Get your calendars out – exhilarating adventures, brunch and culture await.
If you thought the UAE was quiet over the summer, think again. Dubai is filled with exciting things to do. So, whether you’re after staycations, spas or swimming – at night time, no less – here’s what you need to know.
Friday 21 August 2026
Book a coastal staycation at SO/ Ras Al Khaimah
Swap the city for the coast with a summer stay at SO/ Ras Al Khaimah. Located on Al Marjan Island, the fashion-forward resort is offering an ultra-all-inclusive escape with Arabian Gulf views from every room and suite. Days can be spent beside the pool or on the beach, while art classes and access to Anjana Spa offer alternatives to sunbathing. As afternoon turns to evening, leisurely lunches give way to cocktails, DJ sets, violin performances and live bands. Dining options include Hadaba for Levantine flavours and Chiano for comforting Italian classics. With the summer offer ending this month, there is still time for a spontaneous escape. From AED 899 per room.
Where: SO/ Ras Al Khaimah, Al Marjan Island, Nad Al Sili, Ras Al Khaimah
Contact: so-hotels.com/en/ras-al-khaimah
Laugh out loud with Sunil Grover
Friday night brings one of Indian comedy’s most recognisable performers to Dubai. Sunil Grover takes over Coca-Cola Arena for an evening combining stand-up, character comedy and audience interaction. The comedian and actor is famous for television creations including Gutthi, Dr. Mashoor Gulati and Rinku Bhabhi, but his live performances also draw heavily on observational humour and improvisation. Grover is equally known for his impressions, with everyone from Salman Khan and Aamir Khan to Amitabh Bachchan and Gulzar finding their way into his routines. Whether you know him from television, film or viral clips, the arena show offers the chance to see his comic characters brought to life on stage. AED 125 per person.
Where: Coca-Cola Arena, City Walk, Al Satwa, Dubai
When: Friday, 21 August 2026 at 8pm
Contact: http://platinumlist.net
Have dinner at a FACT award winner
One of Dubai’s most acclaimed restaurants has introduced a shorter route through its culinary world. Orfali Bros at Wasl 51 is serving The OG 2.0, a condensed version of its Voyage 2.0 tasting experience. Familiar favourites such as the Corn Bomb and Caviar Bun appear alongside Tuna Salsa Roja, Roots, Guess What?, Orfali Bayaldi and braised lamb neck ORF Labaniyeh. Diners can build on the menu with optional additions including Ohh La La foie gras, Aleppo Street Bun and Kebab Bel Karaz, while dessert upgrades and a three-drink pairing from the restaurant’s non-alcoholic fermentation lab add further layers. It is an accessible introduction to the brothers’ playful approach to contemporary cooking. AED 350 per person.
Where: Orfali Bros, Wasl 51, Al Wasl Road, Jumeirah, Dubai
Price: AED 350 per person
Contact: https://orfalibros.com
Saturday 22 August 2026
Dine on ocean delicacies at Sakhalin
Oysters take centre stage at Sakhalin Dubai this summer. The J1 Beach restaurant is hosting a limited-time Oyster Festival, with Executive Chef Aleksei Vershinin presenting locally sourced Dibba Bay oysters alongside premium Gillardeau varieties. Diners can order them naturally or choose from three preparations: Diablo with tomato water and Tabasco, ikura with ponzu and lime zest, or Oscietra caviar with shiso and cucumber. Created by restaurateur Boris Zarkov and Michelin-starred chef Vladimir Mukhin, Sakhalin draws together Mediterranean and Asian influences with seafood at its heart. An open kitchen, ice market and beachfront setting add to the experience, making the festival a strong choice for seafood lovers this weekend. From AED 70 for three oysters.
