Dubai Opera will stage War and Peace on Saturday, 17 January 2026, with the performance starting at 18:00 and running until approximately 23:00. For box office assistance, call +971 4 440 8888, and head to Dubai Opera, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard, Downtown Dubai, Dubai, UAE. The programme is listed at approximately five hours including an intermission, so plan your evening around a long, immersive night. The production is performed in Russian with English surtitles, so you can follow every scene without guessing. This show is ticketed and age-restricted, so guests under 16 are not permitted.
A grand Russian stage epic arrives Downtown
War and Peace lands in Dubai as a sweeping stage adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s monumental story, built for a big auditorium and a focused audience. Moreover, it leans into intimacy and spectacle at the same time, moving from family life to battlefield scale without losing emotional detail. The creative team is led by director Rimas Tuminas, and the production connects to the legacy of Russia’s Vakhtangov Theatre, which gives it a strong theatrical backbone. Additionally, the pacing is designed as a journey rather than a quick night out, so it rewards attention and patience. If you enjoy theatre that feels cinematic in scale, this is the kind of evening you block your calendar for.
Timing and entry rhythm for a five-hour show
Dubai Opera typically opens the building two hours before the scheduled start time, so you can expect the venue to be active from around 16:00. Meanwhile, doors to the main auditorium generally open about 30 minutes before the performance, so arriving early keeps your entry calm and controlled. However, the most important rule is simple: once the performance begins, Dubai Opera can hold latecomers until a suitable break, usually the intermission. Therefore, treat 18:00 as a hard start, not a flexible suggestion. Be seated before 18:00 because late entry can be restricted until intermission.
Seats, comfort, and what “best view” really means
Because this is a long performance, comfort matters as much as sightlines, so choose your seat with stamina in mind. Additionally, a central viewpoint often helps with surtitles, especially when the stage picture gets busy. However, if you prefer more legroom or easier exits, you may value aisle access even if it changes your angle slightly. Ticket prices vary by category, and listings commonly show tickets from approximately 300 AED, although premium seats can cost more depending on availability. Pick the seat you can enjoy for five hours, not just the seat that looks good for five minutes.
Pre-show options that keep the evening smooth
If you arrive closer to 16:30 or 17:00, you can settle in without sprinting through Downtown traffic. Moreover, that timing lets you handle ticket scanning, cloakroom needs, and a quick refreshment stop before the auditorium doors open. If you plan to eat, do it early, because rushing a meal close to 18:00 increases the risk of missing the start. Also, Dubai Opera does not allow food and drinks from outside inside the venue, so plan your snacks accordingly. A calm arrival gives you a better first act, and you will feel it immediately.
Intermission strategy and staying comfortable
Since the programme includes an intermission, you can plan a reset point rather than trying to power through nonstop. Additionally, a long show feels shorter when you treat intermission as part of the experience, not just a break. If you want a quieter moment, step away from the busiest bar queues and keep your return timing generous. Also, keep your essentials light, because juggling bags and coats becomes tiring as the evening goes on. Use intermission to breathe, hydrate, and return early so you don’t miss the restart.
Getting there from Sharjah and Abu Dhabi
If you are coming from Sharjah, aim to reach Downtown Dubai well before 17:00, because Saturday evening traffic can build quickly around Business Bay and the Dubai Mall area. Meanwhile, if you are driving from Abu Dhabi, leaving mid-afternoon often protects you from the heaviest approach traffic near Sheikh Zayed Road and the Burj Khalifa district. Therefore, plan a buffer that lets you park, walk, and still arrive at the doors without stress. After the show, expect a late return, so keep your driver alert and your fuel comfortable for a night finish. Because the show ends around 23:00, your return drive can feel longer than you expect.
Parking, drop-off, and the quickest exit plan
Dubai Opera directs drivers to the P3 basement parking entrance on Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard, located after the Dubai Opera hashtag landmark. Additionally, Dubai Opera operates underground paid parking during show hours, and guidance commonly notes an early-arrival discount window and then a rate of approximately 70 AED until the end of the show. However, Downtown also has other underground parking options nearby, and valet services can be available while remaining chargeable with pricing that varies by show. Therefore, if you want the fastest exit after 23:00, consider parking slightly farther and walking a bit more. Limited parking capacity can slow exits, so choose your parking with the return journey in mind.
Metro and taxi options that avoid driving stress
If you prefer public transport, the nearest Metro access is typically Burj Khalifa Dubai Mall Station on the Red Line, followed by an approximately 25-minute walk toward Dubai Opera via the Downtown walkways. Meanwhile, taxis and ride-hailing work well for arrival, although pickups can get busy after the curtain call when crowds leave together. Therefore, if you plan a car pickup, set a clear meeting point and give yourself extra time after 23:00. Also, keep comfortable shoes in mind, because the walkways can feel longer late at night. If you want the least stress, arrive by Metro or taxi and avoid the post-show parking queue.
Audience etiquette and venue rules to remember
Dubai Opera expects elegant attire, so avoid overly casual clothing such as shorts or flip-flops, especially for an evening production. Moreover, professional cameras and video equipment are not permitted inside the auditorium, so keep recording plans off your checklist. If you attend with family, note that strollers are not permitted in the Main Auditorium, and the age rule makes this event unsuitable for children. Additionally, keeping your phone silent matters more in long dramatic works, because distractions travel fast in a quiet hall. This is a focused, adult-only night, and the audience culture reflects that.
Saturday evening notes for weather, traffic, and tickets
Dubai’s forecast for Saturday, 17 January 2026 looks mild and partly sunny, with daytime temperatures around 23°C and an evening low near 15°C, so bring a light layer for the walk back after 23:00. Moreover, Downtown traffic often peaks from late afternoon through show start, so arriving early protects your seat and your mood. Parking and ticket prices can change, so treat all AED figures as approximately, and buy through DUBAI OPERA official ticketing or PLATINUMLIST to keep things straightforward. The single smartest move is arriving early enough to be seated before 18:00. And in a similar practical tone to briefings shared by the editor of www.few.ae, you will enjoy War and Peace more when you plan the journey as carefully as the performance.
then "Add to Home Screen"