Dubai Minute: The City’s Most Booked Shows, Clubs & Festive Picks

Good day, Dubai.

December is no longer warming up - it’s fully switched on.

This is the week where the city’s cultural calendar, live music circuit, and nightlife schedules collide. Concert venues are hosting multiple headline acts within days of each other, theatres are presenting a steady stream of seasonal productions, and clubs are featuring international artists on non-traditional nights. If you’re planning anything beyond a casual dinner, decisions now matter.

We begin with the most time-sensitive and high-demand events.

One of the most talked-about DSF headline shows this season, Ruby brings her full live concert to Festival Bay as part of the e& DSF Nights programme. Known for her distinctive pop sound and stage presence, this performance turns Dubai Festival City’s waterfront into a dedicated concert arena for the night.

📅 Date: Fri, 27 Dec
📍 Location: Festival Bay, Dubai Festival City Mall
💰 Cost: Free
👉 Get concert tickets

A large-scale indoor festive environment combining interactive installations, themed visual zones, and seasonal activations. Winter Wonderverse works well as an early-evening plan or a flexible add-on around shopping and dining.

📅 Dates: Ongoing till Sat, 28 Dec
📍 Location: Mall of the Emirates
💰 Cost: Free entry (paid experiences inside)
👉 Explore Winter Wonderverse

A curated cultural programme centred on music, creative expression, and live performances. SOL’s December edition leans toward atmosphere and artistic discovery rather than high-energy programming.

📅 Dates: Ongoing till Sat, 28 Dec
📍 Location: Different locations
💰 Cost: Ticketed / registration-based
👉 Event details

A structured winter programme offering creative workshops and cultural learning sessions for children and teens during the school break. Designed for families planning weekday daytime activities.

📅 Dates: Ongoing till Thu, 26 Dec
📍 Location: Dubai Culture venues
💰 Cost: Varies by programme
👉 View winter camp details

A premium orchestral concert featuring one of the Arab world’s most celebrated composers, performed with a full live orchestra in a formal concert hall setting.

📅 Date: Wed, 24 Dec
📍 Location: Dubai Opera
💰 Cost: From AED 795
👉 Book tickets

A large-scale arena performance featuring one of India’s most recognisable playback singers, delivering an extensive catalogue of classics and fan favourites.

📅 Date: Sat, 27 Dec
📍 Location: Coca-Cola Arena
💰 Cost: From AED 250+
👉 Book tickets

A seated concert experience featuring Iranian music icon EBI, focused on vocal performance and live orchestration.

📅 Date: Thu, 25 Dec - Sat, 27 Dec
📍 Location: Dubai Opera
💰 Cost: From AED 350+
👉 Book tickets

A theatre-format live show blending comedy, music, and talk-show energy, designed for audiences who enjoy variety-style performances.

📅 Date: Sat, 27 Dec
📍 Location: Rashid Hall, Dubai World Trade Centre
💰 Cost: From AED 350+
👉 Event details

A lyrical live performance combining Punjabi folk traditions with poetic storytelling. This show prioritises listening and atmosphere over spectacle.

📅 Date: Sun, 28 Dec
📍 Location: Dubai
💰 Cost: From AED 250+
👉 Event details

One of the biggest Afrobeats bookings of the festive period. Rema performs live at BLU Dubai for a one-night showcase expected to draw a high-energy, international crowd.

📅 Date: Thu, 25 Dec
📍 Location: BLU Dubai
💰 Cost: Varies
👉 Book tickets

A flagship electronic music event featuring extended DJ sets, large-scale production, and a globally mixed audience.

📅 Date: Fri, 27 Dec
📍 Location: Dubai Harbour
💰 Cost: From AED 400+
👉 Book tickets

A major hip-hop headline performance closing out the weekend. Tyga takes over BLU Dubai for a high-profile Sunday night show.

📅 Date: Sun, 28 Dec
📍 Location: BLU Dubai
💰 Cost: Varies
👉 Book tickets

A family-oriented stage production bringing the adventures of Sinbad to life through live performance and storytelling.

📅 Dates: December
📍 Location: Theatre by QE2
💰 Cost: From AED 120+
👉 Watch the show

A festive pantomime production featuring comedy, music, and audience participation, designed for younger audiences.

📅 Dates: December
📍 Location: Theatre by QE2
💰 Cost: From AED 95+
👉 Book tickets

A festive tribute performance celebrating ABBA’s greatest hits in a seated theatre environment.

📅 Dates: Sat, 27 Dec
📍 Location: Theatre by QE2
💰 Cost: From AED 150+
👉 See show details

An immersive dinner experience combining live theatre, interactive storytelling, and a multi-course meal aboard the QE2.

