Top things to do in Dubai — week of 13 April

Mid-April week, the heat is starting to lean on us, the founders are all quietly planning their summer escapes to London or Cyprus, and the calendar is still surprisingly busy. Here is what is actually worth doing.

I keep a shortlist on Rifio so I can stop refreshing five different ticketing platforms — the Dubai this-week page updates daily.

Monday: One small thing in Alserkal

Concrete is hosting an artist talk at 7pm. Free, RSVP, 40 people in the room. That is the only Monday entry I will defend. Otherwise stay in.

Tuesday: Sushisamba Dubai

Take this from someone who has tested every night of the week — Tuesday at Sushisamba is the night you go. Quieter floor, the kitchen takes longer on plating, the rooftop gets a breeze that does not exist Friday.

AED 250 set menu, drinks separate, get the 7:30pm slot.

Wednesday: AI in Finance Panel at the Penrose

This one is sneaky important. The Penrose runs a panel series and this week is fintech and AI — three operators on stage, no VCs, mercifully short. Free RSVP via Luma.

The OpenAI MENA crowd usually shows up. The Mistral people have been around DIFC more lately. Worth a hello.

Thursday: Cé La Vi sunset

54th floor of the Address Sky View. The resident DJ does a 7-9pm warm-up that is the best sunset hour in the city, full stop. Burj Khalifa straight out the window.

AED 200 minimum spend, you will hit it on two cocktails. Book a high-table, do not bother with the lounge unless you are six people.

Friday: Soho Garden if you have the legs

It is Soho Garden week, the line-up is solid, AED 150 door. If you went last week skip this one, do COYA Pisco Sundays instead — yes Pisco Sundays is on Friday now, do not ask, the marketing is whatever, the room is great.

Saturday: Brunch, beach, then Zuma

Brunch wherever, but skip the AED 700 ones, you are paying for the photo. Eat at Trèsind Studio if you want the only brunch worth bragging about, otherwise pick a JBR one for AED 250.

Then 6pm at Zuma DIFC. The bar, not the restaurant. Order one drink, watch the room. By 7 the place is full of people pretending they are not networking, by 8 they are openly networking, by 9 it is just a party.

Sunday: Recovery, the long way

Long lunch at BB Social DIFC, terrace if the heat is gentle, indoors if not. Or — and this is the move — drive to Time Out Market in Souk Al Bahar and pick three small plates from three different counters. AED 150 a head, no booking, you sit at a communal table.

There is a free Sunday afternoon talk at the MBR Library if you must do an event. English, sound speakers, finishes at 5.

That is the week. I will be at the Penrose Wednesday and Cé La Vi Thursday — wallah I am taking Friday off, I learned my lesson last week.

Save the ones you fancy on Rifio so you do not forget. The Dubai networking events filter is genuinely useful for the founder-heavy weeks.