Games 15 – Sep 10-12
Games 15 is the region’s biggest exhibition and festival for the gaming community. The event promises exclusive previews of some of the most exciting new games on all the major consoles, the region’s biggest eSports tournament, which will bring some of the world’s best teams to Dubai in collaboration with Electronic Sports League and a video game-themed cosplay competition.
• Dubai International Marine Club. Tickets range from Dh100 for the day to Dh1,000 for a three-day VIP pass. Find out more at www.games-me.com
Spandau Ballet – September 17
After performing with Rod Stewart at Dubai's Sevens Stadium in 2010, 1980s pop group Spandau Ballet return to the Dubai World Trade Center as headliners. With no new album to promote, the show is guaranteed to be a greatest-hits affair featuring crowd favourites True, Gold and Only When You Leave.
• Dubai World Trade Centre. Tickets from Dh300 from www.doneevents.com
Dubai Music Week – September 23-26
Jason Derulo, Ellie Goulding and Thirty Seconds to Mars headline the second edition of this four-day event. Derulo will perform on September 23, Brit pop princess Guolding on September 24, followed by Jared Leto’s sci-fi rock trio the next day. One more international headliner has yet to be announced. In addition to the gigs, there will be masterclasses, guest appearances and an “entertainment village” expected to showcase local talent. One person unlikely to attend is Quincy Jones, who founded and appeared at the original 2013 event.
• Dubai World Trade Centre. Tickets from Dh295 through www.ticketmaster.ae
Bon Jovi – October 1
Much has changed in the UAE since Bon Jovi's previous UAE gig, at Emirates Palace in 2008, which was featured at the start of their hilarious tour film When We Were Beautiful. Back then, before Du Arena even existed, the New Jersey rockers were one of the biggest acts the capital had seen – now they are among a parade of big acts. A lot has changed for the band too, with founding member and guitarist Richie Sambora booted from the band in 2013, and a lacklustre new album, Burning Bridges, rushed out as a "contractual obligation". Whatever – we know the setlist will be crammed full of vintages hits, and that frontman Jon Bon Jovi will deliver his studied stage schtick. Get those stadium hands a-ready.
• Du Arena, Yas Island. Tickets from Dh395 at www.ticketmaster.ae.
Dave Matthews Band – October 8
The folk-jazz group have not troubled the charts for more than a decade, while consistently selling out world tours: a testament to their huge, devoted following. Even if you are not familiar with their oeuvre, it’s worth going along, as they are best experienced live due to their top-notch musicianship.
• Du Arena, Yas Island. Tickets from Dh295 at www.ticketmaster.ae
IGN Convention - October 16-17, Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi gets its first exhibition of comics, games, movies and popular culture when the IGN Convention moves to the capital. The convention promises an artists alley, gamer zone with exclusive previews of new games, including offerings from the Dubai developer Creability, tournaments, Cosplay and celebrity guests and speakers. Although no names have yet been announced, guests at previous IGN events in Dubai and Bahrain have included the likes of Game of Thrones The Mountain, aka Icelandic strongman Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, actress and Resident Evil character model Jill Valentine, and IGN's own TV gaming presenter Naomi Kyle.
• du Forum Tickets cost Dh100 for a day ticket, or Dh500 for a two-day VIP pass, which includes exclusive events and free gifts. ignconvention.com/uae/
Oktoberfest at Yas Island - October 22-23
Yas Island’s 3rd annual Oktoberfest will celebrate all things German at du Forum October 22 and 23. The German festival will feature German food and beverages, and you can bet guests will be dancing on the tables (it’s a German tradition) when the HofBrauHaus band from Munich starts playing. Friday will have a special dedicated family time from 4pm to 7pm with several kids’ events and activities. Thursday, October 22 from 7pm to 2am and Friday, October 23 from 4pm to 2am.
• du Forum, Yas Island. Tickets go on sale in September through www.ticketmaster.ae, Crowne Plaza Yas Island and select Spinneys Beverage stores
Fashion Forward Season 6 - October 22-25
Fashion Forward returns for its sixth season from October 22 to 25. As in previous seasons, the twice-annual event will be held at Dubai’s Madinat Jumeirah and registration is required in advance. A list of confirmed designers and the full FFWD S6 rundown is expected to be revealed in the coming month.
• Madinat Jumeirah. An entrance charge may be applicable for specific events or talks. Registration in advance at www.fashionforward.ae
Dubai Design Week, Dubai - Oct 26-31
The inaugural Dubai Design Week, held at Dubai Design District (also known as d3), is an attempt to place the emirate as a regional design centre and a global meeting point for the international design community. There will be six dedicated country pavilions from the MENA region, of which each will be showcasing an design exhibition, a selection of the best 15 postgraduate projects from the world’s foremost design universities and a programme of events, talks and workshops all surrounding the subject of design.
• Dubai Design District (d3) www.dubaidesignweek.ae
The Italian Cuisine World Summit – October 27 – November 6
Considered one of the most influential Italian food festivals in the world, the 7th annual Italian Cuisine World Summit flies in head chefs from Michelin-starred restaurants throughout Italy to cook for guests in the city’s best Italian restaurants, including Bice Mare at Souk Al Bahar; Eataly in the Dubai Mall; Al Grissino in DIFC and Ronda Locatelli at Atlantis, The Palm. There are host of activities open to the public, including the Risotto World Contest, The Espresso Competition, Italian cuisine masterclasses and pizza seminars.
