Dubai’s Must-Attend Events To Begin The Year

Dubai, UAE; 21 January 2020: With Dubai’s event season well underway, look no further than Dubai Calendar, the city’s official events listings portal, for your tickets to live entertainment, arts, culture, sport, comedy and lifestyle events through its website and app, along with safe and secure purchasing options.

Here’s a snapshot of what we have in store for you in the coming months. Stay tuned for new events and details on the Dubai Calendar app, website and social media.

Musical Entertainment

Chart topping star Robbie Williams is set to inspire fans with an energising performance at The Pointe on 24 January, while Delhi-based singer and songwriter Prateek Kuhad is set to perform his Hindi and English indie rock tunes at the Rotunda, Caesars Palace Bluewaters Island on the same day.

 The Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) Closing Celebrations will feature two nights of magical concerts as international artists hit the stage at Coca Cola Arena.  Musical sensation Rashed Al Majid, one of the most famous singers in the Middle East, will be performing many of his classic favourites including the much loved Dubai Kawkab Aakhar (‘Dubai is another planet’) on 30 January at Coca-Cola Arena, alongside popular Iraqi singer and composer Majid Al Mohandis who will wow fans with his talent, grace and style.

On Friday 31 January, the international musical superstar, John Legend, will perform some of his legendary hits including ‘All Of Me’ and ‘Ordinary’, with Syrian singer Faia opening the show. Tickets for both nights start from just AED 195, available on the Dubai Calendar app.

 The annual RedFestDXB returns for its seventh edition in 2020, bringing a line-up of global music icons at the Dubai Media City Amphitheatre from 6-7 February. Get ready for exciting performances by Martin Garrix, Bastille, Stormzy, Young Thug, Cheat Codes and Machine Gun Kelly. Latin music fans can gear up for a memorable valentine’s night with Maluma, live at Coca-Cola Arena as part of his 11:11 World Tour on 14 February. The city will also welcome the return of the Emirates Airline Dubai Jazz Festival, featuring mega artists such as Lauryn Hill, Bruno Major, Lionel Richie, Spyro Gyra, OneRepublic, Sammy Miller and The Congregation from 26-28 February at the Dubai Media City Amphitheatre. Coca-Cola Arena is marking the return of US rapper Russ to the city for a performance on 27 March.

Dubai Opera’s stellar line-up of live music to start 2020 includes a performance of as the mesmerising story of Le Petite Prince comes to life with stunning sets, jaw dropping acrobatics and video mapping on 23-25 January. For a trip down memory lane, Abba fans can enjoy a live tribute by the energetic Swedish group Bjorn Again on 7 February. The venue is also set to host Norwegian trio A-ha as they bring back their much loved 80s hits as part of their Hunting High and Low tour on 10-11 February. Lea Salonga will return to the theatre from 5-6 March, following a debut concert in 2017, taking audiences on a musical journey of her Broadway and Disney tunes.  

Comedy Nights

Mark your calendars for a star-studded line-up of comedy performances at some of the city’s state-of-the-art venues. Kapil Sharma is set to perform at Coca-Cola Arena on 24 January, bringing infectious energy, hilarious banter and family-friendly humour to the stage. Comedy lovers can also enjoy special performances from Peter White, Matt Reed and Stephen Grant as part of The Laughter Factory’s ‘Start 2020 Completely Wrong! tour’ and an exceptional performance by Chris Betts, Karen Bayley and Tez ILyas on the ‘Do yourself a favour and laugh more! tour’ at several venues around Dubai between 6-14 February.  Romesh Ranganathan will hit the stage on 20 March for his first show in the city at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), promising a night of relatable humour. Malik Bentalha will take over The Rotunda, Caesars Palace on 26 March to round out the month.

Arts & Culture Lovers

Art lovers can head to Al Serkal Avenue to celebrate community culture at Quoz Arts Fest, a two-day event taking place on 24-25 January under the theme ‘In Search Of’, or head to the leading international art fair in the region, Art Dubai, which returns for its 14^th edition from 25-28 March.

 Returning for its 12^th edition is the highly anticipated Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, celebrating written and spoken words through literary debates, featuring workshops and competitions at InterContinental, Dubai Festival City on 4-9 February.

 Visitors can also head to Middle East Film and Comic Con taking place at DWTC between 5-7 March to meet their favourite characters, attend workshops, and signing sessions with their favourite characters.

Sports Enthusiasts

Marathon runners and aspiring amateurs are welcome to take on the 4km and 10km challenge during the 21^st edition of the annual Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon on 24 January. Golfers, meanwhile, are invited for the 31^st edition of Omega Dubai Desert Classic, featuring golfing champions such as Bryson DeChambeau, Tommy Fleetwood and many more, from 23-26 January at the Emirates Golf Club. Polo lovers can head to Al Habtoor Polo Resort and Club from 10-12 February to enjoy top-notch competition and entertainment during the Polo Masters Cup and Silver Cup, or head to Al Marmoon Camel Racing track from 1-13 February for the Dubai Crown Prince Camel Festival. Tennis enthusiasts can catch Roger Federer, Novak Djokavic, Ashleigh Barty, Simona Halep amongst others at the 2020 edition of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium from 17-29 February.

 The Dubai International Boat Show moves to Dubai Harbour this year, welcoming visitors for a first-hand look into luxurious boats and yachts from 10-15 March. The 25^th anniversary of the Dubai World Cup will hit the track on 28 March and is sure to be a day of thrilling race, entertainment and fashion action.

For more information on all Dubai events and to purchase tickets, visit Dubai Calendar’s website and app.

About Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism)

With the ultimate vision of positioning Dubai as the world’s leading tourism destination and commercial hub, Dubai Tourism’s mission is to increase the awareness of Dubai among global audiences and to attract tourists and inward investment into the emirate. Dubai Tourism is the principal authority for the planning, supervision, development and marketing of Dubai’s tourism sector. It markets and promotes the Emirate’s commerce sector, and is responsible for the licensing and classification of all tourism services, including hotels, tour operators and travel agents. Brands and departments within the Dubai Tourism portfolio include Dubai Business Events, Dubai Calendar, and Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment.

About Dubai Calendar

Dubai Calendar’s website and app is a free resource that allows residents and tourists to dive into the heart of the city and discover upcoming events and offerings. With an average of 150 events listed at any one time, and 35 new events added every week, Dubai Calendar is an all-access pass to ‘what’s on’ in Dubai. Tickets can also be bought quickly and securely through the app’s purchasing platform.