DUBAI CALENDAR - DECEMBER 2016

National Day Super Sale

1 – 3 Dec; Citywide

If you love shopping, there’s only one place to be this National Day. Save 30-90 per cent on a huge range of items in Dubai’s unprecedented citywide sale from 1st to 3^rd December. At this amazing citywide three-day bonanza with up to 1,000 shops participating including Lacoste, Hackett, Paul Smith, Level Shoe District, Level Shoe District kids, Tory Burch, Sunglass Hut, Gap, Reebok, Pandora, Monsoon, Damas, Splash, Alexander McQueen, DKNY, Karen Millen, Desigual, Ted Baker, Galeries Lafayette and many more…

Celebrate National Day with Tiesto

2 Dec; Dubai World Trade Centre

Welcome the world’s number one DJ, Tiesto! Party-revelers will dance the night away with DJ Tiesto at the helm of a pyrotechnic, audio-visual spectacular. It’s an epic dance floor marathon. So practice your dance moves and be there or be square.

Land of Peace Operetta

01 Dec - 06 Dec; Global Village

Discover the history and heritage of the United Arab Emirates, and its marvelous transition into a modern nation, in an awe-inspiring musical show. This theatrical performance highlights all the aspects of the UAE and showcases its leadership and success as a beacon for the rest of the Arab world. Free with every entry ticket to Global Village at AED15.

Omega Dubai Ladies Masters 2016

07 December - 10 December 2016; Emirates Golf Club

The Omega Dubai Ladies Masters is the season-ending Ladies European Tour (LET) and attracts some of the world's top female golfers. Held at the picturesque Emirates Golf Club and boasting a total prize pool of 500,000 euros the tournament has become a permanent feature of the UAE golfing calendar.

Elton John Live

15 December 2016; Autism Rocks Arena

Brace yourself as the world-famous Elton John is set to return to Dubai as part of his Crazy Wonderful Night Tour on 15 December at the Autism Rocks Arena. With an impressive 38 gold, 27 platinum albums and multi-platinum albums, the singer is one of the biggest artists of all time. And what’s more, he continues to hold the record for the biggest selling single of all time, Candle in the Wind.

Whether you’re a fan or not, no one can deny that perhaps the most magical aspect of his live performances, is seeing him sit alone at his piano, improvising his way through the show. Never failing to deliver, Elton always provides a selection of his greatest hits as well as a bunch of tracks from some of his older albums. Over five decades of performances, and Elton John’s concert experiences are still stunning, book your tickets soon!

Ripe Market at Zabeel Park

21 October - 31 May 2017 Zabeel Park Gate 2

Surrounded by the warm, inviting gardens of Zabeel Park, what better way to spend your Friday morning than picking fresh, organic, local fruits and veggies from the Ripe Organic Stall?Celebrate local talents as you sip fresh coconut water, with over 100 local passionate businesses including the best chefs, artisans, designers, jewellers entertainers and musicians in town.

Global Village 2016-2017

01 November - 08 April 2017; Global Village

Global Village is the largest seasonal cultural extravaganza in the region that offers visitors an amazing array of festivals, shopping and entertainment in an open-air theme park.
This entertainment and shopping destination is open from November through to April and hosts over 70 participating countries presented in over 36 pavilions, with more than 50 fun rides and 26 restaurants offering food from around the world.
Check back soon to find out more about the ticket prices, timings and more.

Sleeping Beauty

18 November - 15 December 2016; Meyana Auditorium

This November, enter the enchanted world of Princess Aurora in this contemporary twist on everyone’s favourite childhood classic. Charms, overprotective parents, and a terrifying evil fairy, Maleficent, will cast a spell on your imagination with dance, music, and acrobatics in this magical production at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel.

Les Ballets de France

02 December - 03 December 2016; Centrepoint Theatre

If you appreciate the refined skills of professional dance, you’re in for treat. The ‘Les Ballets de France’ dance company, France's premier private dance company has been wowing audiences internationally with sensational performances that combine classical ballet and contemporary moves, and will finally bring their Grand Ballet Gala to Dubai this December.

Expect to see masterfully choreographed poetry in motion by 15 soloist dancers, which include featured scenes from some of the renowned ballet classics like ‘Coppélia’, ‘Le Corsaire’, and also a few more contemporary pieces like ‘Something I had in Mind’ (by Mauro de Candia) and Boléro.

