This exhibition provides a fabulous insight into the lives of ordinary Muslims living in Europe and helps to connect their lives to the Muslim community in the Arab world. Over 70 pictures were selected by Danish photographer Ahmed Krausen. They focus on major themes, such as the search for a peaceful and harmonious coexistence between Muslim and non-Muslim communities throughout Europe at a time of heightened political, social and religious tension. Krausen was born in Aachen, Germany in 1955 and brought up in a strongly Protestant family within a predominantly Roman Catholic community. He converted to Islam after he travelled for long periods from 1979 to 1985 to various countries in Asia, Africa and New Zealand searching for the deeper meaning of life.
Daily until August 14, 8am-8pm (Fridays 4pm-8pm), Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization, Sharjah, family ticket Dh10, adults Dh5, children free, 06 565 5455
Lord of the Dance More top class Irish jiggery as the world-famous dance show plays its final two days in the capital.
Today & Saturday 3pm & 8pm,
Abu Dhabi Hall, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, Abu Dhabi,
Dh295-795, 800 4669
Kaya Jones The former Pussycat Dolls backing singer will be performing songs from her new solo album, as well as some of the most popular tunes from her former band. But don't you wish it was Nicole Scherzinger instead? Don't cha? We do, but only because Nicole's middle names are Elikolani Valiente Prescovia. Seriously, that's the only reason.
Saturday 9pm, Chi@The Lodge, Dubai, Dh100 (21+ only), 800 4669
Beyond the Surface A summer exhibition by a group of 15 Dubai artists aged from 16 to 18.
Thursday 7pm, then daily until August 31, 10am-8pm (Friday 2-8pm, closed Sundays), thejamjar gallery, Street 17, Dubai, 04 341 7303
On the Wall This series of paintings by Syrian artist Baseem Rayyes seeks
to tell stories of the artist's nostalgia for, and perspective on, the country
of his birth. The people at Vindemia Art, Antiques and Collectibles Gallery are the brains behind this exhibition.
Daily until July 4, 11am-9pm, Aspen Cafe, Kempinski Hotel, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai, 04 427 0219
That Shimmering Beast: The Capture of Urban Life Images by Virgilio Ferreira, Miyuki Okuyama and Mehrdad Naraghi offer their own take on what gives cities their unique characteristics.
Daily until July 4, 9am-10pm (Fridays 3pm-10pm), The Empty Quarter, DIFC, Dubai, 04 323 1210
Set Me Free From My Chains Zoulikha Bouabdellah's show pokes fun at
"traditional notions of representation and abstraction". Playful, colourful and very well thought out.
Daily until July 23, 10am-7pm (closed Fridays), Gallery IVDE, Dubai, 04 323 5052
A Story of Islamic Embroidery in Nomadic and Urban Traditions The types of textiles on display range from over the past 200 years and include those from Central Asia, Russia and Turkey.
Daily until July 28, Gallery One, Emirates Palace hotel, Abu Dhabi (ladies only Tuesday 10am-4pm), 02 690 9000
I U Heart Mahmoud Bakhshi, Shahab Foutouhi, Arash Hanaei, Mamali Shafahi and Vahid Sharifian illustrate their individual responses towards how Iran's politics dominate its global image.
Daily until July 31 (closed on Fridays), 10am-7pm. The Third Line Gallery, Dubai, 04 341 1367
Summer Exhibition Sameer Reddy's startling photographs and Saba Qizilbash's vivid works on paper present an optimistic outlook on modern life. There is a repeat showing from September 1-22.
Daily until July 31 9am-7pm (closed Fridays), XVA gallery, Bastakiya, Dubai, 04 353 5383
Iraq: Transition to Peace Tina Hager's spellbinding collection of photos from Iraq paint a very different picture of the country than much of the mainstream media has touched on as she charts the country's rise out of conflict.
Daily until August 15, 9am-7pm (closed Fridays), Portfolio Gallery, Dubai, 04 323 2395
Blue Skie'd and Clear This group exhibition features photographs by Birgit Graschopf, Yuko Ichikawa, Maria Maeser, Jamie Baldridge, Maximillian Pramatarov and Hazem Mahdy.
Daily until September 25, 11.30am-7pm (closed Fridays), Carbon 12 gallery, Al Quoz 1, Street 8, Alserkal Avenue, Warehouse D37, Dubai, 050 464 4392
Peripheral Vision Paintings, photographs and sculptures created by artists from Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Syria and the UAE examine the question of Arab identity.
Daily 10am-8pm, Barjeel Art Foundation, Maraya Arts Centre, Sharjah, www.barjeelartfoundation.com
Sharmila's Summer Workshop An intensive five-day clinic offering beginner, elementary and advanced level tuition in a broad range of dance and performing arts. On the last day, the students are given the opportunity to showcase all they've learnt with a performance for their family and friends.
Friday & Saturday 10/11am-5pm, Sunday-Tuesday 4/5pm-8/9pm, Kilachand Studio Theatre, DUCTAC, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai, for children 7+, price on request, to register call Emma on 050 466 8793 or email emmaadmin@sharmiladance.com
World Cup offers at InterContinental Abu Dhabi There are a plethora of deals to be had at one of the capital's finest hotels. Brazilian favourite Chamas is offering a selection of World Cup cocktails (Dh25-55), with the drinks half-price during half-time of matches. While the Belgian Café is offering a free flow of selected drinks and a portion of Belgian fries for Dh160. Game on.
Daily until July 11 InterContinental Abu Dhabi, 02 666 6888
Family Fun Get two swanky rooms (Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Abu Dhabi) or a two bedroom suite (Fairmont Dubai) from Dh699 plus taxes. The deal includes free meals for under 12s and a behind the scenes tour of the hotel.
