From Dubai’s hottest new restaurants and World Cup fan zones to Ras Al Khaimah foodie trails and Abu Dhabi’s best malls, here’s everything worth adding to your agenda across the UAE this month

June may be heating up, but there’s no shortage of reasons to get out and explore. In fact, to celebrate 47 years of What’s On (yes, we’re 47, and looking very good for our age), we’ve rounded up 47 things we can’t stop talking about right now across the UAE.

From Dubai’s hottest new restaurants and bars to World Cup fan zones, Ras Al Khaimah foodie trails, Abu Dhabi’s best malls, summer staycations, wellness experiences and family-friendly attractions, this is our ultimate guide to what’s worth your time this month. Because if there’s one thing we don’t do, it’s gatekeep the best the UAE has to offer.

Consider this your definitive “what’s hot right now” list in the UAE – packed with the openings, experiences, dishes and destinations everyone will be talking about this June.

Top restaurant and dining picks include:

• Moonrise – still the hardest table to book in Dubai, with an omakase tasting menu from Dhs500.
• Carbone – home of Dubai’s most talked-about dish, the spicy rigatoni (Dhs160).
• Manao – the ultimate IYKYK tasting menu reservation from chefs Abhiraj Khatwani and Mohamad Orfali.
• Window in Alserkal Avenue – Chef Gonzalo Platero’s “modern fire cuisine,” including a stand-out smoked bolognese lasagne.
• Three Bros – home of Dubai’s best fine-dining burger, the OB Cheeseburger (Dhs99).
• Eleven Green – for the city’s best casual burger, the Hokkaido milk bun Bull Burger (Dhs61).
• El Primo – a Jumeirah taquería from a former Zuma chef, serving some of Dubai’s best tacos.
• CQ Brasserie – the definitive steak frites in JLT and Barsha Heights.
• Barrafina – London’s Soho tapas favourite lands in DIFC.
• The Spaniel – a Michelin Guide-selected Sunday roast in Bluewaters.

Best bars, nightlife and wellness experiences:

• Soul Kitchen – still Dubai’s coolest bar, bar none.
• VNTG at JW Marriott Marquis – Dubai’s on-trend new wine bar, with flights from Dhs120.
• CLAP – a Tokyo-inspired late-night izakaya with skyline views.
• Aura SkyPool – floating breathwork sessions 210 metres above the Palm (Dhs300).
• Pier 7’s ladies’ night revival – Asia Asia, Cargo, Mama Zonia and Elaia offering three free drinks every Thursday from 7-11pm.

The full 47-item list also covers Dubai’s best padel clubs, head spas, comedy nights, brunches, hand rolls, pizza, shawarma and more – essentially a cheat sheet for anyone asking “what’s trending in Dubai this summer”.

World Cup 2026: Where to watch every match in Dubai and Abu Dhabi

With the World Cup expanding to 48 teams across the US, Canada and Mexico this year, the UAE is gearing up for a summer of football fever – and we’ve mapped out the best World Cup fan zones and sports bars in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Dubai’s official fan zone is Bla Bla by McGettigan’s in JBR, home of the England Supporters Club this tournament, with tickets from Dhs60 fully redeemable on food and drinks.

Other top Dubai sports bars for the World Cup include Bridgewater Tavern (JW Marriott Marquis), Buffalo Wings & Rings (DIFC/JLT), Double Decker (Swissôtel Al Murooj), The Irish Village, Garden on 8 (Media One), Goose Island Tap House (JVC), K-West (Kempinski Palm Jumeirah), Long’s Bar, McCafferty’s JVC, Offside (JA Ocean View), Seven Sports Bar (The Palm), Spike Bar (Emirates Golf Club) and Trophy Room (Fairmont Dubai).

In Abu Dhabi, football fans should head to Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri, Stars ‘N’ Bars (Yas Marina), Tiki Taka, Lock Stock & Barrel Yas Bay, McCafferty’s Yas Island, Bridges Bar (Fairmont Bab Al Bahr), Brauhaus (Beach Rotana), Belgian Café (InterContinental), Crafty Fox (Yas Links), Hemingway’s, Stock Burger Co. and Snooty Fox (Dusit Thani) — the latter also running Thursday bingo and Friday quiz nights alongside the football.

