Dubai Food Festival’s Etisalat Beach Canteen Reveals 2018 Line-Up

Press release

Published February 20th, 2018 - 10:55 GMT

From interactive workshops to cooking demos and sporting competitions, there’s something for the whole family to enjoy at this year’s Etisalat Beach Canteen.

Dubai Food Festival (DFF) has unveiled the schedule for the 2018 Etisalat Beach Canteen. This annual, free-to-attend beachside hang-out is one of DFF’s flagship events, serving an enticing combination of delicious cuisine, engaging cooking demonstrations and exciting activities for the entire family. Located at Jumeirah Beach behind Sunset Mall, the 2018 Beach Canteen will be open throughout the duration of the festival (22 February to 10 March), from 12pm-10pm, Sunday to Wednesday. Thursday 12 pm to 12 am, Friday 10 am to 12 am, and Saturday 10 am to 10 pm.

Cooking Masterclasses

Would-be master chefs can add some professional flair to their gastronomic repertoire through a series of live cooking demonstrations from top culinary talent from around the world. Michelin-starred chef David Myers (The Gypsy Chef) will conduct session on 23 February while Dalia Dogmoch, food author, presenter and entrepreneur, along with a chef partner will being hosting the ‘Cook for Syria’ initiative on 3 March from 2 pm to 3:30 pm..

Beach Canteen will also feature demos by chefs from the city’s hottest restaurants including Asado (25 February), folly by Nick & Scott (26 February), Toro and Ko (1 March) and many more! Visitors are in for a treat with live cook-offs between Beach Canteen’s food vendors throughout the festival, as well as a series of ‘Chef vs Influencer’ culinary challenges.

Fit Foodies

Wellness warriors can start their day with calming beachside yoga classes taught by the experts from XDubai or join weekend boot-camp sessions at Beach Canteen to burn some serious calories before enjoying a tasty and healthy post-workout meal. Alternatively, armchair sports enthusiasts will be able to cheer on their favourite teams at the Beach Canteen’s soccer tournament. Matches will be held on various evenings throughout DFF, culminating in a series of nail-biting finals on 9 March. Little ones will also be able to demonstrate their sporting abilities in a Kids’ Volleyball Tournament on 4 March.

Live Music and Entertainment

The fun at Beach Canteen doesn’t end after the sun sets, with an exciting programme of evening entertainment and activities scheduled throughout the festival. Whether it a series of free movie screenings from or special performances by well-known English and Arabic artists at Beach Canteen Live & Unplugged, entertainment-filled nights await those looking to unwind with friends and family over food.

Fun for the Family

Kids will be kept entertained and occupied at Beach Canteen’s Kid’s Zone which features a packed daily programme of cooking classes and arts and crafts sessions. Activities will include cookie decorating, balloon modelling and a tasty chocolate workshop. There will also be two family-friendly Beach Brunches during DFF, held on 23 February and 1 March.

Kuwaiti National Day Celebrations

From 22 to 25 February, Kuwaiti National Day will be celebrated at Beach Canteen with a series of special activations including live painting by emerging Kuwaiti graffiti artists, a concert featuring a contemporary Kuwaiti singer on the evening of 24 February, followed by a live cooking show by the famous Kuwaiti cook Jameela Al Lenqawi.

Background Information

Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET)

With the ultimate vision of making Dubai the world’s leading commercial centre, investment hub and tourism destination, Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) is mandated to support the Government in positioning the emirate as a major hub for global economy and tourism, and in boosting the city’s economic and tourism competitiveness indicators. Under this remit, DET is driving efforts to further enhance Dubai’s diversified, innovative service-based economy to attract top global talent, deliver a world-class business environment and accelerate productivity growth. Additionally, DET is supporting Dubai’s vision to become the world’s best city to live and work in by promoting its diverse destination proposition, unique lifestyle and outstanding quality of life, overall.

DET is the principal authority for the planning, supervision, development and marketing of Dubai’s business and tourism sectors. It is also responsible for the licensing and classification of all types of businesses, including hotels, tour operators and travel agents. The DET portfolio includes Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, Dubai Industries and Exports, Dubai Investment Development Agency (Dubai FDI) and Dubai SME, as well as Dubai College of Tourism, Dubai Calendar and Dubai Business Events.