From pottery making to diving in submerged cities, here are six ways to rethink the season.
In Dubai, summer is a season of slow, deliberate living. It’s in many ways the city’s ‘winter’ – a time when people turn inward, seeking the stillness and comfort of the indoors. When temperatures climb above 45 degrees, as they will during the hottest months, the city doesn’t stop – it simply shifts, adapting in the way this ever-evolving nation does best. From meditative moments at the potter’s wheel to freediving in the world’s deepest indoor pool, here are six experiences that go beyond the usual shopping malls and spa retreats.
Dine, Shop or Exercise in Alserkal Avenue
Alserkal Avenue, a once-industrial compound turned cultural hub, is perfect for languid summer afternoons. Cool and creative, it’s home to contemporary galleries, an arthouse cinema, local eateries, and hidden-gem retail like Zerzura Rare Books. Coffee purists are well catered for: Nightjar serves stellar, locally roasted espresso in a fairy-lit, den-like café, with a number of cold brew blends on tap. Behind nearly every door, there’s something unexpected – a secret bean-to-bar chocolatier (Ganache), authentic Japanese hand rolls at Kokoro, or a reformer pilates studio that makes working out feel surprisingly enjoyable. There’s a rhythm to Alserkal that resists rushing, so go early and let the day take its time.
Afternoon Tea in the Burj Khalifa or Burj Al Arab
1,450 feet above sea level, At.mosphere takes ‘high tea’ quite literally. Located on the 122nd floor of the Burj Khalifa, afternoon tea is served with quiet ceremony: cucumber-wrapped finger sandwiches, crumbly scones, perfectly sweet macarons. The tea list is global and meticulously sourced, while floral bubbles from Perrier-Jouët’s historic vineyards invite a celebratory toast. Suspended between clouds and skyline, the setting takes centre stage, with classical music performed by a live violinist.
For afternoon tea closer to the ground (but no less theatrical), there’s the Burj Al Arab. Here, high tea is served with a little more gilding and a lot more gold – either in the soaring atrium lounge or high above the sea in Skyview Bar. Expect silver stands shaped like the hotel’s sail silhouette, warm scones, and a view that still manages to impress, no matter how long you’ve lived in Dubai.
Book a Private Omakase Dinner
For serious foodies, skip the menu and let the chef take the lead with a private omakase. Meaning ‘I leave it up to you’ in Japanese, Dubai’s omakase scene has flourished in recent years, with a handful of intimate, counter-style restaurants serving degustation menus that change nightly. One of Dubai’s finest is Hōseki, tucked inside the Bulgari Resort and led by sixth-generation sushi chef Masahiro Sugiyama. Omakase here is a meditation as much as a meal, set in a dim, monastic space with skyline views and a team enrobed in crisp kimonos.
For omakase with a more local, contemporary energy, Michelin-starred Moonrise is a cult favourite on the rooftop of Eden House Al Satwa. This unassuming restaurant was founded by Solemann Haddad – a Dubai-raised, self-taught chef who won the Michelin Young Chef Award 2022, aged just 28. Each plate weaves skill with storytelling, with seafood flown in from Tokyo’s Toyosu Market. Whether at Hōseki, Moonrise, or a more familiar name like Nobu, you’ll leave an omakase dinner well-fed, slightly in awe, and very glad you didn’t ask for a menu.
Sit at the Potter’s Wheel
There’s something deeply therapeutic about working with your hands – especially when the rest of the city is rushing by at 45 degrees. Dubai has a number of welcoming ceramic studios offering classes in wheel throwing, hand-building, glazing, and more. At The Mud House Studio in Al Quoz, workshops take place in a bright, minimal space, where you can learn to shape and finish your own pieces over a traditional wheel. “Everybody can clay” is the studio’s motto, and the calm, unintimidating atmosphere makes it easy to believe.
Nearby in Al Quoz 1, Yadawei Ceramic Studio runs regular sessions with flexible timings, including open studio access for more independent practice. Both provide all the materials, tools, and guidance needed, and they’ll even fire and glaze your creations so you can take them home a few weeks later (ideal for a thoughtful, hand-crafted gift). It’s tactile, surprisingly meditative, and a satisfying shift from the usual screen-based pace of the season.
Dinner and Theatre at La Perle
Rain is rare in the desert, but you’ll find it in torrents on the stage at La Perle. Created by Franco Dragone (of Cirque du Soleil fame), this resident show is part acrobatic fever dream, part stunt show – all staged in a purpose-built theatre in Al Habtoor City. A feat of ambitious set design, the stage itself is part of the spectacle, flooding, draining and reforming throughout. Over a nail-biting 90 minutes, performers dive from 25-metre heights, bikers soar mid-air, and aerialists twist above the water-drenched stage.
To make a full evening of it, there are several exceptional restaurants nearby, including LA-favourite Italian Il Pastaio, and the quintessentially British Rose & Crown. For a heady nightcap beside the canal, Latin American eatery Zoco has a dark, moody atmosphere, while V Lounge offers elevated cocktails with panoramic views.
Test Your Limits by Freediving at Deep Dive Dubai
Inspired by the Emirati tradition of pearl diving, Deep Dive Dubai reimagines freediving with a surreal, cinematic twist. This record-breaking facility holds the title of the world’s deepest pool, plunging to depths of 200 feet. Beneath the surface lies an eerie, intricately crafted sunken city, with flooded apartments, a half-submerged library, and an abandoned arcade. While many come for scuba and beginner diving courses, the real standout here is freediving – a discipline that’s equal parts breathwork and body control, since the entire dive is undertaken on a single breath. Sessions are led by certified instructors, with tailored programmes for both newcomers and advanced divers. An exercise in mindfulness, it’s a rare chance to sink into true, blue silence — no tanks, no noise, just you and the deep.
