The Bay Dubai: Your Guide to The Bay by Social at Festival Bay

The Bay by Social is a free-entry outdoor food and entertainment market at Festival Bay, on the Dubai Creek waterfront at Dubai Festival City Mall. Season 4 opened on 23 October 2026, and the market runs every day from 4pm to midnight, with food kiosks, retail pop-ups, carnival games and live shows.

If you’re after a relaxed evening by the bay with friends or family, here’s what to expect at The Bay, from what to eat to how to get there.

• What is The Bay by Social?
• The Bay timings and entry
• Food at The Bay
• Things to do and bay events
• Is The Bay good for families?
• Where is The Bay and how to get there
• More to explore at Festival Bay
• Living near The Bay in Dubai Festival City
• Key Takeaways
• Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Bay by Social?

The Bay by Social is a seasonal open-air market run by Social Distrikt, the team behind the food hall of the same name at The Dubai Mall. It covers about 5,000 sqm of the Festival Bay waterfront and seats more than 500 people across food and drink kiosks, artisan and retail pop-ups and entertainment spaces.

The market returns each winter, and the 2026–27 season is its fourth. It has also featured on Visit Dubai’s Dubai Shopping Festival events calendar, so expect it to stay busy through the cooler months.

Long-time visitors may remember Vibes by the Bay, an earlier pop-up at Dubai Festival City Mall that ran from October 2022 to May 2023 with a water circus, food trucks and a homegrown market. The Bay by Social is a separate concept, but it carries on the same idea of evenings out on the waterfront.

The Bay timings and entry

Entry to The Bay is free. You only pay for the food, drinks, and any shopping you do at the individual kiosks and stalls.

Event nights and line-ups change through the season, so it’s worth checking The Bay’s Instagram page before you head out.

Food at The Bay

Food is the main draw at The Bay. Instead of a single family restaurant, you get a line of kiosks serving different cuisines, so everyone can pick their own dinner and meet back at the shared tables. It works a lot like an open-air food court, just with creek views.

Here are the food and drink spots open for Season 4, so you can plan dinner before you go:

Savoury options cover most cravings, from shawarma and kebabs to hot dogs and fried chicken, while Dibsa and Yoberry take care of dessert. The line-up rotates through the season, with new concepts joining as it goes on.

If you’d rather sit down indoors, our guide to Dubai Festival City Mall covers the restaurants inside the mall.

Things to do and bay events

Beyond the food, The Bay mixes casual games with live entertainment. This season’s activities include:

• Carnival games
• Axe throwing
• Bumper cars
• Retail and artisan pop-ups
• Live shows and music

Bay events change week to week. Earlier seasons have hosted comedy nights, art exhibitions and workshops in yoga, cooking, and sports, along with themed nights for occasions such as Diwali and Christmas. For this season’s schedule, follow @thebaybysocial on Instagram, where new events are announced.

Is The Bay good for families?

Yes. The Bay welcomes all ages, from babies to grandparents, and the open layout makes it easy to keep an eye on children while you eat. Kids tend to head straight for the carnival games and bumper cars, while adults can browse the market stalls or grab a seat by the bay.

A few tips for a smoother visit:

• Arrive close to sunset for the best views of the creek before dinner.
• Weekends are the busiest, so a weekday evening is calmer with younger children.
• Bayside seating fills up quickly on event nights, so come early if you want a table by the water.

Where is The Bay and how to get there

The Bay sits at Festival Bay, the outdoor waterfront area of Dubai Festival City Mall facing Dubai Creek. Here’s how to reach it:

• By car: Drive to Dubai Festival City Mall and follow signs to Festival Bay. The Bay lists both valet and drop-off and self-parking options.
• By metro: Creek Metro Station on the Green Line is the closest, followed by a short taxi ride or bus to the mall. Our guide on how to reach Dubai Festival City Mall by metro covers the routes in detail.
• By water: RTA marine transport stops at Dubai Festival City, a scenic option if you’re coming from the other side of the creek.
• By taxi: Ask for Dubai Festival City Mall, Festival Bay entrance.

More to explore at Festival Bay

The Bay is one part of a bigger seasonal line-up at Festival Bay, now in its fourth season. If you’re planning a full evening, these are also running at Festival Bay Dubai this winter:

• PLUMA Circus Spectacular: a family circus show by Cirque du Liban, running until 30 December 2026, with tickets from AED 100.
• Helipad by Frozen Cherry: a Beirut-inspired open-air venue with Creek sunset views and music-led evenings.
• Sayf: a late-night outdoor venue with live performances and international dining.
• DXB Winter Festival: a Christmas market with festive food, a funfair and Santa’s Grotto, from 1 December 2026 into January 2027.

For more ideas around the area, see our guides to things to do in Dubai Festival City and Dubai Festival City Mall, or browse what else is on in our Dubai events roundup.

Living near The Bay in Dubai Festival City

Dubai Festival City is a waterfront community on Dubai Creek, about five minutes from Dubai International Airport. Most homes are apartments, from studios to four-bedroom units, in Al Badia Residences, Marsa Plaza and Al Badia Hillside Village, while Al Badia Villas offers four-bedroom villas in a gated enclave.

Residents get creekside walking paths, the mall and IKEA on their doorstep, and freehold ownership that’s open to overseas buyers. You can read more on Dubai Festival City, or browse apartments for rent in Dubai Festival City and properties for sale in Dubai Festival City on Property Finder.

Key Takeaways

• The Bay by Social is a free-entry outdoor food and entertainment market at Festival Bay, Dubai Festival City Mall.
• Season 4 opened on 23 October 2026, and The Bay is open daily from 4 pm to midnight.
• Expect rotating food kiosks, retail pop-ups, carnival games, axe throwing, bumper cars, and live shows.
• It suits all ages, making it an easy family evening out by the bay.
• Creek Metro Station is the nearest stop, and the mall has valet and self-parking.
• Festival Bay also hosts the PLUMA Circus, Helipad, Sayf and the DXB Winter Festival this season.

Frequently Asked Questions

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