Looking for some ideas to keep you and the family busy in the UAE over the long weekend?
Whether it's going out to attend a socially distanced concert or viewing a new virtual exhibition online from home, there is enough to keep you busy.
From live music to food deals, we've rounded up some of the best offers and events.
Dubai
1. Saturday Brunch in Paris at La Serre Bistro
La Serre Bistro has announced a special one-off Saturday afternoon brunch themed after the Parisian capital. Starters include burrata, truffle and fontina pizzetta, beef tartare and watermelon salad with feta and basil. Mains consist of Scottish salmon fillet with fresh herbs and confit lemon, striploin steak and mixed mushroom risotto. Desserts to be shared include passionfruit cheesecake, a chocolate caramel bar and an apricot peach mousse.
Advanced booking is recommended.
Saturday, August 22, 3pm-7pm; starts from Dh279; La Serre Bistro, Downtown Dubai, www.leserre.com
2. Sonu Nigam in concert
Sonu Nigam performs The Light this weekend, which will see fans seated at a distance in the indoor venue. Expect an exciting show featuring the sights, sounds and dancing that Bollywood is famous for. He will be joined on stage by local talent from the UAE. Fans can expect to be hear hits such as Saathiya, Deewana Tera and Tumse Milke Dil Ka among others. There's a 30 per cent off promo code you can use, SONU30, when booking tickets.
Friday, August 21, 7pm, Dh250, Sheikh Rashid Hall, World Trade Centre, Dubai, www.platinumlist.net
3. Jumeirah Restaurant Week
Enjoy lunch with a set menu as part of Jumeirah Restaurant Week. A number of restaurants at Jumeirah hotels will have three-course menus highlighting food from around the world with prices starting from Dh120. Participating venues include Dhow & Anchor at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel, which serves British food, Pan-Asian spot Lah Lah at Zabeel House The Greens and seafood specialist Rockfish at Jumeirah Al Naseem.
Until Saturday, August 22, starting from Dh120; various locations; www.jumeirah.com
4. See a comedy show at Dubai Opera
Husband-and-wife comedy duo Ali Al Sayed and Mina Liccione will perform a two-hour set at Dubai Opera. They will be joined on stage by other special guests, comedians and DJ Tala Samman. The show is for people 15+ and anyone under 16 years old will need to be accompanied by an adult. There will be safety measures in place including the wearing of face masks at all times and limited seating capacity.
Friday, August 21; 8pm; Dh95; Dubai Opera, Downtown Dubai, Dubai; www.dubaiopera.com
5. Take in some street art
City Walk will be staging a series of live art events and exhibitions until the end of the month. Juandres Vera's signature 3D artworks are on the floor of City Walk’s indoor courtyard and he will be doing live painting throughout the whole weekend.
Famous for works that turn pavements into weird and wonderful optical illusions, visitors to The Walk in Dubai's JBR will be familiar with his works, some of which were featured at Dubai Canvas's 2016 event, including the Instagram-famous giraffe emerging from a wall. Alongside Vera, UAE artist @artkal3 will perform a live display of his pendulum painting technique at 4pm and 7.30pm on Friday and Saturday. Artist Yaroslava Deeb, who uses sand, glitter and a projector to produce frames of live art that appear animated, will also appear at the event.
Until Monday, August 31, times vary, see the full schedule here; free; City Walk, Al Safa Street, Dubai; www.citywalk.ae
6. Learn to ski in 48 hours
Spend the long weekend escaping the summer heat and learning a new skill by taking to the slopes at Ski Dubai. The Mall of the Emirates attraction has launched a summer deal perfect for beginners to help them learn the basics in order to ski or snowboard in 48 hours. Over the course of two days, participants will be given four lessons with a certified instructor – one 60-minute and three 90-minute sessions. The cost is Dh600 per person, and includes the cost of hiring necessary equipment, as well as a hot chocolate after each session.
Daily, 10am-10pm; Dh600; Ski Dubai, Mall of the Emirates; 800 386, www.skidxb.com
Abu Dhabi
7. Chef’s Table menu
As part of the Abu Dhabi Culinary Season, the Chef’s Table dining event follows a theme of travel through food, and will take diners on a gastronomical journey of five courses that have been carefully curated by 11 of Abu Dhabi’s top chefs, each showcasing the cuisine of their restaurants and drawing on inspiration from across their lives and careers. The five-course meals are Dh350.
Participating restaurants include Cipriani, Fouquet's Abu Dhabi, Dai Pai Dong, Coya, Punjab Grill, Sontaya, Tean, The Forge, Aja & Teppanyaki, Market Kitchen and Boa Steakhouse.
