1. Discover masters who changed the game at the Theatre of Digital Art
Although we’re blessed with one of the globe’s greatest galleries here in the capital (we’re looking at you, Louvre Abu Dhabi), the Theatre of Digital Art is just something slightly out of the ordinary. And its latest offering, ‘From Monet to Kandinsky. Revolutionary Art’, will give you an insight into how nine artists turned the art world upside down. Monet, Seurat, Van Gogh, Munch, Cézanne, Gris, Delaunay, Klee and Kandinsky – it’s like a who’s who of the weird and wonderful.
From Dhs75 (adults), Dhs45 (children). Ongoing. Hourly from noon-11pm. Theatre of Digital Art, Souk Madinat Jumeirah, Al Sufouh, Dubai, toda.ae
2. Mark a half century of Simon & Garfunkel at Dubai Opera
Should your childhood car journeys have, like many of us of a certain age, had a soundtrack of Simon & Garfunkel’s Greatest Hits as the soul source of entertainment then take a road trip up to Dubai for this supremely stunning show. Combining huge projection photos and original film footage, this homage to that dynamic duo also features a live band performing all of their top tunes. The world tour sold out wherever it went, and will surely offer you a bridge over these troubled waters…
From Dhs145 (including welcoming house beverage). Dec 19, 2pm & 8pm. Dubai Opera, Downtown Dubai, dubaiopera.com
3. Go camping in the city with Salt
Another one to hark back to those more innocent times when pitching a tent a few miles up the road was more de rigueur than ordering room service at a fancy hotel, this most brilliant of homegrown brands is heading to DIFC for the festival’s opening weekend. Not only will you be able to devour some of the brilliant burgers the Salt sisters produce at their ever-expanding spot on Kite Beach but you will also have the chance to scoff some of their brand-new ‘Sugar’ dessert creations. Oh, and there will be fitness, art and photography workshops along with nightly live music to provide a camp-side sing-along.
Dec 17-19, 4pm-midnight. DIFC, instagram.com/findsalt/
4. Win some new wheels for that return road trip
For those of you who don’t have a driving licence, look away now. But for those of you who do, both ENOC and Infiniti are delighting in the DSF vibe and giving you the chance to wheel away with some seriously sweet new rides. Firstly, ENOC are raffling off 45 top-of-the-range Nissans just for those who spend Dhs25 on non-fuel items at one of their petrol stations. Meanwhile, Global Village will also be the scene as the first lucky ticket from the Infiniti Mega Raffle is drawn, with an Infiniti QX60 up for grabs, plus Dhs200,000 of daily prizes. And one super lucky soul could also become half-a-million dirhams richer come the end of DSF. Give us a lift, please?
Dec 17, 9pm. Global Village, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, infiniti.com
5. Get a free upgrade and stay at the heart of the shopping action
With the Mall of the Emirates right on your doorstep (as well as a slew of superb bars and eateries), make the Grand Cosmopolitan Hotel in Al Barsha your destination this festival season. Wake up, stroll to the mall, peruse, purchase, cab back, relax, repeat. Plus there’ll be less pressure on your purse as you can bring the whole family along, with kids under 12 staying and eating for free and an upgrade from half to full-board totally on the house.
Dec 17-Jan 30. Grand Cosmopolitan Hotel, Al Barsha, grandcosmopolitandubai.com
6. Enter a winter Wonderland at Al Khawaneej Walk
We’ve all been guilty of a late-night, journey-splitting stop-off at the original Last Exit, right? So why not drive that extra mile to sample the delights of its latest incarnation at Al Khawaneej Walk. The truck stop at this brand, spanking new mall has gone all Alice in Wonderland for DSF. And for week one you can take a gander Through Alice’s Lens, taking on the three-storey ‘WonderMaze’, enjoying live music, testing your grey matter with gameshows and watching some fine flicks at the outdoor cinema.
Dec 17-23. Sun-Wed 6pm-midnight. Thu-Sat 4pm-2am. Al Khawaneej Walk, alkhawaneejwalk.ae
7. Enjoy a Bard-y comedy at The Junction
Whether or not you’re in love with Shakespeare, you can’t but admire his ability to amaze theatregoers through the ages (or dominate GCSE English exams). The excellent, independent performing arts venue The Junction is putting on a production of perhaps the Bard’s most memorable of comedic offerings. Sub-plots involving conflicted companions and amateur actors abound, with a special mention going to that most sportive of sprites, Puck.
