Get your calendars out – exhilarating adventures, brunch and culture await.
The final weekend of August offers plenty of reasons to get out and about in Dubai. Whether you want to discover a new restaurant, flex your creative muscles or simply slow things down, the city has something to suit. From hands-on chocolate making and atmospheric art sessions to waterfront brunches, Syrian flavours and a Sunday spa reset, these are the best things to do in Dubai this weekend.
Friday 28 August
Celebrate Emirati Women’s Day at Raffles Dubai
Mark Emirati Women’s Day with an afternoon dedicated to relaxation at Raffles Dubai. The experience begins at Raffles Spa with a bespoke 60-minute massage, using a choice of three therapeutic oils designed to encourage relaxation or ease tension. Afterwards, guests move to Raffles Salon for Afternoon Tea, where savoury bites, warm scones and delicate pastries are paired with free-flowing TWG tea infusions. Combining wellness with time around the table, the package works equally well for a solo reset or an afternoon shared with friends and family. Available daily from 2pm to 6pm, the experience is priced at AED 450 per person.
Where: Raffles Spa, Raffles Dubai, Sheikh Rashid Road, Wafi, Dubai
When: Daily from 2pm to 6pm
Contact: www.raffles.com
Get Creative at thejamjar
Ease into the weekend with a creative evening at thejamjar in Alserkal Avenue. The community art space hosts a guided sip, snack and paint session every Friday, giving guests the chance to switch off and spend two hours at the easel. Resident instructors lead the workshop with tips on colour theory, composition and technique, while paints, brushes, canvases and easels are provided. Pekoe Tea & Bread Bar keeps things fuelled with artisanal tea, coffee and fresh pastries throughout the session. It is a relaxed, hands-on alternative to another night out, and a particularly appealing way to escape Dubai’s late-summer heat. AED 220 per person.
Where: thejamjar, Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz, Dubai
When: Fridays from 6pm to 8pm
Contact: www.thejamjardubai.com
Kick-start the weekend at QD’s Bar & Grill
Friday night brunch comes with creekside views at QD’s Bar & Grill, which has recently relocated to the Yacht Club at Dubai Creek Resort. The Layali Brunch brings together a generous spread of Middle Eastern favourites, from hot and cold mezze to pide, mixed grills and a sweet sundae baklava to finish. Unlimited beverages keep the evening flowing, while a live DJ and traditional darbuka player add energy to the waterfront setting. With panoramic views across Dubai Creek and the skyline beyond, it is an easy-going way to start the weekend outdoors once the sun goes down. The three-hour brunch is priced at AED 199 per person.
Where: QD’s Bar & Grill, Yacht Club, Dubai Creek Resort, Dubai
When: Fridays from 7pm to 10pm
Contact: https://dubaicreekresort.com
Saturday 29 August
Craft your own chocolate at Mirzam
Turn Saturday into something sweeter with a hands-on workshop at Mirzam Chocolate Makers in Al Quoz. The homegrown chocolate factory invites guests behind the scenes to learn more about its bean-to-bar process before getting creative with their own creations. Guided by Mirzam’s chocolatiers, participants can temper, flavour and mould artisanal chocolate bars using ingredients such as regional spices, roasted pistachios and sea salt. The session also includes guided tastings, offering a deeper look at cocoa origins and flavour profiles, before each bar is packaged to take home. Educational without feeling overly serious, the workshop is a fun option for couples, friends or families. AED 155 per person.
Where: Mirzam Chocolate Makers, 4th Street, Al Quoz, Dubai
When: Saturdays from 12pm
Contact: https://mirzam.com
Turn up the tempo at Soul Kitchen
Saturdays get louder at Soul Kitchen in Business Bay with the return of the Big Bad Brunch. The FACT award-winning restaurant’s Levantine-meets-Latin American approach runs through a menu of ceviche, cold mezze, pumpkin kibbeh and charcoal-grilled meats, with interactive live stations adding to the action. Cocktails, wines and beers are served alongside global beats and live music, creating a brunch that leans firmly into party territory. When dining wraps at 4pm, guests can continue downstairs at Reunion for the after-party. Packages start from AED 225 for non-alcoholic drinks and rise to AED 495 with Champagne. The AED 395 Mingling Package provides access to the bar and DJ area without food or drinks.
