Dubai Opera guide: getting there, parking, dress code and late entry
How to reach the dhow-shaped venue in Downtown Dubai, where to park, what to wear and what happens if you are late.
Dubai Opera stands on Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard in The Opera District of Downtown Dubai. It opened on 31 August 2016 with a performance by Plácido Domingo and seats about 2,000. Architect Janus Rostock of Atkins designed it to resemble a dhow, and the hall can switch between theatre, concert hall and flat-floor event modes.
The closest metro stop is Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall on the Red Line. From there you walk through Downtown, and visitor guides give anything from about 10 to 25 minutes depending on your route, so leave spare time. A taxi or ride-hailing car to the Dubai Opera plaza is the simpler option on busy nights.
Drivers reach the Dubai Opera car park through the P3 basement entrance on Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard. It is paid parking and is closed on days without a performance, and valet is also offered. Downtown has other underground car parks that are not run by the venue if the main one is full.
The building opens two hours before the show and the auditorium doors usually open 30 minutes before curtain. Latecomers may not be admitted once a performance has started and may have to wait for the interval. Children under 16 must be with a parent or guardian.
There is no strict black-tie rule outside gala evenings, but guests are asked to dress elegantly, and shorts, flip-flops and very casual or revealing outfits are discouraged. Photography and recording are not allowed in the auditorium and outside food cannot be brought in. Coming up: Trevor Noah plays on 25, 26, 28 and 29 November, and the Bolshoi Theatre's Nutcracker runs from 4 to 6 December.
Trevor NoahWed 25 Nov · Dubai Opera, Dubai See ticketsSource: Wikipedia: Dubai Opera, Way4i: Dubai Opera visitor guide, Platinumlist Guide, The National
