Top Things to Do Across the UAE This September 2026

The first week of term is behind us, and the UAE's September diary has quietly filled right up. This month runs from Comic Con and a K-pop arena night to a zoo that glows after dark, a European basketball final and more Sunday roasts than any one weekend needs — with a packed few days kicking off right now. Here are the twenty things worth your time across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and beyond this September, starting with this weekend.

This Weekend (Fri 11–Sun 13 September)

Dance to ABBA Aboard the QE2 at Queens Grill, Port Rashid

A retro ocean liner and a floor full of ABBA is a hard combination to argue with — and there's a neat hook: September marks the anniversary of the QE2's 1967 launch. The ship's Saturday Afternoon Party Series takes over Queens Grill from 2–5 pm with live performers and food. ABBA-Esque lands on the 12th, followed by a School Days disco throwback on the 26th. It's a grown-up singalong, not a family afternoon.

When:  Saturday 12 September, 2–5pm (School Days party 26 September)

Location:  Queens Grill, Queen Elizabeth 2, Port Rashid, Dubai

For more information, visit The QE2

Celebrate Rodeo Drive's First Birthday at Ibn Battuta, Dubai

One year in, Dubai's all-American diner-and-hangout is throwing itself a proper party — a weekend-long birthday festival of live music, dancing, food, and wholesome family entertainment at Ibn Battuta. It's the kind of low-commitment, high-energy afternoon that works whether you bring the kids or a group of friends, and the anniversary framing gives it a reason to exist beyond the usual weekend rotation. Go for the atmosphere; stay for the fact that there's rarely a bad time to eat American in Dubai.

When:  11th–13th September

Location:  Rodeo Drive,  Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel

Go Full Fandom at Middle East Film & Comic Con, ADNEC Abu Dhabi

The region's biggest pop-culture weekend is back, and this year Crunchyroll brings its first-ever UAE fan experience to the floor — cosplay, screenings, artist alley and the usual happy chaos across three days at ADNEC. It's the one weekend where dressing as your favourite character is the point, and it lands right now. Tickets are moving fast: VIP and the Saturday day-pass have already sold out, so if you want in, the three-day pass or a Friday/Sunday single is the ticket to grab today rather than at the door.

When:  11–13 September; Fri 3–11pm, Sat & Sun 12–11pm

Location:  ADNEC Centre, Abu Dhabi

Price:  Standard tickets on sale (VIP and Saturday day-pass sold out); confirm current price

For more information, visit Middle East Film & Comic Con

Dated September Events (Book Ahead)

Mark Mexican Independence Day at Chalco's Cantina, Dubai

For a night that isn't another brunch, Chalco's Cantina is marking Mexican Independence Day with a proper fiesta — authentic plates and the sort of loud, celebratory energy the occasion is built for. It's a tidy mid-September fixture for anyone who'd rather mark the date with tacos and mezcal than another rooftop. Round up a group, and go hungry.

When: 15- 16 September

Location:  Chalco's Cantina, Dubai

Atelier Rebul at Bloomingdale’s

A little of Istanbul lands at Dubai Mall. The 130-year-old fragrance house Atelier Rebul opens a pop-up at Bloomingdale’s from 17 September to 26 October, led by İstanbul Golden Hour — a scent built with perfumer Pascal Gaurin around the city’s sunset light, all pear and neroli giving way to warmer, toasted notes. Opening week (17–25 September) sweetens things with complimentary Turkish Delight, engraving, charms and gifting. Worth the detour on your next mall run, even just to sample.

Where: Bloomingdale’s, First Floor, Dubai Mall

When: 17 September – 26 October 2026

Opening week: Complimentary Turkish Delight, 17–25 September

What to expect: Fragrance discovery, sampling, charms, engraving opportunities and exclusive customer gifting

Entry: Open to the public during Bloomingdale’s opening hours

Watch a World Brewers Cup Champion at Work at Kairos, Al Quoz

For coffee obsessives, a rare one: Kairos Coffee Assembly hosts Nas Jaafar, the Malaysian barista crowned 2026 World Brewers Cup Champion, for an afternoon devoted entirely to the pour — a live Poursteady demonstration, a guided tasting and an unhurried Q&A on making one cup as good as the last. Presented by Brewing Gadgets and set in Kairos's Al Quoz roastery-café, it's a ticketed, first-come sitting with one of the industry's most-watched brewers. At AED 150 with limited seats, book ahead if speciality coffee is your thing.