Where: Soul Kitchen, Marasi Drive, Business Bay, Dubai
When: Saturdays from 12pm to 4pm
Contact: https://soulkitchendxb.com
Grab a slice at ‘Za ’Za Slice Bar in DIFC
Za’Za Slice Bar has brought its New Haven-inspired pizzas to DIFC with the opening of its fifth Dubai location and first licensed outpost. The counter-style concept keeps the focus on crisp, thin-crust slices while expanding the menu for the financial district crowd. New additions include the Tricolore and Tartufo pies, alongside familiar favourites, truffle fries and chocolate tres leches. The biggest change comes behind the bar, with classic spritzes, curated wines and craft cocktails now joining the line-up. Casual enough for a quick slice but lively enough for a longer evening, the DIFC opening gives fans a new reason to revisit one of Dubai’s most popular homegrown pizza brands.
Where: Za’Za Slice Bar, DIFC, Dubai
When: Daily from 10am to 11pm
Contact: @zazaslice
Sunday 30 August
Experience vegetarian fine dining at Avatara
Catch Avatara’s summer menu before it disappears at the end of the season. The MICHELIN-starred restaurant in Dubai Hills Estate approaches Indian vegetarian cooking through a contemporary 12-course tasting menu, placing vegetables, fruits and grains at the centre of the experience. The current progression pairs wasabi greens with daikon, butternut with black lime, and aloe vera with pomelo, showcasing how familiar ingredients can be reworked through precise technique and layered seasoning. Dessert closes with a Condensed Milk course featuring bal mithai, mava and sugarcane. Thoughtful, theatrical and entirely meat-free, the menu offers one of Dubai’s most distinctive fine-dining experiences. AED 540 per person.
Where: Avatara, Dubai Hills Estate, Dubai
When: Tuesday to Sunday from 6pm to 11pm
Contact: https://avatara.ae
Reset at The Spa at Mandarin Oriental Jumeira
Close out the weekend at The Spa at Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, Dubai, a 2,000-square-metre beachfront retreat designed for a slower Sunday. The spa features nine treatment rooms, including two couples’ suites, a dedicated Hammam-style suite and a private VIP suite. Guests are encouraged to arrive early and make use of the Heat and Water Experiences, which include a vitality pool, steam room, sauna and tepidarium chairs. Treatments are followed by time in the Relaxation Area, where herbal teas are served in a quiet, cocoon-like lounge. Whether booking a massage, facial or body treatment, it is a restorative way to reset before the working week begins.
Where: The Spa, Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, Jumeirah Beach Road, Dubai
When: Sundays from 9am to 9pm
Contact: www.mandarinoriental.com
Discover the aromas of Aleppo at Orfali Bros
Sunday lunch takes a Syrian turn at Orfali Bros with Aromas of Aleppo, a menu inspired by the culinary traditions of the Orfali brothers’ home city. The experience begins with The Feast, a generous spread of house-made breads, hummus, muhammara, kibbeh nayeh and tomato salad designed for sharing. From there, the menu moves through dishes rooted in memory and regional flavour, including Kibbeh Mashwieh served with bone marrow and cucumber yoghurt. Dessert brings the meal to a gentle close with mastic ice cream and burnt syrup. Priced at AED 295 per person, the menu offers a focused introduction to Aleppian flavours at one of Dubai’s favourite FACT award-winning restaurants.
Where: Orfali Bros, Wasl 51, Jumeirah, Dubai
When: Sundays from 1.30pm to 4pm
Contact: https://orfalibros.com