What to do in Dubai

If you've been keeping an eye on the calendar to plan your next public holiday, the wait is over. The UAE has officially confirmed the start date of Eid Al Adha 2025, following the sighting of the crescent moon of Dhu Al Hijjah on the evening of Tuesday, May 27. The Presidential Court announced that Wednesday, May 28, 2025, will be the first day of Dhu Al Hijjah, the final month in the Islamic lunar calendar. This means that: Arafat Day, which falls on the 9th of Dhu Al Hijjah, will be observed on Thursday, June 5, 2025 Eid Al...

A major milestone in the Al Shindagha Corridor Improvement Project has been reached with the opening of a three-lane bridge connecting Sheikh Rashid Road to the Infinity Bridge. This highly anticipated addition, announced on Sunday, December 8, by Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), promises smoother, faster travel across the city. Stretching an impressive 1,335 meters, this bridge enhances traffic flow between Sheikh Rashid Road and Falcon Interchange, accommodating up to 10,800 vehicles per hour in both directions.     View this post on Instagram   A post shared by هيئة الطرق والمواصلات، دبي (@rta_dubai) This is just the first...

In a move to support the fitness-driven spirit of the city, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced extended Dubai Metro operational hours on Sunday, November 24, 2024, to accommodate participants of the highly anticipated Dubai Run 2024. Both the Red Line and Green Line will run from 3 AM to midnight, ensuring seamless transportation for early risers and late finishers. To ensure a hassle-free experience, RTA advises Metro users to check their Nol Card balance before heading out: Nol Silver Card: Minimum balance of AED 15 for round trips. Nol Gold Card: Minimum balance of AED 30 for...

The warning alert system is used to quickly inform UAE residents about important safety situations and provide instructions on what to do. The National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) has now introduced a small update to the system, mainly adjusting the notification sound. From now on, alerts will follow two different sound settings depending on the time: During the day (9 AM until 10:30 PM): familiar high-tone alert sound when a warning is issued. When the situation is over, the system will send a normal message notification to indicate that it is safe to resume regular activities. At...

Get ready for a dining experience like no other in Dubai. Fuloong, a refined omakase restaurant, is now open on Jumeirah Beach Road, offering an elevated culinary journey that combines luxury ingredients with a thoughtfully curated tasting menu. Omakase, a traditional Japanese dining style meaning "I leave it up to you," is the heart of Fuloong’s dining philosophy. You trust the chef to design a tasting menu based on the season, available ingredients, and their own style. An open kitchen lets you watch the entire process. The experience at Fuloong begins with a soothing, in-house-brewed tea. Each of the 8...

Dubai has been busy getting greener, and it’s not just about a few extra plants here and there — it’s a major transformation. Over the past year, 216,500 new trees were planted across the emirate, averaging about 600 trees a day! Dubai Municipality announced this incredible milestone on January 27, 2025, revealing a 17% increase in tree planting compared to 2023. But it’s not just about trees. The city has added 3.9 million square meters of new green spaces, giving residents and visitors more parks, recreational areas, and leafy urban corners to enjoy. From highways to public squares, nearly every...

On August 2, 2027, a rare total solar eclipse will take place, visible across parts of Africa, the Middle East, and southern Europe. What sets this eclipse apart is its duration: lasting up to six minutes and 23 seconds, it will be the longest visible from land between 1991 and 2114. For reference, most solar eclipses last under three minutes. The path of totality — the area where complete darkness will be experienced — stretches across southern Spain, northern Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, central Egypt, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Somalia, before ending over the Indian Ocean near the Chagos...

Gulfood is back in Dubai from February 17 to 20, 2025, bringing together food lovers and industry experts from around the world. If you're planning to visit, make sure to sort out your transportation in advance — traffic will be heavy, and parking is limited. Here’s a helpful guide to help you reach the venue smoothly. Taxis & Ride-Hailing Services The simplest way to reach the event is by taxi. You can flag down an RTA taxi or book one through the Careem app. Keep in mind that traffic builds up fast, especially along Sheikh Zayed Road near Dubai Mall,...

Big Bad Wolf Book Sale is already in full swing in Dubai, and book lovers now have a little more time to browse the shelves. Originally scheduled to wrap up this weekend, the popular sale has been extended for one more week and will now run until March 15 in Dubai Studio City. Visitors can expect thousands of titles: thrillers, romance, history, fantasy and more, with plenty of both English titles and Arabic books available. If this is your first Big Bad Wolf Book Sale, get ready to feel like you’ve hit the jackpot. Picture this: a massive selection of...

If you’re arriving in Dubai this month, there’s a little extra waiting for you at immigration. Throughout Ramadan, visitors will receive a unique Ramadan-themed passport stamp and a free tourist SIM with 10GB of data. For the second year in a row, Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs is adding a special touch to passports. The Ramadan stamp, designed by Brand Dubai (the creative arm of the Government of Dubai Media Office), features the Ramadan In Dubai logo. It’s available at all entry points, including Dubai International Airport, Dubai World Central, and Port Rashid Cruise Terminal. The Ramadan...