15 things to do in Dubai this August: concerts, workshops, discounts and more

Fill your boots this August with Nancy Ajram, Westlife, a zero-waste dinner, a new taco spot and a Disney-movie festival

From Nancy Ajram to a new tacqueria, there's still plenty to do in Dubai over the summery month of August.

We're smack bang in the middle of summer, but there's still plenty happening in the ever-expanding city that is Dubai.

Here are the events to book, plan for and go to, proving that the hotter months needn't be boring. Here's a look at what to do this month in Abu Dhabi as well.

Wednesday, August 7: Go to a dinner made up of food scraps

Lowe Dubai. Photo: Chris Whiteoak / The National

Trendy new eatery Lowe in Koa Canvas near Al Barari will serve a three-course meal made from food scraps. Yes, actually. Called the 'waste-not, want-not' dinner it costs Dh99 (ex. VAT), and you can book a table between 6pm to 9.30pm. Read more about Lowe here.

Reserve at [e-mail] or call 04 320 1890

Wednesday, August 7: try a free yoga class

Yin is a distinct form of yoga that has you holding stretches for a long time to bring intense release to muscles: it's a slow burn. There will be a free Yin yoga class in Umm Suqeim park on Wednesday, August 7 from 7.30pm to 9pm. The class is running every Wednesday until September.

From Thursday, August 8: Laugh along with three different funnymen 

Catch the first show on the Laughter Factory Volume 1518 Tour, which features three top international comedians: Scott Bennett, a rising star from Yorkshire, angry American Dave Fulton and the headliner, Australian 'bad boy', Ro Campbell. The gig on Thursday is at Movenpick JBR, but there are other showings around the city on Friday, August 9, as well as August 15 and August 16.

Tickets from Dh160, 050 878 6728, www.thelaughterfactory.com

Friday, August 9: 50% off everything at Molecule

Courtesy Molecule

Visit the trendy and artistic Molecule restaurant in Dubai Design District every Friday, and get buy-one-get-one free on all items from the a la carte menu including beverages and desserts. Tuck into the specialities of the summer menu including barbecue sliders, sea bass ceviche and mushroom scallops. A meal here feels fancy, but with the half-price offer you'll walk out having paid a 'cheap and cheerful' price.

From noon, various prices, Molecule, Dubai Design District (d3), Dubai, 052 949 2202

From Friday, August 9: Go to a meow movie festival 

Cinema Akil will be hosting a special feline-themed mini film festival on Friday, August 9 and Saturday, August 10. The two-day event will feature five films about and/or starring cats including the 70-minute compilation reel CatVideoFest which features the latest and best cat videos culled from submissions and sourced from animations, music videos and of course, the internet. Other films to be shown include the critically acclaimed Turkish documentary Kedi, the Japanese animation The Cat Returns, Naoko Ogigami's Rent-A-Cat and the French animated film A Cat in Paris.

Tickets are Dh56.50 per screening and seating is first come, first served. To book tickets, head to cinemaakil.com

Sunday, August 11: Watch Eid fireworks at Dubai Festival City 

On Sunday August 11 and Monday August 12, Dubai Festival City Mall will be hosting a series of spectacular firework displays to celebrate Eid. The fireworks will coincide with Imagine - Dubai Festival City's water, laser and light show, and will take place at 8pm and 10pm each night. The fireworks are free for all to enjoy.

Read more about the other Eid Al Adha fireworks across the UAE here.

Wednesday, August 14: See the 1975 live

The English pop-rock band The 1975 will play for the first time in the Middle East at City Walk's Coca Cola Arena on August 14, as part of their latest world tour. Tickets are on sale at www.the1975dxb.com. UAE fans will catch the group at the peak of their popularity. They recently delivered star-turning sets at some of the world's biggest music gatherings including Coachella and Lollapalooza in the US and the UK's Reading and Leeds festivals.

Thursday, August 15: See Nancy Ajram live

Nancy Ajram will perform an Eid Al Adha concert in Dubai. The Lebanese super-star singer will perform in the Dubai World Trade Centre on Thursday, August 15 alongside Saif Nabeel. Tickets begin from Dh95 from Platinum List. Although a regular performer in the UAE, Ajram always attracts a large crowd to her gigs. With a near three-decade career, the 35-year-old remains one of the biggest names in the Arabic music industry with more than 30 million albums sold and massive pan-Arab hits including Akhasmak Ah and Ya Salaam.

