The FACT UAE Weekend Guide: 3 to 5 May
Our picks of Dubai’s hottest happenings this weekend.
Spring has officially sprung, and the first weekend in May brings brunches, live music and plenty of fun in the sun to Dubai.
Friday 3 May
Dine in a hot air balloon
Dubai is home to some of the world’s most dramatic dining experiences. Now, it is set to raise the bar thanks to The View at The Palm. Here, visitors can hop into a hot air balloon and enjoy bites and beverages, courtesy of the restaurant Coucou Dubai. This hot air balloon dining experience is a superb way to soak up the sunset while the resident DJ adds a vibey soundtrack to the evening. It is available daily from 2pm to 10pm until 5 May.
GO: Visit www.sevenrooms.com for reservations and more information.
Take a moonlight dip
The new Moonlight Sessions at Cloud 22 beckon guests to partake in an after-dark immersion beneath the starry sky at the venue’s 90-meter sky pool. Dive into the shimmering waters for a refreshing dip, then recline on a floating bed or indulge in a luxury cabana. As you unwind, delight in sky-high sundowners at the Lotus Bar, nestled 96 meters above Palm Jumeirah, with live entertainment featuring a DJ, violinist, saxophonist, and cellist. Available on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 7pm to 11pm. AED 300 per person minimum spend.
GO: Visit www.atlantis.com for reservations and more information.
Experience SALT at the Museum
FACT loves homegrown brands. So, we were excited to see that one of Dubai’s much-loved burger brands is expanding in the city. In the esteemed halls of the Museum of the Future, Salt at the Museum is where the finest culinary talents in the region will come together to create new dishes for Salt’s ever-evolving menu. Leading the charge is Chef Akmal Anuar, who has led renowned dining spots like 3Fils, 11Woodfire, and Goldfish Sushi & Yakatori. Drawing from his Singaporean hawker heritage and worldly culinary escapades, Chef Akmal has crafted a menu honouring Salt’s origins while infusing the dishes with a whimsical flair befitting the museum setting.
GO: Follow @saltatthemuseum on Instagram for more information.
Saturday 4 May
Try the new karaoke brunch at XU
Fusing the vibrant flavours of Chinese cuisine with the infectious spirit of karaoke, XU’s new brunch at the Kempinski Hotel at the Mall of the Emirates promises fun and frivolity. XU includes a restaurant and bar, delightful dim sum and some of the best Peking duck you’ll ever eat. RIKAS Hospitality Group is behind the new concept, drawing its inspiration from Cantonese cuisine but elevating it into an innovative, high-end experience. Available on Saturdays, from 1pm to 5pm. AED 295 (soft beverages), AED 425 (beer and wine) and AED 525 (Champagne and cocktails).
GO: Visit https://xudubai.ae for more information.
Tuck into a collaborative afternoon tea
The Royal Tearoom will host a culinary collaboration featuring the talents of Christophe Devoille, Executive Pastry Chef of Atlantis The Royal, and Natsuko Shoji, acclaimed chef of Japan’s renowned restaurant été Dubbed “The Taste of Summer,” this collaboration features caviar mille-feuille, roasted aged beef tartare with sakura petals, black truffle finger sandwiches, caramelised corn tart with date sauce, and smoked salmon with salsa sauce. Complementing these delights are handcrafted pastries inspired by seasonal fruits, including feuillets de cerises, apricot tart with fresh almonds, and a raspberry tartlet infused with locally produced Sidr honey. Available on 4 and 5 May. AED 650 for two people.
GO: Visit www.atlantis.com for reservations and more information.
See Jason Derulo live in Dubai
The line-up of R&B megastars performing at Coca-Cola-Arena continues to expand, this time with news that Jason Derulo will return to Dubai. Set to perform on Saturday, 4 May, the award-winning singer is bringing his Nu King World Tour to the UAE. Since breaking through with his five-times-platinum single Whatcha Say, Derulo has sold more than 200 million records worldwide, including chart-topping hits like Talk Dirty, Wiggle and Swalla. Derulo’s upcoming concert in Dubai is not his first stint in the UAE. In fact, he’s frequented the city many times — the last time in September 2023 when he performed at Blu Dubai for his birthday.
GO: Visit https://dubai.platinumlist.net for tickets and more information.
Sunday 5 May
Visit the first Dior Spa in the Middle East
Located on the 29th floor of The Lana, Dorchester Collection, Dior Spa The Lana promises a unique escape into elegance. The spa integrates cutting-edge technology into treatments, encompassing five treatment rooms and a couple’s suite. Guests can indulge in Icoone Therapy, Hydrafacials, Dior Micro-Abrasion, and the renowned Dior Skin Light LED therapy mask, celebrated for its ability to promote intense cell regeneration. The spa also provides personalised well-being escapes, ranging from half-day experiences with cocktails, lunch, and a sports session to full-day journeys with Rolls-Royce transfers.
GO: Visit www.dorchestercollection.com for more information.
Celebrate Pascha
Experience the essence of Pascha with an extraordinary brunch affair at Banyan Tree Dubai’s poolside hotspot Alizée. Whether you choose to dine indoors amid refined surroundings or embrace the bohemian vibes of the terrace, each corner of Alizée promises a delightful experience. The menu features freshly shucked oysters, seabass crudo, tuna tartare, roasted lamb with herb crust and grilled seabass filet with a caviar white butter sauce. Conclude your meal exploring the chocolate corner, where a chocolate fountain, honey cake and snow-white meringues await. Sunday 5 May, from 1pm to 4pm. AED 355 (soft beverages), AED 470 (house beverages) AED 650 (Champagne).
GO: Visit www.sevenrooms.com for reservations and more information.
Feast at the newly opened ZOCO
Experience the vibrant pulse of Pan-American flavours at Zoco, the newest culinary hotspot nestled within V Hotel Dubai. Under the guidance of Chef Gustavo Alonso, diners will enjoy a sharing-style menu of Nikkei cuisine. Highlight dishes include zesty ceviche and succulent soft-shell crab, paving the way for hearty mains like black onyx rib-eye, chifa duck fried rice and tender short ribs. Expect crafted cocktails, Latin vibes, Salsa nights and unlimited Pisco brunches.
GO: Email zoco@hiltonalhabtoorcity.com or call 050 428 6479 for reservations and more information.