The Nutcracker on Ice at Dubai Opera

06 December - 10 December 2016; Dubai Opera

Set against a backdrop of colourful scenes and projections, opulent costumes, magic tricks and special effects, the cast of World, European and National Championship level skaters dance to Tchaikovsky’s glorious score. Breath-taking high speed leaps, heart stopping throws and awe-inspiring acrobatics combine with sublime ice dance to make The Nutcracker on Ice a festive treat that will thrill and enchant all ages.

Show timings are as follows: December 6th 7pm, December 7th and 8th two shows at 4pm and 7.30pm, December 9th 3pm and 7pm.

Dubai International Film Festival 2016

07 December - 14 December 2016; Madinat Jumeirah

Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) is one of the most prestigious and glamorous events that takes place in Dubai. It is a wonderful celebration of Arab & international cinema, and filmmakers attracting film-buffs to Dubai, from Hollywood, Bollywood and beyond. DIFF invites film fans and culture enthusiasts to take part in the ultimate silver screen experience this December with the return of its Friends of the Festival packages. Cinephiles will experience one of the world’s most renowned film festivals in VIP style thanks to special access to gala screenings, elite parties and exclusive screenings.

Proceeds from the packages go towards supporting DIFF’s commitment to developing a thriving film culture in the Middle East. This year, DIFF has put together a bespoke series of packages across three tiers – DIFF Gold, Platinum and Royal. Friends of the Festival are invited to DIFF’s exclusive opening/closing film & party, gala films and experiences, and regular screenings throughout the festival – including a hair and makeup session beforehand as well as access to the DIFF celebrity gift lounge.

Dubai Winter Festival

08 December - 10 December 2016; Dubai Media City Amphitheatre

Santa Claus is coming to town!

Celebrate winter in Dubai with everything you love about the festive season all in one place. A weekend full of bright lights, fun for the little ones and great food, the Dubai Winter Festival celebrates its fifth year with warmth and festivities. What is your favourite Christmas ritual? Seeing Santa? Snowball fighting? Watching pantos? At the Dubai Winter Festival, you can visit Santa’s Grotto, decorate a gingerbread house, launch a few snowballs at the Snow Play Zone, find goodies at the Winter Market, applaud the festive Christmas performances and glow at the Christmas tree lighting ceremony. As a highlight, the Thursday night promises to be a Festive Spectacular as the RAT PACK and friends perform a Christmas special show. Book your tickets now to make the most of winter in Dubai.

du Tough Mudder

09 December - 10 December 2016; Hamdan Sports Complex

Ready to get out off the couch and into the mud?

Set your paces through this military-style obstacle course designed to challenge your physical strength, stamina, and mental grit. This team-oriented challenge has no winners, finisher medals, or clocks to beat. Huddle with your team, choose between 8km or the 16km version of the muddy adventure. Are you tough enough?

Pet Festival

09 December 2016; Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City

Pet Festival prides itself on raising awareness about animal welfare and educating animal lovers about the right products, food, health, training and services for their four-legged best friends. Keep an eye out for the presentations and demonstrations by pet welfare activists, experts and groups. To keep both animals and their humans happy, the event will also have competitions for dogs, pet fashion and awards for furry entrants to strut their stuff. It's the ultimate treat..a festival for the whole family!

Dubai Travelers Festival 2016

12 December - 17 December 2016; Mushrif Park

Under The Patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council the fifth edition of the Dubai Travelers Festival will be held at the Mushrif Park this December. Expect to see a large number of international travelers, many of who have made significant achievements and broken world records during their travels. These adventurers have traversed the globe by various means including cars, boats and motorcycles and even on camels or on horseback. Included in this festival are workshops and contests as well as seminars and photography exhibitions.

Jingle-Bell-Favourites

13 December - 14 December 2016; Dubai Opera

If you’re not travelling this festive season, and perhaps feel as though you might miss out on the carolling and jollity of the holidays, think again. The ‘Jingle Bell Favourites’ production will evoke those warm and fuzzy feelings you’re craving, and have you singing to your heart’s content with interactive sing-along carols. You can look forward to a few of the popular songs, including, ‘It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year’; ‘Baby It’s Cold Outside’; ‘All I Want for Christmas’, ‘Santa Claus is Coming to town’, and ‘Jingle Bell Rock’.

Even more will be performed by star soloists from London’s West End, Laura Tebbutt and Matt Little, together with renowned choir ‘Capital Voices’ and conducted by Pete Harrison in tune with ‘London Concert Orchestra Show Band’.So be sure not to miss out on the festive occasion and book your tickets today.

