Try something new: 21 brilliant new things to do in Dubai this November

New brunches, hotels, bouncy stuff and the long-awaited, well-fated return of so much more…  

A new month brings a list of new things to do in Dubai and we couldn’t be more delighted to share information with our readers on the latest and greatest.

Here are 21 new things to do in Dubai this month: 

Wave hello to this gorgeous new hotel

Vida’s latest entry into the refined living portfolio is Vida Creek Beach, located unsurprisingly along a storied, seductive shoreline of the Dubai Creek Harbour, overlooking the new Lagoon. A manmade leisure cove that will soon feature a future tech-enabled wave generating system, creating a rhythmic ballet of lapping lapis crests. Dining adventures include The Courtyard, an international all-day diner that offers both indoor and outdoor seating; the Stage2 lobby lounge; Origins, the statement eaterie with an expansive terrace offering magnetic views of the Canal and Dubai Creek; and, coming soon, Float Beach Lounge, a Lagoon-adjacent luxurious venue, dealing in wood-fired pizza, and handcrafted cocktails.

Dubai Creek Harbour. Tel: (04) 542 8888, vidahotels.com

Samba along to this new churrasco brunch on The Palm

When you’re craving those real Latin flavours and kaleidoscopic carnival charms, Fairmont The Palm’s Brazilian restraurant, Frevo should always be on your revelling radar.And from November there’s a fresh dimension to their flamboyant foodie flair, a brand new churassco-themed brunch, taking place every Saturday between 1pm and 4pm, with prices from just Dhs395, including house drinks and live stations serving signature South American mixology. Caipirinhas, Mojitos, and Sangria are all included in the standard package, and for more exclusive sips, the bubbles and spirits option sambas in at Dhs495. Those under six dine for free and six to 12 year olds can join in the fun for just Dhs200.

Fairmont The Palm, Palm Jumeirah, Sat 1pm to 4pm, Dhs395 house and cocktail station packaged, Dhs495 for bubbles and spirits, kids under six free, ages six to 12 Dhs200. Email palm.dining@fairmont.com or call (0)4 457 3457.

Celebrate being ‘Common people’ at this new beachside coffee hang-out

When the first rain of the season hits, you know you’ve reached the tail end of Dubai summer. Hello beach days. Assalamu alaikum alfresco dining. And, just in time, popular EatX concept, Common Grounds, has opened a colourful new café on Kite Beach. The perfect pitstop for post-run smoothies and sand-in-the-toes smoothie bowls. A morning dip will set you up nicely for breakfast, where their menu includes a chai pudding, acai bowl, French toast, and more. Or stay to watch the sunset beyond the horizon followed by a delicious yet wholesome tuna poke bowl and the signature Nessnass yuzu drink. Designed by Dubai-based graffiti artist FINK 22, the café is hard-to-miss, with a perfect sun-soaked colour palette that perfectly matches the colourful nutritious ingredients.

Kite Beach. @common.grounds

Discover a new place to Be, and Be seen

During the cooler winter weather, we can enjoy one of our favorite pastimes in Dubai: relaxing at a beautiful beach club. While the city is not short of options, we do have one rather exciting new addition if you’re looking to try somewhere new. The new day-to-night beach club, Be Beach, is set to open on Saturday, October 28 on the sun-soaked shores of Dubai Harbour and, although not strictly a beach club, it’s sure to be an unmissable pool day experience. Masterminded by Addmind Group (the team behind Bar du Port, Iris, and La Mezcaleria) and Sekoya Management (behind Soho Garden), Be Beach promises “to redefine the city’s entertainment and leisure scene with an extraordinary fusion of music, upscale relaxation, and culinary artistry.”

Be Beach, Dubai Harbour, Dubai. Opening Saturday, October 28. Tuesday to Friday, 11am to 8pm. Saturday and Sunday, 11am to 12am. Closed Mondays. Tel:(0)54 751 1119. @bebeachdxb

Find your quantum of Solis in the desert

The weather is cooling down, and all of our favourite beach clubs and pools are reopening – terraces are no longer covered and it is well and truly the season for topping up tans, where better to do so than at Terra Solis? The Tomorrowland conceived desert camp blends the iconic festival brand’s pedigree in pumping beats along with the bohemian glamour of a chic dune-hemmed oasis. The reopening party for the new Terra Solis Dubai season will take place on November 4, and feature techno wizz-kids, Agents of Time as the future-sounds headliners. They will be performing a three-hour set and will be supported by Kwen, Aaryon, Jio and Danz, and Quilliam.

