This Week in Dubai: Meet a Smurf, sip coffee on ice, explore pirate LEGO missions, and walk through a glowing galaxy!

Good morning Dubai!

This week in Dubai you can meet a blue cartoon elder with a beard, drink coffee while skating in circles, watch gamers battle for AED 200k, and dance like nobody’s filming (even though they probably are). Add in a Bollywood-scale theatre epic, a galaxy you can walk through, pirate LEGO missions, smooth Filipino ballads, and comedians who will roast you for breathing too loud… and you’ve got seven days of pure entertainment.

— Local Scoop Dubai

THE DUBAI DIGEST

🚛 - UAE Leads Global Digital Nomad Rankings
The UAE climbs to #2 worldwide for digital nomads in 2025, jumping two spots ahead of Montenegro and the Bahamas. Read More

🚊 - Dubai Metro Blue Line Secures AED 3.9 Billion Funding
Construction officially begins on Dubai's third metro line after securing major financing in July. The 30km Blue Line will feature the world's tallest metro station at 74 meters and Dubai's first metro bridge across the Creek. Read More

🏝️ - Shamal Holding Unveils Naïa Island Dubai
Dubai gets a brand-new luxury island! Shamal Holding announced Naïa Island Dubai on August 6, featuring the region's first Cheval Blanc maison just off Jumeirah's coastline. 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

🥩 - The Ninth Cut: Butchery, Restaurant & Deli
A love letter to meat in all its forms. The Ninth Cut goes beyond the traditional eight cuts, serving everything from premium ribeye to house-special biltong. The in-house butchery sources the best ingredients from around the world, while the restaurant brings them to life with dishes inspired by Eastern and Western traditions. You can dine in, grab a curated deli salad or sandwich, or take home something special for your own kitchen. Every bite speaks of craftsmanship and quality.

📍 - Ground Floor, Novotel Al Barsha
⏰ - Daily 12:00 PM - 12:00 AM
📞 - +971 52 872 1441
🌐 - ninthcut.com
📷 - @theninthcut

🇪🇸 - Besar: Spanish Fusion with an Arabic Soul
Besar delivers Moorish romance with Dubai glamour. Spanish flavours blend with Arabic elegance, flamenco shakes the floor, and sangría flows until the tables start singing back. Fridays bring endless oysters, Sundays roll out tapas at sunset, and ladies night keeps the cocktails coming until the conversation gets interesting. The waterfront setting feels cinematic, but the real drama plays out between each bite and sip.

📍 - Bluewaters Island Street
⏰ - Open daily
📷 - @besar.restaurant

BIZ BITE OF THE WEEK

📈 - Live Trading Event - Trade with Professionals
Ever watched someone make money right in front of you? At this full-day event, the Financial Markets Online team will show you how hedge funds and banks really play the game, then trade live in the afternoon so you can see every move. Learn low-risk, high-profit strategies you can use without quitting your day job, get inside the mindset of top traders, and leave with a plan you can put into action immediately. Warning: may cause sudden urges to check the markets during dinner.
📍 - Fairmont Dubai
📅 - 14th August
⏰ - 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
🌐 - financialmarketsonline.com
📷 - @financialmarketsonline

ACTIVITY ALLEY

💙 - The Smurf-Tastic Fair
Nakheel Mall is going blue from top to bottom as the Smurfs take over for Dubai Summer Surprises. Meet Papa Smurf, Smurfette, Brainy, and the rest of the gang while tackling puzzle rooms, mirror mazes, muscle challenges, and art workshops. There are games, giveaways, and photo ops at every turn, so bring the kids and prepare for sugar-level excitement without the sugar.

📍 - Nakheel Mall - Lower ground floor and second floor near Vox Cinemas.
📅 - 15th - 31st August
⏰ - 1:00 PM - 9:00 PM
🌐 - nakheelmall.ae
📷 - @NakheelMallPalm

☕ - Gahwa Beats: Coffee, Tunes & Ice
Dubai Ice Rink turns into the coolest coffee spot in town for one day only. Glide across the ice, sip a fresh brew from local favourites, and enjoy live DJ sets that make the rink feel more like a dance floor. Whether you are skating or just here for the caffeine and music, it is coffee culture with a frosty twist.

