Get into dragon boating
Unleash your inner dragon over the coming months. Now that the weather has cooled, the Noukhada Dragons are developing a number of teams at varying levels of experience, from beginners right the way up, offering training as well as regular in-club races in preparation for competitive racing. Enthusiastic dragon boaters meet with a full-time coach at Eastern Mangrove Marina at 9am Mondays to Thursdays, while 5pm and weekend sessions are in the works too. Membership rates start from Dh175 for one month, with annual fees costing to Dh1,200. If you're interested and would like more details log on to www.noukhada.ae
La Mer Beach is fab
Weekends are for discovery and one of the best spots to do this is at the recently opened La Mer Beach. Besides building sandcastles and enjoying a dip in the sea, there are a host of restaurants and cafes to enjoy too. Enjoy Turkish cuisine, feast on sushi or treat yourself to one of the dessert eateries on site. Make sure your phones are charged because you're in for a gorgeous sunset if you are there early evening. The best vantage points are the beachfront cafes. Marvel at the fairy lights lining the path between restaurants – very Instagrammable. There's also plenty to keep little ones busy, including the Little World Discovery Centre and the Hawa Hawa inflatable playground areas. Kids love it and grown-ups will, too. We recommend taking a cab, as the limited parking fills up quickly. Go to www.lamerdubai.ae
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Creative fun for the whole family
End the year on a creative note and join a series of workshops for children and adults at the Pretty Paper Studio pop-up shop. The stationery e-retailer, which offers online courses and purchasable goodies, is hosting a series of events at the Box Self-Storage behind Times Square in Dubai. You can also shop for festive art supplies including glittery glue, coloured cards, stencils, stickers, Santa stationery, stamps and more to create your own cards or jazz up store-bought ones. On Saturday, children ages 7-15 can create their own superhero canvas using acrylic paint techniques at 10.30am for Dh200, while adults can take part in a demonstration of how to use an electronic tool to cut various materials from 3pm to 5pm for Dh50. Register your interest at 055 393 6262 or visit ppsuae.com
Visit the new Jebel Ali club
If you haven't had a chance to check out the reinvigorated Jebel Ali Recreation Club in Dubai, now is the time. The club marked its new lease on life with a monumental bang on November 28 and offers punters a swanky outdoor terrace and plenty of dining options, including C House Milano, The Ship's Wheel, Andalucia, Seafood Kitchen and The Clubhouse. Although long-time Dubai dwellers will likely miss the quirky nature of the old clubhouse, the new club offers that lingering vibe. The tennis courts, gym and swimming pool remain and there are plans for a cinema soon too. The celebrations continue every Friday from 7pm until 9.30pm until December 22. Call 04 459 5100 or go to www.facebook.com/jebelaliclub
