Forget the usual mall crawl or brunch buffet. This weekend in Dubai is about pop-up games that win you free facials, car license plates that slash your coffee bill, and a hidden villa where a hammam treatment resets your entire week. The city is serving up a specific kind of energy right now: playful, self-indulgent, and cultural without being stuffy. You can sip a Don Julio 1942 by the sea, hunt down a pineapple bun that contains zero pineapple, or spend an afternoon losing yourself in new art commissions in Al Quoz. Plus, New Balance just dropped UAE-inspired patches and charms, and a new Pilates-and-coffee spot is calling your name. Here are the eight best ways to spend the next few days in Dubai.
Win a facial at the Charlotte Tilbury pop-up
View this post on Instagram
Before the Pillow Talk Blush Balm Lip Tint officially takes over your feed, you can be the first to try it at the Star Atrium in Dubai Mall. This is not a passive shopping trip. You spend Dhs600, you get a free CT-coded case for your new lip tint. Then you play the games at the pop-up to win exclusive gifts and vouchers for complimentary facials and makeovers. They also have the viral Pillow Talk Beauty Soulmates Palette back on shelves. The whole thing is open to the public until 29 April, so this weekend is your window.
Location: Star Atrium, The Dubai Mall
Date and Time: Open daily until 29 April, during mall hours (typically 10am to midnight)
Book a hammam at the new SNOB villa
View this post on Instagram
The new SNOB just moved into a two-storey Jumeirah villa on Beach Road, opposite Sunset Mall, and it feels like an elevated escape rather than a standard salon. Founded by Haneen Odeh, the space balances soft lighting with a professional edge, encouraging you to linger. This weekend, skip the regular facial and go straight for their Hammam treatment. It is the kind of deep cleanse that makes you feel like a new person, the perfect start to a fresh reset before the back-to-school chaos hits next week.
Location: Two-storey villa on Beach Road, opposite Sunset Mall, Jumeirah, Dubai
Date and Time: Open this weekend; specific hammam booking times available via appointment
Use your license plate for coffee discounts at Peet’s
View this post on Instagram
Your next coffee run could be your smartest financial move of the weekend. Peet’s Coffee is bringing back its viral “License Plate Discount” from 19 to 23 April (Sunday to Thursday) across three drive-thru locations. The last two digits of your car plate equal your saving. A plate ending in 56 gets 56% off. A plate ending in 95 unlocks an impressive 95% discount, capped at Dhs75. If your plate features the UAE country code “971,” you get the full Dhs75 off. Running five days only, from 5am to 1am, this turns a coffee run into a local game.
Location: Peet’s Coffee Furjan West Pavillion, Peet’s Coffee Al Wasl Road, and Peet’s Coffee Motor City (drive-thru locations only)
Date and Time: 19th to 23rd April, 5am to 1am
Catch Alserkal Art Month opening weekend
View this post on Instagram
Art month officially begins at Alserkal Avenue this Saturday. Forget what you knew as Art Week; this is a full five-weekend cultural moment running from 18 April to 18 May. Expect exhibitions, public art commissions, artist talks, performances, workshops, and community-led programming, all building towards Art Dubai 2026. Artists and cultural practitioners from across the region will converge in Al Quoz, making this one of the most compelling reasons to head that way this spring. The energy on opening weekend is always electric, and most of the programming is free to walk through.
Location: Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz, Dubai
Date and Time: Saturday 18 April onwards (month runs 18 April to 18 May); galleries typically open from 10am to 7pm, with evening events
Eat a pineapple bun at 852 Bakery
View this post on Instagram
Chef Kelvin Cheung’s 852 Bakery is one of the only places in the UAE serving an authentic Hong Kong pineapple bun. Despite the name, it contains no pineapple. The golden crackled crust on top resembles pineapple skin, and the bun arrives warm with a slab of cold salted French butter inside. Dip it into a hot coffee the way Hong Kong does. While you are there, grab the Grilled and Dangerous bagel sandwich, which features pastrami prepared entirely in-house, or the Pesto Chicken Bagel sandwich on a soft, house-made bagel. Drink a Hong Kong Milk Tea or a Hojicha Coconut.
Location: Within Jun’s, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard, Downtown, Dubai
Date and Time: Daily from 12pm until 1am
Try a new Pilates studio (then grab coffee)
15 new pilates studios in the UAE for a fresh wellness reset
You said you were going to check the wellness box this weekend. Now is the time. A new Pilates studio has just popped up in Dubai, and the smart move is to book a class and then reward yourself with a good coffee right after. Think reformer work, controlled breathing, and that specific kind of muscle shake that makes you feel accomplished. Then you walk next door or downstairs to a proper coffee counter. It is the most civilised way to do a weekend reset, and it checks off movement and caffeine in one clean sweep.
Location: Check the specific new Pilates studio location via article linked above
Date and Time: Varies by studio; weekend morning classes recommended
Grab UAE patches and charms at New Balance
View this post on Instagram
This weekend, New Balance is bringing the nation together with two timely, UAE-inspired initiatives. In Dubai, head to the New Balance store at Dubai Hills Mall for an in-store activation showcasing homegrown talent. You will receive exclusive UAE-inspired patchwork designs by Dubai-based artist Dina Sami, which can be heat-pressed onto your apparel and accessories. You can also grab UAE-inspired charms created in collaboration with The Charms Atelier, a Dubai-born homegrown business. These are small but meaningful reminders of unity, resilience and local pride.
Location: New Balance store, Dubai Hills Mall
Date and Time: 18 & 19 April (Saturday and Sunday), during mall hours
Sip Don Julio 1942 by the pool at Sirene Beach
View this post on Instagram
Sirene Beach by GAIA just launched a Don Julio 1942 collaboration at its poolside setting in J1 Beach. Think a curated selection of drinks and a dessert inspired by the spirit’s distinctive notes, all set against that Aegean-style backdrop of whitewashed loungers and sea views. It is designed for relaxed afternoons that ease into early evenings by the water, making it the perfect slow-burn end to a busy weekend. Available throughout spring and summer, this marks the start of an ongoing series of collaborations at the venue.
Location: Sirene Beach by GAIA, J1 Beach, Dubai
Date and Time: Daily from 10am onwards (available spring and summer)
– For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
Images: Supplied & Feature Image: @zahramallik
