Your summer bucket list, sorted
If you’re spending August 2026 in the UAE, there’s plenty of ways to switch up how you’re spending the month. From the restaurant reservations to make to where to sip, sweat and shop, here are the best things to do in the UAE this August.
Work up a sweat at a stunning new health club
Built for people who take their training seriously, ARKHE is Dubai’s new all-in-one fitness and wellness space. Located in Dubai Marina, it brings together state-of-the-art training spaces, HYROX, personal training, unlimited recovery with cold plunges, saunas, red light and hyperbaric oxygen therapy, longevity programmes, Dubai’s first PILAT3S Dynamic Reformer Pilates studio and an all-day café under one roof. The gym floor is open now, with the full club experience launching in September.
Where: Dubai Marina
Visit: @arkhe.club
Grab some all-day eats from Crunch
The Crunch has just landed on Al Wasl Road in Jumeirah 1, opening its doors on August 1. Founded by husband-and-wife chefs Mukhtar Kosbayev and Anastassiya Kosbayeva, the all-day restaurant, bakery, and speciality coffee spot serves everything from breakfast and pastries to sourdough and seasonal dishes, all wrapped in a warm interior of copper and amber tones, marble tables, and hand-blown glass.
Where: Al Wasl Road, Jumeirah 1
Visit: @thecrunchdxb
Sing along as Cocomelon lands at the Etihad Arena
CoComelon: Sing-A-Long LIVE brings JJ, Cody, Nina and the rest of the gang to Abu Dhabi for two days only on August 15 and 16, with a special appearance from Blippi. Expect an interactive musical romp through favourites like Wheels on the Bus, designed as little ones’ first taste of live theatre. Tickets from Dhs75.
Where: Etihad Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
Visit: @etihadarena.ae
Check out the coolest new hand roll bar, Shinobi
From the team behind Kraken comes Shinobi, an underground-style handroll bar where Tokyo precision meets New York grit. Think neon signage, a repurposed subway train for seating and a U-shaped counter where chefs hand you made-to-order rolls, alongside nigiri, sashimi, tacos and more.
Where: Villa 8, Al Wasl Road, Jumeirah, Dubai
Visit: @shinobidubai
Let little ones blow off some steam at Explorers
Dubai’s newest family destination combines free-play adventure with expert-led workshops under one roof. Wildwood Treetops brings a suspended net world of towers, tunnels and slides, Little Acorns is a dedicated toddler zone, and River Play offers STEM-inspired sensory stations, plus workshops in cooking, pottery, woodworking and more.
Where: City Centre Mirdif, Dubai
Visit: @explorersuae
Try pickleball at ICD’s pop-up indoor court
As part of its summer programme, ICD Brookfield Place has installed a custom-built, fully air-conditioned pickleball court in the Summer Court, running alongside a calendar of wellness, art and food activations. Bookings run separately through the Picklers app, right through until August 16.
Where: The Summer Court, Level 1, ICD Brookfield Place, Dubai
Visit: @icdbrookfieldplace
Check out The Grand, Dubai’s new mall
From August 19, Nad Al Sheba Gardens welcomes its first retail and lifestyle destination. Waitrose & Partners is an anchor tenant alongside MMI, Heart Cottage Lane, Maple Bear Nursery, Al Jaber Optical and Fixperts, making this a handy destination for local residents. But there’s more reasons for foodies to travel to check it out, with openings from Tashas, Kokoro, Blu Pizzeria and Bake My Day coming in the next few weeks.
Where: Nad Al Sheba Gardens, Dubai
Visit: @thegrandnasg
Enjoy a celebration of the King of Pop at This Is Michael in Abu Dhabi
Led by performer Lenny Jay, whose vocal and physical resemblance to Michael Jackson has drawn global attention, This Is Michael is a two-hour tribute production packed with more than 20 hits, full choreography and a live band, including guitarist Jennifer Batten, who toured with Jackson himself. It’s happening on Yas Island for one night only on August 22, with tickets from Dhs160.
Where: Etihad Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
Visit: @etihadarena.ae
Pop by Dubai’s first On store
Swiss running brand On has opened its debut UAE store, a 265-square-metre space on the ground floor of Mall of the Emirates stocking its full range of CloudTec running shoes, technical apparel and accessories for running, training, tennis and everyday wear.
Where: Ground Floor, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai
Visit: @malloftheemirates
Plan date night around Berenjak, now open in Abu Dhabi
London’s beloved Persian kitchen has arrived in the capital, its third UAE outpost after Dubai and Sharjah. Set across two floors of a standalone villa with dark oak seating, aged brass tabletops and Persian artwork, the menu leans on smoky mangal-grilled kababs and slow-cooked stews, plus an Abu Dhabi exclusive: Persian tea ice cream.
