Dubai Opera and the Great Music Venues of the Middle East

Music has always traveled along these routes, from the oud and the maqam to the Andalusian orchestras of North Africa. Today international tours stop in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh and Doha as a matter of course, and the region's opera houses bring ballet, orchestras and great voices to audiences who once had to fly to Europe.

For the traditions behind it all, read our cultural page on Middle Eastern music. To see what is on when you travel, check the events calendar.

For major concerts, tickets are sold through the venue or official platforms; avoid resale. Hotel concierges at five-star properties can often secure boxes or hospitality packages. Opera houses in Muscat and Dubai welcome children over a certain age, and dress is smart.

Arts districts raise the value of the neighborhoods around them, as Downtown Dubai shows. Our Dubai Luxury Real Estate guide looks at homes near the cultural heart of the city.