Terra Solis, Dubai Heritage Vision, Exit 39, Jebel Ali Lehbab Road, Dubailand, opening Saturday November 4. Tel: (0)4 456 1956 terrasolisdubai.com @terrasolisdubai

Make your way to this great British bake-up

Cookie monsters and dessert lovers, Soho’s famous bakery and dessert shop Crème has (finally) landed in Dubai. That’s right, you can now satisfy your sweet tooth with the giant ooey gooey cookies, freshly churned soft-serve ice cream, and indulgent milkshakes at the new spot located in Dar Wasl Mall, Dubai. Open from 9am to 11pm daily, Crème puts a French twist on classic American sweet treats. In other words: All the butter. The bakery specialises in three things: cookies, soft-serve ice cream, and coffee. The best part? Everything is baked, brewed, and blended daily. Dubbed the ‘best cookies in London’, choose from four popular flavours: miso and white chocolate, dulce de leche, classic milk chocolate, and double chocolate cookies. Cookies are priced at Dhs24 each, Dhs130 for a box of six, or Dhs240 for a box of 12.

Crème, Dar Wasl Mall, Al Wasl, Dubai. Daily, 9am to 11pm. Tel:(0)4 352 9708. @cremelondonuae

Take a table at Chef’s

A genuine carnival for the carnivorous, Chef’s is a brand new smokehouse concept – plating up premium cuts of protein; the juiciest wagyu beef, smoke-licked burgers; and some incredibly imaginative condiments to get your dip on to. You’ll find Chef’s behind the Sheikh Zayed Road, near to the Voco Hotel. And because we’re a considerate bunch, we’ve tasted their signature dishes, and can confirm, it’s all worthy of the hype. The smokehouse platter portions are huge, the burgers were wildly dense with flavour, there big ol’smoked barbecue sandwiches, ribs and brisket, brioche, pickles, slaw, and messy fries slapped with special sauce and shredded slithers of beef bacon. It’s a veritable meaty feast.

Chef’s, behind Sheikh Zayed Road, near Voco Hotel, @chefs_emirates

Join the pool party at this new South Beach inspired beach club.

Dive into the glitz and glamour of Miami right in the heart of Dubai with the opening of MiMi’s Pool Club at the FIVE Jumeirah Village. MiMi’s Pool Club offers a unique blend of urban American music vibes and the relaxed Californian cuisine scene, all within the vibrant heart of Dubai. Located on the fifth floor of the FIVE Jumeirah Village hotel, this hidden oasis lets you escape the urban jungle and cool off, drawing inspiration from the iconic shores of Miami while adding a touch of Californian culinary flair. If you’re looking for a fun day out, general pool access is available on weekdays from Dhs149, and Sundays from Dhs149. On Saturdays, you can enjoy the weekend vibes starting from Dhs349.

MiMi’s Pool Club, FIVE Jumeirah Village Dubai. Tel:(0)4 455 9989. Daily 10am to 7pm. From Dhs149. jumeirahvillage.fivehotelsandresorts.com

Book in for a chic staycation at SO/ Uptown Dubai

SO/ Hotels is known as a fashion-forward hotel brand with properties in stylish cities like Paris, Vienna, Berlin and Bangkok. And now, Dubai travellers can get a taste of SO/ Hotels avant garde offering, as the brand’s first Middle East property, SO/ Uptown Dubai, has opened its doors. Located in Uptown Dubai, next to JLT, it’s home to 10 floors of design-led rooms and wow-worthy suites. It’s all be served up against the backdrop of stunning skyline views, as the hotel takes up residence inside the skyscraping 340 metre Uptown Tower. On the culinary front, the restaurants are an extension of the hotel’s high-fashion DNA, and as such you can expect a collection of premium restaurants and bars. All day dining is given an elevated upgrade at Uptown Brasserie, which is already open alongside Lazuli, the signature pool bar where guest can enjoy relaxed daytime bites and beverages. Scenic views and inventive tipples will be served up at the Savant Bar & Lounge, and…

SO/ Uptown Dubai, Uptown Tower, Uptown Dubai, behind JLT, rates from Dhs470. Tel: (0)4 820 8888, @sodubai.uptown

Drink in the dazzling light displays at Dubai Garden Glow

Another alfresco favourite in Dubai’s cooler months, this pixelated utopia really leans into the eye-twitching visual aesthetic. The experience takes the form of an evening park stroll through a land of luminescent sculptures, comprised of more than 10 million energy-saving light bulbs. Looming lit-up polar bears and fluorescent floral fractals guide you along your journey towards the light. There’s also an adjacent animatronic dinosaur park, magic park and ice park. Combo tickets are available from Dhs70.

