Blog
50 researched guides to events in the UAE. Every date and price traces to a source named on the page.
What's on in the UAE in November 2026
The month the winter season fills up: art week in Abu Dhabi, four nights of Trevor Noah, golf, rugby, sailing and a run of concerts at every big venue.
What's on in the UAE in December 2026
National Day, Grand Prix week, Christmas shows and New Year's Eve: December is the densest month on the UAE calendar.
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2026 concerts and after-parties: who plays which night
Four Yasalam concert nights, an official after-party and three nights of DJ sets at 16/360. Most of them are tied to a Grand Prix ticket.
The best concerts in the UAE in 2026-27, month by month
The shows most people are searching for, in date order, with the venue and the lowest price printed in The National's October round-up.
How to buy event tickets safely in the UAE
Fake ticket pages copy real organisers and sell seats that do not exist. A few checks catch most of them.
UAE sports calendar 2026-27: every major event in date order
Every major event we list, in date order, with the guide for each.
Planning a UAE events trip this winter: when to go and what overlaps
The busiest weeks fill hotels months ahead. A quieter week can give you more of the season for less.
Abu Dhabi events calendar 2026-27: the season in date order
The big dates in the capital, from art week to the Grand Prix, with a guide for each.
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2026: dates, planning and where to stay
The season finale is the busiest week in the Abu Dhabi calendar. Book rooms first, tickets only from the official channels.
Arabic music in the UAE 2026-27: concerts and festivals to book
From arena pop to oud and piano, the season has a strong run of Arabic music, much of it in late November.
Business conferences and trade shows in the UAE 2026-27
The big trade dates in date order, with a note on how they affect hotels and traffic.
Christmas and festive events in the UAE 2026
A short list of December events with a festive angle, in date order, with prices where printed.
Classical music, opera and ballet in the UAE 2026-27
Two weeks in late November and December carry most of the big names: ballet at Emirates Palace, the Bolshoi in Dubai and piano recitals at NYU Abu Dhabi.
Coca-Cola Arena, Dubai: shows in 2026-27 and venue guide
Dubai's main arena sits at City Walk. The season runs from Arabic and South Asian stars to a Broadway musical and rescheduled spring shows.
Comedy in the UAE 2026-27: Trevor Noah, Russell Peters and more
Abu Dhabi runs a comedy season at Etihad Arena and Dubai Opera hosts Trevor Noah for four nights.
Dance music and nightlife events in the UAE 2026-27
From the opening of Ushuaia in October to Grand Prix week and a March festival, here are the dated nights and what they cost.
DP World Tour Championship Dubai 2026: dates, tickets and how to watch
The season finale of the DP World Tour decides the Race to Dubai. It is played over four days on the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships 2027: dates and how it works
Two tournaments in a fortnight at one stadium. The women play first, the men second, and Ramadan starts in the middle.
Dubai events calendar 2026-27: the season in date order
The big dates in Dubai from October to spring, with a guide for each.
Dubai Marathon 2027: dates, distances and how to enter
The Middle East's oldest international marathon returns on Sunday 17 January 2027, with three race distances and registration open.
Dubai Opera 2026-27: the season, the building and how to book
The dhow-shaped theatre in Downtown Dubai opened on 31 August 2016. Its tenth season runs from comedy and the Bolshoi to ice ballet.
Dubai Shopping Festival 2026-27: dates and what to expect
The 32nd edition runs 4 December to 17 January. The retail promotions are the backbone; the programme around them is still being announced.
Dubai World Cup 2027: date, tickets and what to wear
The final night of the Dubai Racing Carnival is scheduled for 27 March 2027 at Meydan. The Dubai Racing Club sells tickets.
DXB Winter Festival 2026-27: what is planned at Festival City
A waterfront market and funfair beside Dubai Festival City Mall. The dates are reported but the festival's own site does not print them.
Emirates Dubai 7s 2026: tickets, programme and tips
Rugby sevens, plus five other sports and live music. Prices are unchanged for a third year and Gaelic football makes its debut.
Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental: ballet, opera and sailing in 2026-27
Four events in nine days at the Abu Dhabi landmark, ending with the SailGP Grand Final offshore.
Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi: what is on in 2026-27 and what to know
Abu Dhabi's biggest indoor venue sits on Yas Bay. Its autumn and winter programme runs from comedy and Riverdance to Hans Zimmer and a three-week musical.
Free events in the UAE in 2026-27: what costs nothing
A short list of events reported as free or with free days. Free often means registration, so check each organiser before you travel.
Frieze Abu Dhabi and NOMAD 2026: how to plan art week
Abu Dhabi has stacked its art calendar into one November week: a Frieze debut, NOMAD in a disused airport terminal and a new public art biennial.
Global Village Dubai Season 31: tickets, hours and tips
Dubai's open-air world fair opened its 31st season on 14 October under the theme A More Wonderful World, with weekday entry at Dh25.
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi: the 11 December 2026 opening and how to plan
The museum is scheduled to open on 11 December. Its tickets, hours and first exhibitions had not been published when we checked.
Hero Dubai Desert Classic 2027: dates and what to know
The first Rolex Series event of the year returns to Emirates Golf Club for four days in January.
ILT20 Season 5: dates, venues and where to watch cricket in the UAE
The UAE's franchise T20 league returns for four weeks across three emirates. Other sites show different dates, so use the league's own page.
Indian and Pakistani artists in the UAE 2026-27: concert dates
Three headline dates in Dubai between October and November, at Coca-Cola Arena and Dubai Opera.
Jiu-jitsu in Abu Dhabi 2027: AJP Tour and Grand Slam dates
Two AJP Tour events in 2027 at Mubadala Arena. The calendar prints no ticket prices, so check the tour's site.
Louvre Abu Dhabi 2026-27: the exhibitions and dates
Four exhibitions run across the season, from a board game show for children to a major Indian Ocean trade exhibition.
Musicals and theatre in the UAE 2026-27: Phantom, Chicago, Riverdance
A long run of The Phantom of the Opera in March is the headline, but Riverdance, Chicago and Swan Lake on Ice come first.
New Year's Eve in the UAE 2026: what is announced so far
One headline gala is confirmed with prices. The city fireworks programmes were not yet announced, so here is what we know and how to find out.
NYU Abu Dhabi Arts Center 2026-27: concerts and performances
A smaller hall on Saadiyat Island with one of the most varied programmes in Abu Dhabi, and several of the lowest ticket prices.
RAK Art 2027: Lost in Translation in Al Jazeera Al Hamra
A new art festival in a restored heritage village in Ras Al Khaimah. Dates, theme and stages are confirmed; entry details are not.
Ramadan 2027 in the UAE: expected dates and what to expect
Astronomers expect Ramadan to begin on Monday 8 February 2027. The official moon sighting decides, and the Eid dates follow from it.
SailGP in the UAE 2026: Dubai and the Abu Dhabi Grand Final
Thirteen teams, identical F50 foiling catamarans and a winner-takes-all final of two million dollars at Emirates Palace.
Sharjah International Book Fair 2026: dates, theme and visiting tips
One of the biggest book fairs in the world returns for twelve days at Expo Centre Sharjah, with Oman as guest of honour.
Sheikh Zayed Festival and Liwa Festival 2026-27: heritage season in Abu Dhabi
Two long festivals frame Abu Dhabi's winter: a family and heritage festival at Al Wathba and a desert festival around one of the tallest dunes in the world.
UAE National Day 2026: dates, holiday and what to plan
The 55th National Day is a two-day holiday on 2 and 3 December 2026, followed straight away by Abu Dhabi Grand Prix week.
UAE public holidays 2026-27: dates to plan events around
National Day is fixed. The 2027 Islamic holidays are estimates until the moon sighting committee announces them.
UNTOLD Dubai 2027: new dates, venue and what we know
The festival has moved to March. The dates, venue and an entry price are confirmed; the line-up is not.
What's on in the UAE in February 2027
Summits, tennis and film concerts, with Ramadan expected to begin on 8 February and change the rhythm of the calendar.
What's on in the UAE in January 2027
A month of sport and culture: the Dubai Marathon, the Desert Classic, ice ballet at Dubai Opera and a new art festival in Ras Al Khaimah.
What's on in the UAE in March 2027
Eid, a three-week West End run in Abu Dhabi, a food trade show and the richest night in horse racing.