Where: The House, Al Bateen, Abu Dhabi
Visit: @berenjak.uae
Listen to some live music at Le Piaf
Paris has been keeping this one to itself for nearly a decade — but Dubai has finally been let in on the secret. Le Piaf, the legendary piano bar concept by Paris Society, made its Middle East debut at Jumeirah Emirates Towers last month, bringing red velvet banquettes, gilded mirrors, crystal chandeliers and the irresistible energy of a Parisian late-night to DIFC. Evenings begin with a live pianist and French-inflected dining, before gradually building into something entirely unpredictable. Dress up. Stay late. Don’t make plans for the morning.
Where: Jumeirah Emirates Towers, DIFC
Visit: @lepiaf_restaurant_dubai
See a blockbuster at Abu Dhabi’s newest cinema
Cinemacity Starlight at Marina Mall isn’t your average trip to the movies. Abu Dhabi’s newest entertainment destination blends cinema, dining and live experiences into one beautifully designed space, headlined by a flagship 500-seat Starlight Theatre that doubles as a premiere and performance venue. With nine screens, a full F&B programme and an atmosphere designed to keep you lingering well after the credits roll, this is what a proper night at the pictures looks like in 2026.
Where: Marina Mall, Abu Dhabi
Price: From Dhs40 per ticket
Visit: @cinemacityuae
Get competitive over a game of golf at the new 5 Iron
Indoor golf just levelled up in Dubai. Five Iron Golf has opened its second UAE location in the heart of Business Bay, this time a sleek, 6,500 sq ft venue inside DAMAC Towers by Paramount. Inside, you’ll find five Trackman simulator bays, augmented reality games, a fully stocked sports bar and Callaway club fitting sessions. Whether you’re a seasoned player or just looking for something different to do after work, it’s a genuinely great time, with no sun exposure required.
Where: DAMAC Towers by Paramount, Business Bay, Dubai
Price: From Dhs120
Visit: @fiveirongolf.uae
Swing by Central Park Dubai for a morning walk
Dubai has its very own Central Park — and it’s a big one. Spanning over 82,700 square metres in Jebel Ali’s Wasl Gate community, this brand new public green space is open to everyone (not just residents) and is perfectly designed for early morning walks before the heat sets in. Expect wide shaded paths, running and cycling tracks, basketball courts, a skate park, open lawns and food trucks. It’s free, it’s vast, and it’s accessible directly from the Energy Metro Station on the Red Line.
Where: Wasl Gate, Jebel Ali
Get your thrills at No Grip, a new drift karting experience
Forget everything you know about go-karting. No Grip DXB has just opened in Al Quoz 3 and it does things differently. This is the world’s first two-level indoor drift-karting track, where specially tuned karts and polished concrete surfaces are designed to keep you sliding, spinning and grinning. Alongside the main track, you’ll find racing simulators, arcade games and a chilled pit-stop café for post-session recovery. Sessions are open to anyone aged 12 and above with a minimum height of 130cm.
Where: Al Ghurair Warehouse Complex, Al Quoz 3, Dubai
Price: From Dhs120 per session
Visit: @nogrip.dxb
Work on your tan at Dubai’s new Bvlgari beach club
The Bvlgari Resort has opened Serpenti Beach Club at La Spiaggia on Jumeira Bay Island, and it’s as glamorous as it sounds. Non-guests can now access this exclusive coastal retreat on a first-come, first-served basis, with weekday access priced at Dhs500 per person (fully redeemable on food and drinks). Expect pristine loungers, signature Bvlgari cocktails, fresh fruit and light bites, plus those unforgettable views of the Arabian Gulf from one of Dubai’s most exclusive island addresses. Weekend access is Dhs650 per person.
Where: Bvlgari Resort Dubai, Jumeira Bay Island, Dubai
Price: From Dhs500 (weekdays, fully redeemable)
Visit: @bvlgariresortdubai
Stay active all summer at Dubai Sports World
The UAE’s greatest antidote to the summer heat is back for its 16th edition, and it’s bigger than ever. Dubai Sports World takes over Za’abeel Halls 2 to 6 at the Dubai World Trade Centre from June 19, transforming one of the city’s largest indoor spaces into a fully air-conditioned sporting paradise. From football and basketball, to padel, pickleball, cricket and table tennis, there’s something for everyone, alongside coaching academies, a gym, a jogging track and Dubai Kids World for the little ones. Whether you’re booking a court with friends or signing the kids up for summer camp, this is the summer activity sorted.
Where: Za’abeel Halls 2–6, Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai
Price: Varies by sport
Visit: @dubaisportsworld