Dec 17-18, 7.30pm-10pm, Dec 19, 2pm-4.30pm and 7.30pm-10pm. The Junction, Alserkal Avenue, thejunctiondubai.com
8. Rock out to all those festive favourites with Jingle Bell Rock
This spectacular line-up of singers won’t fail to fill you with Christmas cheer. Fresh from their stint on the world’s longest-running musical, Les Misérables, The Barricade Boys will be bringing their united vocal talent to this unmissable gig alongside the inimitable Kerry Ellis, whose starring role in Wicked has garnered her both critical and popular acclaim. Between them they will provide some real crackers, with the Jingle Bell Christmas Orchestra (made up of the best local and international musicians) and the Dubai Performing Arts Academy’s talented children’s choir also joining them on stage, just in case your stocking-filler socks hadn’t already been rocked off.
From Dhs175. Dec 18, 3pm and 8pm. Dubai World Trade Centre, dwtc.com
9. Meet Modesh and Dana
Don’t even pretend to say you haven’t tried to perfect Modesh’s five-pronged hairstyle for either a kids’ party or Halloween happening. Or even his best buddy Dana’s gravity defying purple and yellow do. So now’s your chance to grab a glance at how this dynamic duo look so perfectly preened, and thoroughly full of beans, with a calendar of meet and greets throughout our neighbouring city. Your young’uns will thank you for it later.
Various times and venues, Thu-Sat. mysdf.ae
10. Splash less cash for La Perle
Unless you’ve been living like a hermit crab these past few years it would have been hard to ignore the hydraulic hype surrounding this amazing aquatheatre. Cirque du Soleil’s Franco Dragone brings you his vision of aquatic acrobatics, with high dives top of the daring agenda. As fun as our own water parks are, to be thrown into the deep end of an immensely immersive spectacular such as this is well worth kayaking up the coast for. The Super Saver package here will save you up to 47 per cent on the usual ticket price. The dress code doesn’t mention wetsuits, thankfully.
From Dhs199. Daily 6.30pm and 9.30pm. Al Habtoor City, laperle.com
11. Stay in style at Armani Hotel Dubai
There can be fewer more apt places for an Abu Dhabian to have as your base for DSF than within the Burj Khalifa, named after our great leader. Even those with a lamentable lack of a head for heights can enjoy this outstandingly on-trend hotel, especially when during the festival it will offer a 20 per cent discount on your luxurious lodgings, plus a Dhs200 shopping credit each day of your stay and free tickets to both the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo and VR Park Dubai.
Ongoing. Armani Hotel Dubai, Burj Khalifa, Downtown Dubai, armanihoteldubai.com
12. Have some home-from-home at Hakkasan
While we grab a bargain during DSF, it can be easy for us capital dwellers to forget why we live down south. And then there’s Hakkasan. This consummately cracking Chinese chain came here a full year before it ventured up the road, and has been setting the standards in the Middle East ever since. The proud owner of an array of Time Out awards, you should definitely escape to Atlantis and feast on its festive menu for a mere Dhs310 a head.
Dec 17-23, 6pm-11pm. Atlantis, The Palm Dubai, hakkasan.com/dubai/
13. Find a French fairy tale on the QE2
If ever there was a time for a heart-warming tale of triumph over adversity then surely the end of 2020 is it. So welcome, one and all, to Beauty and the Beast. Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve would never have envisaged that her most famous work (of 1740) would still be relevant now. As punishment for his selfish actions, a handsome young prince is transformed into a monstrous beast by a mysterious enchantress. If he can learn to love someone and earn their affection in return, the curse will be lifted. Here’s to a happy ending.
From Dhs120. Dec 16-27, 11am and 3pm. QE2, Port Rashid, theatrebyqe2.com
14. Watch the sport of kings at Al Habtoor Polo Resort and Club
Put on your glad rags and witness the thrilling finale of the inaugural Sir Winston Churchill Cup. Divot replacers are most welcome.
Free. Thu 17 and Fri 18 December. Al Habtoor Polo Resort and Club, Dubailand, alhabtoorpoloresortandclub.com
15. Discover discounted dolphin delights
DSF and the Dubai Dolphinarium have come together to offer you and the family some marine-life merriment, meaning the journey up from the capital will be given everyone’s seal of approval. Best of all, during the festival there’ll be a tremendous 25 per cent off ticket prices for the show. The aquatic action will all take place indoors. But don’t worry, the air-con system has only one setting – absolutely amazing.
Open daily 11am-6pm. Dubai Creek Park, dubaidolpinarium.com
