What to do in Dubai

Mall of the Emirates is getting a serious upgrade — and it’s not just a fresh coat of paint. AED 5 billion is being invested to completely transform the popular Dubai shopping destination over the next few years, promising visitors more shops, better facilities, and some pretty exciting new features. Here’s what’s on the way: 1. 100 New Shops to be Opened Get ready to do a lot more shopping. More places to browse, buy, or just window shop — an entire new section of stores will be added to the mall. Whether you’re into fashion, tech, or lifestyle, expect...

This Sunday, July 20, Dubai residents and visitors can cool down with a free ice cream giveaway at The Market Island in Festival City Mall. The event celebrates International Ice Cream Day as part of the Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) campaign. From 10 AM until midnight, The Market Island will be handing out 3,000 scoops of complimentary ice cream in three flavours — vanilla, chocolate, and pistachio. The offer will be available while supplies last, so it’s best to head over early if you’re planning to enjoy your treat. This initiative is part of DSS 2025, which runs until August...

If you’re gearing up for Dubai Ride 2025, here’s some good news! You can join the action on two wheels without spending a dirham. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has teamed up with Careem to offer all registered participants a free bike rental during the event on November 2, 2025. Bikes are available at any of the 200+ Careem Bike stations in Dubai on a first-come, first-served basis. On the day of the ride, there will be additional pop-up locations with bikes: Entrance A: Museum of the Future (Trade Centre Street) Entrance E: Lower FCS (Financial Centre Street) If...

Online shopping is about to look very different! Visa and Mastercard are launching new AI tools that can actually shop for you. Think of it as giving AI the power to make approved purchases on your behalf. You set the limits, and it does the rest. The new tech is called 'agentic commerce,' and it’s described as the next step in smart payments. Imagine saying, “Find me the cheapest flight from Dubai to Paris for this weekend and a pair of sunglasses like Lily Collins wore in the TV series,” and within seconds your digital assistant scans and compares prices,...

Experience the magic of rainforest camping as The Green Planet Dubai’s wildly popular Camping in the Rainforest is back, bringing themed camping nights to families and thrill-seekers alike from October through December. Each weekend brings new adventures, with fun, immersive experiences for all ages, inspired by Halloween, autumn, and winter festivities.     View this post on Instagram   A post shared by The Green Planet Dubai (@thegreenplanetdubai) As the season changes, visitors can immerse themselves in the Fall in the Rainforest on November 22, 23, 29, and 30. Guided night walks will explore how the rainforest transitions into a...

The Orfali brothers — Mohammad, Wassim, and Omar — are launching Three Bros Bistro, a 22-seat diner tucked inside Wasl 51, Jumeirah, Dubai. Known for their award-winning restaurant Orfali Bros (#1 in MENA's 50 Best Restaurants 2025 and #37 in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025), the trio brings a fresh concept that blends their Syrian heritage with global flavors.     View this post on Instagram   A post shared by ORFALI BROS BISTRONOMY (@orfalibros_bistro) The open kitchen and wood-fired pizza oven let you watch dishes come together in real time, while the menu mixes Mediterranean simplicity, French precision,...

Fuel prices in the UAE are going up this July. After staying unchanged in June, the new rates reflect global trends, with international oil prices seeing an upward swing earlier in the month. From 1 July 2025, drivers across the country will pay the following per litre — along with how much more you'll be paying compared to June: Super 98 petrol: AED 2.70 (+AED 0.12 from June) Special 95 petrol: AED 2.58 (+AED 0.11) E-Plus 91 petrol: AED 2.51 (+AED 0.12) Diesel: AED 2.63 (+AED 0.18) The UAE deregulated petrol prices back in 2015, linking them directly to global...

Starting January 2026, Friday prayers in the UAE will begin earlier. The General Authority for Islamic Affairs, Awqaf, and Zakat has announced that the sermon will now start at 12:45 PM. If you're someone who regularly attends Friday prayers, be sure to adjust your schedule so you can be there on time. The year's first sermon on January 2 will begin 30 minutes earlier instead of the usual 1:15 PM. This new schedule is part of the adjustments made after the country shifted to a Saturday-Sunday weekend back in 2022. If you’re planning to attend Friday prayers, make sure to...

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is stepping up its game to make commuting easier and faster for everyone in the city. The latest innovation is a new platform called ‘Data Drive – Clear Guide’, designed to provide real-time traffic solutions and make those frustrating traffic jams a thing of the past. This high-tech platform doesn’t just analyze current traffic conditions; it also looks at data from the past five years, which helps to predict and manage congestion more effectively. Whether it’s road conditions, speed, or traffic patterns, the platform takes into account all the factors that affect the flow...

Dubai is taking serious steps to tackle stormwater and prevent flooding with a massive upgrade to its drainage system. The city has kicked off four major projects under the wider "Tasreef" initiative — a long-term plan to boost how Dubai handles rainwater. The latest contracts, worth AED 1.439 billion, will bring over 36 km of new drainage pipelines to different parts of the city. These drainage improvements will cover several busy and flood-prone parts of Dubai, including: Jumeirah Al Quoz Nad Al Hamar Al Garhoud Al Wasl Al Rashidiya Zabeel Al Badaa Areas around Dubai International Airport The project aims...