If you’re looking for what to do in Dubai this weekend, or planning a couple of days across the bridge in Abu Dhabi, the calendar this weekend is genuinely stacked. A ballet at Dubai Opera, an Arabic theatre comedy night, two big football fixtures, the European Film Festival in Abu Dhabi, and Cocktail Week settling into ICD Brookfield. Plus the usual UAE weekend mix of family activities, new restaurant openings, and one or two genuine surprises.
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Here’s your full weekend guide UAE residents and visitors will both find useful, sorted by category across Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Music and Live Shows
Al Maestro Comedy Play by Tariq Al Ali and Team at Dubai Opera
An arabic comedy play starring Tariq Al Ali, one of Kuwait’s most beloved comedians. The story follows the leader of a musical band trying to keep his team organised, only to watch everything dissolve into chaos as clashing personalities and small disasters take over. Best for fans of Khaleeji comedy, Arabic-language theatre, and audiences who enjoy character-driven shows.
Gordo at WHITE Abu Dhabi
The American DJ-producer behind six tracks on Drake’s Honestly, Nevermind album, Gordo (formerly DJ Carnage) has spent the last few years building one of the strongest house and Afro-house catalogues in dance music, rooted in his Nicaraguan and Guatemalan heritage. Ranked #21 on DJ Mag’s Top 100 in 2023 and a resident at XS Las Vegas, his sets lean Latin, tribal, and warm. Get there before midnight, the opening hour is when the room settles.
Ghamed Ein Fateh Ein At The New Covent Garden Dubai
A Lebanese theatre play returning to Dubai after touring Beirut, Canada, and Paris with 20,000+ spectators. Starring Fouad Yammine and Cynthia Karam, the story follows a retired Beirut couple awaiting their son’s return from abroad, blending humour, nostalgia, and flashbacks to Lebanon in the 1970s and 80s. Written and directed by Karim Chebli and Sara Abdo. Best for anyone who enjoys emotional storytelling, strong characters, and theatre that balances comedy with heartfelt moments.
Svetlana Zakharova: Gabrielle Chanel Ballet at Dubai Opera
A special ballet evening led by the Bolshoi’s prima ballerina and one of Russia’s most celebrated performers. The night begins with Come Un Respiro, a graceful contemporary piece set to Handel’s music, before moving into Gabrielle Chanel, a one-act ballet inspired by the life of fashion icon Coco Chanel. With more than 85 custom-made CHANEL costumes, the production follows her journey from small-town singer to one of fashion’s most influential names. Best for anyone who enjoys ballet, fashion, and beautifully staged storytelling.
Looking for more Arabic music to plan around? Check our roundup of the top Arabic concerts happening across Dubai and Abu Dhabi this season.
Unique Events and Experiences
Clubhouse 25 in Dubai
One of the more active social events happening this weekend. Clubhouse 25 takes over multiple spaces across the hotel with a mix of fitness sessions, wellness activities, interactive challenges, brand pop-ups, food experiences, and all-day social energy. It’s less of a single event and more of a lifestyle festival where you can move between workouts, competitions, casual hangouts, and different activations throughout the day. A good pick if you want something social, energetic, and different from the usual brunch or night-out plans.
Cocktail Week at ICD Brookfield Place
The drinks-led pick of the weekend. Cocktail Week at ICD Brookfield Place brings together the city’s top bars and bartenders for a week-long programme of pop-up bars, masterclasses, tastings, and signature menus designed specifically for the event. If you’re into the cocktail scene at all, this is the most curated week of the year for it.
Short+Sweet Dubai 2026
The theatre pick for anyone who enjoys discovering new talent and unexpected stories. Short+Sweet Dubai is now in its semi-finals stage, bringing together some of the festival’s strongest short plays in one evening, from comedy and drama to more emotional and experimental performances. Easy to get into, fast-paced, and a good change from the usual big productions.
European Film Festival Abu Dhabi 2026
The film pick of the weekend. The European Film Festival Abu Dhabi returns with the kind of lineup that makes you want to stay for “just one more screening.” Expect everything from quiet indie dramas and dark comedies to award-winning films and crowd favourites that rarely make it to regional cinemas. Whether you’re planning a full movie-filled weekend or simply catching one evening screening, it’s one of the better chances to experience something different from the usual cinema lineup.