Meydan Races December 15

15 December 2016; Meydan Racecourse

The love of horses is in the DNA of Dubai. Join this exciting race night that is part of the Racing Calendar at Dubai Racing Club. Running from November until the ‘big day’ itself, these races let you get right up to the course and feel the ground shake as the horses thunder past.

Enjoy VIP hospitality with perfect views of the track when you choose stay packages that also combine cuisine and horseracing. There are a number of packages to choose from offering different experiences, so choose wisely and book your tickets well in advance.

Master musician, Sami Yusuf is coming to Dubai

16 December 2016; Dubai Opera

One of the biggest and most respected artists in the genre of Islamic music, Sami Yusuf, a multi-instrumentalist, has blazed a trail in writing, composing, producing and singing songs that moves listeners and spreads beautiful messages of positivity. Since his training at Royal Academy of Music in London, this internationally acclaimed star has gone on to shape his natural born talent through multiple cultures, languages and classic influences.

Live in concert for the first time in Dubai, Sami Yusuf will premiere his latest composition titled ‘Glorification’ which includes lyrics from the beautiful poetry of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Serious fans can opt for the ‘add-on experience’ to meet the star and watch him behind the scenes in a special intimate 90-minute rehearsal one day before the actual concert (15 December 2016).

Mobilis Ensemble of Soloists

16 December 2016; The Palace, One&Only Royal Mirage Hotel

Mobilis is a musical chamber ensemble with the avowed purpose of “performing a maximum volume of the musical literature at a high professional level with a minimum number of participants”. The seven players – all strings – have a repertoire which ranges from masterpieces of the baroque and the romantic eras to works from the 21st century, and all of them are laureates of international competitions.

Rodion Zamuruev is the director and a permanent soloist of the ensemble. Mobilis Ensemble will perform a repertoire from masterpieces of Baroque music to Romanticism and ultra-modern creations of composers of the beginning of the XXI century.

Music is the mainstay, but the fusion of art and ambience will leave an enduring impression on all who attend. The triumphant winner of XV International Tchaikovsky Competition (2015), Dmitry Masleev took the First Prize and the international spotlight with the rare unanimous support from the audience, the jury, and the media. Since the competition, Mr. Masleev has been delighting audiences in New York, London, Munich, Rotterdam, Stockholm, Tokyo, Beijing, and all over Russia.

Scarlatti’s sonatas are brief, but packed with rhythmic flair and melodic charm, Describing the creative character of Dmitry Masleev, music critics note the impeccable technique, sense of form, brilliance, lyricism, and spontaneity of style.

Dubai Desert Road Run (December)

17 December 2016; The Sevens Stadium

The Dubai Desert Road Run is a sport event that allows you to follow your progress throughout the year and socialise with fellow runners. The race takes place several times during the year, so that runners can keep track of the progress.

It includes a 10km race for adults and those above 14 years old, a 3km junior race, ages six to 18, and a 3km fun run, which is untimed. This time around, there will be a 10k race and a 3k fun run with medals given to all who finish the races. Trophies will be awarded to the first three men and women in all age categories for the 10k run. Participants are able to enter a single run or register for as many dates as they wish.

Dubai Shopping Festival 2017

26 December - 28 January 2017; Dubai

Celebrating its 22nd anniversary in 2017, the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) is the largest shopping and entertainment extravaganza in the Middle East. The shopping obsession peaks each year in January during Dubai Shopping Festival, the longest running festival of its kind. Along with unbeatable deals, DSF is home to Guinness World Records, celebrity performances and plenty of amazing events to celebrate the emirate's favorite pastime. From fashion flash mobs to live raffle drawings, there's an event for everyone during DSF 2017, and don't forget one of the hallmarks of DSF the fireworks. This year includes shows across two locations in Dubai. Whether you're exploring the old souks or the grandiose modern malls, there are plenty of ways to save and win during DSF, or try your luck at one of the daily raffles with prizes that include cash and even cars.

New Year Dubai 2017

31 December 2016; Dubai

Once again the city prepares itself for a celebration unlike any other. After having broken the world record for the largest and longest fireworks display in the world for the NYE 2014 celebrations, plans are on the way to make this year's New Year's Eve to be even more spectacular than ever before. Be prepared to experience the city come to life throughout the eve of the year's end, at the stroke of midnight and into the New Year.