What To Watch, See, Do & Listen To This Month

Visionary ballerina, director and actress Eleonora Abbagnato is bringing the Rome Opera Ballet to Dubai Opera this month for the first time. Usually performing at Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, the renowned ballet company will now travel to Dubai to stage Les Deux Nuits on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th May – all in costumes designed by Dior.

Visit DubaiOpera.com

The king of Hollywood soundtracks, Hans Zimmer, returns to Dubai this month. The composer behind the soundtrack music used in The Lion King, Interstellar, Gladiator, Dunkirk and Dune, will be joined by 45 musicians for two nights at the Coca-Cola Arena on Friday 31st May (9pm) and Saturday 1st June (8pm).

Visit Coca-Cola-Arena.com

Opening in Dubai Mall’s Grand Atrium, Bulgari’s pop-up is launching ahead of the reopening of its permanent boutique. Bags, watches, jewellery and other accessories will all be beautifully presented at the chic temporary store in the mall’s impressive entrance hall. Catch it while you can.

Visit Bulgari.com

Fresh from the success of Julia Roberts’s eerie thriller Leave the World Behind, Barack and Michelle Obama’s production company Higher Ground is due to release Bodkin, a comedy thriller series on Netflix. A trio of podcasters arrive in a picturesque Irish town to make a show about the disappearance of three people but gradually unravel increasingly sinister and strange truths.

Watch the trailer here

Following on from the apocalyptic brilliance of 2015’s Mad Max: Fury Road comes Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga will premiere at Cannes Film Festival before its UAE release on Thursday 23rd May. The action thriller is a prequel to the multi-Oscar winner and stars Anya Taylor-Joy (The Queen’s Gambit) as the heroine. Chris Hemsworth with Tom Hardy also appear in the epic sci-fi tale, directed by George Miller. 

Watch the trailer here

The World Islands off the coast of Dubai is welcoming a clutch of new residential villas named Amali Island. The 24 beachfront villas come in seven different styles but are all united by unparalleled luxury that, according to Amali Island’s CEO Ali Sajwani, are designed to make residents feel like they are ‘coming home to a holiday’. Residents of Amalli Island will have exclusive access to a Clubhouse containing a spa, gym, restaurant, swim-up bar, cigar lounge, pools and yoga decks. There are also yacht berths, a floating helipad and floating padel court.

Visit AmaliProperties.com

An album released in one go without singles coming first, records made from recycled vinyl, and a climate positive world tour – Billie Eilish is a maverick in the music industry. Released on May 17, the singer wants fans to hear her third album Hit Me Hard and Soft as a whole. “Every time an artist I love puts out a single without the context of the album, I’m already prone to hating on it,” she told Rolling Stone. “This album is like a family: I don’t want one little kid to be in the middle of the room alone.” With the help of environmental group Reverb, Billie aims to make her 81-date world tour from September 2024 to July 2025 sustainable.

Visit BillieEilish.com

Legendary bartender and inventor of the martini, Alessandro Palazzi, will host a mixology masterclass and free workshop at Broadway inside Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental in Abu Dhabi. on Friday 24th May, followed by a bar takeover on Saturday 25th May from 6pm-10pm. To claim your spot, email Iasmina Florea [email protected].

Visit MandarinOriental.com

An ancient Persian epic poem filled with mythical figures and historical tales was the starting point for Leila Eskandari’s debut exhibition at Zawyeh Gallery in Dubai. For Whispers of Legends, the Iranian artist uses Shahnameh – also known as the Book of Kings – to deliver a series of works that blur the line between myth and reality. On until Sunday 28th July.

Visit Zawyeh.net 

The world’s highest 360° infinity pool is the dramatic destination for a new party brunch. Set on the 50th floor, the Aura 360 Pool Brunch offers a set menu of Pan-Asian dishes that can be served on floating trays in the pool or at your table. Book an indoor lounge package without pool access, or fork out a little extra for the outdoor pool option. Look out for dancers, a live saxophone player and a Polaroid picture station. Perks include a coconut drink on arrival and a beach bag and bracelet to take away. Packages start at AED 800.

Visit AuraSkypool.com

Dubai is the first stop on a Jaeger-LeCoultre world tour that celebrates watchmaking skill, history and craftsmanship. The luxury brand will host The Precision Pioneer exhibition in Dubai until Sunday 19th May at The Space at ICD Brookfield Place in DIFC. As well as watches and art, the free-to-enter show will also put on watchmaking workshops, live demonstrations, and serve canapés from two Michelin-starred chef Himanshu Saini. 

Visit Jaeger-LeCoultre.com

A new fitness programme has launched at BCH:CLB within W Dubai – The Palm Jumeirah. Every Wednesday at 9am women can take part in a 30-minute HIIT session, followed by a 30-minute mat Pilates class, and an invigorating cold plunge and breathwork experience with Peaq Wellness. The experience is priced at AED 250 per person and includes pool access, and AED 150 redeemable on breakfast.

Follow @BCHCLBDXB

The magnificent Louvre Abu Dhabi is currently showing a collection of 132 pieces that examine the literary genre of animal fables, which began in India and Greece. Showing until Sunday 21st July, From Kalila wa Dimna to La Fontaine: Travelling through Fables puts an extraordinary collection of ancient and illustrated stories from centuries past on display – not one to miss. 

Visit LouvreAbuDhabi.ae

Salads featuring lettuce sourced from Nikki Beach’s own indoor hydroponic farm is a nice sustainable touch to this beachside BBQ that continues to fire up on Friday nights before closing for the summer. From 7pm-10pm, Nikki Beach serves a farm-to-table banquet of juicy meats, grilled vegetables, artisanal cheeses and desserts. Packages start at AED 250 for soft drinks, AED 350 for house drinks and AED 450 for premium beverages. 

Visit Dubai.NikkiBeach.com

In this exhibition, 12 female artists from the UAE, India and Europe present pieces across mixed media, acrylic, oil and tapestry that explore our connection to the landscape. Windings of the Labyrinth: Reconsidering the Landscape is on until 26th May at Rizq Art Initiative (RAi) on Reem Island in Abu Dhabi and encourages viewers to look at the natural world around them and re-evaluate their role within it.   

Visit Rizqart.com