May 2: Eat Green
The Dubai Food Festival is set to return for its ninth edition, the programme featuring two weeks worth of culinary events across the city. Our pick? The Vegetarian Chef’s Table from May 2 to 15 at Avatara, the first and only all-vegetarian fine dining experience in Dubai. Here, the menu is inspired by humble seasonal ingredients that are pure, clean, natural, and energy-boosting, translating into a reincarnation of soulful Indian food.
Learn more here.
May 8: Revisit the Classics
Catering to fans of classical music, the InClassica International Music Festival returns to the city for its eleventh edition. Taking place at Dubai Opera and running from May 8 to June 2, the series of concerts will showcase renowned soloists, orchestras, and conductors from across the globe performing works by the likes of Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Mozart.
Learn more here.
May 10: Capture Nature
Start your day deep in the dunes with the Al Qudra Desert photo walk led by Gulf Photo Plus. With the assistance of a professional photographer, participants will be challenged to capture the essence of Al Qudra desert and Al Qudra lakes, gaining exposure to the colours, textures, flora, fauna, and atmosphere of the desert.
Learn more here.
May 12: Laugh Aloud
Laughter has been proven to strengthen the immune system, diminish pain, and protect from the damaging effects of stress, so attending a citywide comedy festival spanning 11 days feels like a no-brainer. That’s right – the Dubai Comedy Festival is back after two successful sell-out seasons, bringing with it stand-up gigs by acclaimed comedians like Russell Peters and Jo Koy alongside variety shows and activations like Comedy Bazaar.
Learn more here.
May 13: Enter the Metaverse
While the term ‘metaverse’ remains both vague and complex, it is indicative of a major shift in how we interact with technology. Case in point: the Digital Extravaganza exhibition at Theatre of Digital Art. Taking place from May 13 to August 31, the exhibition invites visitors to imagine themselves as travellers on a multisensory narrative journey, exploring unknown lands before finally immersing in the Metaverse gallery, thereby witnessing different perspectives of visual art.
Learn more here.
May 16: Chant Along
Because May’s full Moon is a total lunar eclipse and part of a set of eclipses falling along the Taurus-Scorpio axis (from November 2021 to October 2023), it is one of several cosmic pushes towards understanding and improving our attachments, financial state, and intimate life. Enter: the Lunar Eclipse Chanting session led by Eda Gungor at Seva. Incidentally, ‘man’ means mind and ‘tra’ means wave or projection, and putting it together translates to the sound current that controls mental vibration.
Learn more here.
May 21: Make Amends
Family relationships are some of the most complex ones out there, often riddled with conflict and miscommunication – and that’s where the Family Constellations workshop at Illuminations comes in. Led by holistic psychotherapist Irina Khanna, the day-long session will help you heal on a deep energetic level, addressing painful family situations and releasing blocks in the unconscious mind that limit growth, health, and happiness.
Learn more here.
May 23: Heal from Heartbreak
Coping with the breakdown or end of a committed romantic relationship is never easy, and there could be collateral damage, but healing is made a little easier with the free Heartbreak Support Group at The LightHouse Arabia. Designed for men and women over the age of 21, it’s led by a clinical psychologist and aims to provide a safe space to share, connect, seek support, and explore the challenges that come with break-ups.
Learn more here.
May 29: Indulge Your Inner Child
The Palestine in Plasticine Painting workshop invites anyone looking to get creative with their hands to paint the map of Palestine in plasticine, a non-drying modelling clay that’s similar to playdough in texture, and fun and easy to use. Led by leading artist Farah Nasrawi, this highly therapeutic activity will take place at Kave in Alserkal Avenue, with guidance provided throughout the duration of the workshop.
Learn more here.