This winter, Mall of the Emirates becomes home to one of Dubai’s most ambitious cultural ventures yet – New Covent Garden Theatre, Dubai, a fully fledged performance and dance destination created in collaboration with Lisa Scott-Lee and Johnny Shentall-Lee, in partnership with Majid Al Futtaim.
Far more than a theatre, the 600-seat venue includes ten dance and rehearsal studios, a Black Box Theatre, a holistic yoga and Pilates space, and a vibrant restaurant and café with al-fresco seating. The space brings together artistry, performance, and community – a modern hub designed to make culture accessible while raising Dubai’s profile as a global arts capital.
The opening season this October sets the tone with a diverse line-up: Slava’s Snowshow (14 – 26 October), Emirati comedian Ali Al Sayed with Alphabet Soup (30 November), and A Fairytale for Christmas (19 – 21 December). West End musicals, Arabic plays, opera, ballet, comedy, and family shows are all part of the upcoming calendar, with tickets available via Platinumlist.
Within the complex sits Pineapple Dubai, the first international branch of London’s famed Pineapple Dance Studios, founded by Debbie Moore OBE. Brought to the UAE by Lisa Scott-Lee through her Dubai Performing Arts Academy, Pineapple Dubai opens its doors to all ages and abilities, a movement hub that merges London’s creative legacy with Dubai’s dynamic spirit. Classes are bookable via the Classcard app.
More than a venue, New Covent Garden Theatre Dubai is conceived as a cultural ecosystem, a place where international touring acts meet local emerging talent, and where dance and theatre serve as vehicles for exchange. Its architecture and design encourage community as much as creativity: sleek rehearsal rooms and expansive foyers invite artists and audiences alike to linger, converse, and connect.
For Majid Al Futtaim, the project underscores a long-term commitment to culture as an essential part of lifestyle. By positioning a full performing-arts complex inside one of the UAE’s most visited destinations, the group continues to blur the boundaries between leisure and learning, commerce and creativity.
Whether you are drawn by the thrill of live theatre or the discipline of dance, this new destination promises a redefinition of what cultural spaces can be in the Middle East, vibrant, inclusive, and world-class.
For the full schedule of performances, visit newcoventgardentheatre.com.
