Latest news with #What'sOn
What's On
a day ago
- Entertainment
- What's On
Join What's On for a fun party brunch at Ma Buckley's in Abu Dhabi
If you have plans already in place for June 28, you may want to cancel them. Why? Because something more exciting has just come up. We have teamed up with Ma Buckley's Bar & Restaurant to celebrate one of the UAE's most popular weekend traditions: a party brunch. What's On Brunch is a deliciously curated new series that will see us taking over the capital's tastiest spots, and of course, you are top on our guest list. We will be kicking things off on Saturday, June 28, from 1pm to 5pm at Ma Buckley's Bar & Restaurant at Souk Qaryat Al Beri. Haven't visited the spot before? Think of it as an Irish soul with a cosmopolitan twist. If you choose to join us, your afternoon will be filled with raucous laughter and that unmistakable hum of a place where the craic is always mighty. Need some more convincing? Allow us to share the details with you… What's On the menu? Plenty of lip-smacking bites and mains. You will start with a delicious dynamite shrimp, basil and mozzarella arancini, or an old-school chicken satay or mushroom vol-au-vents. Once you're warmed up, it's time to saddle up for the main event. There are crispy fries, juicy meats, peppers, onions, and McDonnell's Curry Sauce – the unofficial sauce of Irish glory. If you can't take the spice, there's the juicy smash burger, Buffalo chicken wrap, hearty fish 'n' chips, Asian beef salad, or loaded stir-fries. We're letting you know in advance… save space for dessert. There's lotus berry cheesecake, classic apple pie, and a perfectly torched crème brûlée. Yum! And what about drinks? You can't have a brunch with just food, so expect bottomless pours at this epic What's On Brunch. Expect all your favourites from draughts to wines, spirits and more – the team at Ma Buckley's will keep your glass filled and your spirits high. Prefer cocktails? You can add signature cocktails to the mix for just Dhs50. The vibe? You'll find nothing but cool, lighthearted, fun vibes here. As the backdrop of your afternoon, we have the tunes from not one, but two top-tier troubadours: Dermot Taggart and Dale O'Hanlon, both armed with guitars, silky Irish vocals, and more charm than a pot of gold at the end of a very tipsy rainbow. Sold? Can't wait to join us? We have more good news. The usual price for this brunch is just Dhs199 for three hours. However, as a special deal just for What's On readers, it's Dhs129 for four hours. That's right, for the food, drinks, and great vibes, your total bill will just be Dhs129 per person for this fun lunch. What are you waiting for? Get this in the group chat quick to confirm the plan with friends and get to booking quick, as there are limited spots. You can make your bookings here. For more information, visit 02 642 8600 or follow @ma_buckleys > Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in
What's On
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- What's On
The Mary J. Blige concert in Dubai has been cancelled
Just as excitement was building for Mary J. Blige's first Dubai show in over a decade, we got the news no one wanted to hear: the concert , meant to take place on Tuesday, June 24 has been cancelled. While the reasons have not been shared, What's On can confirm that the concert will not be taking place. Although the listing has been removed from the Coca Cola Arena's events calendar, we are hopeful that the star will be able to perform here soon. Mary J. Blige's return to the UAE stage was meant to be a milestone. Her last full concert in Dubai was more than ten years ago, and anticipation was high after her recent cameo at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and appearances around the city. The show, scheduled for next week at the Coca-Cola Arena, promised a special night filled with her timeless hits to remind everyone why she's still the queen. About Mary J. Blige Few artists have shaped hip-hop and R&B quite like Mary J. Blige. Since the early '90s, she's been mixing raw emotion with street edge, creating songs that still hit decades later. Think Family Affair , No More Drama , Real Love , Be Without You – the list goes on. With 14 albums, over 100 million records sold, nine Grammys, and an Oscar nod, her legacy speaks for itself. In 2022, Billboard crowned her an icon. Simply put: she's a legend. The venue Presented by Live Nation Middle East, the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai was set to host one of the city's biggest music events of the year. Known for its state-of-the-art facilities and atmosphere, it was the perfect place for Mary J. Blige's comeback concert – a venue that matches the energy and scale of a superstar like her. Though this concert won't be happening next week, we can hold on to hope that Mary J. Blige's return to Dubai isn't over – just paused. And if you're planning your concert calendar, the UAE is stacked: Wael Kfoury at Dubai Opera on June 22, Jennifer Lopez at Etihad Arena on July 29, Lil Baby on October 18, Elissa at Dubai Opera on November 3, Enrique Iglesias in November, and Katy Perry closing the year in December. > Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in