From Thursday, August 15: Watch a Disney classic at Dubai Opera

Dubai Opera is hosting its first Disney Movie Festival from August 15 to August 30. The Downtown Dubai venue will screen four classic Disney movies every day across those two weeks, with daily screenings at 9.30am, 1pm, 4.30pm and 8pm. On Thursday the screenings will be, in chronological order, Peter Pan, Treasure Island, Honey I Shrunk the Kids and Freaky Friday.

There will also be one-off special events taking place, including a special sing-along version of Beauty and the Beast on August 16. This event will invite fans of the 1991 animated classic to come along and watch a screening of the movie while belting out their own versions of songs from the film. Tickets for individual screenings start from Dhs60 for adults and Dhs40 for children. The truly dedicated can invest in a full festival pass which will allow them to see all 48 films for Dh495 for adults and Dh295 for kids. Children under two and nannies go free. For full listings, showtimes and ticket details visit www.dubaiopera.com

Saturday, August 17: Watch a performance that explores the apocalypse

The Foretold Now summer programme at Al Serkal Ave explores our obsession with predicting the future (read more about it here), and on Saturday, August 17 Isaac Sullivan will perform Utopics from 8pm at Warehouse 82. The show will use text projections, live noise and sampled music to give an impression of decay. It was first performed at the European Cultural Centre's Venice Biennale collateral exhibition at Palazzo Mora in May 2019.

From Wednesday, August 21: Go to a 'Breaking Bad' themed quiz

Publique (which is a good spot for fondue) is hosting a Breaking Bad-themed quiz for all Heisenberg mega-fans on Wednesday August 21 and 28, running from 8pm to 10pm both nights. And that's not all, on Wednesday August 7 there will be a Marvel quiz for those who prefer their heroes caped.

Saturday, August 24: Work on your EQ

thejamjar’s Emotional Intelligence Open Day will have art and creativity sessions that aim to demonstrate how emotional intelligence can be enhanced. Take part in pet therapy with the Red Paw Foundation to reduce stress and anxiety. Children aged seven to 10 can try the relaxing Zentangle Method, which uses tiles to form a mosaic and help explore self-awareness. Intuitive Creativity is for women aged 18 and older who have been through traumatic experiences. The day concludes with a talk on Bridging Blindspots, using art to connect to the creative process.

11am to 9.30pm, various prices including free, by donation and from Dh81, thejamjar, Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz, Dubai, 04 341 7303, www.thejamjardubai.com

Thursday, August 29: Re-re-wind with Westlife

'90s boy band fans, here's one for you: Irish boy band Westlife are bringing their Twenty Tour to the UAE on August 29. The foursome, who are best known for tunes from the '90s such as Flying Without Wings, Swear It Again and Uptown Girl, have sold more than 55 million records worldwide. Tickets for the show are available from www.bookmyshow.com or www.ticketmaster.ae.

From Friday, August 30: See a Hindi play in Al Quoz

Chuhal is a play by renowned Indian actor, director and playwright Manav Kaul. It will be staged by Dawn Productions in Dubai on August 30 and 31 in Al Quoz's The Junction theatre. It is the story of two strangers who fall in love despite their contrasting ideas of a happy ending. It's set in the 90s in small town India and is directed by Huda Bhaldar and stars Saif Khan, Sadia Pathan, 
Saleem Surani and Lavina Jaswani. The Hindi-language play will have four showings, running at 4.30pm and 7.30pm on August 30 and 31. Tickets start from Dh50.

Book tickets here.

Any day: Check out a new Mexican restaurant

It seems barely a week goes by without an exciting new restaurant opening in Dubai, and our pick of the month is El Chapo's Tacos, a lively Mexican restaurant in the Studio One hotel. The hotel is becoming quite the foodie hotspot, and is already home to a Maine, an Irish Village, a Mr Miyagi's and a L'Arte. The new tacqueria is licensed and open from 12pm to 2am daily.