The October Edit: 11 New Openings and Launches Across the UAE

October is bringing a fresh mix of openings and launches across the UAE. From a homegrown café returning to its Jumeirah roots and a London dining favourite making its Dubai debut to new creative spaces, fitness destinations and international brands entering the market, there's plenty to catch up on. Here are 11 additions worth having on your radar this month.

1.  Third Avenue, Sharjah

Third Avenue has opened a more intimate outpost in Sharjah, swapping the scale of its Fashion Avenue address for a 25-seat restaurant in Al Qarayen, with soft curves, warm lighting, a circular centrepiece counter and a curved glass wall looking into Khaltat Boutique next door.

That means dinner can easily turn into a fragrance stop. On the Italian–Mediterranean menu, look for the Beetroot Carpaccio, Bergamot Rigatoni and Truffle Mascarpone Pizza, then finish with the pistachio Oro Verde.

Where: Shop 25, 56 2 St, Al Qarayen 4, Sharjah

More info: Third Avenue

2. Club 15, Al Quoz

Dubai's newest sports club is practically a neighbourhood of its own. Founded by Lebanese basketball legend Fadi El Khatib, Club 15 is set to open in Al Quoz this month, spanning 15,000sqm. The name is a nod to his jersey number, now worn by his sons, while the facilities include a two-floor gym, rooftop training deck, seven indoor padel courts and three full-size basketball courts.

Recovery gets its own considerable space, with a 25-metre heated pool, ice baths, an infrared sauna and a dedicated physiotherapy clinic. There's also Reformer Pilates, boxing, yoga and a range of children's activities, from parkour to gymnastics and youth academies. In short, there's enough here to keep the whole family occupied well beyond a workout.

Where: Al Quoz, Dubai (off Al Khail Road)

More info: Club 15

3. TRIO Café, Jumeirah

TRIO has returned to where it all began. Its very first site, a 2021 drive-through on 22nd Street, has been rebuilt as a full café in the brand's signature language of curves and three materials. Come for the single-origin V60 pour-overs and the marble matcha range from its sub-brand Cult Matcha. Stay for sweet toasts, the bakery's viennoiserie, and Emirati-inspired desserts drawn from the founder's childhood table.

Where: 22nd Street, Umm Suqeim 2, Jumeirah, Dubai

More info: TRIO

4. Kricket, Vida Emirates Hills

One for the diary. Kricket started in 2015 as a 20-seat restaurant in a shipping container at Pop Brixton, grew into four London neighbourhood spots, and won a Michelin Bib Gourmand for its Soho site in its first year. Now it’s heading to Vida Emirates Hills, its first permanent home outside the UK.

Expect its signature approach to regional Indian cooking, seasonal ingredients and sharing plates. Co-founder Will Bowlby is developing the Dubai menu alongside Colin Clague, whose CV includes Zuma Dubai and Burj Al Arab. An opening date has yet to be announced, but this is one to keep on the dining radar.

Where: Vida Emirates Hills, Dubai

More info: Kricket

5. Bluewaters x Studio Thirteen, Dubai

Seven artist-led galleries have opened at The Wharf on Bluewaters as part of Dubai Culture's Creative Spaces initiative. They're curated with Studio Thirteen, the Al Quoz artist studio, and each artist was given free rein over their own space.

Look out for work by Rania Kamal, Athy Petrochilos, Rabab Tantawy and Fink 22, spanning calligraphy, murals, photography and installation. Free to visit, the galleries are open daily until December, with monthly workshops, hands-on sessions and artist talks adding another reason to return.

Where: The Wharf, Bluewaters, Dubai

More info: Bluewaters

6. Em Sherif Deli, Al Ain

Al Ain gets a taste of Beirut. Em Sherif Deli has opened its third UAE location, and its first outside Dubai, at Al Mutarid Lifestyle Centre, following One Central and Galleria Mall. The Deli concept began in London’s Harrods Food Hall in 2022, and the Al Ain space is all blonde wood, earthy tones and warm lighting across 50 seats indoors and out. Chef Yasmina Hayek's menu takes a more casual approach, with shawarma, mezze, sandwiches and homemade desserts available to eat in or take away.

Where: Al Mutarid Lifestyle Centre, Al Ain

More info: Em Sherif

7. Britax Römer

German child car-seat specialist Britax Römer has officially entered the UAE market, bringing its range of infant and child seats to local families. The launch includes the BABY-SAFE PRO infant carrier with its flatter Ergo Recline position, the rotating DUALFIX 5Z and the SWIVEL 2, designed to accommodate rearward-facing travel up to 105cm.

The range also includes the ADVANSAFIX PRO, which adapts as children grow. Parents looking to understand the different models and installation options can get a closer look at the brand's stand during Baby & Kids Expo, taking place from 22–24 October at Dubai Exhibition Centre.

Where: Baby & Kids Expo, Stand B140, Dubai Exhibition Centre (22–24 October)

More info: Britax Römer

8. Miramira, Dalma Mall

Founded in Madrid in 2022, Miramira has grown to around 300 stores in more than 25 countries, and its first UAE store is now open. The brand sits between fast-fashion accessories and fine jewellery, and its pieces are 14-karat gold-finished stainless steel made to resist water and everyday wear. The appeal lies in everyday pieces: stackable rings, layered necklaces, and jewellery designed to be worn on repeat rather than saved for an occasion.

Where: Dalma Mall, Abu Dhabi

More info: Miramira

9. Biolane

French baby skincare brand Biolane is making its UAE debut this October. Founded in 1972, the brand's range covers everyday essentials, from bath time and nappy changes to moisturising, alongside Topilane, a dedicated line for atopic-prone skin.

Selected formulas contain ingredients such as sweet almond oil, sunflower seed oil and zinc oxide, with a focus on gentle everyday care. Parents can discover the range and pick up samples at Baby & Kids Expo from 22–24 October, ahead of its wider retail rollout across the UAE and Oman.

Where: Baby & Kids Expo, Dubai Exhibition Centre (22–24 October), then major UAE retailers

More info: Biolane

10. WHOOP, now in Arabic

WHOOP now speaks Arabic. The performance wearable has launched a fully redesigned Arabic-language app, so members can read their sleep, recovery, strain and health insights in Arabic for the first time.

The launch comes as WHOOP expands its regional presence, with GCC membership reportedly growing by more than 75 per cent year on year and a dedicated UAE office now in place. New members can also explore the platform through a one-month free trial, subject to the brand's current membership terms.

Where: UAE (app and retail)

More info: WHOOP

11. AKA Sushi, Mileo The Palm

Palm Jumeirah has a new address for date night. AKA Sushi has opened inside Mileo The Palm, with Osaka-born Executive Chef Hisatsugu Muneta in charge of the kitchen. He brings 21 years spent cooking across Japan, Hong Kong and Dubai, and a menu that balances the classics with a few showpieces.

Order the Yakiniku Roll, layered with 9+ striploin, caviar and gold leaf, or the Wagyu Sando with fresh truffle, and save room for the miso black cod. As the evening progresses, a live DJ shifts the mood from dinner to a late-night outing, making it an address worth keeping in mind for more than just the sushi.

Where: Mileo The Palm, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai

More info: AKA Sushi

Missed last month's round-up? Catch up on 15 New Openings, Launches and Experiences to Know This September.