Dubai refuses to let the weekend end on Saturday. For 2026 the city's Sunday brunch scene is bigger than ever, with more than a dozen venues running dedicated Sunday sessions — from poolside Mediterranean spreads in Jumeirah to Latin-flavoured pool parties in DIFC.

Most brunches run 1pm to 4pm and use the package system Dubai is famous for: a food-inclusive 'soft' price, then tiers adding house drinks, sparkling wine or champagne. At the top end, Baoli at J1 Beach charges Dhs750 for its champagne package, while Rockfish at Jumeirah Al Naseem launches a new Mediterranean coastal brunch on November 8, from Dhs490 soft to Dhs750 with champagne.

Bluewaters Island is a Sunday hotspot in itself. Alici does a Sat-and-Sun Italian seafood brunch (Dhs395–595, kids Dhs195), while Alizée at the Banyan Tree sends trolleys of seafood platters and filet de boeuf around the terrace with a kids' corner and live entertainment (Dhs495–795).

Beach and pool settings dominate the list. Nikki Beach on Pearl Jumeira runs its high-energy Mediterranean party from noon to 5pm (Dhs350 soft, Dhs450 house, with pool access after for a fee). Tamoka at the Ritz-Carlton JBR pairs South American grills and ceviche with live Colombian entertainment (Dhs379 soft, Dhs499 house). Be Beach at Dubai Harbour serves Mediterranean dishes from live stations with Marina skyline views, Dhs320–520, running the longest at four hours.

For families, the classic big-hotel brunches still deliver. Bubbalicious: The Roast at the Westin Mina Seyahi piles up carvery meats, whole suckling pig, a fish 'n' chips stand and drink carts for Dhs315–485 (children Dhs175). Arrogante in the Opera District adds a kids' pizza-making station and ice-cream bar (Dhs295–425), and The Beam by Nick Alvis does a family-friendly three-course European bistro menu from Dhs295.

There are plenty of value plays too. El Sur, also at the Westin, offers Spanish tapas, paella and free-flowing sangria from just Dhs199. CQ Brasserie's civilised three-course Sunday lunch starts at Dhs219 food-only across its JLT and Barsha Heights venues. Trattoria at Souk Madinat Jumeirah keeps it simple with two-hour Italian packages from Dhs195.

If you want theatre, Mimi Mei Fair's Dim Sum Dynasty brunch in Downtown reveals a towering dim sum basket before a choice of mains (from Dhs218, with a Saturday option too). Andaliman at One&Only One Za'abeel brings live Indonesian grill stations with skyline views from Dhs260, and ZEA in DIFC pushes brunch into the night — its MESTIZOS Sunday runs 3pm to 7pm, then carries on as an after-party until midnight.

For visitors, Sunday brunch is a genuinely good way to sample Dubai's hotel and beach-club scene in one sitting, and because most venues take phone reservations, booking a week ahead is wise — weekends in peak season fill fast.