Dubai is boiling this November in an incredible lineup of cultural events that celebrate art, music, design, and community in fresh, boundary-pushing ways. From world-class music festivals to art exhibitions and workshops, this month invites locals and visitors alike to experience the city’s vibrant creative pulse. 

Highlights include the debut of Crowd Test by The Sandy Times, launching with a unique mix of global and local talent, Alserkal Art Week, showcasing thought-provoking art installations, and Dubai Design Week, where cutting-edge design meets innovation. 

These events not only spotlight Dubai’s rich cultural landscape but also create spaces for connection, creativity, and exploration — transforming the city into a living canvas of artistic expression.

Boogie Box Festival returns to Abu Dhabi on November 2 for a monumental final edition, wrapping up its 15-year legacy with a 16-hour music marathon along the serene shores of Hudayriyat Beach. Known for its immersive, community-driven energy, the festival will feature two stages and some of the world's top DJs, each bringing a unique sound to this much-anticipated event. 

Stage One promises high-energy sets, headlined by globally acclaimed DJs — Young Marco, DJ BORING, and Adiel, while Stage Two offers a deeper, moodier vibe with a lineup featuring Hunee’s UAE debut. This iconic, family-friendly festival will be open to all ages, with children under 12 free to attend until 7 pm. 

For one last time, Boogie Box aims to create unforgettable memories with friends, dancers, and music lovers before bidding farewell to its Abu Dhabi roots. Doors open at 2 pm — don’t miss this farewell celebration at Hudayriyat Beach.

Dubai will play host to AlphaTheta’s Start From Scratch DJ workshops, a first for the MENA region, at Soho Garden on November 2 and 3. 

Designed to be both culturally inclusive and empowering, these workshops, organised in collaboration with Little Pink Book and Dubai Sound Academy, offer women a unique opportunity to step into the world of DJing. Attendees will work with state-of-the-art DJ equipment and receive hands-on guidance from established DJs, MIRA and Off Kourse. 

Select participants can even advance to a full DJ course at Dubai Sound Academy, fully funded by AlphaTheta, culminating in a live set performance at Soho Garden. With male-free morning sessions, this initiative creates a comfortable environment for women to explore music, technique, and creativity in a supportive space.

Dubai Design Week, the region's largest design festival, returns to Dubai Design District (D3) from November 6 to 9, celebrating innovation across installations, exhibitions, workshops, and talks. 

This year introduces Editions, the Middle East's inaugural fair focused on limited edition art and design, featuring exclusive pieces from regional and international artists. Curated for both seasoned collectors and new enthusiasts, Editions offers a platform to explore high-quality works in contemporary design, ceramics, photography, and more.

Pro tip: watch out for our reveal of KAMEH’s exhibition next week. 

Downtown Design, the festival's anchor, will showcase cutting-edge furniture and decor collections from global brands alongside emerging regional talent. Public tours, talks, and a diverse marketplace round out Dubai Design Week, underscoring Dubai’s growing influence as a creative and cultural hub.

The inaugural Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial launched on November 15, unveiling the theme "Public Matter" through immersive, site-specific art installations and performances by over 70 UAE-based and international artists. This event, held across the public spaces of Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, seeks to reimagine what it means to be "public" in the unique cultural and environmental context of Abu Dhabi. Given the city’s blend of indigenous traditions, diverse expatriate communities, and the impactful natural landscape, the Biennial addresses how public life in Abu Dhabi is shaped by factors like architecture, environmental conditions, and cultural values of hospitality and community. 

Featured artists, including Allora & Calzadilla, Farah Al Qasimi, and Oscar Murillo, will create installations and performances aimed at connecting with the everyday life of the city’s residents. By placing artworks directly in accessible urban spaces, the Biennial underscores public art as a shared resource and invites the community to experience the intersection of art, culture, and public engagement. This pioneering event emphasises the growing role of art in enriching the communal fabric of Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.

The Sandy Times Crowd Test launches in style on November 16, at Monkey Bar in Dubai, inviting music lovers, creatives, and cultural enthusiasts for a night dedicated to innovation, community, and creativity. This festival celebrates the debut of STR (Sandy Times Radio), a 24/7 online platform blending local soundscapes with global music trends, featuring exclusive artist interviews and discussions on emerging cultural movements.

With a music lineup that brings together global names and UAE-based talents, expect electric performances from artists like New Zealand’s house and disco DJ Eden Burns, Barcelona's Mainline Magic Orchestra, and local names such as Hani J, Shadi Megallaa, and Hassan Alwan. Complementing the music, the Art Lab by CIFRA in Room #3 will showcase boundary-breaking performances, with visual-musical duos like Amir B. Ash & Safeya Alblooshi and Oman’s After 12 Collective, creating unforgettable, immersive experiences.

For those interested in creative dialogues, THE KARAK will host a public talk on the theme "Creativity and Community," fostering conversations that reflect Crowd Test’s mission of celebrating the collaborative power of art and music. 

Tickets start at 150 AED online (200 AED at the door), including two complimentary drinks. Join Crowd Test for an unforgettable fusion of music, art, and community on November 16.

Alserkal Art Week returns from November 17 to 25, inviting visitors to explore its theme, "Acts of Presence," through a curated blend of exhibitions, talks, and public art at Alserkal Avenue in Dubai. The highlight, Made Present: Biographies of Artworks Defying the Ongoing Nakba, showcases Palestinian art that preserves memories and cultural resilience. Visitors can also experience Walk With Me, a public art series prompting reflections on community and memory through site-specific installations, such as This Is Not Your Grave by Dima Srouji and Stock: Variation on a Fountain by Abbas Akhavan. 

Majlis Talks bring together African creative leaders, including Ghanaian artist Kwame-Akoto Bamfo, whose works offer fresh perspectives on heritage. Additional programming includes gallery exhibitions, open studios, and thought-provoking symposia, making Alserkal Art Week a powerful convergence of art, history, and community.