All the events worth catching in Dubai and Abu Dhabi this month.
1 August: Revisit the Classics
Dubai
The Summer of Classics festival continues at Cinema Akil throughout the month of August, bringing with it cinema’s most enduring treasures across the past 100 years. The weeks ahead will see the independent cinema in Alserkal Avenue screening the influential likes of Memento, Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, and Dead Poets Society.
Learn more here.
1 August: Head to Hogwarts
Abu Dhabi
Harry Potter fever has officially reached the capital, with Harry Potter™: The Exhibition running throughout the month of August and up to 14 September. Held at Manarat Al Saadiyat, the touring exhibition merges fantasy, nostalgia, beloved characters, and immersive storytelling, allowing fans to get up close with authentic props and costumes, practice their Quidditch skills, and learn how to pot a Mandrake, and lots more.
Learn more here.
1 August: Feel the Glow
Abu Dhabi
The Electric Ocean Festival’s return to SeaWorld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi is still going strong, running daily until the end of the month. Perfect for all ages, this glowy spectacle spans live performances, a silent disco, a neon art station and more, all celebrating the connection between us and the oceans.
Learn more here.
2 August: Head Home
Dubai
As the collaboration between Jameel Arts Centre and The Culturist Film Club draws to a close, cinephiles can catch a programme devoted to the meaning of home and the communities we build. On the roster are four short films from the UK and UAE exploring ideas of belonging, identity, and human connection with humour and insight.
Learn more here.
12 August: Turn It Up
Abu Dhabi
Starting from the underground music scene of Jacksonville, Florida in the late 1990s, Limp Bizkit has shaped nu-metal music as we know it, dividing fans and critics along the way. Currently on its Loserville tour across Europe and the UK, the band will make its highly awaited return to the UAE, performing live at Etihad Arena for one night only.
Learn more here.
23 August: Face the Music
Dubai
Natalie Imbruglia may have achieved international success through her track “Torn”, but she is no one-hit wonder. Following her return to music with her critically acclaimed sixth studio album, Firebird, the Australian singer-songwriter and actress will perform at Dubai Opera, marking her debut in the city.
Learn more here.
29 August: Look Back
Dubai
More than two decades after “I Try” became the anthem for optimism amidst Y2K panic, Macy Gray will take the Coca-Cola Arena stage as part of her On How Life Is tour for one night only. The R&B icon is celebrating the 25th anniversary of her eponymous debut album, so expect a trip down memory lane thanks to timeless hits such as “Still” and “Beauty in the World”.
Learn more here.
29 August: Get Jiggy
Dubai
Pure nostalgia meets total chaos as a special edition of Bongo’s Bingo takes over The Tent at Bla Bla, throwing it back to the 90s. Expect the unfinished version of your grandma’s favourite game infused with glow sticks, outrageous dance-offs, Spice Girls hits, wild prizes, and absolutely no inhibitions whatsoever.
Learn more here.
