Get your calendars out – exhilarating adventures, brunch and culture await.
Dubai rarely does quiet weekends, and the next three days are no exception. From contemporary classical music set against digital art to retro burgers, live stand-up, and theatrical dining, there is plenty competing for your attention. Add a party brunch, afternoon tea, a Sunday session by the beach and a workout conducted entirely in the dark, and the calendar is looking suitably varied. Here are the best things to do in Dubai this weekend.
Friday 11 September
Savour retro comforts at DIME
Dubai burger fans have a new reason to head to Al Safa as DIME settles into a larger home at Wasl Square. The concept retains its retro American diner aesthetic, with chrome stools, nostalgic details and vintage black-and-white photography setting the scene. The move also introduces an expanded all-day menu made from scratch. Familiar favourites include burgers, hot dogs and thick milkshakes, while breakfast adds diner-style pancakes and chicken and waffles. Later in the day, look out for the Jalapeño Ranch Burger, house onion rings, soft serve and the cult-favourite DIME Cola Float. It is comfort food served with a strong dose of 1980s nostalgia.
Where: DIME, Wasl Square, Al Safa, Dubai
When: Monday to Friday from 12pm to 1am; Saturday and Sunday from 8am to 1am
Contact: @dimesburger
Experience NEOClassica by Alessandra Toni
For something more contemplative, Italian pianist and composer Alessandra Toni takes over the Theatre of Digital Art with NEOClassica. The live performance pairs contemporary classical piano with TODA’s immersive 360-degree projections, turning the venue into a visual and musical canvas. Toni’s programme draws on works associated with Hans Zimmer, Ludovico Einaudi, Yiruma, Yanni Chryssomallis and Michael Nyman, alongside pieces from her own repertoire. The result is an atmospheric alternative to the city’s usual Friday-night soundtrack, where soaring melodies and evocative compositions meet digital art inside one of Dubai’s most distinctive cultural spaces. Tickets start from AED 200 per person.
Where: Theatre of Digital Art (TODA), Souk Madinat Jumeirah, Umm Suquiem, Dubai
When: Friday, 11 September 2026 from 8pm
Contact: https://toda.ae
Attend VICE’s Friday Bollywood Fiesta
Kick-start the weekend under neon lights as VICE at Ramee Dream Hotel turns Friday night into a Bollywood-fuelled party. The Friday Bollywood Fiesta pairs glowing décor with a soundtrack of chart-topping Hindi hits and commercial favourites, keeping the dancefloor moving well into the night. DJ SANGAM leads the decks, with support from resident selectors DJ Arsalan and DJ Aghori, for a high-energy session aimed squarely at Dubai’s late-night crowd. Dress for the theme, round up your friends and head to Business Bay for a colourful start to the weekend, where the music begins at 10pm and tickets start from AED 75 per person.
Where: VICE, Ramee Dream Hotel, Business Bay, Dubai
When: Friday, 11 September 2026 from 10pm
Contact: https://dubai.platinumlist.com
Saturday 12 September
Relax at FACT’s Spa of the Year for 2026
Talise Spa at Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab feels less like a hotel spa and more like a next-generation wellness destination, which is why it deserves to be named FACT’s Spa of the Year in Dubai for 2026. Its uniqueness lies in the scale and sense of privacy, including 13 treatment suites with private terraces, a dedicated female-only floor, a mixed hammam, and a 20-metre indoor pool, all spread across three light-filled levels with sweeping Gulf views. More importantly, it balances high-performance wellness with genuine serenity, creating an experience that feels both progressive and deeply indulgent. In a crowded market, Talise Spa stands apart by making luxury feel quietly innovative.
