From Mediterranean dinner theatre to immersive AR go-karting, make your weeknights more exciting with these plans.
Dubai: The week does not have to be something you simply survive until Friday. If you have not already filled your calendar with sadhya and Onam plans, here are five other things to do that you can slot into your midweek.
Iris Harbour launches its new Ladies’ Night
When: Every Wednesday from 7pm
Where: Iris Harbour, Dubai Harbour
Price: Dh210 per guest, including three-hour free flow
Iris Harbour has given its Ladies’ Night a proper overhaul, with a new menu designed to suit whatever kind of evening you are after. You can choose two starters, or pair one starter with dessert, and work your way through Iris’ signature bites at your own pace.
If the group is leaning Japanese, the sushi platter is the obvious move, with seabass nigiri, salmon nigiri, shiso hamachi roll and more, all designed for sharing.
Rohini marks Raksha Bandhan with a siblings’ set menu
When: 23 to 30 August
Where: Rohini, Dubai
Price: Dh200; buy one, get one free for brothers and sisters
Raksha Bandhan deserves better than a voice note sent across time zones, and Rohini’s Sibling Stories set menu makes a good case for celebrating together. The buy-one-get-one offer is available to siblings dining together from 23 to 30 August, with each set menu priced at Dh200. For a weeknight dinner that doubles as some quality sibling time, it is one of the better-value options in the city.
Beyond the Raksha Bandhan celebrations, Rohini has plenty on the calendar to make a midweek visit worthwhile. Tandoori Tuesdays bring a choice of a veg kebab platter for Dh89, a chicken platter for Dh139 or a non-veg spread for Dh199, available every Tuesday from 5pm to 11pm. On Thursdays, Cassettes, Curry and Kulcha, a 90s retro live night, kicks off at 7pm for Dh99.
Wednesdays are reserved for Ladies Day Out, with a main course for Dh99 from noon. For something more casual, Chaat and Chatter pairs one tea or coffee with one food item for Dh49 on Tuesday afternoons, and from 3pm to 7pm Wednesday through Sunday.
PAREA by ZEA brings Mediterranean dinner theatre to DIFC
When: Every Thursday and Saturday from 9pm
Where: ZEA Dubai, Level C, Emirates Financial Tower, DIFC
Price: From Dh260 per person
ZEA Dubai’s PAREA by ZEA is a Mediterranean dinner experience that does not quite end when the plates are cleared. The menu matches the theatrical spirit of the evening, starting with a Seafood Tower of tuna and avocado tartare, premium oysters, poached prawns and salmon ceviche.
From there, expect wagyu beef carpaccio, chicken anticuchos, ZEA guacamole and quinoa and pear salad with crispy kale. Mains include Australian wagyu beef tenderloin, baby chicken with Peruvian chilli and asparagus risotto, alongside charred broccolini and truffle parmesan fries. A signature ZEA dessert platter rounds things off.
Packages start at Dh260 per person and can be tailored across dining and beverage options, making this one for those looking to turn dinner into more of an occasion.
Once the plates are cleared, the dinner gives way to live percussionists, dancers and DJ Mishti, who keep the energy going until 2am. The whole experience unfolds against ZEA’s contemporary Mediterranean interiors in the heart of DIFC, making it as much about the atmosphere as the food.
Chaos Karts adds a video game layer to go-karting
When: Until 30 September, Tuesday to Wednesday
Where: Chaos Karts Dubai, Al Quoz
Price: From Dh128
If the group needs something more active, Chaos Karts Dubai is bringing its augmented reality karting experience to Al Quoz through the end of September. The concept is exactly what it sounds like: real go-karts on a real track, with digitally projected environments transforming each race. One lap might take you through the Arabian desert, while the next sends you into the cosmos, all without the need for headsets.
You get 20 minutes of track time across six AR environments, with a café on site for a post-race wind-down. It is an easy pick for a Tuesday or Wednesday evening when the usual dinner plans need a bit of a shake-up.
The Permit Room turns Wednesday into a Bollywood games night
When: Every Wednesday from 7.30pm
Where: The Permit Room, Majestic City Retreat Hotel, Al Mankhool, Bur DubaiCreated by Dubai radio personality Chirag Lakhiani,
House of Bollywood at The Permit Room is part games night, part Bollywood celebration, and a good excuse to swap the usual midweek dinner for something more interactive.
The evening runs through a mix of Bollywood Quiz, Bingo, Dumb Charades and Who Am I?, with clues leading players to iconic Bollywood personalities. The standout round is Main Hoon Actor, where guests perform legendary film dialogues while channelling a randomly assigned emotion. The results may be unpredictable, but the entertainment is pretty much guaranteed.
Weekly prizes include Dh1,000 worth of vouchers, luxury staycation experiences and surprise giveaways, while The Permit Room’s award-winning Indian cuisine and creative beverages keep the evening fuelled. The concept is an evolution of Lakhiani’s Games Night with Chirag, which sold out nine of its first 10 editions in 2025, so expect a lively crowd and plenty of competitive spirit.
