What? There’s just over a week left until 2026. How did this year fly by so fast?

With the countdown officially on, the city seems to slow down — or at least it feels that way (because Dubai almost never really does). This week brings immersive art you can literally walk through, a DJ set rooted in global sounds, a design exhibition about gathering and hosting, a newly opened coffee spot worth lingering in, a weekend escape to Abu Dhabi, and more. Take what feels right, skip what doesn’t — and let the last days of the year unfold at their own pace.

Where? Subko Coffee Roasters & Bakehouse, Warehouse 15, Alserkal  Avenue

Good news for coffee lovers: Subko Coffee Roasters & Bakehouse has opened its first UAE space at Alserkal Avenue! Spanning over 5,000 sq ft across two levels, the space brings together microlot coffee, fresh sourdough and croissants, and fine cacao from the Indian Subcontinent, all set within a nostalgic yet contemporary, South Asian–inspired interior.

Nothing here is hidden. Downstairs, known as The Craftery, you can watch everything happen in real time — coffee roasting, chocolate-making, dough lamination. It is part café, part production space, part concept store.

This is where the journey begins: Taiyaar, Subko’s grab-and-go section with canned drinks and ready-to-drink options; Batch Your Own Brew, where you can tap pre-batched pour-overs, hot or iced; and the Subko Singularity table, where objects from their design studio come to life through 3D printing. There is also a dedicated cupping and tasting room, paired with a Single Origin VR experience that takes you to coffee-growing regions across the Subcontinent as you taste.

Upstairs is Quoz Quarters, the café space — designed like a house, with different rooms each with its own focus. Mehfil is the central gathering area, built around conversation and community, overlooking the coffee counter. From there, you move through Zubaan, dedicated to Indic language and typography; The Wheat Room, tracing flour, grain, and the farmers behind Subko’s baking; The Coffee Corridor, mapping coffee species and the journey from cherry to cup; and The Cacao Room, focused on pods, raw ingredients, and the foundations of fine chocolate.

There is The Raw Humanity Corridor, which tells the story of Subko’s people and farming partners, ending in The Last Supper — a gallery-like space for dialogue, exhibitions, and shared moments. Tucked into the experience is a custom-designed carrom board, inviting guests to slow down and play.

Where? Perrotin Dubai, Gate Village Building 5, Podium level, 05 Sheikh Zayed Rd — Trade Centre

Until January 10, 2026, Perrotin Dubai presents What Remains, the debut solo exhibition by American artist Daniel Arsham. The show brings together new works across sculpture, painting, drawing, and sound, all circling around themes that run through Arsham’s practice: cultural memory, erosion, and the passage of time.

For this exhibition, Arsham turns the gallery into a quiet sonic environment. Copper-wrapped bonsai tree sculptures double as stereo speakers, filling the space with ambient sound throughout the day. Referencing Japanese Zen Buddhist culture, the series builds on the artist’s earlier explorations of sand zen gardens — meditative landscapes that blur the line between sculpture, architecture, and ritual.

Another highlight is a new body of work connected to Arsham’s Labyrinth series. Cast in sand, Stairs in a Labyrinth shifts depending on how you approach it: from the front, it reads as a portrait bust; from the side, it opens into a maze of staircases and architectural layers.

Where? Isola Space, Unit L204, The Lana Promenade by Dorchester Collection, Business Bay

Freshly opened in November, Isola Space presents Design Is Served, an exhibition on view until January 10. The showcase brings together designers from around the world, rethinking how we share meals and celebrate seasons — and how design turns gathering into a full experience.

The space itself is beautiful, the exhibition is bright and uplifting, and it is genuinely inspiring. Highly recommend stopping by if you are in the mood for something thoughtful and creative.

Where? Honeycomb Hi-Fi, Pullman Dubai Downtown — Level 2

This Friday, Dubai-based DJ and producer Somalie brings his sound to Honeycomb Hi-Fi. Born to Somali immigrants and raised in a multicultural desert environment, his sets pull from different cultures, rhythms, and musical traditions.

Where? The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi

Why not? Take a break from work, slow down, and check into The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi — one of those places where everything is designed for proper rest.

The festive season here is all about good food, family time, and small indulgences. Dining is a big part of it: from all-day international comfort at Oléa, to vibrant Southeast Asian flavours at Sontaya, and the newly opened Sophia Abu Dhabi, serving Mediterranean dishes that feel perfect for long, relaxed meals with family or friends.

There is plenty happening beyond the table, too. Throughout December, the resort hosts seasonal activities for all ages — from gingerbread-making workshops for kids to festive moments like the Christmas tree lighting. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day bring special dinners and brunches across the resort’s restaurants, each with its own mood, live cooking stations, and ocean views.

New Year’s Eve is when things really come alive. Whether it is a beachfront countdown with live music and fireworks at Buddha-Bar Beach, a more intimate Mediterranean celebration at Sophia, or a classic festive buffet and live band at Oléa, there is a way to welcome the new year that fits every kind of mood.

And if your idea of celebration is doing less rather than more, the spa is reason enough to go — especially the signature Caraway and Fig ritual, made for full-body reset mode.

Where? teamLab Phenomena, Al Saadiyat Island, Cultural District, Abu Dhabi

teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi continues to expand its multi-sensory world with two new installations — Massless Suns and Dark Suns and Megaliths in the Roots Garden.

Megaliths in the Roots Garden unfolds across levels: the experience continues downstairs, where tree roots hang freely in the air, stretching between floors and surrounded by towering stone-like forms. The space feels quiet and slightly surreal, blurring the line between nature and architecture.

The journey moves on to Massless Suns and Dark Suns, an immersive exploration of light and darkness. Glowing spheres respond to movement, shaping an environment that shifts as visitors pass through it. The work exists only through perception, changing constantly in real time.

It is the last Monday of the year. You really don’t need to fill it with events. Just take it slow.