Zabeel Park Gate Six and Seven, Sun to Fri 5pm to 11pm, Sat 5pm to midnight. dubaigardenglow.com

Chase sunsets at this new beach destinations

We all love a good beach club, especially in this sunny part of the world. If you’ve made your rounds of all the beachfront destinations in the city and are looking for a new spot to kick back, relax and soak in some sun and the sand – we have good news for you. Sunset 55°, a brand new beach concept, has arrived at the Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah. Inspired by the essence of the 1950’s and the era of the bohemian, this beach lounge is all about those stunning sunsets. It sits on the beachfront of the resort, in the perfect vantage point of said sunsets, and will be a haven for all the free spirits.

Sunset 55°, Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, daily, 5pm to 11.30pm, Tel: (0) 4 818 2222, hilton.com

Limber up for the bounce back of JumpX

Found at Dubai Parks and Resorts, JumpX is officially recognised as the world’s Largest Inflatable Bouncy Castle by those Guinnessy record-keeping people. It has now reopened after its summer break and offers wild multi-level boing-boing lols, across an array of adventure zones, climbable walls, tunnels and obstacles for both adults and kids. Prices start at just Dhs60 per hour.

Riverland, Dubai Parks and Resorts, daily 2pm to 8pm, from Dhs60 per hour. dubaiparksandresorts.com @riverlanddubai

With two locations to choose from, Sonara Camp offers a luxury experience in both Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah desert. With a fine-dining set menu and world-class entertainment, this bucket list experience includes a range of activities from camel riding to falconry, live music, fire show and much more. The sunset experience starts at Dhs300 for adults and Dhs120 for children, or with dinner its Dhs690 for adults and Dhs280 for children. For Dubai Desert Conservation Area take E66 the whole way (45 mins) and for The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah Al Wadi Desert stay on E311 (60 mins).

Sonara Camp Dubai, Dubai Desert Conservation or Sonara Camp Al Wadi, The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah Al Wadi Desert, daily from 4pm. nara.ae

Get your tickets to see what’s new at Global Village

Now reopened after its annual summer slumber, this Dubai-famous world fair was on the international pavilion tip way before ground had even broken on the Expo site. GV began enthralling visitors as a set of kiosks in 1997, since then it has ballooned in size of course, added all sorts of attractions and shows, rides and dining experiences, scares and thrills, markets and exhibits, hosting concerts and periodically setting off extravagant fireworks displays. But you know what hasn’t grown dramatically along with it? The admissions cost. Unlike Freddo bars – Global Village has resisted the temptations of inflation, meaning that ticket prices start at just Dhs22.50 (bought online, in advance for a weekday).

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road E 311, Mon to Thu 4pm to midnight, Sat to Sun 4pm to 1am. globalvillage.ae

Experience sophistication in-grained at this desert pop-up

With two locations to choose from, Sonara Camp offers a luxury experience in both Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah desert. With a fine-dining set menu and world-class entertainment, this bucket list experience includes a range of activities from camel riding to falconry, live music, fire show and much more. The sunset experience starts at Dhs300 for adults and Dhs120 for children, or with dinner its Dhs690 for adults and Dhs280 for children. For Dubai Desert Conservation Area take E66 the whole way (45 mins) and for The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah Al Wadi Desert stay on E311 (60 mins).

Sonara Camp Dubai, Dubai Desert Conservation or Sonara Camp Al Wadi, The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah Al Wadi Desert, daily from 4pm. nara.ae

Take the little ones to a super-sized new soft play, Leo & Loona

Say hello to Leo & Loona, a huge new indoor play area now open inside Dubai Festival City Mall. Across 2,200 square metres, there’s plenty to keep the children entertained with over 30 attractions, as well as a trendy family restaurant and event space for birthday parties. The space is designed for children aged between three and 10 years old and features pedal go-karts, trampolines, climbing walls, a foam pit, a ball pool, a magic sandbox, space rockets, glow-in-the-dark slides, and more. In other words: endless hours of fun.

