Your summer bucket list, sorted
If you’re spending June 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 June.
Check out a cool homegrown coffee house, Cherry House
Seven years in the making, Cherry House is already the most talked-about café opening in recent memory — and it hasn’t even been open a month. Founded by Emirati entrepreneur Mohamed Matar Al Koas Al Falasi (the man behind Saddle and Feels), this Al Safa 1 gem takes coffee back to its roots, literally. Named after the fruit from which coffee beans come, it features the UAE’s first-ever overhead belting system, transporting freshly roasted beans through transparent pipes across the ceiling. The result is part café, part theatre, fully immersive experience.
Where: Al Safa 1, off Sheikh Zayed Road
Visit: @cherryhouse
Shop up a storm at the new Primark store
It’s been one of the most anticipated retail arrivals in UAE history, and now it’s finally here. The Irish fashion giant has landed in Dubai with not one but three stores: Dubai Mall, City Centre Mirdif and – as of last week – Mall of the Emirates, bringing its famously wallet-friendly price tags to the region. Think jeans from Dhs50, basic tees from Dhs15, and rails upon rails of womenswear, menswear, kidswear, homewares and beauty all under one very satisfying roof.
Where: Dubai Mall, City Centre Mirdif & Mall of the Emirates
Visit: @primark.me
Sing along with The Beach Boys at the Coca-Cola Arena
Good vibrations are heading to City Walk this June, as The Beach Boys bring their 60 Years of Pet Sounds tour to Dubai for the very first time. Led by Mike Love and packed with six decades of timeless sun-soaked anthems, from Wouldn’t It Be Nice and California Girls to Good Vibrations and Kokomo, this is your chance to see one of the most iconic acts in rock history live.
Where: Coca-Cola Arena, City Walk
Price: From Dhs199
Visit: @cocacolaarena
Pop by Aimé Leon Dore’s Middle Eastern debut
The coolest streetwear brand on the planet has finally landed in Dubai, and it’s done things properly. New York label Aimé Leon Dore has taken over Ounass’s new immersive retail concept, Ounass Stage, for a summer-long residency that’s part boutique, part gallery, part café. Expect Teddy Santis’s impeccable Queens-meets-Ivy League collections alongside curated vintage pieces, a parked Porsche 911SC, and the full Café Leon Dore experience. This is the only place in the Middle East you can shop ALD in person, FYI.
Where: Ounass Stage, Huna Living
Visit: @ounassstage
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
Watch the World Cup at an epic fan zone
The 2026 World Cup is finally here, and McGettigan’s has set up what is shaping up to be Dubai’s best fan zone at Bla Bla by McGettigan’s. All 104 matches will screen across big-format screens, with live entertainment between games, brand activations on key match days and the kind of atmosphere that makes late-night kick-offs from the US feel entirely worth it. Tickets start from Dhs60, fully redeemable on food and drinks. The opening match kicks off on June 11 at 11pm GST.
Where: Bla Bla by McGettigan’s, JBR
Price: From Dhs60 (fully redeemable on F&B)
Visit: @blablabymcgettigans
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
Cool off with a drink at the Bench x Matcha Al Bateen pop-up in Abu Dhabi
The Bench, one of Abu Dhabi’s most beloved homegrown café concepts, has set up a dreamy summer pop-up at Al Bateen Ladies Club by Matcha, and the setting is genuinely spectacular. Think sea views, beachfront relaxation and The Bench’s signature cold brews and specialty drinks served steps from the Arabian Gulf. Day passes to the club are available from Dhs150 per person.
Where: Al Bateen Ladies Club by Matcha, Al Bateen Beach
Price: Day passes from Dhs150; café items from Dhs30
Visit: @thebench.ad, @albateen
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
Slurp your way through a bowl of authentic ramen at Shiogensui
Ramen fans, this one’s for you. Shiogensui has quietly opened in Cluster Y, JLT, bringing the slow-cooked broths and traditional recipes of Osaka’s ramen scene to Dubai. The concept is as focused and pared-back as great ramen should be, and the star of the show is the shio ramen, crafted from scratch with obsessive attention to every ingredient. It’s walk-ins only, there’s no Monday service, and it’s already generating serious word of mouth. Order the chicken karaage on the side. You won’t regret it.
Where: Cluster Y, Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai
Visit: @shiogensui_dxb
Plan date night around Abu Dhabi’s hottest new restaurant, Isabel Mayfair
Born on one of West London’s most well-heeled streets, Isabel Mayfair has made its international debut right here in Abu Dhabi. Set inside The Galleria on Al Maryah Island, this beautifully designed restaurant channels the glamour of the Mayfair original: blue velvet seating, glimmering lights, polished marble and a menu from French chef Vincent Visinet that spans ceviche and stracciatella through to slow-cooked beef short ribs and pistachio fondant. Go for the Dhs100 three-course lunch set menu, it’s exceptional value.
Where: The Galleria, Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi
Visit: @isabelabudhabi
Get the festive feels with a halfway to Christmas show at the QE2
Because the UAE is officially a place where Christmas comes twice a year. Dubai’s beloved Theatre by QE2 is marking the halfway point to Christmas with a suitably festive show aboard the iconic floating hotel at Mina Rashid. Taking place on June 12 and 13, expect a glamorous dinner cabaret night full of live vocals, comedy, magic, speciality acts, festive favourites, and iconic anthems. Tickets include a three-course meal, plus the evening show, from Dhs395
Where: The Grand Lounge, QE2 Dubai, Mina Rashid
Price: Tickets from Dhs395
Visit: @theatrebyqe2
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