21 things to do this weekend in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah

If you're looking for something to do in the UAE this weekend, there is plenty happening across the Emirates to keep you busy. While dozens of large-scale events have been cancelled due to the Covid-19 outbreak, there are still a number of community events, exhibitions and deals to enjoy. Here is a round up of the best events happening across the UAE this weekend, although please note, events are subject to change ... Led by Andrew Reyes, the legendary Latin pop music legends Gipsy Kings are coming back to perform for one night only in Dubai. The Bamboleo singers shot to global fame in 1987 after their song became an international hit. Thursday, March 12, 8pm; tickets from Dh395; Dubai Opera, Dubai; www.dubaiopera.ae F45 Dubai Motor City has partnered with Wildflower Poke & More to offer a free one-off exercise and healthy bites session on Friday, March 13. F45 is named after the full-body HIIT workout that improves energy levels, metabolic rate, strength and endurance. The hour-long complimentary “Wild Hollywood” session will combine strength and cardio, complete with thumping music by a live DJ, and low-calorie, high-protein treats by Wildflower. Friday, March 13; multiple sessions at 7am, 8.10am, 9.20am and 10.30am; free; F45 Dubai Motor City; 050 383 9445, dubaimotorcity@f45training.ae Adopt-a-Cat UAE is hosting a cat and kitten adoption day at Fit Life Vet. Head to the clinic to meet kittens and cats of all ages, sizes and breeds. Those who are old enough will be spayed or neutered, vaccinated and microchipped before going to their new home. Adoption fees apply. Friday, March 13, 3pm-7pm; Fit Life Vet, opposite Umm Al Emarat Park, Abu Dhabi; 02 585 7633, www.facebook/adopt.a.cat.UAE Head to Holi Hai on Friday, March 13 at Zabeel Park. The family-friendly event will run from 10am until late, with a variety of food stalls, a live band, DJs and a children's play area. Buy your colours on site, and expect to be celebrating into the night. Friday, March 13, 10am until late; Dh30; Gate 3, Zabeel Park, Dubai; 050 654 9100, dubai.platinumlist.net Abu Dhabi Karaoke Crew are hosting The Wild Karaoke Party at Viewz Bar at Cristal Hotel. Guests can request their song choice at any time during the night and will get called to the stage to perform. The free event is open for those who want to sing their favourite tunes or just get up and dance. Friday, March 13, 9pm-3am; free; Viewz, Cristal Hotel, Electra Street, Abu Dhabi; www.facebook.com/ADKaraokeCrew Lebanese composer Marcel Khalife and Algerian singer Souad Massi will take to the stage at Al Majaz Amphitheatre. Both musicians are known for their live performances and culturally informed music. The tunes of Khalife’s oud and Massi’s acoustic guitar are set to meet in concert as part of a season of events titled #letsmajaz. Dubbed “the Bob Dylan of the Middle East”, Khalife’s music powerfully and poetically encompasses everything from protest songs to political ballads. Massi is known for her emotive mix of Arabic, French and Berber folk songs. Friday, March 13, 7.30pm; Dh80; Al Majaz Amphitheatre, Sharjah; sharjah.platinumlist.net The Holi Dhamaka event is being held at Zabeel Park with live music, a variety of food stalls, places to buy colour from and a dedicated children’s play area. Bands such as SRS and DJs Nodde, Sunny and Mann will be performing, while Simran Ahuja hosts the event. Friday, March 13, from 10am; Dh30; Zabeel Park, Dubai; dubai.platinumlist.net Head to Saadiyat Beach Golf Club and sit in a buggy while enjoying the 2019 superhero film Shazam! , starring Zachary Levi and Mark Strong, this weekend. The money spent on the ticket can be redeemed at food and beverage stalls, while a private buggy can be booked for Dh200 for up to four people and comes with drinks and a barbecue platter. Friday, March 13, 6.30pm-10pm; Dh30; Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi; www.abudhabigolfdining.com MasterChef, the TV Experience is offering 50 per cent off its popular Showtime! Brunch deal, and introducing a line-up of dishes created specially by participants from the global hit show that inspired the restaurant. The discount also applies for evening service after 7pm, which means half-price on selected dishes across the vast menu. The brunch offer is not applicable to the premium beverage package. Friday, March 13, 12.30pm- 4pm and from 7pm; from Dh299 (before discount); Millennium Place Marina, Dubai Marina, Dubai; www.masterchefdxb.com Wiz Khalifa is performing at Drai's Dubai. The platinum-selling rapper, known for the hits Black and Yellow and See You Again, will take to the stage at the Meydan Dubai superclub. The event starts at 10pm and ladies get free entry until 1am. Friday, March 13, 10pm; ladies free, men are Dh200; Drai's Dubai, Meydan Racecourse, Dubai, www.draisdxb.com Karaoke hotspot Lucky Voice will be celebrating St Patrick’s Day early with a special edition of its Friday Brunch Out Loud. On Friday, March 13, guests can expect crowd karaoke, lip sync battles and the chance to have their own karaoke party in its private pods. The venue will be encouraging Irish songs, with a cash prize of Dh1,000 for the winning performance, to be judged by the staff. Friday, March 13, 1pm-4pm; from Dh195; Grand Millennium Hotel, Barsha Heights; 800 58259, www.luckyvoice.com/bars/dubai A highly influential figure in Moroccan