Dubai Special Events
February
The Dubai Tennis Open is held in the city at the end of February and attracts the world's top players to compete for the title. You can expect to see all the current greats of the men's and women's game battling it out in one of tennis's richest non-Grand Slam competitions.
Throughout February and into March Dubai holds its annual Shopping Festival - attracting 2.5 million people to the city each year. As well as the obvious bargains and sales in the city's many fine shops and malls you'll find a whole host of entertainment on offer. Street theatre, concerts and firework displays are just a few things you can expect to see in the city. You'll also find some fabulous, and world famous, city-wide raffle competitions - previous prizes have included Rolls Royce cars and your own weight in gold.
March
The Dubai Desert Classic golf tournament is one of the world's premier golfing events. With a prize purse in excess of USD1,600,000 the professional circuit's top players never pass up the chance to compete, and of course hordes of fans descend on the city to watch them.
The Dubai World Cup Horse Race at the end of the month is another fabulously expensive sporting event. The finest horses in the Middle East compete for massive prizes.
May
Dubai goes nuts on water in May, with the Formula 4 Power Boat Challenge and the Middle East International Boat show. The richer citizens of the city parade their wealth while everyone else simply admires the millionaires' playthings on show (and in action).
June-September
Dubai Summer Surprises is just that, a series of surprise events throughout the summer months. You can expect live performances of music and drama, and carnival activities as well as more mundane attractions such as summer shop sales and the like. Check local listings for details of what's on offer from week to week.
November
The Dubai Air Show welcomes international air performers from all over the globe. The event happens every two years, with the next scheduled for 2005. Visitors can expect to see military planes, domestic aircraft and stunning displays of aerial acrobatics from the likes of the RAF's Red Arrow Squadron.