What's On
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- What's On
Afternoon tea with What's On: get an exclusive preview at Majlis by Pierre Hermé
What's On is teaming up with one of Abu Dhabi's most elegant destinations for an indulgent afternoon unlike any other. On Wednesday, June 18, 10 lucky readers and their guests will get an exclusive first taste of the brand-new Afternoon Tea at Majlis by Pierre Hermé, inside the luxurious Rosewood Abu Dhabi. Since opening in late 2024, Majlis has quickly become a go-to for stylish sips, decadent bites, and trendsetting takes on the afternoon tea tradition. And now, they're raising the bar. This specially curated four-course experience is inspired by the legendary career of world-renowned pastry chef Pierre Hermé, promising delicate flavours, bold technique, and a masterclass in presentation. Here's what's on the menu: A refined amuse-bouche to start Artisanal sandwiches inspired by classic English flavours A refreshing palate cleanser And the pièce de résistance: a show-stopping stand of Pierre Hermé's signature pastries Pair it all with rare and elegant brews, including Geisha coffee and a bespoke selection of Avantcha teas, handpicked to elevate the experience. Usually priced from Dhs345, this preview is exclusively available to selected What's On readers and whoever they choose to enjoy this experience with. Guests will enjoy full table service during a two-hour seating window and won't be available to anyone else – just our – VIP What's On guests. Ready to indulge? RSVP here. > Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in
What's On
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- What's On
Here's how the first Abu Dhabi Lock In of 2025 went down
Our guests turned up in force… Over the weekend of May 24 and 25, What's On hosted Abu Dhabi's exciting, sold out most weekend summer celebration at the InterContinental Abu Dhabi Hotel, over a full 28 hours. 3 of 12 Our wonderful guests turned up in droves and experienced a fun-soaked weekend like none other, with a superstar staycation, bottomless brunch, wellness treatments and watersports with Laluna (@ as they created lifelong memories with friends and family right here in the UAE capital. Highlight reel In a sentence, this was a weekend party to remember at the InterContinental Abu Dhabi. Our guests enjoyed a range of free activities and discounted access to an array of hotel and partner experiences, both thrilling and relaxing – including head and shoulder massages, blow-dries and manis for the ladies and beard trims for the gents from the master stylists at Cayenne Beauty Salon (@cayennebeautysalon), as well as other glow-up treatments that had them looking their best all weekend long. To ensure our guests also dressed in their stylish best, Serge de Nimes, also our esteemed event partners (@serge_de_nimes_dxb) were in attendance with a wide variety of fashionable outfits on display. After a morning of meeting our team and each other, our guests moved to Belgian Café for a full four hours of brunch madness, where hearty European delights, free-flowing drinks and great entertainment laid the table. Wondering what was on the menu? It really was the whole nine yards of some of the best Belgian food and drink in town, with leading favourites such as Belgian mussels, steak frites, cheese platters, oysters, and beef stew only a few of the taste-packed delicacies on offer. Coupled with free-flowing pints of Belgian goodness and electrifying live entertainment, brunch time at our Lock In kept the weekend vibe at optimum levels. When it was time for the afterparty, the party train moved to the InterContinental Abu Dhabi's epic Chamas Churrascaria & Bar, where guests shook a leg and enjoyed the beats from the deck of a skilled DJ, as samba dancers brought the carnival vibes to the party. It was a peerless afternoon of food, drink, socialising and merrymaking where the good times rolled on all day (and weekend) long. At the end of an exhilarating Day 1, guests finally retired to their luxurious King Classic Sea View rooms to grab a good night's rest, with the most gorgeous vistas of Abu Dhabi keeping them company right outside their windows. On Sunday, breakfast was served at Selections restaurant, with buffet-style eats and relaxed vibes. The extensive selection of breakfast options was just what the doctor ordered after a full day of fun and entertainment, and guests refuelled for a day of R&R that included several fun and relaxing sessions including a gentle yoga flow session at Bayshore Beach Club with YogaOne(@yogaone_uae), followed by free workouts and watersports with Laluna (@ with guests making a splash by the UAE capital's skyline. If you couldn't get your hands on a reservation this time… Don't worry, this peerless weekend party was only the first of several… and we might have another big one in the works, so make sure you register here to receive all the updates first. If you'd like to book your own stay at InterContinental Abu Dhabi, call (0)2 666 6888, book here, or email > Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in
