Dubai’s cosiest winter market is back – and it’s hidden in Al Quoz

Dubai’s winter season is officially back when the Ripe crowd returns. This year, Ripe is relaunching its much-loved Merchants & Makers Market at The Courtyard in Al Quoz, alongside a refreshed look for The Collective by Ripe and Boston Lane Café. Add the open-air Ripe Market at Academy Park into the mix, and you’ve basically got your weekend plans sorted from now until May.

From boutique fashion and handcrafted jewellery to lifestyle brands and coffee stops, the focus is still the same: homegrown talent, slow shopping, and a relaxed, creative vibe that feels very “Dubai in the cooler months”.

Ripe returns to The Courtyard with a refreshed look

The Courtyard has always felt like Dubai’s original artsy hangout, and Ripe is doubling down on that energy with its latest season.

• Relaunch of the seasonal market at The Courtyard in Al Quoz
• Reintroduction of The Collective by Ripe after a summer refresh
• Boston Lane Café updated for the new season
• Spaces designed as community hubs, not just retail spots

Relaunched on 28 November, the new season brings a fresh layout inside The Collective and Boston Lane while keeping what regulars actually like: intimate spaces, greenery, and independent brands. The idea is less “mall” and more “neighbourhood”, turning The Courtyard into a place where you can browse, grab coffee, and hang out for a few hours instead of rushing in and out.

If you’re into wandering, The Courtyard itself is already a favourite creative spot in Dubai, so pairing it with Ripe’s merchants makes sense.

Merchants & Makers: what you’ll actually find

This season leans into craftsmanship and conscious luxury rather than mass-produced stuff. It’s very much a “buy less, buy better” kind of market.

• Premium local designers and artisans
• Boutique fashion and accessories
• Handcrafted jewellery from brands like E3K Jewelry
• Artisanal homeware, beauty and lifestyle products
• Homegrown names including Shoeq, Birds n Bees, Sassi, Tribe, RAW Music and more

The Merchants & Makers Market runs on select Fridays inside The Courtyard. Expect a mix of returning favourites and new makers each edition, so it’s worth checking the line-up more than once. It’s the kind of place you go to pick up leather sandals, hand-poured candles, small-batch skincare, or that one offbeat piece of jewellery you’ll tell people you “found at a market in Al Quoz”.

For anyone who prefers supporting SMEs and local designers over big-box retail, this is an easy switch from a mall day.

Full winter schedule: dates, timings and locations

Ripe isn’t just in one place this season. Between Academy Park and The Courtyard, most weekends are covered.

• The Ripe Market – Academy Park (Dubai Police Academy, Umm Suqeim)
  • Every Saturday: 9am–9pm
  • Every Sunday: 9am–7pm
  • Season: October 2025 – May 2026
  • Entry: AED 5 (free for kids under 12 and seniors 60+)
• The Collective by Ripe – The Courtyard, Al Quoz
  • Daily: 9am–7pm
• Merchants & Makers Market – The Courtyard, Al Quoz (9am–5pm)
  • 21 & 28 November 2025
  • 12 & 19 December 2025
  • 9 & 23 January 2026
  • 6 & 20 February 2026
  • 6 & 20 March 2026
  • 3 & 17 April 2026

Think of Academy Park as your big outdoor weekend market with food, farmers, activities and workshops, and The Courtyard as the more intimate “creative lane” where you slow down, browse and grab coffee.

If you’re planning a weekend around markets, you can even pair this with other winter events in the city like waterfront markets or festive set-ups – for example Festival Bay’s winter season at Dubai Festival City Mall or Yas Winter Fest in Abu Dhabi.

Craft, community and the UAE’s creative economy

Ripe has grown from a small grassroots market into a full events and placemaking brand over the last decade-plus, but the mission hasn’t shifted much.

• Affordable platforms for SMEs and emerging brands
• Focus on homegrown talent and independent creators
• Markets, experiences and destinations designed as community spaces
• Support for local entrepreneurs through footfall and flexible retail options

The Collective by Ripe, in particular, is built as a low-risk way for makers and designers to test retail, learn, and grow. Keeping rents manageable and traffic steady gives small businesses a chance to move from “side project on Instagram” to a proper brand with real customers.

Through Ripe Events, the company also works on corporate, lifestyle and community experiences, often turning underused spaces into temporary hubs where people, brands and ideas actually meet – not just pass each other in a mall corridor.

If you care about supporting the local creative economy, this is one of the more tangible ways to do it: show up, buy from small brands, and share what you find.

National Day weekend and beyond

The relaunch lines up neatly with the UAE’s 54th National Day, which means the first few weekends should feel especially busy.

• Timed with UAE National Day celebrations
• Family-friendly atmosphere with food, shopping and music
• Good for visitors looking for something “Dubai” that isn’t just a mall or beach club

For families, this is an easy add-on to your winter calendar alongside other food and festival picks like Taste of Dubai 2025 or similar outdoor events. For creatives and freelancers, The Courtyard and The Collective also double as soft co-working spaces – the kind where you “go for coffee” and somehow end up networking for three hours.

FAQs

For official updates on vendors, pop-ups and workshops, you can keep an eye on @ripemarket, @ripeevents.ae and @thecollectivebyripe on social, or check the latest event details on ripeevents.com.

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