We’re all about entering our healing era, and finding genuine balance. IT girls are living their lives with passion, and creativity. Gone are the days of mindless scrolling, we’re all in need of a digital detox, and true joy.
There is NO age restriction when it comes to trying out something new. In fact, it’s never too late to develop a new passion hobby; for fitness, health, joy, artistic expression, or experiencing the world and yourself, more authentically. Everyone deserves joy, and here’s inspo on hobbies to spark yours.
For the crafty girl
Connecting with our inner child has truly never been more rewarding! This year we’re prioritising the art of going back to the things we loved as kids. Picking up some crafting skills as an adult is not only fun, but it’s also a great way to disassociate and take a much-needed break from your phone.
Charming
Charming is a long forgotten childhood joy that deserves it’s fame, and it’s giving solution oriented, creative, crafty, living her best life IT-girl energy. Have a bag, bracelet, coat, or that’s too boring? Charm it! If you’re creative enough, you can charm anything. Charm bars are popping up all over town, and you can join at the Curated Playlist Summer Pop up with Olalla Jewels and Black Peal Dubai to create your own charms. Can you say kitsch? The cuteness factor is driving our dopamine through the roof.
❤️🔥 Must-try spot: Curated Playlist Summer Pop-Up
📍 Where: May 23-25 and May 30- June 1, 2025.
⏰ When: The Plaza, One Za’abeel.
Jewelry Making
Diamonds are a girl’s best friend. Jewellery and gems are what all the girls love to revel in. But how are they made, and more-so- how is jewellery created? L’école Middle East, School of Jewelry Arts supported by Van Cleef & Arpels, is cracking the code on this elusive art form with classes taught with hands on experience, talks, exhibitions, and deep insights into the world of jewellery. Make tailsmans and jewels from mock up to 3D.
❤️🔥 Must-try spot: L’école Middle East, School of Jewelry Arts
📍 Where: Dubai Design District
⏰ When: Check summer course list here.
Pottery
Get a bit messy with some pottery this year. Playing with clay is, actually, as fun as it sounds. Plus you get to spice up your homeware with some homemade bits!
❤️🔥 Must-try spot: The Mud House Studio and Oka Ceramics in Dubai are both popular haunts that offer a range of classes for all abilities!
Painting (and sipping)
Painting is a creative outlet that’s super meditative and relaxing. Whether you just pick up some art supplies to try at home or head to a class or workshop, this is a great hobby for the crafty girlies.
❤️🔥 Must-try spot: Level up your creativity at a paint-and-sip event with your besties. Sip ‘n Paint Dubai combines creativity with a crazy good time. Because in Dubai, paint brunches are a thing… obvs.
Rug Tufting
If you have some time on your hands, learning to tuft rugs is an incredible experience. Not only is it super fun to learn and make yourself it can also be a cute personalised gift you could make for a loved one.
❤️🔥 Must-try spot: Mofun Studio is a go-to (and TikTok sensation) when it comes to rug-tufting workshops!
Sewing
Relaxing, satisfying AND practical. Try a sewing class for a rewarding life skill to carry into adulthood (and sew yourself something, too)!
❤️🔥 Must-try spot: Thred-werk Dubai has a range of beginner-friendly classes, from stitching to crocheting and knitting!
Painting ceramics
Talk about, satisfying! Ceramic studios are the perfect place to unwind, as you paint some cute little designs on mugs, bowls, and more. It’s also the perfect bestie date!
❤️🔥 Must-try spot: Ceramic Corner Dubai is a great place to try some leisurely painting, and is open 7 days a week.
For the foodie girl
A food-related hobby? Sign us up! Sometimes finding a new hobby is as simple as honing in on what we love. From baking to cocktail-making, check out these hobby ideas to level up your culinary skills this year.
Barista Classes
Become a coffee connoisseur this year and hone in on some barista skills to level up your morning coffee fix. Honestly, it’s high time you took coffee culture into your own hands.
❤️🔥 Must-try spot: Grandmother Roastery Coffee has a range of classes, from barista training to brewing classes.
Cocktail making
Learn the art of mixology and craft the perfect cocktail. This is a cute hobby to try with your besties or a great way to level up your date night!