When:  Friday 18 September, 2–5pm

Location:  Kairos Coffee Assembly, 4B Street, Al Quoz Creative Zone, Dubai

Price:  AED 150 per person (first-come, first-served)

For more information, visit Kairos Coffee Assembly

Book a Complimentary Human Identity Signature™ Reading With Liberate Me™

A different sort of September treat, and one with a longer shelf life than a spa day: while Emirati Women’s Month fills up with panels and pledges, Liberate Me™ — the identity methodology Anita Ghosal has built over two decades of one-to-one work — is giving every Emirati woman a complimentary Human Identity Signature™ reading. It’s a bespoke, private session that reads the patterns already shaping your relationships, leadership and purpose, then asks the more interesting question: after everything you’ve already achieved, what comes next? Book it while it’s on — the offer closes at the end of the month.

Price: Complimentary — open to Emirati women only.

When: Throughout September 2026.

Location: A private one-to-one reading, booked online.

For more information, visit Liberate Me™.

Sing Along to BTS and BLACKPINK at K-Pop Fever, Etihad Arena

The K-pop wave shows no sign of breaking, and this full-scale live show rides it hard — a cast of twelve singers and dancers running through fan favourites from BTS, BLACKPINK, KATSEYE and the K-Pop Demon Hunters soundtrack. It's a Saturday night with broad youth-and-family appeal, and the entry price keeps it accessible rather than aspirational. A safe, high-energy bet if you've a house full of teenagers to entertain — just confirm the tier before you buy.

When:  Saturday 26 September

Location:  Etihad Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi

Price:  From AED 95

For more information, visit Etihad Arena

All Month & Recurring

 Reset at Sohum Wellness Sanctuary, Dubai

September in Dubai rarely arrives gently — diaries fill the moment the holidays end. Sohum Wellness Sanctuary is built as the antidote: traditional Ayurvedic rituals like Abhyanga and Shirodhara, yoga, meditation, sound sessions, creative workshops and a plant-based café, dipped into for a single morning class or a whole slow day. The month's highlight is Symphony of Healers on 27 September (2–7pm), an immersive afternoon of wellness modalities, alongside new- and full-moon gatherings, cacao experiences and candle-making through the month. A calmer way into the city's busiest season.

When: Symphony of Healers, 27 September, 2–7 pm; classes and gatherings throughout the month

Location: Sohum Wellness Sanctuary, Dubai

Price: Varies by class/session

For more information, visit Sohum Wellness Sanctuary

Catch an Immersive Show at the Theatre of Digital Art, Souk Madinat Jumeirah

TODA is the reliable pick when you want a night out that isn't just dinner. Its 360-degree space reprogrammes itself by the day — chamber-jazz reworkings of Sinatra and Ella one evening, a children's classic set to live trumpet and piano the next morning — and its sister studio runs hands-on craft workshops nearby. Three very different moods from one venue; check the current week's schedule and pick the one that suits.

When:  Rotating weekly programme through September (check current schedule)

Location:  Theatre of Digital Art, Souk Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai

For more information, visit Theatre of Digital Art

Fill a Weekend at Time Out Market Dubai

The dependable, budget-friendly catch-all when nothing single-event stands out. Time Out Market's rolling weekend programme takes in a resident DJ line-up, weekend breakfasts and Sunday family activities — enough variety that couples and families can both make an afternoon of it without a plan. Not the flashiest entry on this list, but the one you'll actually end up at.

When: Weekends throughout September

Location: Time Out Market, Souk Al Bahar, Downtown Dubai

Price: Many activities free to attend; varies by session

For more information, visit Time Out Market Dubai

Hunt for Homeware Bargains at HushDay's First HOME EDIT, Al Quoz

HushDay made its name on fashion flash sales, so its first home edition is worth a look for the line-up alone: 23 international brands — Lalique crystal, LSA glassware, de Buyer cookware, Peugeot mills, Dr Vranjes fragrance — at up to 90% off. It's treasure-hunt shopping, three days only with no restocks, so what's gone is gone. There are crêpes and valet parking to soften the Al Quoz trek. Time it for the September move-in season and go early on day one for the crystal.