📅 Dates: Sat, 27 Dec
📍 Location: QE2 Dubai
💰 Cost: From AED 350+
👉 Book experience

A seasonal concert experience focused on choral performances in a candle-lit setting.

📅 Dates: Wed, 24 Dec
📍 Location: Expo City Dubai
💰 Cost: From AED 150+
👉 Book tickets

Dubai Basketball continues its festive home schedule at Coca-Cola Arena, offering individual match tickets alongside bundled packages for multiple games. A strong midweek or weekend alternative if you’re looking beyond concerts and club nights.

📅 Dates: Fri, 26 Dec
📍 Location: Coca-Cola Arena
💰 Cost: From AED 30+
👉 View Dubai Basketball schedule

A rare exhibition tennis showdown bringing two global stars together for a one-night-only format. Expect strong crowd energy and full arena production.

📅 Date: Sun, 28 Dec
📍 Location: Coca-Cola Arena
💰 Cost: From AED 495+
👉 Get tickets

A major domestic football fixture featuring two of the UAE’s most-followed clubs. Ideal for fans looking for a high-stakes local sports night.

📅 Date: Sun, 28 Dec
📍 Location: Al Maktoum Stadium
💰 Cost: From AED 20+
👉 Match details

A festive Spanish brunch with live entertainment and extended seating.

👉 See details

High-energy dining that transitions into a late-night party.

👉 Event page

Day-to-night beachside celebrations with DJs and festive menus.

👉 View event

Multiple zones, rotating DJs, and themed festive programming.

👉 See details

Open-air beach party with house-led sound and sunset energy.

👉 Event details

An upscale club night with a music-first crowd and refined production.

👉 See details

A long-running festive favourite with live DJs and outdoor energy.

👉 More info

Latin dining that builds into a full party atmosphere.

👉 Book now

Melodic house and atmospheric visuals.

👉 Event page

Daytime-to-evening pool party with skyline views.

👉 See details

Skyline dining and curated DJ sets.

👉 Event page

Latin disco and high-energy crowd.

👉 More info

Extended-format brunch that turns into a party.

👉 Book now

Alpine-inspired Sunday soirée with live entertainment.

👉 See details

Sunset-to-night deep house session.

👉 Event page

Relaxed beachside Sunday with DJs and offers.

👉 More info

Outdoor festive village with food stalls, live music, and seasonal décor.

👉 Visit Winter District

Street performances, pop-up shows, and scheduled fireworks across major districts.

👉 See DSF schedule

Illuminated installations and interactive festive zones across City Centre malls.

👉 View Glowland details

Abu Dhabi’s flagship winter festival remains the city’s most flexible plan. Expect carnival rides, food stalls, pop-up retail, family zones, and nightly concerts - all spread along the Corniche.

You can stay for an hour or make a full evening of it, which is exactly why it works so well for visitors.

📍 Location: Abu Dhabi Corniche
💰 Cost: Free entry (paid attractions inside)
👉 Explore MOTN Festival

A refined, cultural alternative to festivals. Manar Abu Dhabi places large-scale illuminated artworks across public spaces, turning evening walks into curated art experiences.

No tickets, no queues - just arrive after dark and explore.

📍 Locations: Corniche, Saadiyat, Al Reem & beyond
💰 Cost: Free
👉 See locations & details

One of the biggest Arabic music concerts of the season, bringing two iconic voices together on one stage. This is a destination concert, drawing crowds from across the UAE.

📍 Location: Abu Dhabi
💰 Cost: Ticketed
👉 Book concert tickets

A visually rich, immersive exhibition celebrating the legendary Japanese animation studio behind Spirited Away and My Neighbour Totoro. Strong appeal for adults, families, and creatives alike.

This works particularly well as a daytime plan before dinner or a festival visit.

📍 Location: Abu Dhabi
💰 Cost: Ticketed
👉 Visit the exhibition

If you’re turning the weekend into a proper escape, Liwa Festival delivers scale, culture, and atmosphere in the Empty Quarter. Concerts, food zones, cultural programming, and desert scenery make this a full commitment - but a rewarding one.

📍 Location: Liwa, Al Dhafra
💰 Cost: Mixed free & ticketed zones
👉 Explore Liwa Festival
👉 Liwa Village tickets

That wraps up Wednesday’s edition of Dubai Minute.

If this guide helped you plan your week without endless scrolling, pass it on to someone who’s always asking, “What’s happening this week?” December only gets busier from here.

We’ll see you Friday with the top picks of the weekend edition, breaking down the city’s most high-impact plans - simplified.

– Matthias