If you have not looked at your calendar yet, now is a good time. Things to do in Dubai this week include a free world-class art fair at Madinat Jumeirah, the final days of Alserkal Art Month, two nights of Arabic comedy at Dubai Opera, a Bolshoi ballet, a ramen tasting menu tomorrow night, a new Thursday evening brunch launching this week, a sub-zero running race on Sunday, and a matcha collab at Dubai Mall heading into its last few days. There is genuinely something every single night from here through the weekend.
Art Dubai 2026 Is Free This Weekend and That Has Never Happened Before
The headline event of the week opens on Friday. Art Dubai 2026 runs from May 15 to 17 at Madinat Jumeirah, and for the first time in the fair’s 20-year history, entry is completely free, open to anyone who wants to show up, with no ticket and no invitation required.
This year’s edition takes place in partnership with A.R.M. Holding and with Dubai Culture as a strategic partner, bringing together galleries, artists, collectors and institutions from the region and internationally. The programme includes over 75 gallery presentations, large-scale installations across the Madinat Jumeirah site, daily talks, live performances, and film screenings.
Running alongside it are the final days of Alserkal Art Month. The programme has been running from April 18 to May 18, a month-long celebration of art spread across five weekends at Alserkal Avenue in Al Quoz. This week’s closing programme includes Moving, a four-day film and video screening series running at both Alserkal Avenue and Madinat Jumeirah. On Saturday May 16, Alserkal Advisory is also hosting a roundtable for arts institutions across the UAE. Everything at Alserkal Avenue is free, with pre-registration through the website required.
Art Dubai 2026:
- Where: Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai
- When: Friday May 15 to Sunday May 17, 2026 (VIP preview Thursday May 14)
- Price: Free entry
- More info: artdubai.ae
Alserkal Art Month:
- Where: Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz, Dubai
- When: Until Sunday May 18, 2026
- Price: Free, pre-registration required at alserkalartmonth.online
Dubai Opera Has Three Different Shows Across Three Nights
This week, Dubai Opera is running three completely different productions across Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. That is a genuinely unusual run.
Al Maestro is on Friday May 15 and Saturday May 16, starting at 8:30pm both nights. The Arabic comedy production is led by Tariq Al Ali and follows the leader of a musical band as he tries to keep his team organised, only to watch everything descend into chaos because of clashing personalities and small everyday disasters. Tickets start from AED 99 and are available on Platinumlist.
On Saturday May 16, Candlelight Concerts takes over the Majlis Al Salam Ballroom at Mina A’Salam, Madinat Jumeirah, with two show times: 6:30pm and 9pm, with tickets from AED 150 to AED 250. The 65-minute live string performance runs under candlelight inside one of the most atmospheric settings in the city.
On Sunday May 17, Dubai Opera hosts a one-night-only performance of MODANSE with Bolshoi prima ballerina Svetlana Zakharova. The evening brings together two ballets: Come Un Respiro, created specifically for Zakharova, and Gabrielle Chanel, a biographical ballet tracing Coco Chanel’s journey from a provincial upbringing to founding one of the world’s most iconic fashion houses. This one does not repeat. Book now.
Al Maestro:
Image: Platinumlist/Website
- Where: Dubai Opera, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard, Downtown Dubai
- When: Friday May 15 and Saturday May 16, 8:30pm
- Price: From AED 99
- Tickets: platinumlist.net
Candlelight Concerts:
- Where: Majlis Al Salam Ballroom, Mina A’Salam, Madinat Jumeirah
- When: Saturday May 16, 6:30pm and 9pm
- Price: From AED 150 to AED 250
- Tickets: feverup.com/en/dubai/candlelight
Svetlana Zakharova in MODANSE:
- Where: Dubai Opera, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard, Downtown Dubai
- When: Sunday May 17, 2026 (one night only)
- Tickets: dubaiopera.com
The Dining Lineup This Week Is Stronger Than Usual
Starting tonight, Soul Kitchen on Marasi Drive in Business Bay is running its weekly Carnistore collab dinner every Tuesday throughout May at AED 175 per person. Tonight is the next available date, so if you are free this evening, this is the call.
Tomorrow night, SIO Ramen House at The Link, One Za’abeel is hosting a full ramen tasting menu starting at 6pm, at AED 299 per person. Reservations are strongly recommended.
This Thursday May 14, CÉ LA VI Dubai at the Address Sky View Hotel on Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard is launching a new weekly evening brunch format running every Thursday from 7pm to 10pm. Pricing is AED 390 for soft beverages, AED 490 for house beverages, and AED 690 for champagne. Thursday is the most competitive night out in Dubai, and a rooftop brunch at CÉ LA VI with a tiered package is a strong entry into that conversation.
Soul Kitchen x Carnistore:
- Where: Soul Kitchen, Marasi Drive, Business Bay, Dubai
- When: Every Tuesday in May — tonight
- Price: AED 175 per person
- Contact: @soulkitchendxb
SIO Ramen Tasting Menu:
- Where: SIO Ramen House, The Link, One Za’abeel, Dubai
- When: Tomorrow, Wednesday May 13, from 6pm
- Price: AED 299 per person
- Contact: @siobyreif
CÉ LA VI Evening Brunch:
- Where: Address Sky View Hotel, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard, Dubai
- When: Every Thursday from 7pm to 10pm, launching this Thursday
- Price: AED 390 / AED 490 / AED 690
- Contact: dxb.celavi.com
DXB Snow Run Registration Closes This Wednesday — Do Not Wait
The seventh edition of the DXB Snow Run takes place on Sunday May 17 at Ski Dubai in partnership with the Dubai Sports Council, under the theme “Growing in Unity” as part of the UAE’s Year of Family. The race runs at minus 4 degrees Celsius inside Ski Dubai at Mall of the Emirates.
Two distances are available: 3km at AED 120 and 5km at AED 150. Teams of five can enter at AED 110 per person. A spectator pass is available for AED 50. Registration closes Thursday May 14, and closes earlier if all spots sell out. With today being Tuesday May 12, you have two days to register. Do not leave it until Wednesday night.
DXB Snow Run 2026:
- Where: Ski Dubai, Mall of the Emirates, Sheikh Zayed Road
- When: Sunday May 17, 2026
- Price: From AED 110 per person / AED 50 spectator pass
- Register by: Wednesday May 14 at skidxb.com
The HOOF Matcha Collab Has Five Days Left
HOOF at Fashion Avenue, Dubai Mall is running a limited matcha menu in partnership with FACT Magazine until Sunday May 17. The cafe is open daily from 8am to midnight. If you are heading to Downtown this weekend for Art Dubai, it is a natural stop on the way.
HOOF x FACT Matcha:
- Where: HOOF, Fashion Avenue, Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai
- When: Daily 8am to midnight, until Sunday May 17
- Contact: @hoof.cafe
Swedish House Mafia at Ushuaïa Dubai Is Not Happening This Week
For anyone who had tickets, the May 16 show has been postponed, with full refunds already processed to the original payment methods. A new date is expected to be announced. Follow Ushuaïa Dubai’s official channels for rescheduling updates.
Here Is How the Rest of the Week Looks
Tonight is Soul Kitchen. Tomorrow is the SIO ramen tasting. Thursday is the CÉ LA VI launch brunch, and Wednesday is your last day to register for the Snow Run. Friday through Sunday, Art Dubai and Alserkal Art Month are both running simultaneously, Al Maestro is at Dubai Opera on Friday and Saturday, Candlelight Concerts lands Saturday night, and the week closes with Svetlana Zakharova’s MODANSE ballet and the DXB Snow Run on Sunday. Five nights, multiple formats, no excuse to stay in.
