The roar of the city is replaced by the sound of ten thousand running shoes hitting the pavement. You look up and see the iconic skyline of Dubai—the Museum of the Future, the towering Burj Khalifa—from a perspective few ever get to experience: the middle of a completely empty Sheikh Zayed Road. This is the magic of Dubai Run 2025, the city’s largest community fitness event. But planning for this unforgettable day can feel like a race in itself. Information is scattered across official websites, news articles, and social media updates, leaving you with more questions than answers. That’s where…
Author: Monica Bonalto
Monica Bonalto
Monica Bonalto is our go-to voice for nightlife, dining, and everything fabulous after dark. Born in Monaco and now based in the UAE, she brings European flair and insider access to the city’s most talked-about events. With a background as a features writer for major magazines across Europe, Monica has a knack for spotting the scene before it trends — from Broadway-calibre shows to secret supper clubs.
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Mariah Carey is coming back to Abu Dhabi. And if last year’s chaos taught us anything, you should probably sort tickets now. The five-octave legend returns to Saadiyat Nights on 7 February 2026. This marks her second Abu Dhabi performance after selling out the venue’s opening show in January 2024. That debut sold out weeks in advance. Fans queued for hours. Social media exploded with videos of her hitting those impossible high notes under the stars. This time around, she’s bringing “The Celebration of Mimi” tour to the UAE capital. Expect the hits. Expect the vocals. Expect an evening that…
The moment darkness falls over Dubai, something shifts. Not just the temperature—though that helps. The entire city sheds its daytime corporate skin and reveals something wilder underneath. Deciding where to go in Dubai at night can feel overwhelming when the options change every week, but after enough random evenings out I’ve learned to trust the mood more than the plan. There are nights when I just want to wander DIFC with no destination — start at a low-key lounge with good music, see if the crowd pulls you to a rooftop next door, then end up somewhere unexpected because a…
Abu Dhabi’s culinary calendar just got serious. The MICHELIN Guide Food Festival Abu Dhabi 2025 returns from 21 to 23 November at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental. This year’s edition brings together some of the planet’s most decorated chefs for three days of extraordinary dining. It’s not just another food event. This festival has become the UAE’s most credible stage for global gastronomy. Experience Abu Dhabi and Nespresso are backing it, and the lineup reads like a wishlist from every serious diner’s bucket list. The Michelin Food Festival in Abu Dhabi caught me by surprise last time — I went expecting…
Power Slap UAE is coming back to Space 42 Arena on Friday, October 24, 2025. The world’s premier slap fighting promotion returns during Abu Dhabi Showdown Week, sitting right alongside UFC 321: ASPINALL vs GANE. If you witnessed last year’s sold-out chaos, you know exactly what’s coming. If you missed it, prepare for something completely different from traditional combat sports. This isn’t boxing with gloves or MMA with submissions. This is raw, direct, impossibly tense competition that makes entire arenas hold their breath simultaneously. The format is simple, the stakes are brutal, and the atmosphere is electric. What Actually Happens…
The rumours just became reality. Pitbull is performing in Dubai on Sunday December 14, 2025. Mr. Worldwide—the artist who’s soundtracked every club night worth remembering—will bring his I’m Back tour to Coca-Cola Arena for one night only. This isn’t speculation anymore. Live Nation Middle East confirmed it. Tickets go on general sale at noon on Friday October 17, with an exclusive presale starting noon today for fans who can’t wait. If you’ve been following the whispers for months, you were right to pay attention. This is happening, and it’s going to be absolutely massive. Why This Matters Right Now Pitbull’s…
The Sharjah International Film Festival 2025 concluded on Sunday, 12 October 2025, after six days of celebration, creativity, and global storytelling. Hosted under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, the festival confirmed Sharjah’s growing reputation as the UAE’s cultural heartbeat for young filmmakers and global cinema lovers. Sharjah International Film Festival has this understated pull that quietly sneaks up on you every year. I went one evening a couple of editions back expecting a standard festival crowd, but…
If there’s one event changing what it means to celebrate Halloween in the UAE, it’s Geek Community Day Dubai. Returning this November for its third and biggest edition yet, Rove Hotels and Hobby Nation are turning Rove Downtown into a playground where dragons, Jedi, and Marvel heroes walk side by side. Forget pumpkins and cobwebs — this is where cosplay collides with gaming, creativity, and an unapologetic love for all things nerdy. A New Kind of Halloween in Dubai While most of Dubai will be wrapped up in parties and club nights, Rove Downtown is rewriting the script. On Saturday,…
When it comes to Calvin Harris Dubai 2025, the energy can only go one way—sky-high. Dubai’s nightlife is about to experience another seismic moment as one of the biggest names in global dance music returns to headline the Ushuaïa Dubai Harbour Experience this November. Saturday, 29th November, is already circled in every party-lover’s calendar. It’s the night Calvin Harris brings the spirit of Ibiza’s legendary beach club straight to the UAE’s waterfront, transforming Dubai Harbour into an open-air arena of sound, lights, and pure hedonism. A Supernova Returns After a sold-out debut that left fans begging for more, Calvin Harris…
In a city obsessed with Michelin stars, skyline views, and culinary theatre, few cuisines define sophistication quite like Japanese. Whether it’s a handroll shared under soft lighting or wagyu served with precision worthy of haute couture, Japanese restaurants in Dubai have become the ultimate expression of taste and timing. Japanese food in Dubai has this quiet pull that keeps drawing me back, especially when I need something precise and clean after a long week. I wandered into one of the lesser-known spots in JLT a while ago — small counter, no big signs, just a sushi chef working in focused…