October is a fabulous month to be in Dubai, as, following a sleepier summer, the city comes alive with various cultural, musical, and gastronomic events. Whether you are a fashion enthusiast, a classical music lover, or a food enthusiast, there is something for everyone in this vibrant metropolis.
The best things to do in Dubai this month
Enjoy Dubai Fashion Week 2023: A Celebration of Style, Innovation, and Global Creativity
If you are passionate about fashion, you won’t want to miss the return of Dubai Fashion Week (DFW), taking place from October 9 to October 15, 2023, at Dubai Design District (d3). This prestigious event, founded by d3 in collaboration with the Arab Fashion Council (AFC), promises to celebrate style, innovation, and global creativity. DFW will unveil Spring/Summer 24 collections and include a vibrant, citywide calendar of high-profile fashion shows, exclusive events, book signings, a trunk show in collaboration with Mall of the Emirates, capsule launches, brand activations, and industry talks.
The event will showcase more than 25 designers from 12 countries and an internationally acclaimed New York-based fashion house that will be revealed as the guest designer to inaugurate DFW. The forthcoming edition of DFW will also have a strong sustainability focus, aligning with the UAE’s Year of Sustainability and the upcoming COP28 in Dubai. DFW reflects d3’s commitment to empowering designers, fuelling the creative economy, and driving more significant innovative investment in line with the Dubai Creative Economy Strategy and Dubai Economic Agenda D33.
Book your tickets now for DFW at dubaifashionweek.org
Travel from home at THAT Concept Store
Assouline’s coffee table books have become a staple of the world’s most beautiful hotels and homes – transporting readers to the most beautiful destinations and immersing them in travel, fashion, culture and history. The family-run publishing house now boasts over 1,700 titles – and readers are able to see these opuses in person, and have a peruse for themselves, at Assouline’s brand new shop-in-shop experiential corner, their only space in the Middle East, at THAT Concept Store. A corner dedicated to travelling from home, the stylish space includes countless Assouline books, of course, but also their new destination-inspired candles and other beautiful bits and pieces.
THAT Concept Store, Mall of the Emirates; thatconceptstore.com
Enjoy Alserkal Avenue’s impressive line-up of arts exhibitions and special foodie event
Alserkal Avenue – Dubai’s quirky neighbourhood cultural hub – is always bustling with exciting and culturally enticing events, and October is no different. Highlights include artist Sudarshan Shetty’s major solo exhibition (on until 9th December) and Brushstrokes & Perspectives – a group exhibition of modern and contemporary artists influenced by non-figuration (until 28 October), along with countless others across all mediums of art. The Avenue is also sharing its love for food and community with a unique three-month foodie residency programme, welcoming an array of the city’s best food trucks and retail pop ups to its lanes. Must-visits include JayTee – a savoury sanctuary for burger aficionados – Akhou Manouche – a testament to the artistry of Lebanese cuisine, Phat – an exciting new concept fusing street culture, fast food, and global street food flavours and Local Foundry – a delicious range of speciality desserts and coffee selections.
The Avenue is also welcoming a showcase by Swey – a brand offering stylish statement sunglasses and creative expression – and is putting on its own mini coffee festival. ‘For the Love of Coffee’ welcomes three unique coffee concepts to keep culture and fashion vultures fuelled: Medina – championing Arabic coffee – crowd-favourite The Grotto (a must for coffee and matcha lovers) and the renowned matcha pioneers, Blu Matcha. Health-conscious visitors will also love two healthy pop-ups: Salata: a Beirut-born healthy eating concept upping the salads game; and Maison Ethertique – a wellness brand dedicated to bringing ancient healing practices from around the world into modern lifestyles, such as incense, crystals, sage, and stones.
Al Quoz; alserkal.online
Experience Candlelight Premium: Mozart’s Masterpieces at Burj Al Arab Jumeirah
Classical music in an opulent setting is what awaits you at the Candlelight Premium: Mozart’s Masterpieces at Burj Al Arab Jumeirah this October. This exclusive event will take place on Monday, October 16, 2023, at the Al Falak Ballroom, one of the most splendid venues in Dubai. Performed by a skilled pianist under the soft glow of candlelight, the concert will showcase some of Mozart’s most renowned works, such as Symphony 40, Turkish March, Piano Concerto No. 21, and Eine Kleine Nachtmusik. Don’t miss this chance to indulge yourself or your loved ones in a memorable night of culture and elegance.
