Get your calendars out – exhilarating adventures, brunch and culture await.
Clear your calendar because Dubai has plenty happening this week. From business lunches beneath the Burj Khalifa and matcha breaks in Jumeirah to big-top circus spectacles, Japanese dining and candlelit evenings on Palm Jumeirah, there is no shortage of reasons to head out. The weekend raises the tempo further with Egyptian comedy and brilliant beach clubs. Whether you are looking for somewhere new to dine, a show worth booking or a more leisurely way to spend the day, these are the best things to do in Dubai this week.
Monday 28 September
Enjoy a brilliant business lunch
The FACT award-winning Zuma remains a benchmark for business lunch in DIFC. Its long-running Ebisu lunch offers the restaurant’s contemporary Japanese signatures in a streamlined format, starting with miso soup before a choice of two starters and one main course. Current options include Spicy Tuna Maki, Yellowtail Temaki with yuzu truffle, Chicken Karaage, Wagyu Beef Gyoza, Prawn and Black Cod Gyoza and Shrimp Tempura. Larger plates continue the restaurant’s robata and donburi focus, with Miso Black Cod Don Buri among the perennial favourites. AED 159 (miso soup, two starters and one main course)
Where: Zuma, Gate Village Building 6, DIFC, Dubai
When: Monday to Friday from 12pm to 3pm
Contact: www.zumarestaurant.com
Tuesday 29 September
Make time for matcha
Slow things down with a visit to Matcha Vibes, a dedicated matcha café tucked inside The Village Mall in Jumeirah. The contemporary café puts Japanese ceremonial-grade matcha at the centre of its menu, serving freshly whisked iced lattes alongside fruit-infused drinks and a selection of wholesome bites. Its calm interiors make it equally suited to an unhurried catch-up, a laptop session or a quick caffeine alternative between meetings. With matcha continuing to dominate Dubai’s café scene, the venue offers a focused take on the trend while keeping things relaxed and accessible. Stop by for a quiet midweek reset or pick up a drink to go.
Where: Matcha Vibes, The Village Mall, Jumeirah, Dubai
When: Daily from 9:30am to 9:30pm
Contact: matcha-vibes.com
Wednesday 30 September
Run away to the circus with PLUMA
The big top arrives in Dubai as PLUMA opens at Dubai Festival City Mall. Created by Cirque Du Liban, the family-friendly production follows the story of a young girl dreaming of flight, using acrobatics and theatrical storytelling to bring her journey to life. Audiences can look forward to trapeze performances, aerial stunts, visual effects and immersive sound, all staged inside a purpose-built circus tent. Traditional touches such as cotton candy and popcorn add to the atmosphere, making this an easy midweek option for families. PLUMA runs for several weeks, giving Dubai audiences plenty of opportunities to catch the spectacle. Tickets start from AED 100 per person.
Where: PLUMA Circus Tent, Dubai Festival City, Dubai
When: 30 September to 24 October 2026
Contact: dubai.platinumlist.net
Thursday 1 October
Dine Like A Celebrity At CARBONE Dubai
Make dinner a decadent affair at CARBONE Dubai, the Italian-American hotspot at Atlantis The Royal. The menu is built around rich, old-school classics, with signatures including the cult-favourite Spicy Rigatoni, Veal Parmesan and Lobster Fra Diavolo. Other standout dishes include Caesar alla ZZ, lobster ravioli, carpaccio Piemontese and a substantial dry-aged porterhouse, while sides such as duck fat-roasted Potatoes Louie keep things suitably indulgent. Since opening, the restaurant has also become a magnet for famous faces, including Central Cee, Winnie Harlow, Alessandra Ambrosio and Rio Ferdinand. Come for the pasta and stay for the theatrical service and high-energy dining room.
Where: Carbone, Atlantis The Royal, Crescent Road, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai
Contact: www.carbonedubai.com
Friday 2 October
Spend the day at Gigi Rigolatto Dubai
Gigi Rigolatto Dubai is entering a new season at J1 Beach with refreshed menus, live music and a full day-to-night programme. The Italian Riviera-inspired destination moves from pool and beach time into long lunches, afternoon DJ sets and aperitivo at the Bellini Bar, before dinner and live performances take over. New dishes include Fiori di Zucchina, Pappardelle allo Zafferano and Spaghetti Granchio e Limone, alongside signatures such as Seabream Carpaccio, Linguine alle Vongole and Gelato Pistacchio. From 1 October, Gigi’s live band returns, while DJs perform daily.
Where: Gigi Rigolatto, J1 Beach, Jumeirah, Dubai
Contact: https://gigi-restaurant.com
Saturday 3 October
Laugh out loud with Ahmed Amin
Egyptian comedian and actor Ahmed Amin heads to Dubai with his international Meen Amin!? tour. Taking over The Agenda in Dubai Media City, the show draws on Amin’s knack for observational comedy, storytelling and satire, turning the quirks of everyday life into material for the stage. Known for combining sharp humour with a theatrical performance style, Amin has built a sizeable following across the Arab world through television, digital content and live appearances. His Dubai date gives local fans the chance to catch his latest material in person, with plenty of audience interaction likely along the way. Tickets for the performance start from AED 290 per person.
Where: The Agenda, Dubai Media City, Dubai
When: Saturday, 3 October 2026 at 7:30pm
Contact: dubai.platinumlist.net
Sunday 4 October
Hit the sand at Serpenti Beach Club
Bvlgari has turned one of its most famous jewellery motifs into a full beachfront experience at Bvlgari Resort Dubai. Serpenti Beach Club takes over La Spiaggia on Jumeira Bay Island, weaving serpent-inspired forms through cabanas, loungers and shaded terraces around the resort pool and beach. Food is intentionally light, with fruit, small bites and Bvlgari cocktails designed to accompany long hours in the sun. The setting is naturally quieter and more exclusive than Dubai’s larger party clubs, while access for outside guests is subject to availability. Few venues connect luxury fashion, resort design and a private beach quite this seamlessly.
Where: Serpenti Beach Club, Bvlgari Resort Dubai, Jumeirah Bay Island, Dubai
Contact: www.bulgarihotels.com