What's On
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- What's On
Comedian Jim Jefferies chats with What's On ahead of his show this Saturday
We caught up with the laughmaker, and here's all he had to say… The Aussie comedian, actor and writer, known for his bold sense of humour, will perform at Dubai's Coca Cola Arena on Saturday, May 24 as part of his Jim Jefferies: Son of a Carpenter tour. We caught up with him in the lead-up… What's On: How do you feel about performing in Dubai at a time when comedy shows are on such an uptick in the UAE? Jim Jefferies: I'm happy to go anywhere that people are happy to come and see me. One of the beautiful things about Dubai is that it's just such a big melting pot of people from everywhere. One of the big questions I always get asked is, 'What's the difference between performing in the UK, US, Australia, Asia or elsewhere?', and performing in Dubai is like performing in all of those places, at once. This Saturday's show is going to have a little bit of everything – there's even something for the older fans, and it's going to be punchy, punchy, punchy – an hour-and-a-half, maybe more, of jokes is what you're gonna get. Images: Getty, What's On archive WO: What's one factor, aside from the metrics, that determines a successful show for you? JJ: The amount of applause I receive when I walk off stage after a performance, has to be equal to, or greater than the applause I received when I walked on to perform. When you're a known entity in any business, you get a bit more leeway. Comedy is a wonderful art form that lets you know immediately if your performance was a success or a failure, unlike perhaps, doing a scene in a movie. WO: Some crowds are easier to entertain, some others are a bit more sensitive. But over the past decade, the world's come to accept, and even expect that you'd push the envelope as far as you can. Do you tend to go all in, or are you very strategic with your humour depending on where you're performing? JJ: I'll let you in on an industry secret: you can say the boldest things, and you'll be fine – as long as the laugh's big. The more outrageous the statement, the bigger the laugh has to be. Also sometimes, I want to say to the newer guys, the reason the audience didn't laugh is because you weren't charming enough. It's more about being charming, and then that gives you more leeway. WO: A lot of newer comedians credit YouTube and social media as game changers with virality and overnight success. How much has it helped you? JJ: While it's helped, I've never personally uploaded a clip on YouTube – I'm not the most digitally-savvy. These days, many comedians will post clips about, let's say, how they handled a heckler. But I personally don't want to see a recording of my performances online, because I don't want to be overexposed. WO: How do you advise keeping your name out there, if you're just getting your name in the game? JJ: I just believe you have to brand yourself in the sense that, people can instantly tell when it's you. When I first started out, people that didn't even know my name knew me as the guy that wore the same leather jacket at all of his shows. I'm no marketing genius – I just feel like I'm lucky to be where i am, I've worked hard, and I'm really happy to be where I've gotten to. WO: You've mentioned charm/charisma. How transferable are your people skills between performing on stage and let's say, doing a talk show? JJ: A lot of your success at a talk show has to do with the rapport you have with the talk show host themselves. Quintessentially, you're doing a routine that's not a routine. But if you have someone like let's say, Jimmy Fallon, he's going to laugh at pretty much everything you say, and help you get over the line. I've been on talk show episodes with personalities like Bill Clinton and Margot Robbie, and in such situations have thought, 'This audience isn't gonna want to hear from me!' WO: What are you looking forward to exploring during your time in Dubai? JJ: I'm really looking forward to discovering a few nice restaurants while I'm in town – I love the food scene here. Jim Jefferies: Son of a Carpenter, Coca Cola Arena, Dubai, Saturday May 24, 8pm, from Dhs395,
