MEFCC, Dubai Opera's 10th anniversary and a concert held in darkness headline the weekendLast updated: September 10, 2026 | 14:084 MIN READDubai: From a leisurely brunch overlooking the Corniche to Abu Dhabi's biggest pop culture weekend of the year, here's where to spend your time across the UAE right now.1. A Taste of the Sea at CatchA trio of handcrafted tacos bringing together premium seafood and refined Japanese influences, a playful twist on the restaurant's signature coastal cuisine. The Atlantic Salmon Taco comes with sudachi mayo, pickled takuan, togarashi cucumber and masago arare, the Crab Lump Taco pairs yuzu kosho tartar with avocado purée and yuzu gel, and the Yellowfin Tuna Taco layers baby gem, yuzu togarashi, jalapeño and shiso leaf.When: Daily, 12pm to 12amWhere: Catch, The St. Regis Abu DhabiPrice: Dh75 per person for three tacos2. Premier League football at OffsideEvery Premier League fixture live across 29 screens, including two of the city's largest, alongside pub food, pool tables and interactive darts.When: Throughout the weekend, with drinks from Dh30 Friday to Sunday, 12pm to 5pmWhere: Offside, JA Ocean View Hotel, JBRPrice: Selected beverages from Dh303. Stay and Play with RoveA staycation built for families, with tickets to either Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo or Dubai Ice Rink included in the room rate.When: Available until 30 SeptemberWhere: Rove Downtown and Rove City WalkPrice: From Dh2494. Indian Lunch and themed nights at Centro BarshaA Sunday buffet with pool access, alongside a rotating run of themed evenings through the week: Street Food Night on Thursdays, Arabic Theme Night on Fridays and Filipino Theme Night on Saturdays.When: Indian Lunch, Sundays 12.30pm to 3.30pm; themed nights, Thursday to Saturday from 6.30pmWhere: Centro Barsha DubaiPrice: Dh69 for the Indian Lunch, from Dh59 for themed nights5. Dubai Opera's 10th Anniversary GalaA single landmark evening marking ten years of the venue, headlined by soprano Fatma Said with the UAE National Orchestra under Maestro Ahmed Farag. The programme opens with a world premiere orchestral piece commissioned for the occasion, moves through operatic classics from Verdi, Puccini and Bizet, a contemporary dance segment from Lyon Opera Ballet, and a tribute to Arab icons including Fairouz and Dalida, before closing with Verdi's La Traviata.When: Saturday 12 September, doors 7pm, performance 8pmWhere: Dubai OperaPrice: From Dh5506. Jasmine Sandlas at Coca-Cola ArenaThe Punjabi singer brings The Dream Girl Tour to Dubai for a night built around her fanbase, with a dedicated Gulabi fan segment woven into the set.When: Sunday 13 September, doors 7pm, show 8pmWhere: Coca-Cola ArenaPrice: From Dh1877. ABBA-Esque Party aboard the QE2A Saturday afternoon party built entirely around ABBA's catalogue, with live performers, party food and unlimited drinks running for three hours on Dubai's floating hotel.When: Saturday 12 September, 2pm to 5pmWhere: Theatre by QE2Price: From Dh3998. Blind SymphonyA chamber concert performed entirely in darkness, using more than 70 rare instruments gathered from different musical traditions, with a programme spanning Bach, Arvo Pärt, Philip Glass, Max Richter and Ludovico Einaudi.When: Sunday 13 SeptemberWhere: The New Covent Garden TheatrePrice: From Dh2409. Mr. Kind's Back-to-School ShowA new theatrical show for children built around the first day of school, covering morning routines, classroom kindness and standing up to bullying, with a backstage meet and greet included for family tickets.When: Sunday 13 SeptemberWhere: The JunctionPrice: From Dh77.5010. QE2 Silver ScreenA weekend cinema series for staycation guests, with screenings at 11am, 4pm and 8pm rotating between family favourites like Toy Story and Inside Out and cult classics such as The Matrix and The Dark Knight.When: This weekend, 12 to 13 SeptemberWhere: The Theatre by QE2Price: Complimentary for staycation guests, rooms from Dh229 a nightMEFCC returns to Abu DhabiIf one weekend event is worth building a trip around, it's this one. Middle East Film & Comic Con returns to ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi, marking its 14th edition and last year's turnout of more than 46,000 fans.This year's Meet the Stars line-up includes John Cena, Mackenyu, Joonas Suotamo, Arden Cho, Pom Klementieff, Jacob Romero Gibson and Charithra Chandran, alongside a cosplay competition carrying a Dh60,000 prize pool and three days of gaming, artist alley and anime programming.When: 11 to 13 SeptemberWhere: ADNEC Centre Abu DhabiPrice: One-day tickets from Dh160, three-day passes from Dh390Also In This PackageI’m a passionate journalist and creative writer graduate specialising in arts, culture, and storytelling. My work aims to engage readers with stories that inspire, inform, and celebrate the richness of human experience. From arts and entertainment to technology, lifestyle, and human interest features, I aim to bring a fresh perspective and thoughtful voice to every story I tell.Get Updates on Topics You ChooseUp Next