Welcome, listeners, to Things to Do in Dubai with your globe-trotting sports nut, Oly Bennett, coming to you on Thursday, December 18, 2025. Dubai’s serving peak winter magic today: cooler desert temps, blue skies, and that perfect “walk-the-marina-without-melting” weather that makes the whole city feel like one giant open-air festival.Dubai is buzzing with pre-Christmas energy. According to Visit Dubai’s events calendar, it’s prime season for concerts, racing, and festive fun, and every mall feels like Santa built a second HQ here. Over at Meydan, Dubai Racing Carnival’s Festive Friday is in full gallop, mixing world-class horse racing with sparkling lights, dining, and big-day-out vibes for families and racing diehards alike, as highlighted by Dubai Calendar. For nightlife fans, David Guetta is gearing up for a monster show at Dubai Harbour this weekend, reported by Fact Dubai, and the city’s already in party warm-up mode.If you’re in the mood for culture tonight, Dubai Culture’s official site shows a spread of exhibitions and heritage events across Al Shindagha and Al Fahidi, perfect for an evening wander through traditional wind towers before you dive back into skyscraper-land. Families can lock into Christmas mode with festive films like Elf and The Polar Express running Thursdays and Fridays at Cinemacity, according to Fact Dubai, complete with gingerbread-topped popcorn and hot chocolate sugar comas. And if your vibe is after-work unwinding, Bavarian Beerhouse Dubai is running its Thirsty Thursday happy hour today from noon till late with 25 percent off drinks, as listed on their event calendar.On the news and city updates side, the Dubai Government Media Office reports that the city is gearing up for the first World Sports Summit, bringing legends like Ronaldo Nazario and Khabib Nurmagomedov to town soon. It’s another big step in Dubai’s mission to be a global sports powerhouse, which, as a sports-obsessed traveler, makes my heart do jumping jacks.So, what should you absolutely do today? Hit the Dubai Marina or JBR for a seaside stroll, then jump on a dhow cruise for sunset. Swing by a Christmas market at one of the big hotels or malls—What’s On Dubai notes there are festive villages with carols, food stalls, and family activities all over the city. If you want a quieter, only-in-Dubai moment, head to Dubai Creek Harbour at golden hour, grab a coffee near the new Orme Osteria mentioned by Fact Dubai, and watch the skyline glow like someone turned the saturation to max.Local tip from Oly: don’t just default to taxis. The Dubai Metro is clean, cheap, and fast, and hopping off at Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall or Dubai Marina stations lets you glide past traffic like a pro. Bonus: Nol card in your pocket and you instantly feel more like a local and less like a confused penguin in the desert.Tomorrow, the weekend energy ramps up: big brunches like the garden brunch at Le Méridien Dubai, theatre fans flocking to Once Upon a Time in Dubai, and more festive nights across the city, as Fact Dubai previews. Tune in next time and I’ll walk you through the must-hit events, from beach parties to Christmas shows on ice.Thanks for listening, please subscribe, and remember—this episode was brought to you by Quiet Please podcast networks. For more content like this, please go to Quiet Please dot Ai.For more check out https://www.quietperiodplease.com/and make sure to jump on these great deals https://amzn.to/3V0gjPtFor more on Oly check out https://www.instagram.com/olybennet/This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI