Things to do in Dubai this week including: Mall marathons, desert rides, Afro beats, and coffee 219m in the sky!

Good morning Dubai! Too hot to do anything? Not this week. Dubai’s crammed with reasons to leave the couch: sunrise rides through Al Qudra, 10Ks in fully air‑conditioned malls, splash zones that’ll keep the kids happy, and coffee‑plus‑DJ mornings 219 metres in the sky. And if dinner isn’t an event, why bother? HANU is redefining Korean BBQ and Smoked Room is turning smoke into a Michelin‑worthy art form.

— Local Scoop Dubai

THE DUBAI DIGEST

🧑‍💻 - Dubai Launches First AI-Generated Emirati Family
Digital Dubai has introduced the first-ever AI-powered Emirati family to enhance communication and raise awareness of the city's smart digital services. | Read more

🛍️ - Dubai Duty Free Achieves Record Sales in July 2025
Dubai Duty Free reported record sales surpassing AED 638 million (approximately US$175 million) in July 2025. | Read more

🚒 - Fire in Dubai Marina High-Rise Brought Under Control
A fire broke out early Friday morning on the upper floor of Marina Sail, a residential tower in Dubai Marina. | Read more

Nothing in this section is sponsored. They're just the things you need to know. I'll always let you know when something's sponsored.

SCRUMPTIOUS SCOOP

🔥 - If You Like Dinner That Feels Like a Show, HANU Is Where You Go Next.
This isn’t your regular Korean BBQ night. HANU, led by Seoul-born Chef Kyung Soo Moon, takes everything you love about Korean cuisine and turns it into an art form. Picture prime cuts sizzling at the table, a chef-driven Omakase menu that surprises with every bite, and cocktails so inventive they deserve their own fan club. It’s bold, it’s polished, and it might ruin every other Korean dinner for you.

📍 - St. Regis Gardens, Palm Jumeirah
⏰ - Thu - Sat 6:00 PM - 2:00 AM
⏰ - Sun - Wed 6:00 PM - 1:00 AM
🌐 - hanu-restaurant.com
📷 - @hanu_dubai

🔥 - Dubai’s Most Exclusive Omakase Is Hiding on The Palm
Smoked Room isn’t dinner. It’s a two-hour escape where Chef Dani García turns fire, embers, and smoke into something you’ll actually remember next month. This is omakase redefined, where you hand over control and get rewarded with one jaw-dropping dish after another. Only 14 people get in per seating, so if you score a spot, clear your calendar.

📍 - Smoked Room Dubai, St. Regis Gardens, Palm Jumeirah
⏰ - Tuesday to Saturday
⏰ - 6:00 PM - 12:00 AM
🎟 - From AED 950 per person
📷 - @smokedroom.dubai

ACTIVITY ALLEY

🏃‍♂️ Run, Sweat, Repeat: Smash Your 5K Personal Best
Your excuses can stay home. This interval session with ELEVATE RunClub is about speed, grit, and maybe discovering that “fun” and “5K” can coexist. Bring water. Bring electrolytes. Bring your best self (or at least a version that can survive 75 minutes).

📍 - ISD Dubai Sports City
📅 - Saturday 9th August
⏰ - 8:00 PM - 9:15 PM
🎟️ - From AED 85

🚴 - Bikeera Saturday Al Qudra Community Ride
Swap the snooze button for sunrise views and a ride through the desert. Bikeera’s community sessions at Al Qudra are all about smooth tarmac, group energy, and maybe spotting an oryx while clocking up 86km. Two pace groups mean whether you’re chasing a personal best or just enjoying the view, you’re in good company.

📍 - Al Qudra Cycling Track
📅 - Saturday 9th August
⏰ - 6:00 AM - 8:30 AM
📞 - +971 800 900
📷 - @bikeera.mobility

👟 - Dubai Mallathon 2025: Cardio Meets Window Shopping
Who needs treadmills when you can clock up a 10K in air-conditioned comfort? The Dubai Mallathon takes over nine malls this August with 10K, 5K, 2.5K, and any-pace walks every morning. It’s the only run where you can cool down with a latte and buy new trainers on the way out.

