This week, Dubai residents can enjoy a longer, 3-day weekend which gives them the opportunity to take a trip, meet with relatives and friends, or just rest at home in front of the TV. Some will travel, some will organize family dinners, but if you are among those without holiday plans, don’t drop in despair -there are always great things to do in a city like Dubai. If the travel is too pricey and the TV-couch bound weekend is too prosaic, take a look at our short list of the best events in Dubai during the next three days.
A great start of the weekend will be the art exhibition at The Ara Gallery in Downtown Dubai called A Verse Imprinted – Islamic Art. Is there a better way to feel closer to the Islamic tradition during the celebration of the Isra and Mi’raj on Thursday than seeing the meticulously done calligraphic artworks inspired by the Holy Quran? The collection includes quotes from the Prophet Mohammed and traditional Arabic poetry and brings together a group of some of the best calligraphers in the country. You can visit the exhibition every day from 10.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. The gallery offers free entry.
The next on the list with events in Dubai has definitely nothing to do with religion and tradition, but is as just worth visiting as the any art exhibition. In fact, a tribute to the King of Rock ’N’ Roll is quite a cultural event, so don’t miss it! Elvis Forever will be held for three days, from Thursday to Saturday at Madinat Theatre at 8.00 p.m. and features the performance of the award-winning Elvis impersonator, Shaky Russell. Of course, there is an amazing 11-piece band and three back-up singers who will rock your world for a night! You will see live reproductions of timeless hits including Jailhouse Rock, Love Me Tender, Hound Dog and Viva Las Vegas. The AED 185 ticket will bring you a true Shake, Rattle & Roll spirit and will convince you that Elvis is alive!
Like we said, there’s always something for everyone in Dubai and if you want to spend a really unique Thursday evening, you can choose sports. Whether MMA is a true sport or just a professional version of the good, old fight, it’s up to you to decide, but it certainly requires strength, endurance, and quite a heart! The famous Chinese WULINFENG MMA Championship is coming in the Middle East for the first time and you can see the amazing fighters and their mixed styles of martial arts techniques at the World Trade Centre at 8.00 p.m. this Thursday. The tickets start at AED 200.
Friday also promises unforgettable entertainment. At 6.00 p.m. one of the greatest shows will be held at the Arena, Dubai World Trade Centre. All music fans, get ready for Dubai Rock Fest 2013 and the stars you will be able to see live on stage – the guitar legend Yngwie Malmsteen, the pioneers of melodic death metal Dark Tranquility, and one of the most popular bands in symphonic and gothic metal today, Epica with their divine lead singer, Simone Simons. The big names will be joined by the French Nightmare, Myrath (Tunisia) and Dubai’s own heavy metal band Anuryzm. The tickets for the 8-hour show are AED 250 for the grand stand and AED 450 for the fan pit.
When speaking of show and entertainment, the most logical events to mention right now is one of the highlights of the city’s summer calendar, Dubai Summer Surprises. This is a great amusement and fun for families from Dubai and the whole region which bring thousands of tourists from the Middle East region. Part of the Summer Is Dubai 2013, Dubai Summer Surprises is a priority event for all shoppers, kids, movie and music lovers, or in other words, it offers practically every kind of entertainment you can think of through a great variety of events in Dubai!
Before getting outside, don’t forget that the bus and metro timings are different on Thursday, so be prepared to wait another 10 minutes. The good news is you can take advantage of the free parking during the day!
