Tired of Googling “Things to do in Dubai” every weekend, only to mindlessly scroll through overwhelming options before surrendering to your faithful bed and Netflix? We’ve been there; matching the pace with Dubai’s eternally expanding dining scene, art exhibits, weekend brunches, and outdoor adventures can be daunting. Keen on making your weekends more exciting?
Discover Buro’s Weekend Playbook, your secret decoder, to unlock the very best Dubai has to offer.
A MEDITERRANEAN AFFAIR AT ILIANA
This weekend, escape the city buzz and drift into the laid-back rhythm of Iliana at Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab. Helmed by Chef Andreas Gkipalis, whose Michelin-starred background meets a deep love for Greek cooking, the restaurant brings a taste of the islands to Dubai’s coast. Expect plates that capture the spirit of the Aegean. By sunset, the rooftop shifts gears into an elegant seaside retreat, where the view of the Burj Al Arab, refreshing beverages, and easy conversation turndinner into a Mediterranean evening to remember.
A UNIQUE OLFACTORY EXPERIENCE
Step inside the world of Initio Perfumes and prepare to quite literally feel your fragrance. This weekend, the French perfume house invites you to experience its groundbreaking Feel Lab Experience — a first-of-its-kind journey that fuses scent with neuroscience. Using EEG headbands that track your brain’s real-time reactions to different fragrances, the session visualizes how each scent connects with your emotions, memories, and mood. It’s less about picking a perfume and more about uncovering what truly moves you. Equal parts futuristic and intimate, the Feel Lab turns fragrance discovery into something deeply personal, where your brain becomes the ultimate scent guide.
A SPECTACULAR FEAST AT THE THEATER
If you’re in the mood for dinner with a side of drama — the good kind — The Theater Dubai is where your weekend story unfolds. The new production L.O.V.E takes center stage, bringing together music, dance, and emotion in one breathtaking performance that moves from heartbreak to healing and everything in between. Directed by Guy Manoukian and Maria Khomenko, it’s a spectacle of rhythm and rhythm, with a special appearance by Light Balance, the LED-powered dance crew from America’s Got Talent, lighting up the stage from October 20. Pair the show with The Theater’s signature dining and stay on for the DJ sets that keep the pulse racing long after the curtain call.
A FORMULA 1 BRUNCH AT CÉ LA VI
If your weekend plans need a little horsepower, CÉ LA VI Dubai’s Speed of Sound brunch is where you’ll want to drop the flag. This Saturday, the rooftop hotspot is teaming up with Red Bull and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix for an afternoon that fuses racing adrenaline with Michelin-approved indulgence. Easily one of the Most fun things to do in Dubai this weekend, guests can expect a five-course menu that goes full throttle on flavor, live DJ sets, and performances that keep the energy as high as the skyline views. Between bites, you can even take the wheel on the Red Bull Racing simulator with prizes waiting for the fastest on track.
And if you’re already plotting your next pit stop, mark your calendar for the Halloween brunch next weekend, when CÉ LA VI transforms into a ‘Forbidden Forest’ with eerie glamour, live acts, and a skyline view fit for a spooky celebration in style.
TRY UNUSUAL ICE CREAM FLAVORS
If your weekend plans could use a scoop of fun (and a little chaos), The Ice Cream Project by Noon Minutes at Dubai Mall is the place to be before it melts away. Running until October 19 at the Star Atrium, this pop-up takes ice cream into wildly unexpected territory — think Barilla pesto, Colgate mint toothpaste, and even Super 98 petrol. Yes, really. For the slightly less daring, there’s Kiri blueberry cheesecake and Magnolia Bakery’s banana pudding-inspired flavors to fall back on. With over 20 inventive creations and a free Nescafé Coffee Corner on-site, this pop-up turns dessert into an experiment worth tasting. Bring your curiosity (and your camera) — you’ll want proof you actually tried ketchup ice cream.
ALSO READ: ALENA LAVDOVSKAYA CAPTURES THE ENERGY OF SPRING/SUMMER 2026 IN SKETCH.