10 things we love about UAE summers

Yes, it’s hot, but UAE summer has its perks, and we break down exactly why summer in Dubai beats winter almost everywhere else. Highlights include quieter roads and faster commutes, temperature-controlled pools, scandalously good Dubai summer staycation deals, mosquito-free evenings, lighter inboxes, the simple joy of air conditioning, sunrise paddleboarding, and the return of the popular Mallathon indoor running series across Dubai malls from June to September.

Don’t forget Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) also returns this year, running July 2 to August 30, with up to 90% off retail, daily Dhs10,000 shop-and-win prizes, the return of Modhesh World, Restaurant Week deals, kids-go-free offers and concerts including Davido.

The Great Abu Dhabi Mall Escape: Best Malls For Summer

When the heat becomes “personally offensive,” Abu Dhabi’s malls step up as full-day destinations. What’s On’s guide to the best Abu Dhabi malls in summer 2026 covers:

• Reem Mall – home to Snow Abu Dhabi and the 32-room Cube Challenge.
• Yas Mall – connected to Ferrari World, with a strong dining lineup and free weekly walking club.
• The Galleria Al Maryah Island – now home to Isabel Mayfair, plus free Zumba, yoga and running sessions through its Get Active programme.
• Marina Mall – featuring the new Cinemacity Starlight, a members’-club-style cinema concept.
• Abu Dhabi Mall – home to the 24-room Prison Island challenge experience
• World Trade Center Abu Dhabi – featuring Velocity, the Middle East’s tallest mall slide.
• Deerfields Mall – now with a Pinpoint Fitness obstacle course for kids and teens.
• Shams Boutik and Al Jimi Mall – for slower, café-led mall days.
• Madinat Zayed Shopping Centre – the go-to for gold, abayas and tailoring.

Restaurant review: Isabel Mayfair, Abu Dhabi

London’s celebrated Isabel Mayfair has landed at The Galleria Al Maryah Island, and What’s On’s review calls it one of Abu Dhabi’s most glamorous new restaurant openings. Expect Mediterranean sharing plates, a standout wagyu T-bone (Dhs990), and a not-to-miss XXL pistachio madeleine for dessert. Dinner for two runs Dhs900–Dhs1,500.

Restaurant review: Sutēki, Dubai Harbour

At Dubai Harbour’s Bay Marina, Sutēki is the wagyu-focused restaurant making waves this June. Every dish – from tataki to the now-famous Steak Sando – is built around a single ingredient explored from every angle. What’s On’s verdict: the steak sando alone is worth the booking.

A foodie’s guide to Ras Al Khaimah

RAK isn’t just a weekend escape anymore – it’s becoming a genuine food destination. What’s On’s 72-hour RAK foodie guide highlights café favourites like Risers House, North Café and Cyclist Café, high-end spots including Bar du Port Beach, Farmhouse by Syrco, Ula and the Ritz-Carlton’s Zuma pop-up, plus local tip-offs like Fanar Bakery’s Dhs3.50 Afghani bread and the historic Mannoor café by the Creek.

The summer reset: 10 ways to move, recover and eat well

For anyone feeling the summer slump, our summer reset guide rounds up 10 wellness experiences across Dubai – from a traditional hammam at Talise Spa (Madinat Jumeirah) and lymphatic drainage massage at Mandarin Oriental Downtown, to floating breathwork at Aura SkyPool, the Pullman Run Series along Dubai Canal, contrast therapy at Rē, International Yoga Day at SEVA, a HYROX-style workout inside Ski Dubai, and a deep-cleansing facial at Orskin.

Whether you’re planning a summer staycation, hunting for the city’s best new restaurant, gearing up for World Cup season, or just trying to survive the heat in style – June 2026’s What’s On issue has every base covered. Read the full issue here.