From literary pop-ups and curated markets to local art exhibitions and family storytelling, Al Ghurair Centre brings an inspiring start to 2026

Dubai, UAE – 7 January 2026: Flayva at Al Ghurair Centre is welcoming in the new year with a unique lineup of experiences that celebrate – and cultivate – creativity, community, and sustainability. Throughout January, residents and visitors can enjoy a series of engaging activities, curated markets, and cultural experiences, ensuring the mall is a destination for far more than simply shopping.

In partnership with Bookends UAE, a community-driven bookstore dedicated to promoting the reuse of books and making reading more accessible across the UAE, the month of activations kicks off with the Book Nook & Swap Corner, running from 5-23 January. Visitors can explore a bookstore pop-up experience, where they can browse, swap, and purchase preloved books. The pop-up is perfectly timed for January, inviting visitors to realise their New Year’s resolutions to read more, while simultaneously giving preloved books a meaningful second life.

Meanwhile, from 5-24 January, a Thrift & Treasure Market will showcase a selection of vintage and preloved fashion, artisan creations, and upcycled items. Shoppers can peruse and purchase high-quality clothing, accessories, handwoven bags, candles, soaps, and more, all set out in an inviting environment for a relaxed and enjoyable shopping experience. Workshops on DIY fashion and upcycling will also be offered, allowing visitors to learn, create, and shop sustainably.

Art lovers can also immerse themselves in a Gallery & Live Creations Exhibition from 5-24 January, celebrating local talents through featured works by Spectrum Creations AE and Byte Inclusive Affairs. The mall also has something special for families, enabling them to enjoy Kids Storytelling Sessions and a series of hands-on Art Workshops – including painting, weaving, mini cake art, and tote bag block printing – on 10, 17, and 18 January. With an additional meet-and-greet with author Fauza Beltz on 17 January, the activities are helping turn Flayva at Al Ghurair Centre into a lively hub of creativity and imagination for all ages.

Flayva is opening the year with experiences that inspire, educate, and entertain, encouraging visitors to embrace new possibilities and make 2026 their best year yet.

To learn more about Flayva and its offerings, visit: https://flayvadubai.com/en and follow on Instagram: @flayvadubai.

-ENDS-

About Flayva

Flayva, the vibrant street food hall at Al Ghurair Centre, boasts an array of 21 diverse homegrown F&B concepts, creating a melting pot of flavours to cater to every palate. In a city filled with new openings and short-lived trends, the food hall has done something rare: Built a sense of belonging. Located within the heart of Deira in Al Ghurair Centre, one of Dubai’s first malls, Flayva has established itself as a vibrant dynamic social destination where people return both for the cuisine – Filipino sweet treats, Korean corn dogs, Thai noodles, Indian street food, Vietnamese bites – and for the energy and connections it fosters. The carefully curated line-up of venues includes favourites such as Bacolod Inasal BBQ, Spice Grill, Vietnamese Snack Food Café, Hangry Joes, B60 Burger, Affordacup, Simply Indian, Bubbleverse, Meryanda, and Shan Village among others.

About Al Ghurair Centre

Al Ghurair Centre, part of Al Ghurair, is the first shopping centre in the GCC region consisting of a dynamic master planned residential and commercial community. Al Ghurair Centre is prominently situated in Deira, the heart of Old Dubai. The mall is one of Dubai’s leading shopping and tourist destinations and features over 270 stores, more than 50 dining and entertainment venues; spread across the dining district and the food court, and a hypermarket.

Shoppers can treat themselves to a comprehensive mix of retail brands, including fashion, home décor, accessories, jewellery, local homegrown brands and much more. The Centre is a vibrant shopping hub always buzzing with events throughout the year.

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