Where: Talise Spa, Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab, Dubai
When: Daily from 11am to 8pm
Contact: www.jumeirah.com
Party through the afternoon at Salmon Guru
Saturday brunch gets a mischievous makeover at Salmon Guru Dubai. The Madrid-born cocktail bar’s Brunch Like No Other takes over its enclosed, air-conditioned terrace at The Opus, pairing house music with inventive drinks and a seven-dish menu of pass-around plates. Dishes range from wild sea bass crudo and crispy prawn gyoza to beef short rib bao and coal-grilled beef kofta. The atmosphere is deliberately less formal than a conventional brunch, with standing and seated packages aimed at guests who want to eat, drink and dance. Brunch runs from 1.30pm to 5.30pm before an after-party continues until 8pm. Packages start from AED 275 per person.
Where: Salmon Guru, The Opus by Omniyat, Business Bay, Dubai
When: Saturdays from 1.30pm to 5.30pm
Contact: https://salmon-guru.ae
Laugh out loud with The Laughter Factory
Dubai’s long-running comedy institution marks 30 years of live stand-up with another international line-up at Dukes The Palm. The September bill features British rising star Kelsey De Almeida, Irish storyteller Aideen McQueen, Italian-British comedian Luca Cupani and Dubai-based Tanveer Khan. Between them, the performers cover everything from cultural clashes and everyday absurdities to sharp observational humour and personal stories. The format remains simple and effective: four comics, an intimate room and plenty of rapid-fire punchlines. For anyone looking to swap Saturday night dining for something louder, lighter and considerably funnier, this anniversary edition is a strong weekend option. Tickets start from AED 140 per person.
Where: Dukes The Palm, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai
When: Saturday, 12 September 2026 from 8.30pm
Contact: https://dubai.platinumlist.net
Sunday 13 September
Indulge in afternoon tea at Peacock Alley
Slow Sunday down with afternoon tea high above DIFC at Peacock Alley. Located on the 18th floor of Waldorf Astoria Dubai International Financial Centre, the lounge pairs city views with a classic spread of savouries, finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones and delicate pastries. Fine teas and coffee accompany the experience, making it an easy choice for a relaxed catch-up or a quieter end to the weekend. The setting feels suitably special without becoming overly formal, and the daily service allows plenty of flexibility for late-afternoon plans. The standard Meet Me At The Clock afternoon tea is priced at AED 225 per person, while a Champagne option is available for AED 325.
Where: Peacock Alley, Waldorf Astoria, DIFC, Dubai
When: Daily from 2pm to 6pm until 30 November 2026
Contact: https://dubai.platinumlist.net
Unwind at Nikki Beach’s Amazing Sundays Brunch
End the weekend by the water with Amazing Sundays at Nikki Beach Dubai. The Pearl Jumeira favourite serves a reimagined Sunday brunch built around Mediterranean plates, fresh seafood, sushi-style starters and desserts, accompanied by live entertainment and the beach club’s upbeat soundtrack. The energy rises as the afternoon unfolds, making it a lively option for groups who prefer their Sunday lunch with music and a social atmosphere. Packages cost AED 350 per person with soft drinks or AED 450 with free-flowing house beverages. Children aged six to 11 dine for AED 175, while those under six eat free. Brunch packages are valid for three hours.
Where: Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Dubai, Pearl Jumeira, Dubai
When: Sundays from 12pm to 5pm
Contact: https://nikkibeach.com
Work Out in the Dark at GymNation
Turn the lights off and tune into your workout at GymNation’s Dans le Noir: Class in the Dark. The 45-minute session removes mirrors, phones, screens and other visual distractions, shifting attention towards movement, balance, strength and breathwork. Participants use weighted vests and wrist weights while following instructions through wireless headphones, with instructors wearing night-vision goggles to guide the room safely. The concept has been designed partly to tackle the self-consciousness that can make group fitness intimidating, creating a workout that feels notably different from a standard gym class. Sunday sessions continue throughout September, with the 13 September class taking place at 8.30am at GymNation Motor City.
Where: GymNation Motor City, Dubai
When: Sundays at 8.30am until ill 27 September 2026
Contact: @gymnation_me