Burj Al Arab Scape Desserts at Jumeirah Restaurant Week.
October’s calendar is packed with events dotted across the region. Read on to discover Vogue Arabia’s top highlights worth clearing your schedule for.
Jumeirah Restaurant Week in Dubai (October 5-13)
Jumeriah Restaurant Week is currently underway – it began on the 5th and ends on the 13th of October – with 40 of Jumeirah’s top restaurants, including Pierchic, Pai Thai, and the Rib Room, serving food from their signature menus. For more information, check here.
The First Movement Exhibition in Riyadh (October 10-14)
Instagram/@thefirstmovement
The art exhibition is currently taking place at the Sama Creative Hub in Riyadh everyday from 4pm to 11pm until October 14. Featuring works by local, emerging talent, the event aims to revamp the growing art scene in Saudi Arabia via numerous galleries and work shops.
The Peace Festival at Kuwait’s Al Shaheed Park (Oct 14-23)
An outdoor music festival featuring several evening shows by Loyac’s Academy of Performing Arts (LAPA).The festival is held in cooperation with Kuwait’s Al Shaheed Park to promote traditional music with the aim of spreading a message of love and peace. Get your tickets at www.eventbrite.com
Al Serkal Saturday Tours, Dubai (October 14- 28)
The Saturday Tours, held twice a month, are an hour-long discovery of the numerous galleries found throughout the creative hub of Al Serkal Avenue. During the tours, guests are invited to meet with the people who run the spaces and learn more about the exhibitions. Reserve a spot here.
Abu Dhabi’s CinemaNa (October 16-18)
A still from Mahbas (2016)
An Arab cinema series screening four acclaimed contemporary Arab films, including Mahmoud al Massad’s comedy drama Blessed Benefit and 2008 documentary Recycle. Presented by the NYUAD Film and New Media Program in partnership with The Arts Center and Paris-Sorbonne University of Abu Dhabi, the two-day event also features film-making workshops. The event, which takes place at NYUAD, is open to the public. For more information, click here.
Yehya Khalil at the Cairo Jazz Club (October 19)
Egyptian jazz legend Yehya Khalil will be performing live at the Cairo Jazz Club alongside the Egyptian Jazz Fusion Band. Get ready to dance along to some soothing tunes. Book here.
Jeddah Coffee Week (October 25-28)
Taking place at Jeddah’s Boulevard Center on King Abdul Aziz Road, the three-day event will celebrate all things coffee through music, art, fashion. Tickets cost AED/SAR 55 and can be purchased here.
Fashion Forward returns for its tenth edition in Dubai (October 26-28)
Fashion Forward will be back for its milestone 10th season at an all new venue in Dubai Design District, from October 26-28. The three-day fashion extravaganza will feature a lineup of 28 regional as well as international brands, who will showcase their latest collections via runway shows and presentations. Check out the full list of designers here.
Zena el Khalil’s Sacred Catastrophe: Healing Lebanon Exhibition (Ends October 27)
Courtesy of Zena El Khalil
Lebanese interdisciplinary artist Zena Al Khalil is showing a thought-provoking, 40-day solo exhibition in Beirut, titled ‘Sacred Catastrophe: Healing Lebanon’. The exhibition, which will be accompanied by workshops, panels, poetry readings, and performances will be held in Beit Beirut – a museum and cultural center located on the former ‘green line’, which divided the city in two during the Lebanese civil war. For more information about the project, click here.
From Mirfaq to Vega. Reclaimed blast walls left in El Khalil’s home (Hasbaya). Giorgio Persano Gallery, Italy. Courtesy of Zena El Khalil
Ripe Market in Umm Al Emarat Park, Abu Dhabi (October 27)
Abu Dhabi’s much-loved Ripe Market returns to the palm-tree lined Umm Al Emarat Park every Saturday from October 27 until April 28 next year. Attracting a myriad of local food business, entertainment, and live cooking stations, the Ripe Market features a hand-picked selection of artisans, food stands, and local organic produce. The Ripe Market will also be held in locations across Dubai, setting up at Zabeel Park every Friday starting October 13 and Al Barsha Pond Park every Saturday from October 14.