Price: Free to attend; registration required at hushday.com

When: 18–20 September 2026, 9:00 AM–8:00 PM

Location: Area 57, Al Quoz, Dubai

Gather a Team for quizbiz™ Quiz Nights Across Dubai

With routines back and the social calendar restarting, a good pub quiz is an easy, low-cost way to get everyone out midweek. quizbiz is rolling a fresh line-up of quiz nights across Dubai venues all month — the sort of relaxed, competitive evening that needs no dressing up and no big spend. Round up four or five, pick your venue and go defend your general knowledge.

When:  Various nights through September

Location:  Rotating Dubai venues

For more information, visit quizbiz

Be First to Brass Monkey's New Bar and Bowling at Motor City

Freshly opened this month, Brass Monkey pairs a bar with bowling lanes — an easy, group-and-family-friendly spot to claim before everyone else does. Weekend hours run late, so it works for a lazy lunch that drifts into the evening or a proper night of strikes and food.

Location:  Brass Monkey, Motor City, Dubai

Price:  Walk-in; à la carte

Book the Rio Carnival Brunch at Barbossa, Yas Bay

Back after a two-month break, Barbossa's Rio Carnival Brunch returns to Yas Bay every Saturday with the volume right up — feijoada, flame-grilled picanha with chimichurri and a coconut fish bake to start, Caipirinhas and Caipiroskas flowing, and a Latin crowd that treats 1–5pm as a warm-up. It's colour-rich, high-energy and photographs beautifully. And if Saturday's taken, Barbossa runs something most nights — AED 10 Taco Tuesdays included.

When: Every Saturday, 1–5pm

Location: Barbossa, The Pier, Yas Bay Waterfront, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi

For more information, visit Barbossa

Join the Community Poetry Night at the Dubai International Writers' Centre, Al Safa

For a weekend that isn't loud, the Dubai International Writers' Centre has one evening properly worth clearing: a free Community Poetry Night on 18 September, run with Medina Creatives around the theme “The Art of Connection” — live music, featured performers and fresh, multilingual voices. It sits inside a fuller September of free book launches — Jay Palfrey's The Soul That Wandered East on the 19th, Luca Allam's Talk Human on the 25th — with paid workshops if one night leaves you wanting more. A rare, unhurried, screen-free night out.

When:  Community Poetry Night, Friday 18 September, 7–9pm (programme runs all month)

Location:  Emirates Literature Foundation, Al Safa, Dubai

Price:  Free (book launches also free; workshops from AED 55)

For more information, visit Emirates Literature Foundation

Learn to Salsa for Free on Thursdays at Lucky Voice, Dubai

A no-cost way to fill a Thursday and pick up a skill while you're at it: Lucky Voice runs free Salsa and Bachata lessons every week with Project Baila, a Dubai Latin-dance community. Lessons run 7–9pm and are open to everyone — complete beginners included, no partner required — before the night rolls into social dancing so you can actually use what you've just learned. Turn up alone or bring a group; either way it's a livelier Thursday than another dinner, and it won't cost you a thing.

When:  Every Thursday, lessons 7–9pm, social dancing after

Location:  Lucky Voice, Dubai

Price:  Free

For more information, visit Lucky Voice

Make Mondays 'Family Mondays' at The Barrel, Dubai Creek Harbour

A smart antidote to the back-to-school Monday slump: The Barrel at Dubai Creek Harbour turns the week's least-loved night into Family Mondays, with one kids' meal free for every adult main ordered à la carte. The pull for younger diners is the “Little Chef” burger session — ingredients arrive deconstructed to build and personalise their own, and they leave in a name-printed chef's hat with a Polaroid keepsake. Grown-ups without kids in tow get a buy-one-get-one on mains all day. Easy, good value, and a rare reason to look forward to a Monday.

