UAE November 2026 events: Dubai Run, Diwali, Frieze Abu Dhabi and golf

The UAE calendar for November 2026 includes a fitness challenge in Dubai, Diwali celebrations, design and art fairs and two golf tournaments, Gulf News reported on 1 November.

Dubai

The Dubai Fitness Challenge runs until 29 November and calls for half an hour of daily exercise. The Dubai Run is on 22 November, with a 5km and a 10km route. The 10km route ends at the DIFC Gate Building. The start is at 6.30am and the line shuts at 8am. Registration is free, and bibs are collected beforehand at the 30x30 Fitness Village at Zabeel Park. Organisers suggest taking the Metro to World Trade Centre for the 5km route or Emirates Towers for the 10km.

Dubai Design Festival is at Dubai Design District (d3) from 3 to 8 November. Entry is free, but the Downtown Design fair (4 to 8 November) is ticketed. Parking at d3 is free for two hours, then Dh20 per hour.

Diwali falls on 8 November, and Dubai's Festival of Lights runs from 2 to 12 November. Most events are free. Noor: Festival of Lights is at Souk Al Seef on 7 and 8 November. Dhanteras is on 6 November, and the Deira Gold Souk is expected to see its biggest crowds that evening. Lakshmi Puja on 8 November is auspicious between 5.58pm and 7.56pm, and queues are expected at the Hindu Temple in Jebel Ali.

The DP World Tour Championship is at Jumeirah Golf Estates from 12 to 15 November. Thursday admission is free with registration. Children aged 17 and under also get free tickets, with registration required.

Abu Dhabi and Sharjah

Flag Day is on 3 November, with flags raised at 11am across the country. ADIPEC, an energy trade event, is at ADNEC in Abu Dhabi from 2 to 5 November. The Abu Dhabi Championship is at Yas Links from 5 to 8 November.

The 45th Sharjah International Book Fair runs from 4 to 15 November at Expo Centre Sharjah, with Oman as guest of honour. Frieze Abu Dhabi, replacing Abu Dhabi Art, is at Manarat Al Saadiyat from 19 to 22 November, with 84 galleries.

Visitors planning to attend events in the capital can browse Abu Dhabi tours in the DoBy catalog.