Explore the best things to do in the region and around the world this season, from food festivals to international art fairs and more.
Dubai Food Festival
🗓 May 2 - 15, 2022 📍Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Dubai’s annual gastronomy gala has become a don’t-miss date in the culinary calendar. Showcasing the city’s vibrant dining scene, which features everything from world-famous fine dining to scrumptious street food, the event puts a spotlight on some of the city’s greatest chefs as well as offering irresistible deals at some of the best restaurants through Dubai Restaurant Week. Through immersive foodie experiences, visitors can discover homegrown concepts, neighbourhood hotspots and hidden gems.
To book your hotel in Dubai, visit rotana.com
Winter at Al Hosn
🗓 Until May 5 📍Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Winter at Al Hosn sees the capital’s streets turned into a seasonal market bringing together Abu Dhabi's entrepreneurs in a community space to showcase local arts and crafts, farm produce and gastronomy. The colourful display offers a taste of local heritage and Emirati culture with live entertainment bringing to life some of the most entrenched local traditions. The event is held at the UAE capital’s historic fort, Qasr Al Hosn, itself a fascinating monument of Abu Dhabi’s journey to the present day.
To book your hotel in Abu Dhabi, visit rotana.com
Maroon 5 live in Abu Dhabi
🗓 May 6, 2022 📍Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Global superstars Maroon 5 will make their Abu Dhabi debut in May in their first-ever regional tour. The pop-rockers who have already played over 750 concerts in more than 30 countries, will be playing on Yas Island’s Etihad Arena where fans can expect a dazzling serving of the Grammy award-winning band’s biggest hits including Moves Like Jagger, Sugar and Animal under front-man Adam Levine.
Tickets start from AED300 for standard upper bowl seats, up to AED1,250 for golden circle tickets.
To book your hotel in Abu Dhabi, visit rotana.com
Swan Lake at Royal Opera House Muscat
🗓 May 26 - 28, 2022 📍Muscat, Oman
Guangdong Acrobatic Troupe will bring its unique retelling of the ballet masterpiece Swan Lake to Royal Opera House Muscat. The Chinese company will play the final three dates of the current opera season, from Thursday to Saturday, May 26 to 28, in an eye-popping display of dazzle and dare.
Blending acrobatics with classical Western ballet, the brilliantly choreographed and flawlessly performed show is a phenomenal adaptation of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake and promises to be a dramatic close to the season, which marked a return to live performances for Oman’s Royal Opera House.
To book your hotel in Oman, visit rotana.com
Cinco De Mayo
🗓 May 5, 2022 📍Global
This annual festivity, with origins in Puebla, Mexico, is where tradition and history come together in the form of a colourful street party in the city’s boulevard. The annual event commemorates the Mexican Army's first victory over the French Empire in 1862. A reenactment of the Battle of Puebla is followed by a decadent street party with great food and music going from the morning, late into the night.
Other activities in Mexico’s fourth biggest city, now a UNESCO World Heritage site, include cultural events such as concerts, theatre performances and dance exhibitions. All over the world, restaurants host Mexican feasts to mark the occasion.
Cannes Film Festival
🗓 May 17 - 28, 2022 📍Cannes, France
The 75th edition of the Cannes Film Festival will once again add its glamour factor to the coastal French town with an array of A-list stars ready to grace the red carpet. The celebration of global cinema brings together filmmakers, veterans as well as up and coming stars from around the world over the week-long extravaganza. It is not only the rich and famous who can enjoy the cultural festival. In addition to box office tickets and passes available for purchase, free screenings are shown daily from 9:30pm at Cinéma de la Plage, which features open-air films under the stars at Plage Mace beach for the public to enjoy.