Dubai Festival City Mall, second floor (opp. Fabyland), Dubai. Monday to Thursday, 10am to 11pm. Friday to Sunday, 10am to 12am. Dhs179 weekdays, Dhs229 weekends. Tel:(0)4 894 7117. leoloona.ae

Feel in-spa’d at MSM Beauty Salon

If you’re looking for a spot to get your full glam on, then make-up artist to the stars, Merita Merja’s debut Dubai salon is the name to know. MSM Beauty Salon is located on Al Wasl Road, and has transformed a private villa into a maximalist salon for all-out luxurious pampering. Having spent years in the beauty business – even crafting her own beauty brands – Merita Merja has now opened her own salon, where guests can get their glam on with make-up services, hair treatments and blow dries and get their lashes done at the exclusive lash bar. There’s also a separate spa space where visitors can get pampered with massages and facials. The salon will also offer make-up lessons and academy courses, so you can learn to do your own glam like a pro.

MSM Beauty Salon, 1192 Al Wasl Road, Umm Suqeim, Dubai, daily 10am to 10pm. Tel: (0)4 425 0188. @msmbeautysalondubai

Enjoy sophisticated tipples with your lady mafia at Agora

The newly opened swanky cocktail bar that has been on everybody’s Insta stories and on everybody’s lips – Agora is the latest cocktail bar to set up shop in The Edition Hotel in Downtown Dubai has just welcomed a ladies’ night hot off the heels of opening. Dhs150 for free-flowing drinks and sharing plates.

Agora, The Edition Hotel, Downtown Dubai, open Wed from 8pm. @agora_dxb

Make your way to the reopening Dubai Safari Park

*David Attenborough voice* “Here, all of the animals are kept safe in their own enclosures, all except the world’s most fearsome predator… Man”. If you like getting right up in the whiskery face of nature, Dubai Safari delivers close-clawed and cuddly encounters with an incredibly diverse diaspora of wildlife. The 119-hectare site houses 3,000 animals. There are 78 species of mammal, 50 forms of reptile, and more than 1oo brands of bird. Admission packages start at Dhs50 for adults (Dhs30 for under 12s), it’s divided into four different villages and offers immersive experiences, such as a Kids’ Farm and the on-rail Safari Journey, to help you live your best Our Planet life.

Al Warqa, daily 9pm to 5pm. @dubaisafari

Go barefoot and fabulous for glam new beach club, The 305 Dubai

The 305 Dubai is a Miami-meets-Palm Springs beach club opening soon on Palm West Beach. Nestled between palm trees, the intriguingly cool beach club is an ode to the Magic City. Guests will be able to top up their tan on the beach, cool down in the pool, and graze on a South Florida-inspired all-day menu.

The 305 Dubai, The Club, Palm West Beach, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai. @305dubai

Tuck in at cool alfresco pizzeria, Franky in Florence

The Park is a new concept brought to you by EatX, the team behind some of our favourite Aussie-inspired cafes and eateries. The concept stretches over three floors, with each floor housing a different concept to create a new foodie hotspot in JLT. Already open are relaxed cafe Splendour Fields and Asian streetfood spot Hawkerboi. But still to come is Franky in Florence, an open-sky Italian on the building’s rooftop, where guests can enjoy an aperitivo spritz and a plate of antipasti or wood fired pizza.

Franky in Florence, The Park, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, opening October 2023. eatx.com

Get a glam new glow up at Beige

A new addition to the beauty scene in Business Bay, Beige is a clean and contemporary salon with a luxurious feel. Inviting ladies to switch off and enjoy a few hours of me-time, it’s a one-stop shop for all of your beauty needs. The extensive salon services range from all of your traditional hair and nail services, but there’s also instantly-calming treatment rooms for lashes, massages and facials, the latter of which are the signature treatment of owner and founder Aneta Pszczolkowska. She’s perfected the art of skincare over the last 15 years, and handpicked a collection of best-in-class products to deliver advanced, results-driven facials for clients that cater to every skin type. Whether you’re starting out with extraction and a light peel, or you’re looking to get that glowing skin with a session of micro needling, Aneta offers consultations and then the best skin treatment to suit each client.

Beige Beauty Salon, Unit 15, Ubora Tower, Business Bay, 11am to 9pm Tues to Sun. Tel: (0)58 582 0502. @beigebeauty.ae

Images: Social and supplied