The Dubai skyline with Burj Khalifa silhouetted against a low sun

What's on

The UAE, month by month

One page for each month of the season, plus a live list for this weekend. All of it built from the same checked calendar.

Photo: ECWiki1, CC BY 4.0

This weekend

Friday 23 Oct 2026 to Sunday 25 Oct 2026

12 events running, including the season-long festivals.

2026-27

Pick a month

October 2026

16 listed

The season restarts. Seasonal parks and Global Village reopen in the first fortnight, the first festivals begin and hotel prices are still below the winter peak.

Abu Dhabi Comedy Season
Dubai Miracle Garden reopens, Season 15
Abu Dhabi Festival 2026, autumn programme

See the month

November 2026

35 listed

The sweet spot. Frieze Abu Dhabi and the Abu Dhabi art week, Sharjah International Book Fair and the Dubai Racing Carnival all land here, and Sheikh Zayed Festival is under way.

Abu Dhabi Comedy Season
Dubai Miracle Garden reopens, Season 15
Abu Dhabi Festival 2026, autumn programme

See the month

December 2026

28 listed

Peak season. National Day on 2 and 3 December, the Grand Prix on 3 to 6 December, the Guggenheim opening on the 11th, the Liwa festival, the Shopping Festival and New Year's Eve.

Dubai Miracle Garden reopens, Season 15
Abu Dhabi Festival 2026, autumn programme
Dubai Safari Park reopens, Season 8

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January 2027

18 listed

A long cool stretch with the Shopping Festival to 17 January, Al Hosn Festival from the 15th, RAK Art from the 22nd and festivals running on at Al Wathba and Global Village.

Dubai Miracle Garden reopens, Season 15
Dubai Safari Park reopens, Season 8
Spices and Wonders: Sailing the Indian Ocean

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February 2027

14 listed

Ramadan is expected to begin on 8 February, so the rhythm changes in the second week: quieter days and busy evenings. RAK Art runs to 14 February, and Valentine's Day books private evenings out early.

Dubai Miracle Garden reopens, Season 15
Dubai Safari Park reopens, Season 8
Spices and Wonders: Sailing the Indian Ocean

See the month

March 2027

12 listed

Eid Al Fitr is expected on 9 or 10 March, Sheikh Zayed Festival closes on the 14th and the Dubai World Cup is on the 27th. The softer spring light is good for desert and mountain days.

Dubai Miracle Garden reopens, Season 15
Dubai Safari Park reopens, Season 8
Global Village Dubai, Season 31

See the month

April 2027

7 listed

The season winds down. Art Dubai runs 9 to 11 April with preview days on the 7th and 8th. Outdoor plans move to mornings and evenings.

Dubai Miracle Garden reopens, Season 15
Dubai Safari Park reopens, Season 8
Global Village Dubai, Season 31

See the month

Questions

What is on in the UAE this month?+

Open the month page for a full list with dates and venues, or the This weekend page for what is on from Friday to Sunday. Both are built from the same calendar and show the date it was last checked.

When does the UAE events season start and end?+

The cool-season calendar runs from October to April. Seasonal attractions reopen in October, festivals peak from November to January and the season winds down in April.

How accurate are the dates?+

Each date is the organiser's own or an official tourism release's. Where only one outlet has reported it, or the moon decides, the listing says so. See how we verify.

Today is 20 October 2026 in the UAE.