The mid-month continues to bring a series of openings, launches, and activations worth perusing. At the cinema, new screenings keep us entertained and prepped for the upcoming spooky season. Meanwhile, dining brings forth new menus, romantic dinners, and quirky partnerships between pastries and drinks. If you’re wondering how to make the most of the next 48 hours, here’s how we’re spending ours.
To Shop
GANNI x lululemon | Dubai Mall
In a collision of worlds no one saw coming, contemporary Danish brand GANNI have teamed up with lululemon to release a collection inspired by the world and joy of dance. The 22-piece collection spans womenswear, accessories and footwear, and features lululemon’s technical approach to performance wear alongside GANNI’s design codes. Think leopard print and ruffle trims contrasted with lululemon’s fabric composition and signature styles. The collection is available exclusively at lululemon’s Dubai Mall store.
illi
What happens when you take architectural design, the cosmos, and a deep love for modest fashion? Well, you get illi, an Emirati-born abaya brand. Founded by Rawdha Salem Thani, Thani brings her passion for architecture and visual arts to each abaya she designs. The collection spans a range of prints, from natural and celestial motifs to trendier polka dots and argyle print.
Birkenstock | Mall of the Emirates
Recently opening their flagship store at the Mall of the Emirates, Birkenstock brings their sleek, comfy pairs into a design inspired by the UAE’s landscape and cultural heritage. Think desert dunes, oasis motifs, and inspiration from the traditional dhow alongside the iconic Boston clogs, Arizona sandals, one-off designs, and more.
To Dine
NALA | Mall of the Emirates
You might be familiar with NALA’s purple accents at Alserkal Avenue. Now the “fancy canteen” has switched to NALA Lab, a space to test new dishes as they are developed. Whereas the original NALA makes its home at Mall of the Emirates with a brand new menu spanning breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks, and sweet treats. Expect to find comforting plates of croissants, chicken pies, and NALA’s signature Slims range alongside Ube Brûlée and Yuzu Chocolate Cookies, a refreshing drinks menu, and the newly introduced NALA Superette, a collection of treats made for snacking or gifting.
Bonbon Café X Knot Bakehouse | The Lana, Dorchester Collection, Dubai
For the matcha lovers out there, one of Dubai’s most-loved matcha spots, KNOT Bakehouse, has joined the world-renowned French patisserie Bonbon Café Angelo Musa for a limited-edition collection. Celebrating the sweet pairing of matcha and honey, the collection brings KNOT Bakehouse’s signature matcha latte with a sweet honey foam and a selection of matcha-inspired pastries. Complete with the cutest packaging, it’s a spot worth savouring over the weekend for those looking for a sweet treat.
La Vue on 51st | Sofitel Dubai the Obelisk
Located at the Club Millésime Lounge, La Vue on 51st brings refined French dining paired with panoramic views of the city. In a quiet, candlelit ambience, their weekend dinners pair French flavours with local ingredients in a three-course menu. And that’s not including the cheese board paired with freshly baked breads. Tart salads are washed down with refreshing mocktails, while mains such as their Truffle Parcel stuffed with aged Comté and Wagyu, decorated with truffle chips, leave the palate fully satisfied. The only room left is reserved for dessert, which features a range of sweet and zesty tarts, custards, and sorbets.
To Experience
Sirene Beach by Gaia | J1 Beach
For those looking to dance the night away, Sirene Beach by Gaia will finally open its doors for the season this weekend. Taking place on Saturday, October 17, from 7 PM onwards, the beachside destination brings electronic music to the waves. And adding to the hype is internationally acclaimed DJ and producer CARLITA, who will be setting the tone for the night with a genre-bending set filled with global, organic and rock influences.
Club 15 | Al Quoz
Who knows a sports facility better than a sportsman himself? The latest sports and wellness destination to arrive in Dubai, Club 15 (cheekily opening on October 15), founded by Lebanese basketball icon Fadi El Khatib, is a literal sports city within the city. Across 15,000 sqm, expect to find a multi-storey gym, 7 professional indoor padel courts, 3 professional basketball courts, a 25m heated semi-Olympic swimming pool, spaces for Reformer Pilates, HIIT, boxing, functional training, and yoga classes, a 250 sqm physiotherapy clinic, and more. For kids, the sports centre brings parkour, gymnastics, and youth academies, whereas a separate wellness space encourages muscle recovery with ice baths, cold plunge therapy, a hydrotherapy jacuzzi, and an infrared sauna. And with the Dubai Fitness Challenge right around the corner, this space leaves behind no excuses to skip out on movement.
To Watch
Verity
Based on the Colleen Hoover novel of the same name, Verity is a psychological thriller all about deceit, obsession, and the blurry line between fiction and reality. Starring Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson, and Josh Hartnett, the film centres on a struggling writer who is hired as a ghostwriter for a renowned author. What follows are mysterious circumstances that lead to dark twists and unexpected turns.
Digger
A black comedy starring Tom Cruise, Sandra Hüller, and Riz Ahmed, Digger is a parody of the current state of world affairs. Following the story of a Digger Rockwell, an ageing oil tycoon, the film is filled with ridiculousness, stunning visuals, and brilliant sound design. Balancing the comedy with a real-world narrative, the film is a typical satire without going over the top.