art, Mohamed Melehi was part of a radical group of artists that pushed for local artists to look beyond the Western mode of creating and forge their own style. The show New Waves puts a spotlight on that movement and traces Melehi’s career, featuring previously unseen works of his documentary photography. Saturday, March 14 to Saturday, April 4; Saturday to Thursday, 10am to 7pm; Fridays closed; Concrete, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai; www.alserkalavenue.ae Visit Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi for Super Hero Saturdays. Guests entering the theme park will be greeted with a live performance, as a DJ spins the tunes. Throughout the nine-week series, DC superheroes Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman will be available for photos and to pass along words of wisdom to the heroes-to-be. There will also be a glow-in-the-dark dance party, too. Saturdays, 11am; until Saturday, April 4; from Dh295 for adults, from Dh230 for children; Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi, Yas Island; www.wbworldabudhabi.com Visit the Ripe Market at Umm Emarat Park to stock up on locally grown seasonal organic produce, as well as a variety of superfoods, juices, honey and essential pantry items. There are arts and crafts vendors, food trucks, live music and entertainment, a petting zoo, children's activities, workshops and more. There's also a free yoga session at 4.30pm. Saturdays, 3pm-9pm; from Dh10 for park entrance; Umm Al Emarat Park, Abu Dhabi; www.ripeme.com The 18-day Hype DXB festival is coming to a close this weekend, inviting shoppers to discover special, one-off street-style pieces and collections, as well as sample a selection of food. More than 30 designers have revealed new designs of clothing, handbags, shoes, accessories, home decor and jewellery, which are all on sale as Boxpark also hosts talks, styling sessions, activations and more. Live bands provide the entertainment. Until Saturday, March 14, from noon-11pm; Boxpark, Al Wasl Road, Dubai; www.boxpark.ae Dubai Food Festival has kicked off with the opening of the Etisalat Beach Canteen. The festival's flagship event takes the form of a massive pop-up with grab-and-go food trucks, and cooking workshops and live cooking sessions hosted by chefs from UAE restaurants. A dedicated family area will include live entertainment, a kids' zone, a beachside theatre and a gaming square and sports court – ideal to shave off a few calories. Daily, until Saturday, March 14; 1pm-midnight Sunday to Thursday, 10am-midnight Friday, 10am-11pm Saturday; Etisalat Beach Canteen, Jumeirah Beach (behind Sunset Mall), Dubai; www.beachcanteen.ae It's the last weekend for diners to enjoy some of Dubai's best food for bargain prices. Dubai Restaurant Week ropes in 35 high-end restaurants – from Akira Back’s Paru and Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen to Latin America eatery Coya – to curate two-course lunch menus (priced from Dh75) and three-course dinner menus (from Dh150). This year, the event will cover 18 cuisines city-wide. Until Saturday, March 14, various times; from Dh75; various locations across Dubai; www.reserveout.com/dubai-en Their latest group show from Tashkeel is titled Plastic and it's dedicated to a man-made material that has transformed our lives in many ways: plastic. Can we consider sustainability in the face of mass production and consumption? What awaits future generations? Featuring more than 30 artists from the UAE, the show explores the social, economic and cultural dimensions of the issue, while proposing alternative solutions. A series of workshops and seminars on the topic will accompany the exhibition. Until Saturday, April 14; Saturday to Thursday, 10am-10pm, closed on Friday; Tashkeel Studio and Gallery, Nad Al Sheba 1, Dubai; www.tashkeel.org Looking to boost your insta-stories? Make for the BurjumanFoodArt Festival, being dubbed the most instagrammable foodie event in town. Running until Saturday, March 14, expect giant food art installations with the likes of spinning doughnuts, colourful sushi rolls, giant ice-cream cones and oversized popcorn buckets. There’s prizes to be won for the best insta-posts and plenty of dining offers too. Daily, until Saturday March 14, 10am-10pm; free; Burjuman Mall, Dubai, www.burjuman.com Rove Trade Centre now hosts a weekly Filipino feast on Saturdays, marking the tradition of the Boodle Flight. This includes a range of seafood, sweet beef, chicken skewers and plenty of rice, all piled high on a long banana leaf. Enjoy the dining experience with family and friends. Saturday, March 14, from 5pm-10pm; Rove Trade Centre, 2nd December Street, Dubai; www.rovehotels.com Bounce X has opened at Festival City Mall. The new venue spans 5,000 square metres over two floors and is the world’s biggest Bounce and the world’s first freestyle terrain park. The area features trampolines and parkour elements, as well as giant airbags, ninja obstacle courses and an 8.5-metre drop slide. Unlike other Bounce venues, guests are asked to wear sneakers or rent shoes if their footwear is inappropriate. Saturday to Wednesday, 10am-10pm; Thursday and Friday, 10am-midnight; Dh90 per hour; Bounce X, Festival City Mall, Festival City, Dubai; www.bounce.ae

21 things to do this weekend in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah

From exhibitions to restaurant deals, here is what to do in the UAE this weekend