Dubai’s thirst for glitz often precedes itself. This is a city where you can spend copious money on almost anything, whether that’s a supercar or a beach club. But as the city booms, so does a newfound desire to spend time and money on self-improvement – a truly priceless luxury. To cater to this demand, a slew of slick new haunts has opened, with the goal of enriching minds, teaching new skills, and providing meaningful forms of entertainment.
The epicentre of this creative and educational revolution is the Design District, which has long been a hub for fashion, the arts, and, yes, design. And it’s here that L'ÉCOLE has just opened as the Middle East’s first fine jewellery education centre.
‘Dubai, long renowned for its opulent displays of wealth, is indeed witnessing a subtle evolution in the concept of luxury,’ reveals Sophie Claudel, Director of L'ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts – Middle East. ‘While the allure of material possessions remains, there’s a growing demand for experiences that offer personal enrichment, self-improvement, and meaningful engagement. This shift reflects a broader global trend where luxury is no longer solely defined by ownership but by the quality of experiences and the personal growth they foster.’
But it’s not just L'ÉCOLE Middle East that embodies this shift. From dabbling in the art of high jewellery creation to crafting your own bespoke crockery range, here are the new Dubai classes where luxury, self-improvement, and enrichment collide.
Learn the art of high jewellery at L'ÉCOLE Middle East, School of Jewelry Arts
Newly embroidered into the tapestry of designers, artists, and creatives that make up Dubai’s Design District (or D3), L'ÉCOLE School of Jewelry Arts – a collaboration with Van Cleef & Arpels – is for those who don’t just covet fine jewels but want to truly understand them. The school comes to the city by way of Paris, Hong Kong, and Shanghai, and offers à la carte programmes in three fields: the history of jewellery, the world of gemstones, and the savoir-faire of jewellery-making technique.
Each course is taught by art historians, gemologists, jewellers, and artisans, and there are even creative workshops for children and teens, ensuring everyone with an interest in jewellery can find a class for them. ‘The energy at D3 is palpable; it's a place where ideas are exchanged freely, and collaborations flourish, fostering an inspiring and dynamic environment,' explains Claudel.
Foodie masterclasses at The Guild
The Guild is arguably Dubai's most beautiful restaurant; a maze of green and gilded spaces brought to life by David Archer (the man behind London’s Chiltern Firehouse). And, like any good guild, it’s now offering a series of artisan-led masterclasses from Monday to Wednesday – which are already a hit with the frazzled workers in ICD Brookfield Place.
To give you a flavour of what to expect, you could delve into the exquisite world of caviar with French brand Kaviari Paris, learn to shuck oysters (paired with Champagne, of course), or master the perfect Guild Martini. And you’ll be doing so in either the sleek Champagne Room, botanical Potting Shed, or around The Guild’s crustacean-filled Rockpool – talk about inspiring surroundings.
Achieve your WSET with MMI
Avid oenophiles were delighted this May when MMI (the UAE's beverage importers) unveiled The Academies: a pioneering new centre bringing the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) to the city as well as a handful of regional wine events. The centre offers the classic WSET Level 1, 2 and 3 alongside the coveted The Court of Master Sommeliers programme – a must for those passionate about understanding and drinking wine, navigating labels and grapes, and impressing friends at dinner parties.
The intensive courses take determination and grit, encompassing evenings to smell, taste, learn, and identify the world's finest grapes and spot the perfect bottle. For those with less time, though, there are themed immersion events delving into regions and varietals, with plenty to taste along the way.
Pottery classes with OKA Ceramics
You’ll find OKA Ceramics hidden in the dusty lanes of Alserkal Avenue (Dubai's industrial-cool neighbourhood) – although you’ll likely be familiar with its creations, which are often littered throughout Jumeriah’s villas and chic coffee shops. But this isn’t a homeware store. In recognition of the therapeutic nature of pottery and the city's growing desire for tactile activities, OKA has now opened its studio to the public for classes and events.
Said classes include the delightfully unctuous task of creating pottery on a wheel – ideal if you want to get your hands dirty or are looking for a brunch alternative – alongside hand building, glazing, and a day-long sculpture class on weekends. The result is a beautiful keepsake to take home and newfound skills that might inspire you to rent the studio for a day and craft your own crockery set.
Learn professional photography at Gulf Photo Plus
The art of photography is on the rise. But, despite the growing vigour for photographing food, travels, and loved ones, many of us would be out of our depth handling a professional camera and getting that desired editorial look. But now there’s a new place to brush up your skills: Gulf Photo Plus.
Located in Alserkal Avenue, this is Dubai’s only dedicated photography centre, and it runs an extensive education program of events and exhibitions and a new roster of photography classes. Five classes are on offer, including beginner sessions pushing you from auto to manual mode, smartphone photography, and even product photography – ideal for those wanting a glossy social feed. After class, grab a Blu Matcha, browse Alserkal's art installations, or enjoy arthouse cinema at Cinema Akil.