• Venues around the city. dubaisummit.itchefs-gvci.com.
Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience - October 29-30
Vogue Italia and The Dubai Mall have joined forces again for the third edition of the Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience. Emerging designers from the region will put on catwalk shows while fashion-industry experts will hold workshops and talent scouting competitions. British supermodel Naomi Campbell and French footwear designer Christian Louboutin are due to appear.
• Entrance is free. www.vfdebyemaar.com
Take That – October 30
The British boy-band’s debut Middle East performance at Dubai Media City Amphitheater is a fulfilment of a promise made by Gary Barlow when he performed a solo show at the same venue in October last year.
• Doors open at 6pm. Tickets start at Dh350 from www.doneevents.com
Taste of Abu Dhabi – November 5-7
We’re dieting now so we can eat all we want during the second annual Taste of Abu Dhabi food festival. Notable chefs including Eric Lanlard, Valentine Warner and Suzanne Husseini will be on hand to share their culinary skills in the show kitchen and nearly 30 restaurants in the capital will serve up bite-sized portions of their signature food.
• Du Arena, Yas Island. Tickets start Dh49.50 through tasteabudhabi.com.
The opening of the extension of Alserkal Avenue, Dubai - November 16
The existing artistic hub of Alserkal Avenue has announced that four new galleries moving into the new extension will open their inaugural shows on November 16, as part of Galleries Night. Held in conjunction with Abu Dhabi Art week, the evening will see the Avenue’s galleries – both old and new – showcase works by top regional and international talent. The extension takes the number of galleries to 17, and adds four new food and beverage outlets. Leila Heller Gallery, Dubai, The Third Line, Jean-Paul Najar Foundation and Stephane Custot Gallery, Dubai, will welcome art enthusiasts for the first time to their new homes on the Avenue.
• Al Serkal Avenue, Al Quoz. www.alserkalavenue.ae
The opening of Warehouse 421 in Mina Port, Abu Dhabi - November 19-21
Warehouse421 is a new cultural destination in Abu Dhabi’s port area of Mina Zayed, in which transformed warehouses become a platform for the UAE’s creative community. The official launch of Warehouse421, from November 19-21, will include a three-day celebration of art and expression, design and creativity, from emerging and established artists and designers in the UAE, and from around the region and wider world.
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after-race concerts – November 26-29
Officially the biggest weekend on the UAE social calendar, there's plenty to be excited about when Formula One comes to the capital for a seventh time. It's another season-closing spectacle, so tensions will be high – but for most, the biggest thrills come off the track, as the buzz, parties and gigs envelop the emirate. Du Arena will again host four huge concerts – headliners are expected to be announced on September 15, but as reported in The National, UK Britpop legends Blur look certain to be performing. Even without a ticket, anyone can attend the huge Beats on the Beach concerts on Abu Dhabi Corniche, which last year hosted free performances from A-listers including Rita Ora, Jason Derulo and Ragheb Alama.
• Yas Marina Circuit. Tickets from Dh356 from www.ticketsyasmarinacircuit.com.
Animate Dubai – December 3-5
The Gulf’s first animation festival promises a host of films, talks, workshops and the chance to meet leading lights of the global and regional animation industries. Originally scheduled for April 2015, the festival was postponed due to growing interest, which has allowed more submissions to be accepted and guests to be added to the yet-to-be-announced bill. Intriguingly, the new dates also put it right before the Dubai International Film Festival, making the first two weeks of December a great time for film buffs to spend in the city.
• The new Dubai Design District. www.animatedubai.com
12th Dubai International Film Festival - December 9-16
The region's biggest and most successful film festival returns to Madinat Jumeirah for its 12th edition from December 9-16. There are few details this early, but previous editions have given global or regional premières to big films, including the multi-Oscar winning The Queen's Speech as well as regional successes like Omar, an attracted big-name celebrities, as well as offering opportunities to locally-produced shorts and features, various funding sources and the region's biggest film market.
• Madinat Jumeirah, participating theatres. www.dubaifilmfest.com
Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens arrives in cinemas - December 17
This one surely needs little introduction. The most eagerly anticipated movie of the year reunites Luke, Leia, Han and Chewie on screen for the first time since 1983's Return of the Jedi. More exciting, from a local viewpoint, is that part of the film was shot in Abu Dhabi's Liwa Desert, in partnership with twofour54. With talk of closer cooperation between Dubai and Abu Dhabi's film industries in the wake of the demise of the Abu Dhabi Film Festival, not to mention the timing of this year's Dubai International Film Festival, from December 9-16, could it be too much to expect some sort of tie up for either an Abu Dhabi or Dubai world premiere?
Dolce & Gabbana store opening
The much-anticipated opening of Dolce & Gabbana’s new flagship boutique in Dubai’s Mall of the Emirates will take place before the end of the year. While the exact date is still a closely guarded secret, expect there to be a pretty big buzz around the event. The reason for this? The design duo will debut their first range of abayas exclusively in the region.