Where: Sakhalin, J1, Jumeirah, Dubai
When: Daily from 12pm to midnight
Contact: https://sakhalin.rest
Indulge in a bottomless brunch
Go big this weekend with OVERBOARD at The MAINE JBR. The all-you-can-eat and all-you-can-drink brunch leans heavily into seafood, beginning with a raw bar of shrimp cocktail, tuna and salmon tartare, sea bass ceviche, mussels, clams, crab claws and market fish crudo. Elsewhere, diners can tackle seasonal salads, stone-fired pizzas, fresh pasta finished in a Parmesan wheel and roasted côte de boeuf from the carvery. Dessert arrives via a roaming Gelato Trolley loaded with house-made gelato and sorbets. Drinks flow freely too, with Bloody Marys, Mimosas, spirits, wines and beers. The weekend feast runs across both afternoon and evening sittings.
Where: The MAINE Oyster Bar & Grill, DoubleTree by Hilton, JBR, Dubai
When: Saturdays and Sundays from 12pm to 4pm or 6pm to 9pm
Price: AED 450 (standard package), AED 550 (Prosecco) or AED 800 (Champagne)
Contact: https://themainegroup.com
Step into a digital sanctuary
Escape Dubai’s August temperatures by travelling somewhere altogether more surreal. Located inside WAFI City, AYA Universe spans 40,000 square feet and combines light, sound, projection and motion technology across 12 interactive zones. Visitors move between cosmic gardens, mirrored environments, glowing landscapes and installations that respond to movement, creating an experience somewhere between a digital art exhibition and a futuristic playground. Each space forms part of a broader story, encouraging guests to explore rather than simply observe. The attraction is fully indoors and air-conditioned, making it particularly appealing during the hotter months.
Where: AYA Universe, Wafi City, Oud Metha, Dubai
Contact: https://dubai.platinumlist.net
Sunday 23 August 2026
Unwind with a luxury spa day
Finish the weekend by slowing things down at AWAKEN Spa inside Atlantis The Royal. The sprawling wellness destination combines traditional healing practices with contemporary treatments in an environment designed for lengthy sessions of relaxation. Its Elements Retreat features hydrotherapy pools, charcoal saunas, aromatherapy steam rooms and halotherapy salt rooms, while targeted massages incorporate bespoke plant-based essential oils. The spa also houses 15 private therapy suites and the Hammam Sensorium, alongside personalised wellness journeys created around individual needs. Located within one of Palm Jumeirah’s most extravagant resorts, AWAKEN offers an indulgent alternative to another afternoon beside the pool and provides ample reason to dedicate Sunday to rest, recovery and a little self-care.
Where: AWAKEN Spa, Atlantis The Royal, Crescent Road, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai
Contact: www.atlantis.com
Get Creative at Riina X We Love Art
Sunday afternoon gets an artistic twist as riina teams up with We Love Art for Chapter Two of its creative series. Taking place at Riina’s Kitchen & Bakery in Meadows Village, the Paint and Swap session puts a collaborative spin on the traditional painting workshop. Each guest begins with a pre-sketched canvas before adding their own colours and details, then passing the artwork to the person beside them. The process continues around the table, resulting in a collective piece shaped by multiple styles and ideas. The two-hour guided session includes all painting materials, a selection of canapés and one beverage, so there is nothing to bring apart from a willingness to get creative. AED 290 per person.
Where: Riina’s Kitchen & Bakery, Meadows Village, Dubai
When: Sunday, 23 August 2026 from 4pm to 6pm
Contact: www.weloveart.com
Take a dip under the stars
Dubai’s pool culture continues long after sunset at ZETA Seventy Seven. Perched on the 77th floor of Address Beach Resort, the rooftop destination offers sweeping views across Jumeirah Beach Residence, Ain Dubai and the Arabian Gulf. Its ZETA Night Swim opens the celebrated outdoor infinity pool after dark exclusively to guests aged 21 and above, transforming the space into a quieter retreat once daytime crowds have disappeared. The package includes access to the pool and a bottle of bubbly for two, making it particularly suited to a date night or special occasion. With the skyline illuminated below and the Gulf stretching into the distance, few evening swims in Dubai come with a backdrop quite like this. From AED 377 per couple.
Where: Address Beach Resort, Jumeirah Beach Residence, Dubai
When: Sunday to Thursday, 6pm to 8.30pm and 9pm to midnight
Contact: www.addresshotels.com