Our picks of the hottest happenings this weekend.
If you thought the UAE was quiet in January, think again! Dubai is filled with exciting things to do. So, whether you’re after dining, staycations, spas or swimming – here’s what you need to know.
Friday 9 January
Have lunch at Rialto
Rialto at Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab channels the romance of Venice with a business lunch that feels like a mini escape. Expect a seasonal, Italian-led menu from Executive Chef Roberto Rispoli, built around beautifully plated antipasti, tableside pasta theatrics and citrus-kissed mains such as Scaloppine al Limone. Save room for the signature tiramisu, scooped to order and worth the dining diversion. Available Monday to Friday, 12:30pm to 3:30pm. AED 140 (two courses) or AED 165 (three courses).
GO: Visit jumeirah.com for more information.
Smash some tacos at Cocina Tres
The team behind FACT award-winning Honeycomb Hi-Fi and Miss Lily’s have opened a new dining destination, Cocina Tres, at Pullman Dubai Downtown, bringing a proper slice of Mexico to Business Bay. Fronted by Mexican chefs, the kitchen leans into traditional technique and regional depth, with tortillas made by hand and ground on a custom-built molino using imported Oaxacan corn. Add fresh seafood, wood-fire specials and a dedicated ceviche bar, then build your own hit list from the house salsas and spice-forward sharing plates.
GO: Follow @cocina_tres on Instagram for more information.
See Diana Ross and Seal at Saadiyat Nights
Abu Dhabi’s open-air concert series is going big with a landmark double bill, as Diana Ross and Seal take to the stage on the same evening. A recipient of a GRAMMY® Lifetime Achievement Award, Diana Ross remains one of the most important figures in contemporary music and popular culture, with era-defining hits including “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “Chain Reaction,” “I’m Coming Out,” and “Endless Love” with Lionel Richie. Joining her is global icon Seal, whose unmistakable vocals fuel classics such as “Killer” and “Crazy,” while “Kiss From A Rose” hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned GRAMMY® Awards for both Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
GO: Visit www.ticketmaster.ae for more information.
Saturday 10 January
Visit teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi
Sprawling across 17,000 square metres, teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi is designed for curious minds and hands-on exploration. Here, interaction is part of the art, as immersive installations shift and respond to your presence. In Massless Suns and Dark Suns, spheres of light and darkness converge to challenge perception, with a single touch triggering a radiant glow and a ripple that spreads across the space. Keep moving, and you will find the Levitation Void, a suspended presence that feels like an energy-born phenomenon, floating in defiance of gravity.
GO: Visit https://platinumlist.net for more information.
Watch Ludovico Einaudi live in the capital
Acclaimed pianist and composer Ludovico Einaudi is bringing his emotive soundscapes to the Saadiyat Nights concert series. Born in Turin, Einaudi began playing piano young, guided by his mother, before pursuing formal training in Milan and building a career that spans concert halls and the screen. His compositions have featured across theatre, TV and film, including This is England, The Intouchables, and Nomadland. Drawing on minimalism with a contemporary pop sensibility, his live shows are known for their quiet intensity and collective hush, with beloved pieces such as “Experience,” “Nuvole Bianche,” and “I Giorni” landing right in the chest.
GO: Visit www.ticketmaster.ae for more information.
Party in the desert at Terra Solis
Tomorrowland presents Fideles at Terra Solis Dubai on 10 January, bringing melodic techno to the Amare Stage under the open sky. Expect evolving, emotional soundscapes that build patiently, then hit with full-body momentum as the desert setting does its magic. When the rhythm locks in and the night air cools, Terra Solis becomes its own world. Arrive early, lean into the atmosphere, and stay for the journey.AED 200.
GO: Visit https://platinumlist.net for more information.
Sunday 11 January
Ride the world’s tallest observation wheel
Ain Dubai towers 250 metres above Bluewaters Island, earning its title as the world’s tallest observation wheel. Step into one of the 48 high-tech cabins and settle in for a smooth, air-conditioned spin with skyline views stretching from Palm Jumeirah to Burj Khalifa. One full rotation takes around 38 minutes, giving you plenty of time to clock the city’s shifting silhouette, snap the classics and remember why Dubai does scale so well.
GO: Visit https://platinumlist.net for more information.
Have Sunday brunch at Chez Wam
Chef Hadrien Villedieu’s Brunch at Chez Wam is pitched as a high-spirited Sunday dining session, with a sharing-style menu that keeps the focus on bold flavours and ingredient-led cooking. Expect an easy, upbeat atmosphere as Resident DJ Semm drops throwback hits from the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s, while you work through unlimited pours of rosé wine and housemade rosé sangria. Three-hour packages are available on Sundays from 1pm to 5pm. AED 365 (soft beverages), AED 505 (house beverages) and AED 725 (champagne).
GO: Visit https://chezwam.ae for more information.
Dine underwater at Ossiano
Ossiano is stepping into the new year with a refreshed vision and a new Executive Chef at the helm. Chef Remy Marquignon, a Paris-born talent with 15 years of experience across Michelin-starred kitchens in Paris and Dubai, is bringing his disciplined, produce-first approach to Atlantis, The Palm’s one-starred underwater dining destination. The new nine-course tasting menu features Norwegian Langoustine, line-caught John Dory, and Blue Brittany Lobster. For the main course, diners choose between Wild Brill and A5 Australian Wagyu, then finish with Grapefruit Granita and a hazelnut dessert made with organic nuts from a fifth-generation Normandy farm. Available daily for AED 1,250, with wine pairing from AED 1,095.
GO: Visit www.atlantis.com for more information.
