Dubai's autumn social season is properly back, and this week's calendar is a good snapshot of how varied the city gets once the weather cools: rooftop ladies' nights, a Japan-meets-Vietnam tasting dinner, an orchestral take on rumba flamenco, and a furniture festival if you'd rather spend the week redecorating.

The headline gig is at Dubai Opera on October 22, where the Gipsy Kings by Andrea Reyes stage their first-ever symphonic project. Hits like Bamboleo, Djobi Djoba, Volare and Un Amor are reworked with a full orchestra for a more cinematic feel. Tickets start at Dhs395.

Food-wise, the most interesting ticket is a two-night collaboration between Chef Reif Othman's REIF Japanese Kushiyaki and Vietnamese spot Chôm Chôm. Eight courses run across both kitchens, with the first six dishes shared and each host kitchen finishing with two signatures of its own. Expect Japanese yellowtail with sweet ponzu and grilled black cod from REIF, plus Vietnamese steak tartare and grilled lamb luc lac from Chôm Chôm. It's Dhs388 per person for food, on October 22 at REIF Dubai Hills and October 23 at Chôm Chôm. If that's too much of a commitment, Cetara at Address Downtown does a two-course Italian business lunch for Dhs99, weekdays from 1pm to 4pm.

Photographers should get to Tania's Teahouse in Dubai Hills before the month ends. Its Alice in Wonderland-themed afternoon tea costs Dhs100, includes sweet and savoury tiers plus coffee or tea, and runs all day daily through October.

Elsewhere: SoBe at W Dubai – The Palm hosts its Scandalous Ladies' Night on Wednesday October 21 from 8pm to 11pm, with free-flow drinks from a select menu and DJ GuessHu on the terrace overlooking the Palm. Offside at JA Ocean View Hotel runs a free Thursday quiz night from 8pm to 11pm with speed quizzing, music bingo and over Dhs3,000 in prizes. And Nikki Beach on Pearl Jumeira has a Wednesday 'Social Residency' package: an hour of Pilates from 9am, then a sun lounger, pool and beach access, a main dish and three drinks for Dhs250.

The sleeper event might be the Dubai Home Festival, running until November 1. Participating retailers are cutting deep: Chattels & More has 30 to 75 per cent off selected items until October 28, Lifestyle 40 to 75 per cent off, The White Company up to 50 per cent, ZINUS mattresses up to 60 per cent and United Furniture 30 to 70 per cent. Zara Home, H&M Home, Crate & Barrel, Home Box and Homes R Us are also involved.

For travellers in town this week, the mix is handy: a big-name concert at one of the world's better-looking opera houses, an affordable lunch that gets you into Downtown's Address hotel, and a beach day that doubles as a workout. Book the collab dinner and the Gipsy Kings ahead — these one-nighters fill up. Credit: What's On Dubai.