Our picks of Dubai’s best cultural offerings this month.
1 February: Celebrate Literature
The first six days of February are all about celebrating storytelling as the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature returns its 15th edition, this year taking place at InterContinental Dubai Festival City and Mohammed Bin Rashid Library. On the roster? Comedian David Walliams, best-selling author Cecelia Ahern, Succession star Brian Cox, Indian politician Shashi Tharoor, and plenty more. Learn more here.
3 February: Break Bread
Taste of Dubai is an institution in its own right, returning to Dubai Media City Amphitheatre from 3 to 5 February. The three-day event is popular for its bite-sized portions of beloved dishes from some of the city’s best restaurants, but there’s plenty more to look forward to. We’re talking live music, appearances by celebrity chefs such as John Torode and Daniel Boulud, interactive masterclasses, and lots more. Learn more here.
5 February: Think Green
Art and nature collide at the Embroidered Botanicals workshop at Jameel Arts Centre. Designed for all ages, this family-friendly event led by Dr Hellen Dayton will introduce participants to the historic healing and hidden properties of botanicals found around Dubai. Participants will then learn to draw the designs of these flowers, transferring them into embroidered textiles that can be used for the likes of napkins, pillows or throws. Learn more here.
12 February: Laugh Aloud
Valentine’s Day celebrations tend to be a little on the uptight side, but independent theatre Courtyard Playhouse does things a little differently – thankfully. This month, from 12 to 14 February, it’s bringing back its Valentine’s Special entitled First Kiss. On stage will be improvisers entertaining audiences based on their suggestions for a night of laughter. They might even act out your own love story! Learn more here.
14 February: Feel the Love
The definitive address for all things wheel throwing, The Mud House Studio is inviting participants to discover the intuitive nature of pottery at a special edition just for Valentine’s Day. Entitled Candlelit Wheel Throwing, the (you guessed it) candlelit session will be rooted in perception through touch, resulting in an exploration of how clay responds to this sense – and a meditative way to celebrate the annual day of romance. Learn more here.
17 February: Listen Up
Calling all ravers! Elrow is returning to Dubai in February and, this time around, it’s bringing the XXL edition. The legendary electronic music festival will take over Dubai Design District for two days of partying, bringing together Idris Elba, Sonny Fodera, Sam Devine, and Armand Van Helden. The famous Rowmudas Triangle stage – one of the largest stages that Elrow has ever produced – will make its Dubai debut. Learn more here.
22 February: Save a Princess
Whether you have kids or are a kid at heart, Shrek The Musical at Dubai Opera belongs on your calendar. Based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks film, this larger-than-life production takes audiences into lovable ogre Shrek’s journey from living contentedly alone in a swamp to rescuing the feisty Princess Fiona, who is trapped in a castle surrounded by lava. Learn more here.
25 February: Go Nuts
There’s the kind of Bingo that your grandmother plays – and then there’s Bongo’s Bingo. The wild child version of the game returns to Dubai, this time taking place at Zero Gravity in Dubai Marina. Expect a mix of traditional Bingo, dance-offs, cheesy sing-a-longs, wacky prizes, rave rounds, and absolutely no inhibitions whatsoever. Learn more here.
26 February: See the Light
Helping celebrate the fifth anniversary of multidisciplinary space Concrete in Alserkal Avenue is Rana Begum, whose work distils spatial and visual experience into ordered form. In what will be the visual artist’s largest solo exhibition in the region, her works will explore the interaction of light, colour and form in dialogue with Concrete, responding to the building’s architectural conversation with light and form. Learn more here.
