BCH:CLB, W Dubai – Palm Jumeirah, West Crescent, 11am to 7pm Sun to Weds, 11am to 12am Thurs to Sat. Tel: (0)58 575 0805. @bchclbdxb
Ladies night with more than just drinks
Sometimes, one craves something different, something unique. For those moments, head over to Lucky Voice, where you can crack on some amazing indoor fun. Who doesn’t love a bit of karaoke? Moving the stage from your shower to Lucky Voice, this ladies’ night at the fan favourite karaoke spot is offering free drinks to the girls from 8pm to midnight, 25 per cent off the food menu and of course, the opportunity to live out your concert dreams. On Wednesdays.
Lucky Voice, Grand Millennium Hotel, Barsha Heights, Dubai, Wed, 8pm to 12am, Tel: (800) 58259, @luckyvoicedubai
Take over an adult playground
This entertainment bar is more than just an arcade – some intense sports such as axe throwing, darts, beer pong – the works. Boom Battle Bar is for all those fun-lovers who want to do something a little different from the usual arcade games. This is the first international outpost of the much-loved entertainment bar. All this fun with delicious cocktails at hand and you can challenge your mates for a test of the friendship. This is a big kid’s dream.
Boom Battle Bar Dubai, DoubleTree by Hilton JBR, The Walk, open Sun to Thu 4pm to 1am and Fri and Sat 4pm to 2am. @boom.dxb
Read a book
The eye-catching Mohammed Bin Rashid Library is the biggest library in the Arab world and summer is the perfect time to explore it, because you’re looking for things to do in indoors. Spanning seven floors, you will find a general library space, a young adults library, a colourful children’s library, a library dedicated to maps and atlases, a media and art library, a business library, an Emirates library, a periodicals library, and the ‘Treasure of the Library’ which features rare items and special collections. Entry to the library is free but you must book a time slot in advance: tiqets.com
Mohammed Bin Rashid Library, Al Jaddaf, Dubai. Monday to Saturday 9am to 9pm. Friday 2pm to 9pm. Sundays closed. 5 years and above. Tel: (0)4 222 2025. @mbrlae
Go on holiday
We mean, this is sort of a given. Summer is the season of holidays, and there’s some pretty great deals that you can bag now to fly with a bang for your buck. If you’re looking to grab a flight and jet away to picturesque locations very soon, this guide to some of the cheapest flights you can book this season may be helpful. Some of the destinations on the list include Bishkek, Ankara, Baku and Sohag, so there’s something for everyone.
Brunch in the twilight hours
This indoor evening brunch is a party and half, with great food, drinks and loads of entertainment to keep you, well, entertained. Northern Chinese haunt Hutong is doing a Dark Brunch to impress every Thursday, and it’s a party and a half. Starting 9pm, indulge in a set menu of starters, dim sum, mains, drinks and a massive dessert platter to share. A resident DJ, performers and drummers, fire-bending stunts and cocktails galore, all starting at Dhs288.
Hutong, DIFC, Dubai, Thursdays, from 9.30pm, Tel: (0) 4 220 0868, @hutongdubai
Race it out with some indoor go-karting
Chaos Karts, now open in an old warehouse opposite Alserkal Avenue in Al Quoz, is an on-track racing concept that looks and feels very much like Mario Kart IRL. It features industry-leading projection technology to fuse the worlds of go-karting and augmented reality to create a real-life video game that goes beyond 4D and 4K. Go-karting is all the rage, but when the sun is raging down, doing it outdoors might be bit tough. Enter: this indoor track where you can have double the fun.
Al Quoz, next to Al Serkal Avenue, Mon to Wed and Sun 10 am to 10 pm, Fri to Sat 10am to midnight, from Dhs179. chaoskarts.ae
Enjoy the sands and the sea
The first thing everyone thinks of when one says the word ‘summer’ is the beach. Without a doubt, the popularity of beaches increases exponentially during the warmer months, with everyone flocking to the sands to relax, kick back and take a refreshing dip. There are plenty of free beaches in Dubai where you can spend the day chillin’ out, maxin’, relaxin’ all cool and take full advantage of the beach season. Find our full guide to the best free beaches in Dubai here.
Go wakeboarding
Early risers can take full advantage of the glassy waters by Dubai Marina and get a lesson in wakeboarding from the team at Sea Riders. They’ll take you out by The Palm and crank up the Bob Marley tunes while you take it in turns to cross the wake behind a Master Craft wakeboard boat. This is the perfect by-the-sea on-the-water activity for you and your group, and it’ll be perfect to make use of those early hours when the temperatures are more merciful. Book here.
Marina Mall, Dubai Marina, Dubai, daily 6am to 6pm, starts at Dhs600 per hour. Tel: (0) 52 840 3587, searidersuae.com
Cool off with an ice plunge
Spots like Contrast Wellness are offering this alternative therapy. The newly opened Contrast, for the very first time, is offering the ice plunge experience, accompanied by a number of other alternative therapies for overall wellness. A first-of-its-kind sauna and ice studio, this is the brainchild of Layla Kardan and Hamdan Al Khafaji, the creative husband-and-wife duo is set to impress us once again, this time with the second stunning wellness concept, from the Palm to City Walk and beyond.
Contrast, C2,City Walk, open 7am to 10pm daily. @contrastwellness
Take up an indoor sport
Rock Republic Dubai is the biggest bouldering only gym in the UAE and is a great date idea if you and your gang are into fitness and fun combined. Summer is the time to take up a fun indoor activity that you can build into a skill. It’s indoors, so no one will suffer, and it’s a great way to learn a skill, try something new, push some boundaries. You can help each other out if you’re struggling and it’s a true bonding experience.
Rock Republic Dubai, DIP, Dubai, Mon to Fri, 3.30pm to 10pm, Sat and Sun, 9am to 6.30pm, Tel: ( 0) 4 546 2978, @rockrepublicdubai
Take a cooking class
Mamalu kitchen offers a wide range of classes for all ages and skill levels. This month’s classes include a mini chef ‘soul food Friday’ Texas honey glazed bread rolls with southern pulled chicken sliders with creamy garlic and parmesan mac and cheese. There is also a class for adults called ‘summer daze’ which has a menu of rosemary and lemon spatchcock baby chicken with a lemon and zucchini orzo with homemade dried cherry tomatoes.
Mamalu Kitchen, Nakheel Mall, Palm Jumeirah, times vary based on classes, Tel (0)52 747 9512, mamalukitchen.com, @mamalukitchen
Sip and shop at So Much Trouble
Sip sip as you swipe swipe. An exclusive space of some of the world’s coolest designers and luxury vintage pieces, So Much Trouble is more than just a retail concept. This is the ultimate hidden bar. Here you will find a very exclusive, very high-end, specially curated collection of designer and vintage pieces. They will come from the sanctums of fashion and luxury – the hidden streets of Paris and Rome – with brands like Romani, Oceanus, Lama Jouni and Ibiza-born Isabel Moore, and archived luxuries and wardrobe staples from times gone by. Pre-loved, timeless, seasonal – all that.
So Much Trouble, Papas, InterContinental Dubai Marina, Wed to Sat, 2pm to 10pm, @somuchtroubledubai
Images: Supplied/Unsplash