Good things are
happening this month.

We didn't want them to get lost in the scroll. Here's what we found across culture, wellbeing, and community.

14–17 May Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai

Art Dubai 2026

The big one. 20th edition, 75+ galleries across contemporary, modern, and digital work. Dense, well-curated, doable in a few hours — if you've never been, this is the one to go to.

Tickets & info
Until 18 May Alserkal Avenue, Dubai FREE

Alserkal Art Month

A full month of programming across galleries, studios, and spaces on the Avenue — timed alongside Art Dubai. Mostly unticketed and free to wander.

See the programme
Until 7 June Foundry, Dubai

Solimar Miller: A Continuum of Light

Mixed-media landscapes of the UAE — desert to mangroves — made on cotton and silk velvet. The materials are best seen in person.

Find out more
Until 31 May Louvre Abu Dhabi From AED 65 Last Chance

Picasso, the Figure

130+ works tracing Picasso's lifelong obsession with the human form — Cubism, classical portraits, surrealist experiments — on loan from the Musée National Picasso-Paris. Closed Mondays. Tue–Thu 10am–6:30pm, Fri–Sun 10am–8:30pm.

Book tickets
12–16 May  ·  7pm nightly Louvre Abu Dhabi Auditorium AED 30

Cannes Film Nights 2026

Five consecutive evenings of curated Cannes archive screenings inside the museum, in collaboration with Institut français UAE. A genuinely unusual night out. Doors 6:30pm — latecomers not guaranteed entry.

Programme & tickets
Until 7 June Sharjah Art Foundation FREE

Jorge Tacla: Time the Destroyer is Time the Preserver

The largest solo exhibition to date of Chilean-Palestinian artist Jorge Tacla — 70+ paintings and 100+ works on paper, recording the imprint of political and natural events on built environments. Al Mureijah Square, Sharjah. All SAF exhibitions are free. Sat–Thu 9am–9pm, Fri 4–9pm.

sharjahart.org
🏨

Staying in Abu Dhabi? Until 31 May, guests staying 2+ nights at an Abu Dhabi hotel get free access to Louvre Abu Dhabi, Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, and Zayed National Museum. Worth flagging if you're planning a trip. Details here

Lighthouse Arabia has a particularly strong programme this month — worth saving their full events page regardless of what's below.

13 May  ·  5:00–5:30pm Online FREE

Mental Health First Aid: Info Session

30 minutes on what the MHFA qualification involves and whether it's right for you. No commitment required.

Register
14 May Online FREE

Steady Within: Building Capacity for Uncertainty

Lighthouse Arabia webinar on navigating uncertainty. Practical tips to build on. Good timing, given the year we're having.

Register
27 May Outdoor FREE

Yogalates Under the Gate

Yoga and Pilates combined, last Wednesday of every month in partnership with YOFit. A great way to unwind.

27 May Lighthouse Arabia

Sustainable High Performance

Practical tips and tools to protect your wellbeing, while continuing to perform at your best.

Register
20 May  ·  4:00–5:30pm Online FREE

Grief Support Group

An open group for anyone grieving the loss of someone close to them. A one-time grief consultation (free) is required before joining — call +971 (0)4 380 2088 to book.

Details

These shelters run on volunteer time, donations, and foster parents willing to open their homes. If you've been thinking about doing something more — here's how.

Animals & Us

UAE-wide  ·  Dogs & Cats

Rescue, rehab, and rehoming across the UAE. One of the most active animal welfare organisations in the UAE.

  • Volunteer: transport animals or join the volunteer WhatsApp group
  • Feed a dog for a month: AED 245 (10kg kibble)  or  AED 95 (puppy food x10)
  • Donate to vet bills: Dubai clinic (Petzone) or Fujairah clinic (Cute Paws) — links on their bio page
  • Monthly giving from AED 50
  • Foster or adopt a cat: aauf.ae/cat-adopt-form
  • Adoption events: Every Sunday, Petzone SZR, 2–4pm FREE — just show up
Full details + all links

Stray Dogs Centre

Umm Al Quwain + Dubai  ·  Dogs

Weekly walks and socialisation sessions — multiple slots across both emirates.

  • Dog Walks (UAQ): Every Sat & Sun, 5–7pm · All ages · AED 20 per person · No booking needed
  • Socialisation Saturdays (UAQ): Every Sat, 9–11am · 18+ · Bring treats & dog food if you can
  • Adoption Events (Dubai): Every Sat, 11am–1pm · Petshop Megastore DIP FREE · Driving volunteers needed — own car required
  • Wednesday Morning Walks (Dubai): Every Wed, 8–9am · Take boarding dogs out for a walk
Register to volunteer

K9 Friends

Dubai  ·  Dogs

Entirely volunteer-run shelter. Clear pathways for fostering, adopting, and volunteering — organised setups if you want something regular.

  • Volunteer (21+): commit to a couple of mornings a week for 6+ months — starts with an intro coffee morning at the shelter · 04 887 8739
  • Students: DofE / CAS service hours available — limited places
  • Foster or adopt: browse available dogs and start the process online
k9friends.com/get-involved