Planning a UAE events trip this winter: when to go and what overlaps

In Abu Dhabi, art week is 18 to 22 November, the SailGP Grand Final is 28 and 29 November, and Grand Prix week is 3 to 6 December, immediately after National Day. In Dubai, the 7s, SailGP and a run of concerts crowd the last two weeks of November.

Expect higher hotel prices and slower roads in these windows. Book rooms first.

The week of 7 to 13 December has the Guggenheim opening, the Bolshoi's run just before it, and Mariah Carey on the 12th, without a major sporting weekend. January has the Marathon and Desert Classic, and February has the tennis during Ramadan.

Pair a long festival with a one-off: Global Village or the Sheikh Zayed Festival on a weekday evening, a headline show at the weekend. Family trips can combine the DXB Winter Festival and Global Village. See Dubai and Abu Dhabi calendars.

Check the event's own page for the date and venue, because some listings differ between sources. Buy tickets only from official channels, as our safety guide explains, and check public holiday dates for travel.