Our picks of the hottest happenings in the city this weekend.
The weekend is here, and the UAE is packed with ways to make the most of it. Thrill-seekers can test their skills at No Grip DXB, food lovers can feast their way through Dubai Restaurant Week, and culture fans can catch Brazilian music icon Lulu Santos live. Elsewhere, ONA Coffee brings serious caffeine culture to Jumeirah, MANĀO extends its FACT award-winning weekend lunch, and PFL MENA brings fight night to Coca-Cola Arena.
Friday 22 May
Ride the world’s first two-level drift-karting track
No Grip DXB has opened in Al Quoz, bringing what is billed as the world’s first two-level drift-karting track to Dubai. The indoor motorsport attraction combines drift karting, racing simulators, games and late-night entertainment under one roof. Designed for friends, families and racing fans, the experience focuses on controlled slides, sharp turns and sideways action rather than traditional go-karting. Sessions start from AED 120 and include a 15-minute briefing followed by 15 minutes on the track. Open to guests aged 12 and above, No Grip DXB is located at Al Ghurair Warehouse Complex in Al Quoz.
Where: No Grib DXB, Al Ghurair Warehouse Complex, Al Quoz, Dubai
When: Monday to Sunday from 10am to 11pm
Contact: https://nogripdxb.ae
Check out Cherry House
Cherry House has opened in Dubai’s Al Safa, bringing together an artisanal bakery, a speciality coffee roastery, and an all-day café. Founded by Emirati entrepreneur Mohamed Matar AlKoas AlFalasi, the concept celebrates craft, ritual and contemporary Emirati hospitality. The design-led space features an in-house Loring roastery, an open bakery and a lively espresso bar, allowing guests to watch the process unfold throughout the day. Expect speciality coffee, sourdough, pastries, breakfast dishes, bowls, sandwiches and seasonal drinks in a warm setting defined by deep cherry tones and natural light.
Where: Cherry House, Matloob Building, 22A Street, Al Safa, Dubai
When: Open daily from 7am to midnight
Contact: @cherryhouse
Feast at Dubai Restaurant Week
Diet plans can wait because Dubai Restaurant Week returns, bringing 17 days of dining deals, culinary events and chef-led experiences to the city. More than 100 restaurants will take part, offering exclusive set menus priced at AED 125 for two courses and AED 250 for three courses. This year’s line-up includes several FACT award-winning venues, such as Akira Back, Bâoli, CÉ LA VI, GAIA, High Society, Il Gattopardo, Jun’s, La Petite Maison, OPA, REIF Japanese Kushiyaki, Sexy Fish and Zuma. Other recommended reservations include Amazónico, Goldfish Sushi & Yakitori, Mimi Kakushi and Nobu by the Beach.
Where: Across Dubai
When: 1 to 31 May 2026
Price: AED 125 (two courses) and AED 250 (three courses)
Contact: www.dubaifoodfestival.com
Saturday 23 May
Have lunch at HANU
HANU, the contemporary Korean restaurant at St. Regis Gardens, has introduced Hansang Lunch, a Saturday experience inspired by Korea’s “full table” tradition of shared dining. The menu opens with Truffle Egg Custard, followed by a choice of two starters, including Beef Tartare with Gochujang Pear, Bluefin Tuna Ceviche, Truffle Mushroom Kimbap, and Kimchi Arancini. The main event, “Meat Me at the Grill”, showcases Australian Black Angus and Australian Wagyu MB 6–7, served with seasonal ban chan, stews with rice and green leaf baskets for wrapping, echoing a home-style Korean spread with a refined, modern touch. Available on Saturdays from 1pm to 4pm, priced at AED 195 per person.
Where: HANU, St. Regis Gardens, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai
When: Saturdays from 1pm to 4pm
Price: AED 195 per person
Contact: https://hanu-restaurant.com
Party with Adam Ten at Bâoli Dubai
The FACT award-winning Bâoli Dubai will welcome internationally acclaimed artist Adam Ten this weekend. Known for hypnotic, groove-driven sets that move between underground energy and refined atmosphere, Adam Ten will soundtrack a night of Riviera-inspired glamour at the seaside destination. Drawing on the spirit of Cannes and Miami, Bâoli Dubai moves effortlessly from sunset dining to late-night celebration, with lush interiors, candlelit tables and a lively crowd.
Where: Bâoli Dubai, J1 Beach, Jumeirah, Dubai
When: Saturday, 23 May 2026
Contact: https://baoli-restaurant.com
Partner Listing: Listen to Brazilian beats
Brazilian music icon Lulu Santos is heading to Dubai Opera for one night only on Saturday, 23 May 2026. Presented by Live Nation Middle East in partnership with FACT Magazine, the concert will bring the sounds of Brazil to the UAE with a set packed with nostalgia, rhythm and singalong hits. Born in Rio de Janeiro, Lulu Santos is one of Brazil’s most influential musicians, blending pop, rock and samba across a five-decade career. Since his breakthrough album Tempos Modernos in 1982, he has sold more than 15 million albums and won two Latin Grammy Awards.
Where: Coca-Cola Arena, Al Wasl, Dubai
When: Saturday, 23 May 2026
Contact: http://platinumlist.net
Sunday 24 May
Caffeinate at ONA
ONA Coffee has opened in Jumeirah, bringing one of Australia’s most respected speciality coffee names to Dubai. The flagship café marks the brand’s first international outpost and taps into the city’s growing appetite for serious coffee culture. The aesthetic is clean, contemporary and quietly immersive, with a focus on precision, ritual and the craft behind each cup. Designed for lingering rather than grabbing and going, the space brings together a café, sensory-led coffee experiences and a menu built around ONA’s signature approach to sourcing, roasting and brewing. It’s a confident new address for Dubai’s caffeine crowd.
Where: ONA, 41A Street, Jumeirah 1, Dubai
When: Open daily from 8am to 10pm
Contact: @ona.dubai
Have lunch at FACT’s Restaurant of the Year
MANĀO is turning lunch into a full weekend affair. The FACT award-winning Thai-inspired restaurant in Wasl Vita has expanded its popular Sunday service to include Saturdays, with its à la carte weekend lunch now available from 12pm to 5pm on both days. Expect bold, balanced flavours and polished hospitality, with dishes starting from AED 39. Highlights include grilled chicken skewers, sticky rice roti, crab khanom krok, crispy seabass with mango salad, and yellow curry of prawns with cumin leaf. For dessert, Chef Abhiraj’s sticky rice with coconut ice cream and shaved ice provides a fitting finish. Reservations are recommended.
Where: MANĀO, Wasl Vita, Jumeirah 1, Dubai
When: Saturdays and Sundays from 12pm
Contact: https://manao.ae
Partner Listing: Fight Night with PFL MENA
PFL MENA: Pride of Arabia lands at Coca-Cola Arena on Sunday, 24 May, bringing a stacked night of MMA action to Dubai. FACT Magazine has joined the event as a media partner, with the 2026 PFL MENA season opener showcasing fighters from 11 countries. Headlining the card, UAE favourite Mohammad “The UAE Warrior” Yahya makes his PFL debut against Tunisia’s Mehdi Saadi. The night will also mark the debut of 18-year-old Emirati talent Zamzam Al Hammadi, already a titleholder in MMA and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Tickets start from AED 35.
Where: Coca-Cola Arena, Al Wasl, Dubai
When: Sunday, 24 May 2026
Contact: http://platinumlist.net