📍 - Dubai Ice Rink
📅 - 16th August
⏰ - 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
🌐 - dubaiicerink.com
📷 - @dubaiicerink

🎮 - Dubai Police E-Sports Championship
Forget speeding tickets. This week Dubai Police are handing out prize money instead. With AED 200,000 up for grabs, gamers will battle it out on Counter-Strike, Valorant, Fortnite, EAFC25, Dota 2, and more. There will be food trucks, gaming merch, and influencers trying to look casual while holding giant trophies.

📍 - Dubai Police Officer’s Club
📅 - 14th - 17th August
⏰ - 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
📷 - @dubaipolicehq

💃 - MEGA Fitness Hub - Zumba
Start your Saturday with music, movement, and enough energy to power the Mall’s air conditioning. This Zumba session is open to all fitness levels, so whether you have the rhythm of a pro or the coordination of a startled flamingo, you will still have a blast. Bring water, bring enthusiasm, and be ready to sweat with a smile.

📍 - Mega Mall, Al Estiqlal Street, Sharjah
📅 - 16th August
⏰ - 8:00 AM
📷 - @megamallsharjah

FRESH EXPERIENCES

🎭 - Humare Ram - A Theatrical Spectacle of the Ramayana
One of India’s most celebrated stage productions arrives at Dubai Opera for its international debut. Over 100 cast members, music by legends Sonu Nigam and Shankar Mahadevan, and cinematic visuals bring the epic Ramayana to life in a way that feels both timeless and urgent. Powerful performances, stirring music, and breathtaking stagecraft have already captivated more than half a million people across India, and now it is Dubai’s turn.

📍 - Dubai Opera
📅 - 14th–17th August
⏰ - Showtimes vary
📷 - @dubaiopera

🌌 - AYA Universe Experience
Step beyond the stars into twelve interactive zones filled with glowing gardens, cosmic waterfalls, shimmering moons, and liquid light. Drift amongst the stars, bend waves of colour with your movement, and lose yourself in dreamlike landscapes that feel both otherworldly and impossibly beautiful. Perfect for families, friends, and anyone ready to wander through a living galaxy.

📍 - Level One, Main Atrium, Wafi City
📅 - Ongoing
⏰ - Sunday - Thursday: 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM
⏰ - Friday - Saturday: 10:00 AM - 12:00 AM
📷 - @ayauniverse

WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING?

🧱 - LEGO® One Piece Event
Set sail for a brick-filled adventure inspired by the hit Netflix series. Join the pirate crew for games, builds, trivia challenges, and the chance to win a signed LEGO® One Piece set. Come dressed in your best pirate gear and take home your own mini collectible.
📍- Mangaya, Garhoud | 16th August | 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM | More Info

🎤 - South Border feat. Kris Lawrence
A night of smooth vocals, rich melodies, and iconic Filipino hits. South Border join forces with R&B star Kris Lawrence for a concert packed with nostalgia and sing-along moments. VIP guests get front-row seats and a group photo with the artists.
📍- Sheikh Rashid Auditorium, IHS | 16th August | 7:30 PM | More Info

😂 - The Laughter Factory: August
A fresh line-up of world-class comedians hits Dubai for a month of unfiltered stand-up. Dimitri Bakanov, Ash Rose, and Noha Bashir bring sharp wit, magic tricks, and high-energy laughs to venues across the city from 15 to 23 August.
📍- Multiple venues | 15th & 16th August | 8:30 PM | More Info

🏀 - Dubai Sports World 2025
The city’s biggest indoor sports playground is back, turning Dubai World Trade Centre into a massive complex for football, basketball, tennis, badminton, cricket, and more. Join tournaments, take a fitness class, or just escape the heat with a game of padel.
📍- Dubai World Trade Centre | Until 2nd September | More Info

LOCAL SCOOP DUBAI WEATHER

Friday
41°C 🌡️ 32°C | Sunny.

Saturday
40°C 🌡️ 30°C | Sunny.

Sunday
41°C 🌡️ 31°C | Sunny.
Temperature readings taken the night before publication

THANKS!

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