A free night in a hotel (when you iftar), an evening tour of Dubai’s artiest ‘burb and a sports tournament inside Dubai Opera.

Here are 12 things to do in Dubai this weekend…

Thursday 8

1. Iftar at a brand new restaurant

Australian-Lebanese (but Dubai-based) chef and cookbook writer Greg Malouf has just opened a new restaurant in the H Hotel, and this iftar is a great way to check it out. The mocktails are inventive – try the bitter rhubarb one – and the food is too: the labneh is flavoured with saffron and desserts include a peach and apricot pavlova. You’ll be served mezza, two mains and then a variety of desserts and it’s Dhs190 a head.

H Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road, Trade Centre, daily sunset to 9.30pm. Tel: (04) 501 8606. zahira.ae.

2. Spend the evening at Al Serkal Ave

Throughout the month of Ramadan, the galleries at Al Serkal Avenue will extend their timings and be open from 8pm to 11pm, and there will be guided tours at 8.30pm and 9.30pm (these start at Nadi Al Quoz, where you’ll also find food trucks and even board game tournaments).

Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz, 8pm to 11pm (iftar at some venues at sunset). More info on Facebook.

3. Go to the Opera, to watch squash

The world’s best squash players are in Dubai this week for the 2017 PSA Dubai World Series Finals. Running from now until Saturday June 10, this is the first sporting event to be held at the iconic building in Downtown Dubai, and will take place in a state-of-the-art glass court. Read more about it here.

Dubai Opera, Downtown Dubai, Dubai, Tue to Thur, 3pm and 9.30pm, Fri and Sat 9.30pm, Dhs50 to Dhs350. Tel: (04) 4408888. Metro: Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall. dubaiopera.com

4. Watch great British theatre (on the big screen)

This month’s National Theatre Live screening at The Courtyard Playhouse is Obsession, a stage play directed by Ivo van Hove and starring Jude Law. The excellent British actor plays a handsome drifter whose romantic affair takes a deadly turn.

Courtyard Playhouse, Street 4B, Al Quoz, Dubai, Thurs 8pm to 11pm, free. Tel: (050) 9861761. More info on website.

Friday 9

5. Sample some of the city’s best Vietnamese

If you’re not fasting this month, then a top spot for a discreet lunch is Wox at the Grand Hyatt – which is basically a small room with two wok stations where fresh noodles and stir fries are whipped up. It gets busy though, so try and get there for an early lunch (or a late lunch in fact). Find 109 other places open for Ramadan daytime dining here.

Grand Hyatt, Bur Dubai, Dubai, daily noon to 11.30pm. Tel: (04) 3172221. Taxi: Grand Hyatt. More info on website.

6. Go to an iftar and get a hotel stay for free

Hilton Dubai The Walk has a great deal at the moment that means if you book an iftar for two people at Oceana (Dhs215 per per person) you will get a free night’s stay at the hotel. You have to stay on the same night that you dine and it’s subject to availability, so phone ahead. You can also only get four rooms per booking (so if you want to go as a group it will only work for tables of eight).

Hilton Dubai The Walk, JBR, throughout Ramadan. Dhs430 for the room and iftar for two (Dhs15 tourism fee also needs to be paid). Tel: (04) 318 2221. More info on website.

7. Go for a night run

Dubai Running are hosting a night run tonight to fit in with fasting schedules – you’ll find a 3km, 5km and 10km race, so there’s something for everyone. All finishers will get a medal, the top three in each category will take home a trophy and there’s a raffle too.

Dubai Autodrome, Dubai Motor City, race starts at 10.15pm, entry from Dhs95. More info here. Register here.

8. Visit a huge new escape room

Escape Reality on Sheikh Zayed Road features eight themed rooms, which you and your team need to escape from. Among the highlights are a jungle-themed one, one based on the Saw franchise, a number of horror-themed ones and, our favourite, the Game Of Thrones room. As usual, you’ve got one hour to solve the riddles and escape, but there’s an iPad that you can resort to if you need a hint. A word of warning, though: taking that hint will add five minutes to your total time. It’s the perfect Ramadan activity.

Escape Reality, Indigo Sky Building, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, Sun to Thur noon to 10.30pm, Fri and Sat noon to midnight, Dhs110 for four players on weekdays, Dhs130 weekends. Tel: (04) 332777. Metro: FGB. escapereality.com

9. Dine at a new Japanese spot

After closing its outlet in The Dubai Mall last year, world-famous Japanese restaurant Katsuya by Starck has reopened its doors at the chic new Jumeirah Al Naseem hotel, and is open for daytime dining throughout Ramadan. There are loads of signature sushi rolls to choose from, as well as a few surprises on the menu (think “edamame hummus”).

Katsuya by Starck, Jumeirah Al Naseem, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, open daily, midday to 1am. Tel: (04) 419 0676, more information on website. 

Saturday 10

10. Watch sports in a tent

Keen to catch up on the Lions tour game today? Or are you an avid America’s Cup fan? Well, Aussie-themed bar Bidi Bondi has set up a special air-conditioned tent that’s dedicated to both tournaments (and will be up until the end of July at least). There are 17 HD screens and Dhs1,000 in official Emirates Team New Zealand merchandise to be won.

Clubhouse Al Manhal, Shoreline Apartments, Palm Jumeirah, 10am to midnight, daily. Tel: (04) 427 0515. More info on website.

11. Dine at a Floridian-inspired pop up

Right on the sand at Nikki Beach Resort & Spa you’ll discover a new beach pop up on Saturday nights that serves Caribbean and Floridian food in a truly laidback setting. Definitely order the jerk chicken. The pop up is open from sunset to 10pm every Saturday.

Nikki Beach Resort & Spa, Jumeirah 1, Dubai, from sunset, Saturdays. Tel: (04) 376 6000 . More info on Facebook.

12. Finish the weekend with a free gong meditation

At Eco Yoga Sanctuary tonight you’ll find a free 60 minute gong meditation that includes chants, hand mudras and breath work. A way to wind down your weekend that will put you in a blissful state.

Eco Yoga Sanctuary, first floor, The Village Mall, Jumeirah 1, 8pm to 9pm, free (but bookings essential and you’ll need to show your booking reference when you arrive). Tel: (04) 385 6633. More info on Facebook.

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Photos: Supplied