6 things to do in Dubai this weekend

Armin Van Buuren is flying into town with his latest tour, Armin Only Embrace, and the first wave of closing parties is upon us. There’s also a great new place to hear live music from local talent and new films at the cinema.

Armin Van Buuren at Meydan
Dutch DJ and trance producer Armin van Burren is bringing his latest world tour to Dubai this weekend. The five-time number 1 DJ in the world will arrive in the UAE following a string of high profile DJs. The gig will close Envie Events’ massive season, having flown in Martin Garrix for New Year’s Eve and Hardwell in February.
When: Friday May 20
Where: Meydan Race Course, www.arminonlydubai.com

Al Gaffal 60ft Dhow Race
Paying homage to the nation’s rich pearl diving past, the annual Al Gaffal Traditional 60ft Dhow Race will see some 100 dhows coursing across the waters of the Arabian Gulf this weekend.
Al Gaffal means “the return” and the race starts on Sir Bu Nair, an island once visited by pearl fleets on their long journeys home. The crews will then plot a course along the Dubai coastline, passing Mina Seyahi and the iconic Burj Al Arab. Those looking to catch all the action can do so on RTA ferries that will follow the racers at various points.
CEO of RTA’s Public Transport Agency, Abdulla Yousef Al Ali, says that the race “depicts how the life of the people of the UAE was linked to the sea, which offered them a safe refuge and
a source for earning their living.”
When: Saturday, May 21,

Audio Tonic’s last 360° party
It’s the end of an era. Audio Tonic have been running one of the most significant nights on Dubai’s clubbing scene for ten years and now they’re saying goodbye to their long-time host, 360° at Jumeirah Beach Hotel. To mark the occasion, they have lined up nine of the brand’s part and current residents to blast through 11 hours of music at the end-of-the-jetty venue.
“You know when you finish a really good book, and in your mind go through each chapter from the start to finish before thinking; what a ride!? Well, that’s how I feel about Audio Tonic at 360,” says Mike Bufton, the key mover behind the brand. “I feel immensely proud to have influenced the history of our city, and proud of the team and also the friends and family we have made on the dancefloor who have supported us for so long.
“The final lineup is pretty much all the residents from past and present, we are only short of a couple of guys – we’ll miss you Rod and Vas! Maybe there’ll be a little surprise guest appearance on the night.” The setlist will, he adds, be guaranteed to evoke plenty of nostalgia, as they delve through ten years of music.
Where: Jumeirah Beach Hotel
When: Friday, May 20,