Tickets start from Dhs350 for the one-night-only performance and can be purchased on feverup.com
Indulge in Chef Kelvin Cheung and Chef Himanshu Saini’s One-Night Dinner Collaboration at Jun’s
Two of Dubai’s most eminent chefs join forces for a one-night-only collaboration. Kelvin Cheung of Jun’s and Himanshu Saini of Trèsind Studio will present a 12-course menu that promises to reveal a different facet of Saini’s cooking as he concocts a more casual array of dishes than he serves at his Palm Jumeirah restaurant. Each chef will execute six dishes, alternating courses throughout the night. Cheung’s dishes include Gyu onigiri with rib-eye, jalapeno, crispy garlic, nama oroshi wasabi, king crab rangoon with amchoor ki chutney brown butter, and more. Meanwhile, Saini’s dishes will comprise shrimp dumplings with Alleppey curry, a trio of Chutneys, lobster claw with butter pepper garlic sauce, and more. Make sure this one is on your radar if you love to have a remarkable dinner experience with your loved ones (or even a solo date night experience).
Seating comes at AED395 per person. Jun’s Downtown Dubai
Enjoy one of two new facials at Mandarin Oriental Jumeira
Summer can wreak havoc on the skin. Between the constant flow or drying air conditioning, the scorching dry days, the sticky humid nights and lathers or suncream – not to mention frequent travelling to cooler climes – the summer months can leave skin looking a little lacklustre. Getting us back on track, The Spa at Mandarin Oriental Jumeira has launched two new facial treatments designed to not only leave the skin feeling plump and youthful but also help heal and regenerate from within. The two new 90-minute treatments are from award-winning Australian skincare brand, Subtle Energies, a brand founded by former accountant turned clinical aromatherapist and Ayurveda and holistic health practitioner Farida Irani. Guests will be able to identify their body state, and with it skin type, from the Ayurvedic doshas – Vata, Kapha and Pitta – before enjoying tailored treatments to truly get to the root of any problem, along with healing, soothing, nourishing and promoting antiageing. The 90-minute Vegan Collagen Facial is AED830 and harnesses the power of vegan collagen with vitamin-rich active ingredients like Kakadu Plum, Ashwagandha and Bacillus Ferment, while the AED900 enhancing cellular renewal gives deep and intense hydration blending skin science, vegan collagen and hyaluronic acid.
Bookings can be made by calling +971 4 777 2243 or emailing modub-spa@mohg.com.
Experience David Garrett’s Iconic Tour 2023 at Dubai Opera
Don’t miss the chance to see the internationally acclaimed violinist David Garrett perform live at Dubai Opera on Thursday, October 26, as part of his Iconic Tour 2023. The versatile musician will showcase his talent by playing a mix of classical masterpieces and popular contemporary songs on his violin. With several gold and platinum awards, David Garrett is a musical phenomenon you don’t want to miss.
Tickets start from Dhs400 and can be purchased on dubaiopera.com.
Netsu, the renowned theatre of fire, at Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, Dubai collaborates with world-renowned origami artist and architect, Charles Kaisin, to blend cuisine and Japanese culture in a unique way.
Be wowed with beautiful origami, and an origami-inspired menu, at Netsu
From 5th October, and for a limited time only, guest can enter a magical world of Kabuki theatre and ancient traditions at Netsu – the acclaimed steakhouse at Mandarin Oriental Jumeira. The restaurant has partnered with world-renowned origami artist and architect, Charles Kaisin for his first-ever showcase in the Middle East – which sees the restaurant fitted out with intricate displays that complement its already fascinating collection of Kabuki masks. The special menu, named Netsu Unfolded, features lots of Netsu’s signature wagyu – is paired with a selection of sake and pays homage to origami with intricate dishes.
AED450 per person, for four courses, inclusive of sake pairing; mandarinoriental.com
Embrace the changing weather with a trip to a beach club
It may not feel like it, just yet, but Dubai’s days are cooling down. Make the most of it by leaving the air-conditioning behind and enjoying a day at the beach, as October marks the grand return of some of Dubai’s best-known beach clubs. Re-opening this month are Summersalt, Jumeirah Al Naseem’s chic beach club and oceanfront restaurant serving Latin American cuisine; and French Riviera – Jumeirah Al Qasr’s chic Mediterranean-inspired hangout. Read our round-up of the most stylish beach clubs in Dubai for more inspiration.