❤️🔥 Must-try spot: Sola Jazz Lounge at Raffles Palm Jumeirah offers a cocktail workshop for only Dhs499 for couples every Saturday night.
Wine tasting
Want to take it a step further and *actually* know your reds from your whites? Wine and dine in the city this year by gaining some knowledge of all things wine. Wine tasting is a fun way to get to know some great spots in Dubai, as well as elevate your taste (both literally and figuratively). Sign us up!
❤️🔥 Must-try spot: You can sign up for courses via mmiwineacademy.ae. You can ease in with a 2-hour ‘Introduction to Wine Tasting’ session, where you will learn how to taste wine and the fundamentals of pairing wine with food. Click here for more info.
For the sporty girl
Channel your inner THAT girl energy with a fun new fitness hobby this year. Getting your sweat on doesn’t always mean intense workout classes or running challenges. Being active and getting outdoors can be fun, too (we promise)!
Padel
Padel is THE new fitness craze taking over the UAE. A cross between badminton and tennis, this latest sport is a super chilled alternative to intensive group sport, giving you the chance to socialize and have some fun on the court, all whilst still breaking a sweat.
❤️🔥 Must-try spot: View our guide to the ultimate outdoor padel spots in the UAE here.
Surfing
Who knew the beaches of the UAE are also a great place to surf? Take to the waters this year to try a new aquatic hobby! Learning to surf is a great way to spend some much-needed time outdoors!
❤️🔥 Must-try spot: Surf House Dubai has a range of expert surf instructors, as well as board rentals, to guide you towards riding your first wave!
Rock Climbing
As kids, we all loved to climb anything and everything. Turns out when we’re older, it’s just as fun. Rock climbing is a light-hearted approach to fitness and a great way to work on your strength and resilience.
❤️🔥 Must-try spot: Mountain Extreme in Al Quoz is the perfect place to try out bouldering and climbing classes and sessions.
Ballet
Balletcore is an aesthetic we don’t want to let go of. Adult ballet classes are actually a thing, and they’ve grown in popularity with the growing Balletcore trend over the last year. It’s a great way to work on your strength and flexibility (and buy some cute outfits)!
❤️🔥 Must-try spot: Ballet Centre Dubai offers a range of adult classes for all abilities.
Ladies Football
Ladies, if you’re looking to take up a new team sport – maybe football is the one for you. There are tons of women teams across the UAE, all comprised of supportive, judgment-free besties-to-be! Whether you’re a complete newbie or a seasoned pro looking to play the sport in the city, this is a fun way to break a sweat!
❤️🔥 Must-try spot: Girlsfootball.ae is one of the homes for ladies football in the UAE, offering coaching, leagues and team training.
For the gamer girl
Embrace your inner gamer girl for 2024, with a fun selection of gaming hobbies to pick up. Whether you’re a seasoned gaming enthusiast, or just looking to try something fun, games are without a doubt one of the best places to start.
Board Game Cafe’s
Listen, board games are more than just a forced family activity during the festive period. They’re a fun bestie date and a way to get off your phone. Board game cafes have been all the rage in recent years, and for good reason!
❤️🔥 Must-try spot: The Six is a popular board game cafe in Dubai, where you get unlimited time to play unlimited games! Err…sign us up!
VR
Sometimes we all need an escape, and diving into VR is the perfect hobby to do just that. Where else can you rob a bank, fly a plane and go skiing on the same day? Whether you choose to opt for a VR headset at home or an immersive VR experience, this is a cool hobby to pick up!
❤️🔥 Must-try spot: VR Park at Dubai Mall makes the impossible, possible. With a bunch of VR experiences to choose from, you could spend many, many days having fun here!
For the TikTok girl
Scrolling TikTok has become pretty much everyone’s hobby! But the platform does actually inspire some great hobbies to pick up from various trends and aesthetics, too!
Book Club
#BookTok continues to have its moment. So make reading your new 2024 hobby! There are tons of book clubs across the city to share your experience with like-minded ladies.
❤️🔥 Must-try spot: The Gloss Book Club is a popular global book club, with in-person meet-ups in Dubai’s Canary Club every month.
For more fitness inspo, check out these hyrox classes in Dubai.