on May 25. The stalwart of Sufi music is beloved for her mystical voice and spiritual ghazals and qawwali by Southeast Asians the world over. Besides her stints as a judge on reality TV shows and Coke Studio appearances, the vocalist is also a household name because of her classic renditions of timeless sufi poetry like Tere Ishq Nachaya, Chaap Tilak and Tu Jhoom. Expect to hear all that and other hits during this performance. More details here .
10. Get your minds read and blown at the Mind2Mind mentalist event
A stage act that can turn Simon Cowell’s permanent scowl into open-mouthed astonishment? America’s Got Talent and Britain’s Got Talent’s Golden Buzzer winners James Harrington and Marina Liani – a mentalist and magician duo – have done just that and you catch their mindreading powers in action at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel during their Mind2Mind: CONNECTED live shows on May 10, 17 and 31. The couple are known for their uncanny ability to fish out information from your wallets and minds while blindfolded. Get tickets here.
11. Fill your boots at the Satwa Street Food Festival
An extension of the Dubai Food Festival, this spin-off in Satwa’s busy bylanes runs well after the main festival wraps up. Until May 30, the thoroughfare of this area, Satwa Road, will see food stalls set up around a common outdoor dining area, live entertainment, bargain shopping and regional delicacies from the various communities that make up the melting pot of Satwa. Expect a huge helpings of Filipino and Pakistani cuisine.
12. Jam out to old-school rock at an Aerosmith-Queen tribute concert
A double whammy of the good kind is in store at Zabeel Theatre on May 26. Voice of Europe winner Pierre Edel will belt out hits of two classic rock bands – Aerosmith and Queen. The two-hour gig will feature Edel singing 15 songs backed by a symphony orchestra, including timeless rock anthems like We Will Rock You, Sweet Emotion, Dream On and Another One Bites The Dust. Get tickets here.
13. Gaze up on 3000-year-old gold jewellery at this exhibit
L’ÉCOLE Middle East, School of Jewelry Arts has opened a permanent campus in Dubai. To celebrate this fact, an exclusive gold jewellery exhibit titled Gold and Treasures – 3000 Years of Chinese Ornaments is on at the Dubai Design District until August 10. 100 ornaments from Hong Kong’s private Mengdiexuan Collection will be on display, representing cultural designs of the Chinese Steppe to Mongolia, Central Asia and the Himalayas and the intricate artistry of ancient Chinese goldsmiths. Besides vintage jewellery, visitors can also view the precious metal in its natural form as gold crystals and nuggets. More details here.
14-15. Smother your mother with love at these Mother’s Day celebrations
If you missed out on Emirati Mother’s Day on March 28, a second chance to impress Mum is coming up on May 12 – International Mother’s Day.
Mothers visiting Indian restaurant Dhaba Lane can relish a delicious mango dessert – the Mango Malaiyo – for just AED 12 on May 12. Visit their website.
Stables, the veteran gastropub on SZR is handing out free Sunday roasts to mamas when accompanied by a paying adult (AED 110). This Mother’s Day bash also includes a complimentary drink for moms and children’s roast dinner at a discounted rate of AED 65. An arts and crafts station at the restaurant will provide kids with stationery to make cards and gifts for mum. From 12pm to 3pm; call 054 417 7028.