When:  Every Monday, all day

Location:  The Barrel, Vida Creek Beach, Dubai Creek Harbour

Price:  One kids' meal free per adult a la carte main; BOGO on adult mains (offers cannot be combined)

For more information, visit The Barrel

Share the Sky-High 'All In' Roast at The Spaniel, Bluewaters

The roast, but make it a group sport. The Spaniel on Bluewaters has launched an 'All In' sharing roast built for a minimum of four — a generous, stacked take on the British Sunday classic, with more than one meat and no interest in sensible portions. It's the counterpoint to a solo plate: bring the whole table, order once and settle in. For big groups who'd rather share than each order their own, it's the better call.

When:  Every Sunday

Location:  The Spaniel, Bluewaters Island, Dubai

Price:  AED 170 per person

Try Chef Reif Othman's New Menus at CLAP Dubai, DIFC

CLAP, perched on the highest terrace in DIFC, has opened the first phase of a culinary reboot with new chef partner Reif Othman, one of the region's most respected names. There are two ways in: HIRU GOZEN, a weekday business lunch of salmon tataki, seared Angus beef and itame ramen at AED 140; and an evening CLAP x Reif specials menu running to premium tartare with otoro and caviar, oven-baked wagyu short ribs and a matcha pillow. The full à la carte lands in November — this is the early look. Book lunch for value; go at night for the terrace.

When:  Business lunch (HIRU GOZEN) Mon–Fri, 12–5 pm; CLAP x Reif specials daily from 5 pm (Sat from 7 pm)

Location:  CLAP Dubai, Gate Village, DIFC, Dubai

Price:  Business lunch AED 140 per person; evening specials à la carte

For more information, visit CLAP Dubai

Work Through the 'Roni Revolution' at Pizza Di Rocco

September's easiest, greediest challenge: Pizza Di Rocco is giving pepperoni four limited-time spins all month. Keep it classic with the double-pepperoni Roni Roni (AED 59), go loaded with the Italian Stallion (AED 65), or take the sweet-heat route via the Hot Honey Ricotta (AED 55) and the tomato-free Pesto Roni (AED 65). Can't choose? The Four Ronis deal gets all four for AED 199 to share around. It's delivery-friendly across Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Dubai, and they'll even bring a wood-fired oven to your party — order before the revolution wraps on 30 September.

When:  1–30 September

Location:  Pizza Di Rocco — Abu Dhabi, Al Ain & Dubai (dine-in & delivery)

Price:  Ronis AED 55–65; the Four Ronis deal AED 199

For more information, visit Pizza Di Rocco

Collect the Hello Kitty x Bachir Ice Cream Collab, Dubai & Sharjah

A limited-edition sugar hit with collectable bragging rights: Lebanese institution Bachir Ice Cream has teamed up with Hello Kitty for co-branded packaging and merch until the end of October. Order the signature Ashta scoop rolled in pistachios, or build a Mshakkal cone layering up to eight flavours, and it arrives in Hello Kitty x Bachir packaging made for photographing. Fans can also pick up tote bags, tees, keychains and stickers. It's at Bachir's Dubai and Sharjah branches, with delivery across the UAE — one for the Hello Kitty crowd and anyone who treats dessert as a day out.

When:  7 September–31 October 2026

Location:  Bachir — City Walk, City Centre Mirdif & Galleria Mall (Dubai); AlJada (Sharjah). Delivery across Abu Dhabi, Dubai & Sharjah

Price:  Varies (scoops, cones, tubs & merchandise)

For more information, visit Bachir Ice Cream.

Escape for 'Romance by the Cove' at The Cove Rotana, Ras Al Khaimah

Just far enough to feel like a getaway: The Cove Rotana has added Romance by the Cove, a private beachfront dinner for two on the shoreline — a choice of Arabic, Fusion or Seafood three-course menus, each with a bottle of sparkling, from AED 899 a couple. Build a weekend around it with a pool villa (from AED 1,199 half-board, children under 12 stay and dine free), a Saturday Coastal Brunch at Basilico or the AED 99 Sunday Roast. It's close enough for a Friday escape and quiet enough to switch off — book the villa and make a proper weekend of it.

When:  Romance by the Cove — daily, on reservation (offers run through September)

Location:  The Cove Rotana Resort, Ras Al Khaimah

Price:  Romance by the Cove from AED 899 per couple; pool villa from AED 1,199 per night (half board)

For more information, visit The Cove Rotana Resort