📍 - Multiple malls across Dubai
📅 - Daily in August, 7:00 AM - 10:00 AM
📷 - @dubaimallathon

FRESH EXPERIENCES

☕ - Gahwa Beats: Coffee, Views, and a DJ at 219 Metres Up
Sky-high caffeine hits just got an upgrade. Sip on specialty coffee from local brands, vibe to live DJ sets, and take in ridiculous views from the Sky Views Observatory. Tickets include access to the Glass Walk, one ride on the Glass Slide, and one perfectly brewed coffee because nothing pairs with adrenaline like espresso.

📍 - Sky Views Observatory
📅 - Saturday 2nd August
⏰ - 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
🎟️ - From AED 80
📷 - @skyviewsobservatory

🎨 - Upside Down: Resilience in Wood and Art
Iranian artist Morteza Khazaie turns wood into raw storytelling at Leila Heller Gallery. His solo exhibition, Upside Down, bends the idea of resilience into something you can see and feel — trees that refuse to break, vulnerability transformed into power, and perspectives that challenge how you see the world.

📍 - Leila Heller Gallery, Alserkal Avenue
📅 - Monday 4th & Tuesday 5th August
⏰ - 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
📷 - @leilahellergallery

🎡 - Summer Surprises at Dubai Festival City Mall
Dubai Festival City Mall has turned summer into an event. There’s a Modesh waterpark out on Festival Bay with slides and splash games, a parade featuring characters like Bluey, CoComelon, and Blippi every weekend, plus free House of Pops ice cream for Blue App members every Saturday. It’s giveaways, family fun, and just the right amount of chaos all in one place.

📍 - Dubai Festival City Mall
📅 - Until 31st August
📷 - @dubaifestivalcitymall

BIZ BITE OF THE WEEK

💡- Launch Your Own AI App (Without Touching a Line of Code)
Step into the fastest-growing tech space in the world and walk out with the know‑how to build an AI‑driven app, master prompt engineering, and spot business opportunities everyone else is missing. Led by industry pros, this workshop covers everything from automation and app creation to turning AI skills into income streams.

📍 - Regus Office
📅 - Tuesday 5th August
🎟️ - From AED 389

☕ - Data Scientist Coffee Meetup: Talk AI Over Lattes
An easygoing evening for data lovers at Café &More. Swap insights on AI, machine learning, and the latest in data science while meeting others who speak your language. Bring your questions, your favourite tools, and leave with new ideas (and maybe new collaborators).

📍 - Cafe & More, Sheraton, L5, Mall of Emirates
📅 - Thursday 7th August
⏰ - 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
🎟️ - Free (just grab a coffee while you’re there)

🚗 - Dubai Crypto Fridays at the Porsche Café
Weekly meetups for Dubai’s crypto crowd at DRVN by Porsche. Founders, builders, traders, and investors come together to swap ideas, share insights, and turn conversations into opportunities.

📍 - DRVN by Porsche, Bluewaters Island
📅 - Friday 8th August
⏰ - 7:00 PM
🎟️ - Free

WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING?

☀️ - Dubai Summer Surprises: Shop, Win, Repeat
Citywide sales up to 90%, daily flash deals, and chances to win AED1 million in cash, a new Nissan Patrol, and 1 million Skywards Miles. Plus, pop-ups, live entertainment, and family fun.
📍 - Across Dubai | Until 31st August | More Info

🛍️ - Ripe Market at The Roast by Bubbalicious
A Sunday pop-up with jewellery, home décor, kids’ fashion, and more, all while you enjoy Dubai’s favourite roast experience at Mina’s Kitchen.
📍 - The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi | Every Sunday until 28th September | More Info

🛍️ - Ripe Market at Times Square Center
Shop fashion, homeware, skincare, and foodie favourites from local brands, all in the comfort of an air-conditioned indoor market.
📍 - Times Square Center | Every Sunday | More Info

🎶 - Kingdom: Dubai’s First Afro Indoor Summer Festival
AfroLOUD brings an all-out Afro takeover with live DJs, international performers, dancers, percussionists, and gourmet street food. An indoor festival that feels like a revolution.
📍 - Zabeel Hall 6 | Saturday 9th August, from 3:00 PM | More Info

LOCAL SCOOP DUBAI WEATHER

Friday
41°C 🌡️ 33°C | Sunny.

Saturday
41°C 🌡️ 33°C | Sunny.

Sunday
42°C 🌡️ 33°C | Sunny.
Temperature readings taken the night before publication

THANKS!

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