Shopping, art, culture and sports are some of the flavours of the month in the region. Peruse our top picks of the best things to do
Sheikh Zayed Festival
🗓 November 17, 2023 to March 9, 2024 📍Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
An annual highlight on the UAE capital's cultural calendar, the Sheikh Zayed Festival is a celebration of Emirati heritage. Taking place in Al Wathba in the UAE capital, the programme offers a wide variety of family-friendly cultural events, including exhibitions across country pavilions showcasing global civilisations, live performances and fireworks displays. The site also encompasses a heritage village, where visitors can learn more about the history of the UAE across four environments, including the dunes, sea, mountains and agricultural zones, cultural practices that are still very much alive today, such as falconry, pottery and dhow sailing, as well as a showcase of Emirati handicrafts.
To book your hotel in Abu Dhabi, visit rotana.com
Dubai Shopping Festival
🗓 December 8, 2023 - January 14, 2024 📍Dubai, United Arab Emirates
The malls in Dubai truly have it all and there's no better time to experience the city's all-encompassing retail scene than during the emirate's annual shopping extravaganza. Dubai Shopping Festival, which runs until January 14 this year, promises incredible shopping, exceptional entertainment, immersive shows and more. Residents and visitors are invited to benefit from daily shopping deals as well as raffle draws and competitions while enjoying the outdoor markets and exclusive pop-up events held across the city's shopping venues during the festival.
To book your hotel in Dubai, visit rotana.com
Winter at Tantora
🗓 December 21, 2023 to January 27, 2024 📍AlUla, Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia's longest-running heritage festival, Winter at Tantora, highlights the very best of the local culture with a diverse programme of activities. From music and art to cooking, fashion and more, the event showcases some of the region's oldest cultural traditions against the backdrop of the historic district of AlUla. The star-studded line-up last year saw Andrea Bocelli, Alicia Keys, Magida El Roumi, Omar Khairat and Abdulrahman Mohammed perform at the famed Maraya Concert Hall, which is also the largest mirrored building in the world. This year's showcase also presents 'Flavours of AlUla' offering visitors a taste of local and international cuisines with cooking demonstrations, workshops and tastings.
To book your hotel in Saudi Arabia, visit rotana.com
Hankook 24H Dubai
🗓 January 27 - 28, 2024 📍Dubai, United Arab Emirates
The second largest 24-hour race grid in the world returns to Dubai Autodrome this month. At Hankook 24H Dubai, international drivers will steer their GT and touring cars on the venue's 5.39-kilometre circuit. Premium brands, including Porsche, Ferrari and Mercedes-Benz, will be part of this exciting line-up in Dubai, following international versions of the event which takes place across iconic tracks around the world. This long-distance endurance championship tests both skill and stamina, and the winner takes the chequered flag 24 hours after the race kicks off.
To book your hotel in Dubai, visit rotana.com
Quoz Arts Fest
🗓 January 27 - 28, 2024 📍 Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Bringing art enthusiasts from the region under one roof, Quoz Arts Fest offers a host of workshops, exhibitions and live performances during its weekend run. Celebrating all forms of art, the 11th edition of the event will see Alserkal Avenue transform once again into a hub for all things creative. Visitors can wander through galleries filled with eclectic art from all over the world, catch indie movies, peruse the food trucks and participate in skill-building activities, suitable for guests of all ages.
To book your hotel in Dubai, visit rotana.com