DECEMBER
Dec 1
ABU DHABI Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2019
Watch the tenth edition of the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix.
Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, yasmarinacircuit.com.
ABU DHABI Yasalam F1 After-Race Concert:
The Killers
The final night of the Yasalam F1 concert series sees the American rockers perform live.
Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, yasmarinacircuit.com.
Dec 2
UAE-WIDE UAE National Day
Celebrations take place across the emirates, with fireworks, parades and events in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and beyond.
visitabudhabi.com, visitdubai.com.
Dec 4
DUBAI The Nutcracker Ballet at Dubai Opera
A timeless piece, brought to life by the St. Petersburg Tchaikovsky Ballet Theatre.
From Dhs75. Downtown Dubai, dubaiopera.com.
Dec 5-7
DUBAI Sole DXB 2019
The culture, design and lifestyle event returns, with film screenings and performances.
From Dhs245. Dubai Design District, Ras Al Khor Road, soledxb.com.
DUBAI Dubai Muscle Show 2019
Discover developments in nutrition and fitness products, and meet Mr Olympia winners.
From Dhs30. Dubai World Trade Centre, dubaimuscleshow.com.
DUBAI Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens
Plenty of action on the pitch, all manner of fancy dress and Kylie Minogue performing live on Friday December 6.
Free entry on Thu Dec 5. Fri Dec 6 from Dhs400, Sat Dec 7 from Dhs300. Dubai Sevens Stadium, E66, dubairugby7s.com.
Dec 6
ABU DHABI ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon
Join in with elite runners and take on the scenic Abu Dhabi marathon route. Still working on your distance? Tackle one of the shorter routes instead.
Dhs50 (2.5km), Dhs75 (5km), Dhs150 (10km), Dhs350 (marathon). Corniche, adnocabudhabimarathon.com.
Dec 7-20
ABU DHABI Emirates Polo Championship International
Witness the best polo in the country at the 19th edition of the championship.
Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club, Ghantoot, grpc.ae.
Dec 8
DUBAI Handel’s Messiah at Dubai Opera
George Frideric Handel’s masterpiece performed by the The St. Petersburg Tchaikovsky Theatre of Ballet Orchestra Dubai Opera Festival Chorus.
From Dhs175. Downtown Dubai, dubaiopera.com.
Dec 9-13
DUBAI Al Marmoom Ultramarathon
Elite runners descend on Dubai to run the 300km world’s longest desert run, or continuous 100km and 50km runs.
From Dhs1,084. Al Marmoom Conservation Reserve, ultramarathon.ae.
Dec 9-24
ABU DHABI Al Dhafra Festival 2019
Heritage festival featuring camel racing and auctions, traditional market and more.
Al Dhafra and Madinat Zayed Park, visitabudhabi.ae.
Dec 10-14
ABU DHABI Yas Winter Carnival 2019
Expect a festive market, tree-lighting ceremony, choirs, fireworks and live music.
Yas Gateway Park, Yas Island, visitabudhabi.ae.
Dec 12-14
DUBAI LUVYA
A celebration of music, food, art and fashion on the Palm Jumeirah, plus entertainment from Craig David and Lost Frequencies.
From Dhs300. FIVE Palm Jumeirah, luvya.live.
Dec 12-14
DUBAI Jingle Bell Favourites at Dubai Opera
A family concert of carols and Christmas classics, performed by London Concert Orchestra Show Band, Capital Voices and West End soloists.
From Dhs175. Downtown Dubai, dubaiopera.com.
Dec 13
DUBAI Dido Live in Dubai
The British singer of hits including Thank You and White Flag performs live.
From Dhs295. Dubai Media City Amphitheatre, 800tickets.com.
Dec 13-24
DUBAI Peter Pan at the QE2
A whimsical adventure to Neverland on board the famous Queen Elizabeth 2.
Dhs120. Port Rashid, qe2.com.
Dec 18-27
DUBAI Cinderella at Fairmont The Palm
The Dubai Panto is back with a performance of the classic fairytale. Prepare for audience participation… (gulp).
Dhs125. Palm Jumeirah, fairmont.com.
Dec 19-21
ABU DHABI Mubadala World Tennis Championship 2019
The world’s best players return to the capital for the annual championship.
From Dhs100. International Tennis Centre, Zayed Sports City, mubadalawtc.com.
Dec 20
DUBAI Anoushka Shankar at Dubai Opera
A talented sitar player in her own right, Ravi Shankar’s famed daughter performs her collection of East-meets-West compositions.
From Dhs200. Downtown Dubai, dubaiopera.com.
Dec 26-Feb 1
DUBAI Dubai Shopping Festival
Citywide promotions and retail sales, entertainment, fireworks and concerts.
visitdubai.com.
Dec 31
ABU DHABI Resolution by Night: Bruno Mars Live in Abu Dhabi
The hitmaker performs for New Year’s Eve.
From Dhs350. du Arena, Yas Island, flashentertainment.com.
JANUARY
Jan 1
ABU DHABI Resolution by Day at du Arena
Giant inflatable obstacles, entertainment from Magic Phil and more family daytime fun.
From Dhs20. du Arena, Yas Island, flashentertainment.com
Jan 8
DUBAI An Evening with Rio Ferdinand
Join a Q&A with the renowned England and Manchester United footballer.
Price TBA. W Dubai – The Palm, Palm Jumeirah, platinumexperiences.group.
Jan 23-26
DUBAI Omega Dubai Desert Classic 2020
Some of the world’s top golfers compete.
From Dhs75. Emirates Golf Club, omegadubaidesertclassic.com
Jan 24
DUBAI Jo Koy in Dubai
The US comedian is bringing his Just Kidding world tour to Dubai’s Coca-Cola Arena.
From Dhs195. Mon Jan 20. Coca-Cola Arena Dubai, City Walk, Al Safa Street, www.coca-cola-arena.com.
DUBAI Standard Chartered
Dubai Marathon 2020
More than 30,000 runners are set to pound the streets of Dubai. Categories include a 4km fun run, 10km and 42km marathon.
From Dhs183. Jumeirah, dubaimarathon.org.
Jan 24-25
DUBAI Quoz Arts Fest 2020
A cultural celebration filled with music, art, performance and interactive pop-ups.
Free. Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz, alserkalavenue.ae.
FEBRUARY
Feb 4-9
DUBAI 12th Emirates Airline Festival of Literature
Meet renowned authors at this celebration of the written word.
Prices TBA. InterContinental Festival City, emirateslitfest.com.
Feb 7
DUBAI Bjorn Again at Dubai Opera
One of the world’s best-known ABBA tribute bands returns to the UAE.
From Dhs95. Downtown Dubai, dubaiopera.com.
DUBAI Ironman 70.3 Dubai
A Half Ironman tackling the dunes, seas and city streets.
Dhs1,652. Burj Al Arab, eu.ironman.com.
Feb 11
DUBAI a-ha at Dubai Opera
The ’80s pop icons play Dubai.
Dhs350. Downtown Dubai, dubaiopera.com.
Feb 17-29
DUBAI Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships
World-class players battle it out in one of the region’s most established sporting events.
Prices TBA. Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium, Garhoud, dubaidutyfreetennischampionships.com.
Feb 22
DUBAI Katherine Jenkins at Dubai Opera
One of Britain’s best-selling classical artists performs a concert accompanied by a piano and string quartet.
From Dhs295. Downtown Dubai, dubaiopera.com.
Feb 26-28
DUBAI Emirates Airline Dubai Jazz Festival
See Lauryn Hill, Lionel Richie and OneRepublic over three nights.
From Dhs250. Dubai Media City Amphitheatre, 800tickets.com.