Museum of the Moon Dubai
One of Dubai’s most talked-about immersive experiences returns this May at OliOli. Museum of the Moon brings back its giant glowing lunar installation by artist Luke Jerram, transforming the space into a calm, dream-like experience filled with soft light, interactive elements, and space-inspired moments for both kids and adults. Running from May 15 to 31, it’s the kind of weekend plan that feels surprisingly peaceful, visually stunning, and genuinely different from the usual city outings. You can read more about the experience here.
The Storm Coaster Dubai
The adrenaline pick of the weekend. The Storm Coaster isn’t the kind of ride you casually walk away from without immediately talking about it after. From sharp launches and sudden drops to tight twists inside the building itself, it delivers the kind of fast, high-intensity rush that catches people off guard the first time. Perfect if you want to break up the usual mall day with something louder, faster, and genuinely exciting.
Quiz Room Dubai
The active-thinking pick of the weekend. Quiz Room runs immersive escape-room-meets-quiz-show experiences across multiple themed rooms, and it’s quietly become one of the better group activities in the city. Two to four players is the sweet spot, sessions run about 60 minutes, and the format works for friend groups, couples, and team-building outings. Book ahead, the weekend slots fill faster than people expect.
If you’re after more like this, our guide to new experiences to check and book in Dubai pulls together the rest of the city’s recent openings.
Live Sports
Football Matches of the Weekend
Al Dhafra FC vs Al Wahda FC is one of the standout Dubai weekend events on the football side, with Al Wahda travelling to Al Dhafra in an Abu Dhabi-region fixture that always pulls a respectable crowd.
The other UAE Pro League fixture of the weekend, Al Ain FC vs Dibba FC, with Al Ain hosting Dibba. Al Ain at home is always a strong atmosphere, the home end stays loud throughout, and Dibba’s away form has been better than the table suggests.
XX HER EDITION 01 Warm-Up Area, May 16
The women’s sports moment of the weekend, on Saturday May 16. XX HER EDITION runs the warm-up area as an open-access space ahead of the main event, with training sessions, fitness activations, and a community focus that fills the gap a lot of UAE women’s sports programming has been missing. Powered by SSSports, the format works for groups and solo attendees both. If you’re into the active-fitness scene or want to see how women’s sports community is being built in the UAE, this is the one to drop into. For details and more info, read about it here.
Family-Friendly Experiences and Offers
Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark
The reliable family water day, and one of the most popular family activities for any UAE weekend. Atlantis Aquaventure remains the most comprehensive waterpark in Dubai, slides for every age group, a Lost Chambers Aquarium add-on for the in-between hours, and a beach section for breaks. Go early Saturday to beat the queues at the headline rides, and pack a change of clothes, you’ll need them.
If you’re weighing options across the city, our guide to the best waterparks in Abu Dhabi covers what each one does best.
The Museum of the Future Dubai
The Museum of the Future is running a Kids Go Free offer, making it a good excuse to finally explore one of the city’s most talked-about attractions with the family. Inside, you’ll move through immersive future-focused worlds filled with space missions, AI, wellness, nature, and interactive experiences that keep both kids and adults engaged the whole way through. A solid weekend pick if you want something fun, indoors, and genuinely different from the usual mall plans.
Don’t miss on Museum Day offers, free entry to museums in Abu Dhabi, our full guide covers the dates and venues.
Eat and Drink
Pekoe Tea and Bread Bar
A specialty tea house and small-batch bakery in Alserkal Avenue, named Time Out’s Best Bakery 2024. The space is minimalist Scandinavian-feel with concrete floors and a beige marble tea bar, the menu carries 100+ teas alongside fresh-baked bread, pastries, and Japanese-leaning brunch items. Order the bread and spread platter, the French toast brûlée, or one of the rotating sandos.
Best for a slower weekend afternoon, and the perfect spot for a meeting or a long catch-up over tea rather than coffee.
Cabana Beach Bar and Grill
The relaxed beachside option. Cabana sits right on the water with a menu that runs from cocktails and small plates to full grill mains, plus a Sunday brunch slot that’s been quietly building a regular crowd. The setting is the point, beachfront, well-lit, and the kind of room where a long lunch slides into late afternoon without you noticing. Reserve the front-section tables for the sea view.
