Dubai already has a packed 2027 calendar taking shape. Several famous venues are preparing major comebacks, new beachfront and retail destinations are on the way, and one of the city’s best-known running events has confirmed its return.
The dates below have been cross-checked against current official announcements and recent reporting. Where an exact opening date has not yet been confirmed, it is left as 2027 rather than guessed.
Armani Hotel Dubai will fully reopen in March
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Armani Hotel Dubai is undergoing a major transformation inside Burj Khalifa after closing for refurbishment in April 2026. The project covers guest rooms and suites as well as restaurants, the spa, fitness facilities, event spaces, pool, and outdoor areas.
The reopening will happen in stages. The renovated ballroom and event spaces are expected to return in January 2027, followed by the full hotel reopening in March 2027. The redesign is intended to update the property while retaining the understated aesthetic associated with Giorgio Armani.
Where: Armani Hotel Dubai | When: Full reopening planned for March 2027 | Location: Burj Khalifa, Downtown Dubai
Barasti is coming back after its biggest makeover yet
Barasti temporarily closed in June 2026 after more than three decades at Le Méridien Mina Seyahi. Rather than a routine seasonal shutdown, the closure is allowing the long-running beachfront venue to undergo a major redevelopment.
The new-look Barasti is planned to feature multiple areas designed for different times of day and audiences, alongside refreshed interiors and an expanded food and beverage offering. The team has confirmed that Barasti will return in 2027, although a final public reopening date has not yet been announced.
Where: Barasti | When: Reopening in 2027; exact date TBC | Location: Le Méridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Waterpark, Dubai
Burj Al Arab is expected back after an 18-month restoration
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One of Dubai’s most recognisable landmarks is undergoing its most significant restoration since opening in 1999. Jumeirah announced an approximately 18-month restoration programme for Burj Al Arab, led by French interior architect Tristan Auer.
The project is focused more on preservation and refinement than completely reinventing the hotel. Much of the existing décor is being retained or restored, while areas including the spa will undergo more substantial changes. Jumeirah has said the work is designed to protect the property’s original character while preparing it for its next chapter.
Current tourism information places the hotel’s return in October 2027, although the restoration team has emphasised that completion depends on the work being ready rather than rushing towards a deadline.
Where: Jumeirah Burj Al Arab | When: Due to reopen in late 2027; currently listed for October 2027 | Location: Jumeirah, Dubai
Cipriani Lido will bring a new beach club to J1 Beach
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Cipriani is taking its distinctive Italian hospitality style to Dubai’s coastline with Cipriani Lido, scheduled to open at J1 Beach in 2027.
The project will be the brand’s first Lido concept in the UAE and is being developed with Fundamental Hospitality. Plans include a restaurant, beachfront areas, private cabanas and sunbeds, indoor dining, private dining rooms, a terrace and a dedicated Bellini Bar.
It will give Cipriani a very different Dubai presence from its established DIFC restaurant, combining its Italian dining heritage with an all-day seaside setting. No exact 2027 opening date has yet been publicly confirmed.
Where: Cipriani Lido | When: Opening in 2027; exact date TBC | Location: J1 Beach, Jumeirah 1, Dubai
Palm Jebel Ali will get its first retail destination
Palm Jebel Ali is moving closer to becoming an active residential community, and one of its most important 2027 arrivals will be The Yard.
Dubai Retail has officially confirmed that the waterfront project will be Palm Jebel Ali’s first retail and lifestyle destination. It will span approximately 70,000 square feet of gross leasable space and include 26 concepts covering shopping, dining, wellness, healthcare and family services.
Confirmed names already include Waitrose, American Hospital, Bateel Café, Friends Avenue, Piccoli and Jumeirah International Nursery. Outdoor terraces and connections to the waterfront promenade are also part of the plan.
The Yard is scheduled to open in 2027, but Dubai Retail has not announced a specific launch date yet.
Where: The Yard | When: Opening in 2027 | Location: Palm Jebel Ali, Dubai
Burj2Burj returns in January 2027
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Dubai’s Burj2Burj Half Marathon is officially returning on Sunday, January 24, 2027, with a scheduled 6.30 am start.
The World Athletics-certified race covers 21.1km, bringing thousands of runners together for an early-morning route through Dubai. Organisers say more than 15,000 runners representing 172 nationalities took part in the 2026 edition.
For 2027, the race will again be accompanied by the Burj2Burj Expo, scheduled from January 21 to 23. The final 2027 course map and precise start and finish locations are still awaiting the relevant approvals, so those details should not yet be treated as confirmed.
Where: Dubai | When: Sunday, January 24, 2027 | Time: 6.30 am | Distance: 21.1km
From the return of two landmark hotels to new beachside hospitality, Palm Jebel Ali’s first retail hub and the comeback of one of Dubai’s major running events, 2027 is already shaping up to be a significant year for the city. More dates are likely to become clearer as individual projects move closer to launch, but these six developments already have credible 2027 plans behind them.