Things To Do In Dubai This February
All products on this page have been selected by our editorial team, however we may make commission on some products.
BOOK A BELOVED MUSICAL
Phantom of the Opera
A few years shy of its 40th birthday and The Phantom of the Opera is still selling out theatres around the world. Taking audiences inside the Paris Opera House in the 19th century, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s masterpiece arrives at Dubai Opera for a run of performances starting Thursday 22nd February and stretching into March. Officially the world’s most popular musical, it has been seen by more than 160 million people since its premiere in London’s West End in 1986.
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard, Downtown
Visit DubaiOpera.com
EXPLORE A VINTAGE TREASURE TROVE
So Much Trouble
Shopping and cocktails – what’s not to love? So Much Trouble is the part hidden bar, part boutique that invites women to shop luxury vintage pieces while sipping a drink. It sits next to Italian restaurant Papas at InterContinental Dubai Marina and promises a range of pre-loved pieces sourced in Paris and Rome from the likes of Hermès, Chanel and Givenchy, as well as brands such as Romani, Oceanus, Lama Jouni and Isabel Moore.
InterContinental Dubai Marina
Follow @SoMuchTroubleDubai
DRESS UP FOR DRINKS
Celeste Opening Party
As if opening chic cocktail lounge Savant wasn’t enough, the art-centric SO Uptown hotel launches a second mixology venue on Thursday 8th February. Open until 2am, Celeste takes its design theme from the bohemian dens of Paris’s Montmartre – look for red velvet curtains, leather sofas and checkerboard flooring. Live music, French canapés and views of both the ocean and the city skyline push Celeste to the top of the list of 2024’s exciting bar openings.
SO Uptown Dubai Hotel, Uptown
Visit So-Hotels.com
DANCE IN THE DARK
Untold
Organisers of Untold music festival announced their Dubai event by perching Armin van Buuren on a balcony on the 149th floor of the Burj Khalifa to play a 40-minute set. This should tell you all you need to know about the ambition and scale of this electronic music extravaganza. Van Buuren will be joined by the godfather of EDM, Tiesto, plus Hardwell, Ellie Goulding, G-Eazy, Major Lazer, Beba Rexha, Don Diablo and Paul Kalkbrenner for a four-day marathon of big beats at Expo City. Born in Romania in 2015, Untold is a global highlight of the EDM scene and makes its Dubai debut from Thursday 15th February to Sunday 18th February.
Expo City Dubai
Visit Untold.ae
CATCH AN AERIAL SPECTACLE
Pluma Circus
Roll up, roll up – the circus is coming to town. Specifically, this is an acrobatic show about a young girl named Pluma who dreams of flying. Presented on the waterfront at Festival Bay, Pluma Circus features heart-stopping stunts from trapeze artists and other aerial performers accompanied by an emotive soundtrack.
Festival Bay, Dubai Festival City Mall
Visit HatEntertainment.com
SWIM IN STYLE
Dolce & Gabbana X Ounass Pool Pop-Up
Visitors to Cloud 22, the infinity pool that sits 96 metres above the ground at Atlantis The Royal, will see Dolce & Gabbana’s iconic Majolica print everywhere they turn. The Italian brand has taken over the space with a little help from luxury e-commerce website Ounass for the next six months, lending its distinctive blue prnt to everything from loungers, inflatables and beach towels to plant pots and surfboards. As well as the aquatic takeover, Ounass has opened a pop-up store inside the hotel, stocked with D&G pieces from the Blue Majolica, Psychedelic Cart and Crystal Mesh collections.
Visit Atlantis.com
WATCH TOP-LEVEL POLO
Dubai Polo Gold Cup
Dubai society will cheer on six of the world’s best polo teams at the Gold Cup this month. The prestigious 20-goal tournament takes place at Al Habtoor Polo Resort and Club on Saturday 24th February. A variety of hospitality packages are available – imagine a gazebo picnic for eight people, a table in the luxurious Gold Lounge, or an all-inclusive brunch on the club’s patio.
Al Habtoor Polo Resort and Club, Dubailand
Visit DubaiPoloGoldCup.com
GO TO THE BALLET
La Scala Theatre Ballet Academy
The next generation of ballet dancers pirouette onto the stage at Dubai Opera for two nights this month. Dancers from the prestigious La Scala Ballet Academy School in Milan will perform scenes from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker, Paquita and other works by Vivaldi and Bach. The show on Saturday 17th February begins at 8pm while the following evening’s performance is at 5pm.
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard, Downtown
Visit DubaiOpera.com
BE ILLUMINATED BY ART
Dhai Dubai Light Art Festival
Expo City Dubai is the venue for the first Emirati-led art festival. Running from 6pm to 11pm until Sunday 4th February, Dhai Dubai Light Art Festival features the work of seven of the country’s top talents in a packed schedule of immersive experiences for visitors of all ages. Look out for Solar Canopy, an interactive installation in which the artwork is fuelled by the activity of a visitor cycling on a stationary bike. Solar Dance mirrors a visitor’s movements in a dazzling dance experience, while Speed of Light celebrates Dubai’s urban skateboarding culture.
Expo City Dubai
Visit DhaiDubai.com
TAKE IN SOME TENNIS
Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships
The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium generates a special atmosphere for tennis fans, especially after sunset when the lights illuminate the skills of some of the world’s best players. Now in its 32nd edition, the men’s Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships were won last year by world number 3 Daniil Medvedev who knocked out the great Novak Djokovic on his way to the trophy. Defeated finalist Andrey Rublev also returns to Dubai for the men’s event that runs from Monday 26th February to Saturday 2nd March. In the women’s tournament, from Sunday 18th February to Saturday 24th February, expect to see four of the world’s top eight players: Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, Ons Jabeur and Maria Sakkari.
Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium, Garhoud
SEE SOME SCULPTURE
Metamorphosis Art Exhibition
Ancient basilicas, cathedrals and medieval Scandinavian wooden structures were the starting point for Finnish sculptor Laura Lappi as she set about creating her new exhibition Metamorphosis. Showing at Firetti Contemporary in Alserkal Avenue, Lappi’s series of wall sculptures are made of repurposed black wood that is layered in geometric patterns. The wood, which is an homage to the natural landscapes of Lappi’s home country, is charred using an ancient Japanese technique called yakisugi. Running for one month from Monday 26th February, Metamorphosis explores a range of architectural forms to create a spiritual show.
Warehouse 29, Alserkal Avenue
Visit FirettiContemporary.com
ENJOY SPANISH CUISINE
Jaleo
With 17 restaurants feeding guests at Atlantis The Royal, it can be a challenge for chefs to stand out from the crowd. José Andrés has managed to do just that with Jaleo, which this month launches a Spanish brunch. Every Saturday from 1pm to 4pm, Andrés and his team present La Feria, a theatrical brunch of tapas, outdoor paella station, homemade sangria and desserts including a traditional Basque cheesecake. Don’t leave without trying the famous chicken fritters, a dish created by Andrés’s mother. Take a table on the terrace under the shade of 100-year-old olive trees and enjoy the live music plus a flamenco performance at this Spanish Saturday feast.
Atlantis The Royal, The Palm
Visit Atlantis.com
DISCLAIMER: We endeavour to always credit the correct original source of every image we use. If you think a credit may be incorrect, please contact us at [email protected].