Until Monday, August 31; Dh350; various restaurants; www.adculinaryseason.ae
8. Virtual Korean art exhibition
See the online exhibition Ogamdo: Five Scenes of Korean Art as presented in collaboration with Manarat Al Saadiyat, the Korean Cultural Centre and the Korea Foundation for International Cultural Exchange. The free exhibition will showcase 40 artworks from 14 contemporary Korean artists who explore the current state of 21st century "Korean-ness".
Until Monday, November 30; free; www.artogamdo.com
9. Enjoy a water park
Yas Waterworld has reopened but at limited capacity and guests are required to wear masks at all times except in the water. Located on Yas Island, the waterpark features more than 40 rides, slides and attractions, including Bubble's Barrel, Rush Rider and Bandit Bomber. Ladies Days are every Monday and Thursday. Advance booking is required and visitors are asked to download an app to help enhance the contactless experience once there.
Daily, Saturday to Wednesday, 10am-8pm, Friday, 10am-10pm, Monday and Thursday are Ladies Day, 2pm-11pm; Dh250 for adults, Dh210 for children; Yas Waterworld, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi; www.yaswaterworld.com
10. Take a tour of Louvre Abu Dhabi
Visit the reopened Louvre Abu Dhabi to see the exhibition Furusiyya: The Art of Chivalry between East and West. On view are more than 130 artefacts, from weaponry and armor to manuscripts and decorative objects. This includes swords, crossbows, turban helmets and medallions, as well as items of artistry such as ceramic bowls, reliefs and tapestries. Divided into three sections, the exhibition examines the emergence of horse riding, warfare and the lives of knights in the Islamic and Christian worlds.
Advance booking is a must and guests should arrive 10 minutes prior totheir time slot or entry will be denied. Visitors will have up to three hours to spend in the museum.
Advance booking required, 10am-6.30pm, Tuesday to Sunday, closed Mondays, Dh63; Louvre Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island; 600 565 566, www.louvreabudhabi.ae
11. Visit Ferrari World Abu Dhabi
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi has reopened but at a limited capacity and with safety measures in place. The supercar-themed park has a number of rides, including the Formula Rossa, the world’s fastest roller coaster. Children can also get in on the fun with age-appropriate rides such as The Speedway Race and Formula Rossa Junior. Advance booking is required and visitors are asked to download an app to help enhance the contactless experience once there.
Daily, 11am-8pm; Dh295 for adults, Dh230 for children; Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Yas Island; www.ferrariworldabudhabi.com
12. Go for a climb
Indoor attraction Clymb is welcoming back visitors. Located on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, and connected to Yas Mall and Ferrari World, the sporting facility features a 43-metre-high climbing wall. There are a total of four walls of varying and increasing difficulty, making it perfect for beginner, intermediate and expert climbers. The sizeable project is also home to the world’s widest flight chamber.
Advance booking is required and visitors are asked to download an app to help enhance the contactless experience once there.
Friday and Saturday, noon-11pm, Sunday to Thursday, 11am-9pm; tickets from Dh120; Clymb, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi; www.clymbabudhabi.com
13. Visit an indoor theme park
Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi has reopened, but is operating at a limited capacity. Spanning 1.65 million square feet, the indoor theme park is made up of five lands – Metropolis; Gotham City; Cartoon Junction; Dynamite Gulch and Bedrock. The park contains 29 rides, restaurants, attractions and shops. Advance booking is required and visitors are asked to download an app to help enhance contactless payment once there.
Daily, 11am-8pm; Dh295 for adults, Dh230 for children; Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi, Yas Island; www.wbworldabudhabi.com
Sharjah
14. See a free film screening
Catch a free movie screening at the drive-in cinema in Madar at Aljada. Located in Muwaileh, the event is first come, first served, with allocated parking spaces. The line-up includes the live-action remake of The Lion King on Friday, action film Transformers: Age of Extinction on Saturday and 2019's Blinded by the Light on Sunday. There is a capacity of 150 vehicles. There are several restaurants in Zad at Aljada that offer delivery to your car.
Friday, August 21, Saturday, August 22, and Saturday, August 23; films start at 8pm; free; Madar at Aljada, Muwaileh, Sharjah, www.aljadamovies.com
Nationwide
15. See the Korean film 'Peninsula'
The highly anticipated sequel to Train to Busan is out in cinemas. The film follows a marine captain who loses everything after escaping South Korea during a zombie outbreak. However, he gets taken in by a gang and is tasked with returning to the quarantined area to retrieve bags of cash left in an abandoned food truck while trying to survive in a zombie-packed area. The film broke South Korean box office records when it was released last month.
Various cinemas around the UAE
