Theatre by QE2 is preparing a family stage version of Jules Verne’s classic tale Around The World in 80 Days, transforming the historic Queen Elizabeth 2 into a setting for adventure on Saturday 29 November 2025. This compact production, created as a high energy family show, follows the unflappable Phileas Fogg and his ingenious niece Anna as they attempt to circle the globe against the clock. Staged inside Theatre by QE2 at Port Rashid, the play uses quick scene changes, physical comedy and clever lighting to suggest trains, ships and faraway cities within a one hour running time. Crucially, the creators aim to combine educational themes about science and resilience with lighthearted humour that works for both adults and children. The show is designed as a one day family event, so tickets for Saturday 29 November 2025 are likely to be in demand.
Story, cast and adaptation style
This version of Around the World in 80 Days keeps the core of Verne’s story while introducing Anna as Fogg’s inventive niece, which helps younger audiences see themselves on stage. The plot moves quickly from London to multiple continents, using ensemble acting and simple props to suggest trains, ships and bustling stations rather than heavy scenery. Because the language of the performance is English, families from many backgrounds can follow the story without translation. The cast leans on physical theatre, exaggerated expressions and clear storytelling so even younger viewers understand the stakes of the famous eighty day wager. Overall, the production focuses on teamwork, curiosity and courage, making it especially appealing for school age children and their parents (children/family-friendly).
Dates, showtimes and ticket prices
Current listings confirm that the theatre show Around The World in 80 Days plays at Theatre by QE2 on Saturday 29 November 2025 with two performances, one at 11:00 in the morning and a second at 15:00 in the afternoon. Doors open around 30 minutes before each show, which gives families enough time to find seats and settle children before the lights go down. The running time is approximately 60 minutes with no interval, so it suits younger viewers who manage a focused hour better than a long evening. Ticket categories usually start around 62.5 AED for children between six and twelve years and from approximately 125 AED for adults, with some platforms indicating a wider range between 75 AED and 150 AED depending on seating. You should treat all ticket figures as approximately priced in AED and book early, especially if you want a particular time slot or to sit together as a group (children/family-friendly, suitable for couples, solo).
Age suitability and best audience
Because this is marketed as a family show, organisers set a minimum recommended age of around three years, with child tickets formally structured from six to twelve years old. Younger children who already sit comfortably through animated films will probably manage the 60 minute show, especially with the help of clear visual storytelling and energetic acting. Older children and tweens are likely to appreciate the humour around timetables, mishaps and quick changes of country, while adults can enjoy the nostalgic story and theatrical in jokes. The midday and afternoon slots on Saturday 29 November 2025 feel especially convenient for families who prefer to be home before late evening. In practice, the performance works best for families with children from about four or five years upwards, but it also suits theatre loving couples and solo viewers who enjoy inventive family productions.
Theatre by QE2 setting and facilities
Theatre by QE2 sits on board the historic Queen Elizabeth 2 ship in Mina Rashid, Port Rashid, which turns a simple theatre trip into a small maritime outing. The theatre itself is fully indoors and air conditioned, offering fixed seating and clear sightlines across a traditional stage, so most seats feel close to the action. Before or after the show, families can walk short indoor and deck corridors that hint at the ship’s long history as an ocean liner before its second life as a hotel and cultural venue. Food and drink options on board the QE2 allow guests to combine the show with a casual meal, although you should always check timings so there is no rush between dining and curtain up. Because the venue is on a ship inside a secure port, you should allow extra minutes for wayfinding from the main gate to the theatre entrance (children/family-friendly, suitable for couples, solo).
Parking, arrival by car and local traffic
Visitors arriving by car will drive towards Port Rashid and follow signs for Queen Elizabeth 2, where Theatre by QE2 shares the same general access. Official guidance notes more than 500 free parking spaces within a short walk of the venue, which makes this one of Dubai’s more convenient cultural stops for drivers. However, weekend mornings and afternoons can still feel busy around Mina Rashid, particularly when cruise activity, hotel events and theatre shows overlap. Therefore, it is wise to reach the port at least 45 to 60 minutes before your chosen performance, especially for the 11:00 show when families may all arrive close to the same time. Even with free parking, remember that parking capacity is limited near the entrance, so early arrival gives you the calmest start to your visit.
Public transport and access from other Emirates
If you prefer not to drive, one option is to use Dubai Metro and combine it with a short taxi ride. The nearest stations include Al Ghubaiba, from which taxis reach Port Rashid and the QE2 in around ten minutes depending on traffic. Residents in central areas such as Downtown, Business Bay or Dubai Marina can ride the Red Line, change where necessary, then switch to a taxi for the last part of the journey. For guests driving from Sharjah, Ajman or Abu Dhabi, the route usually involves E11 into Dubai followed by city roads towards Port Rashid, so it helps to leave early and avoid the tighter mid afternoon windows. Families coming from other Emirates should build generous buffer time into their schedule, since unexpected congestion on Sheikh Zayed Road or around Bur Dubai can easily add 20 to 30 minutes to travel (children/family-friendly, suitable for couples, solo).
Ways to shape your theatre outing
Because both shows on Saturday 29 November 2025 happen during the day, you can structure the outing in several ways. Families choosing the 11:00 performance may like to arrive early, explore the ship briefly after the show and then enjoy lunch either on board or back in the city. Those taking the 15:00 slot might combine a leisurely late breakfast and errands with a mid afternoon theatre break, then head somewhere nearby for an early dinner. Couples or solo theatre fans can plan a slower visit, spending time at QE2’s public areas before or after the performance to capture photos of the historic vessel. In all cases, it helps to explain to children how theatre etiquette works, so they understand when to sit quietly and when to laugh or clap. A little advance planning around food, naps and travel often makes a big difference to how relaxing the experience feels on the day.
Weather, clothing, traffic tips and closing warnings
For the Around The World in 80 Days weekend, forecasts for Dubai show hazy sunshine on Friday 28 November, Saturday 29 November and Sunday 30 November 2025, with daytime highs close to 28 to 29 degrees Celsius and evening lows around 20 degrees, and no meaningful rain alerts. Because Theatre by QE2 is indoors and fully air conditioned, comfortable light clothing with a cardigan or thin jacket works well, especially for children who can feel cool when seated for an hour. Traffic around Port Rashid usually peaks near late morning and late afternoon on weekends, so allowing extra time for the 11:00 and 15:00 shows will reduce stress, and using metro plus taxi can help some families avoid parking competition. Official information highlights free parking, yet spaces nearest the entrance can fill quickly whenever multiple events share the same time slots, so you may need to walk a few minutes from outer areas. Ticket prices and show details can still change closer to the date, so any figures mentioned here should be treated as approximately rather than fixed in AED. Make your reservation before it is too late, plan your transport with a buffer, and you will experience this family adventure around the world with more joy and less last minute worry (children/family-friendly, suitable for couples, solo). According to insights often highlighted by the editorial team at www.few.ae, compact productions like this one at Theatre by QE2 can be some of the most rewarding cultural outings of the season, especially for families who appreciate imaginative storytelling in an unusual maritime setting.
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