Dubai events calendar (also some events for Abu Dhabi and other UAE emirates)
Events calendar for Dubai and UAE 2012, 2013, and beyond. List of annual major events in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and UAE with approximate dates, locations, information, and guide.
- Ramadan - is a special period in the Islamic calendar. The dates shift forward about 2 weeks on the Gregorian calendar each year. Ramadan 2010 dates are approximately 11 August to 09 September 2010.
- All events listed below are yearly, unless otherwise stated.
- This list is intended as a guide to significant or major regular events in Dubai and UAE with approximate dates, not specific dates for a particular year.
- Event dates can change suddenly, and/or events can be cancelled. Especially likely if a ruler of one of the UAE emirates passes away (for example, several events were cancelled after Sheikh Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai, died on 04 January 2006).
- To add an annual (or biennial) event you think should be listed here, send us an email, or start a topic in the UAE events forum, with details including first year the event was run, approximate time of year, duration, contact number - email - website, organiser name.
January
- Abu Dhabi Golf Championship - mid January, 4 days, first one in 2006.
- Dubai Desert Classic - golf competition, end of January, one week, first one in 1989 (which is so long ago in Dubai time, it's like saying the Middle Ages in any other country).
- Dubai Marathon - mid January, on a Friday. First marathon run in 1998 (in November).
- Dubai Shopping Festival - middle or end of January to middle or end of February, about one month long. First one in 1996.
- Global Village - international flea-market and carnival, starts November, ends February/March.
February
- Dubai International Jazz Festival - mid to late February for about 10 days. First event in 2003. Some performances start in January.
- Dubai Shopping Festival - starts in January, ends in February.
- Dubai Tennis Championship - women in the third week, men in the last week (might go into March). Each tournament is one week long.
- Gourmet Abu Dhabi - festival for gluttons and chefs. Ten days to 2 weeks, early to mid February. First fry-up was in 2009. Expensive and posh, although there might be some free events.
- Global Village - starts November, ends February/March.
- International Defence Exhibition Abu Dhabi (IDEX) - end of February, several days, biennial (odd numbered years), a military equipment exhibition. First one in 1993? Also, starting 2011, NAVDEX - a navy exhibition at the same time.
March
- Abu Dhabi Boat Show - mid March, only for the rich and famous. By invitation only?
- Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Festival - ballet, opera, classical music concerts, Arab music. Duration about 2 weeks, end of March to early April. First one in 2004.
- Art Dubai - international and Middle East art exhibition at the Madinat Jumeirah in the 3rd week of March. Started in 2007 as the Gulf Art Fair but changed its name because the domain name www.gulfartfair.com made people snigger too much.
- Camel Racing Festival - at Al Wathba Camel race track in Al Ain. Held in mid-March, about one week long?
- Dubai International Boat Show - early March, a few days, first one in 1992.
- Dubai World Cup (world's richest horse race) - last Saturday in March. First held in 1996.
- Festival of Literature - one for the bookworms who live amongst us. First one held in 2009.
- Sharjah International Art Biennial - every 2 years (odd-numbered years), from mid-March to mid-May in 2009 (early April to early June before that). First one in 1993. The 10th edition held from 16 March to 16 May 2011.
- Sikka Art Fair - in Bastakiya, runs alongside the Art Dubai exhibition. Started in 2011 as a new version of the old Bastakia Art Fair?
- Taste of Dubai - food festival but with overpriced food offerings, seems to be more of a marketing gimmick for Dubai restaurants. Four days, mid March. The nonsensical Dellas (ToD currency) were thankfully abandoned for the 2011 event.
April
- Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Festival - starts end of March.
- Gulf Film Festival - in Dubai, started in 2008, duration about 1 week to 10 days. Not as international as DIFF or ADFF (MEIFF).
- Sharjah International Art Biennial - starts March, ends May
May
- Sharjah International Art Biennial - starts March, ends May
June
July
August
September
October
- Abu Dhabi Film Festival - about 10 days in early to mid October. Started in 2007 as the Middle East Film Festival, renamed from 2010.
- Cityscape Dubai, renamed as Cityscape Global after the Dubai property market crashed in 2008. One of several annual property exhibitions in the UAE. Lots of models of buildings and property projects in Dubai, the UAE, the Middle East region, and sometimes further afield. And other sorts of models with clipboards ready to take your deposit cheques on new developments that might not get built. First week in October, duration several days.
November
- Abu Dhabi Art - art festival in 3rd week of November at the Emirates Palace Hotel, first one in 2009. In 2011 held in the UAE Pavillion on Saadiyat Island. In 2012 in the Saadiyat Cultural District on Saadiyat Island.
- Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix - end October or beginning of November (probably, unless schedule changes). Date for 2010 is 14 November for the final race.
- Art Paris Abu Dhabi - art show in 3rd week of November, started in 2007.
- Dubai Airshow - biennial event (every 2 years - odd-numbered years), supposed to be trade only but anyone with a business card, a passport, and the entry fee can usually enter if they're not too shabby looking. First one in 1989. Usually breaks world records for the largest number of press releases in one week about Emirates Airlines new aircraft purchases.
- Dubai Rugby Sevens - Dubai's biggest annual party, held under the guise of a rugby tournament. Not for the faint of heart.
- Dubai World Championship golf tournament - 4 days, mid to late November. If you're not a golfer, you might actually be pleasantly surprised when attending a golf competition. You get closer to the players than in most other countries, and the greens and fairways make a nice change from all the sand.
- Global Village - large flea market and small theme park in Dubai. From early November to end of February or early March. First one in 1996.
December
- Christmas - the UAE is a Muslim country, however, visitors and residents might be surprised to discover that Christmas is celebrated to a certain extent. References to Christian themes are discouraged, but shopping malls have many other Christmas-related displays and events. If anything, Dubai appears more Christmassy than many western countries that have gone overboard with political correctness. Happy Holidays? What was wrong with Merry Christmas?
- Dubai International Film Festival - 2nd-3rd week of December. First one in 2004.
- Dubai International Rally - 1st week of December, started several milleniums ago in a galaxy far far away ... in 1978 when people thought Dubai was what sales people in Japan said to you.
- Dubai Motor Show - mid-December, several days.
- Global Village - starts November, ends February/March.
- New Years Eve - Dubai hotels, bars, and nightclubs have party nights, for a price.
Last update Saturday 07-Apr-2012. Page development 1H 2T 3D 4L 5C.
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