Monica Bonalto arrived in Dubai in 2017 with a background in hospitality journalism and quickly became one of the most trusted voices in the UAE's dining and nightlife space. Over seven years on the ground, she has reviewed more than 400 venues across all seven emirates — from the sun-baked beach clubs of JBR and the rooftop terraces of DIFC, to the understated local gems that rarely make it onto tourist lists. She has attended every major restaurant opening in Dubai since 2019 and maintains direct relationships with PRs and venue operators across the city — which means the information you read in her guides is always verified, never recycled from a press release. Her specialities are happy hours (she has personally verified every deal on our lists), Friday brunches, and the Northern Emirates' emerging food scene. She is based in DIFC and eats out five times a week. When she says a place is worth your money, it is. Follow Monica's work on Muck Rack , Substack , Vocal , and Medium .
The buzz is constant: Is Idris Elba in the UAE? What’s the story behind that incredible UAE campaign video? When is he coming back? For fans and residents in the UAE, tracking the movements and projects of the global superstar can feel like piecing together a puzzle from scattered news headlines, outdated social media posts,…
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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…
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Key Facts Headliner: Mariah Carey Venue: Saadiyat, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi Date: 7 February 2026 — this event has already taken place Mariah Carey is coming back to Abu Dhabi. And if last year’s chaos taught us anything, you should probably sort tickets now. Related: explore our full Saadiyat Island area guide for the Cultural…
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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…
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The MICHELIN Guide Food Festival Abu Dhabi 2025 ran from 21 to 23 November at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, bringing together some of the planet’s most decorated chefs for three days of extraordinary dining. The festival is confirmed to return for 2026 on the same 21–23 November dates at the same venue — the chef…
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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…
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Sharjah has a lot more going on than most people realise. Our Sharjah guide covers culture, events, beaches and everything worth doing in the emirate.
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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…
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Dubai fell hard for Japanese food, and date night followed Ask anyone who’s been dating in Dubai for more than a year where they’re taking someone new and there’s a decent chance the answer involves a robata grill, a sake list, or a chef slicing something raw and expensive three feet away. Japanese restaurants have…
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Dubai is once again rewriting the rules of global aviation. In a move of unprecedented scale and ambition, the emirate has officially launched a plan to relocate all operations from the world’s busiest international hub, Dubai International Airport (DXB), to a new, colossal megaproject at Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC). This isn’t just an expansion;…
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Dubai makes you feel something. Not just see something or tick something off a list. It’s the kind of place where you walk into a shopping centre and find yourself face-to-face with a ten-metre aquarium. Where you can ski before lunch and watch camels at sunset. The city rewrites the rules, and frankly, it does…
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What To Know The Return of an Icon Few names in music carry the weight of Amr Diab. Known across the Arab world and beyond as “Al Hadaba” (The Hill), he has been a cultural cornerstone for decades. On 1 November 2025, he returns to Dubai for what promises to be one of the year’s…
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