Daily until August 9, Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Abu Dhabi, and Fairmont Dubai, 800 848 000
Summer in Abu Dhabi A host of fun for kids at this annual event aimed at the capital's children. There are plenty of music, dance and performance
activities for all ages.
Daily until August 4, Hall 11,
Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, Abu Dhabi, Dh15 entry, 02 444 0444,
www.summerinabudhabi.com
Cool summer nights This Brazilian carnival-themed night is now weekly and includes Samba dancers and beach football. There is also manta ray feeding and a laser and fireworks display. Don't forget the waterslides.
Thursday 7pm, Aquaventure, Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai, tickets Dh200 (Dh165 children 3-11), pay on the door, www.atlantisthepalm.com
Wild Nights Al Ain Wildlife Park is open at night until the end of August.
Daily Saturday to Thursday, 4pm to midnight, Fridays 10am to midnight, adults and over 12s Dh15, children three to 12 Dh5, Al Ain Wildlife Park & Resort, Al Ain, 03 782 8188
Rob & Derek Live at Meydan Former ShowSports football presenters Rob McCaffrey and Derek Whyte are hosting a series of nights throughout the World Cup, The dates were organised before the tournament began, with this week's two shows scheduled in order to show England in the knockout stage. If the Three Lions don't make it, hopefully Rob and Derek still will.
Saturday 8pm, Sunday 5pm, Meydan Racecourse, Dubai, Dh375, www.robandderek.com
Experiment This exhibition features the work of five young Emirati artists. Two curators began the project in 2009 as a way of creating a platform for upcoming talent to explore new frontiers in multimedia design.
Daily until Saturday, 10am-10pm, Maraya Arts Centre, Sharjah,
www.alqasba.ae
Mass Movement The Lebanese artist Zena Assi brings together an exhibition that illustrates the psychology of how people think differently in a crowd.
Saturday 10am to 7pm (closed today), Art Sawa, Dubai, 04 340 8660
Students Ceramic Exhibition Students from the Dubai International Art Centre show off their latest creations. A vast selection of clay pieces, including human faces, animals and pots are on display.
Daily until Tuesday (closed Fridays), 9am-9pm, Gallery 76, Dubai International Art Centre, Jumeirah Beach Road, Street 75b, Villa No 27, 04 344 4398
Shabab Uprising The second running of this exhibition showcases 10 emerging artists, including the painters Thaier Helal and Kais Salman, and photographer Ammar Al Beik. The latter's black and white pictures are dabbled with colour and storytelling.
Daily until Wednesday (closed today), Ayyam Gallery, Dubai, 04 323 6242
French portrait exhibition Benoît Rondard, the resident French artist at the Alliance Francaise in Dubai for the first half of this year, has created 16 portraits which are linked to one another.
Daily until Wednesday, Plantation Lounge, Sofitel Jumeirah Beach hotel, Dubai, 04 335 8712
Coming up
Hairspray Big hair, big tunes in this stage musical version of the 1988 movie. Some of the cast were those fortunate to come through last month's auditions, which saw hundreds trying out for a place in the spotlight.
July 13-17 7.30pm (there are also 2.30pm shows on 16th and 17th), Centrepoint Theatre, DUCTAC, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai, Dh175, 04 341 4777
Fame This hugely-anticipated stage version of the 1980s hit TV show
premieres in the Middle East after a 10-year run in London's West End.
July 13-17 7.30pm, First Group Theatre, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, tickets for opening night Dh75, other nights Dh130, 04 366 6546
Oceans
Thankfully this is a wonderful wildlife documentary exploring the depths of the Earth's five great oceans, as opposed to a fly-on-the-wall about the seafood kitchen and bar in Abu Dhabi's Le Royal Méridien hotel. Jacques Perrin's Disney-funded work, which took four years to complete, was so popular at the box office in his native France that it took more than George Clooney's Up in the Air.
www.reelcinemas.ae, www.grandcinemas.com,
www.cinestarcinemas.com
Giallo
Named after the Italian word for yellow, this kidnap thriller set in Turin stars Adrien Brody as Inspector Enzo Avolfi, who is investigating the disappearance of American model Celine (Elsa Pataky). Despite being a flight attendant with no working knowledge of the Italian legal system, Celine's sister Linda (Emmanuelle Seigner) aids Avolfi in his hunt.
www.reelcinemas.ae, www.grandcinemas.com,
www.cinestarcinemas.com
Fireflies in the Garden
Proof that not everything Julia Roberts stars in turns into box office gold, but that's not to say this drama about three generations of the same family is not without merit. The action flits between the present and the past before a tragic accident changes the family's destiny forever.
www.reelcinemas.ae, www.grandcinemas.com,
www.cinestarcinemas.com
The Devil's Tomb
Straight-to-video horror flick set in the desert in the Middle East. Mack (Cuba Gooding Jr) leads a group of elite soldiers who are sent to rescue a scientist called Wesley (Ron Perlman), who is working on an archeological dig. The orders for the rescue were given by Elissa Cardell (Valerie Cruz), who just happens to be Wesley's father. A conflict of interest, no? Anyway, they find Wesley and a whole lot of trouble in the sand.
www.reelcinemas.ae, www.grandcinemas.com,
www.cinestarcinemas.com, www.cineroyal.ae
Cheri
This is the second film adaptation of this 1920 French novel, the first having been made in 1950. The plot concerns the relationship between Cheri (Rupert Friend) and Lea (Michelle Pfeiffer), a woman twice his age. They both thought it was just a casual thing until Cheri gets married... to someone else.
www.reelcinemas.ae
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