The family activities
What’s Eid without the fireworks? From July 28 to August 1, a fireworks display will light up the Dubai sky at 8pm every night from the Dubai Creek. For the best places to catch the Eid fireworks, go to www.eidindubai.ae.
There will also be fireworks at Al Qasba in Sharjah on the first and second day of Eid at 10pm. But festivities will begin at 7pm with youla dancers and characters from Emirati animation series Freej roaming around the leisure attraction. For more, go to sharjahtourism.ae.
If you can’t get enough of the Transformers, the characters from movie will also make an appearance at Burjuman from July 31 to August 6. Three daily shows of the Decepticlone Transformers Show will see Optimus Prime and Bumble Bee battle Megatron and his army of evil Decepticons. There’s also a meet-and-greet after each show. Entry is free. Go here for more: www.burjuman.com/whatson.
There will also be a Transformers Interactive Experience at Modhesh World for those over six years, while pre-teens can test their skills in activities and games using their hand-eye co-ordination, fine motor and spatial skills, problem-solving capabilities and logic. Go to modheshworld.com. Eid timings at Modhesh World are 10am-midnight.
Angry Birds fans, bring your slingshots to Modhesh World. Organisers of Dubai Summer Surprises are bringing ‘Angry Birds Universe: The Art and Science Behind a Global Phenomenon’, an exhibition dedicated to one of most successful games ever. The coolest thing about this exhibition? You get a chance to ‘be the bird’: get propelled on a zip line to knock over enormous foam structures, just like the games. From July 28 to September 8. For ticket details, go to modheshworld.com.
And hey, Hello Kitty is back. This brand new live show will feature more music, more dancing and more bright costumes as Hello Kitty and her friends celebrate a one-of-a-kind birthday bash to mark her 40th anniversary at The Dubai Mall. Entry is free. For timings, go to thedubaimall.com.
For dance lovers, head to City Centre Deira from July 29 to August where there will be daily 30-minute dance acts covering the best of musical classics from Hollywood and Bollywood movie soundtracks. Tap your feet to beats or dance along. For timings, call 04-2951010.
Want to walk (or swim) on the wild side? After welcoming a giant Caiman Crocodile, those cute penguins and nasty piranhas, the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo has just welcomed a giant octopus to its growing family. This bad guy measures 4.3 meters in height and weighs more than 70kg. Find out how to meet him here: thedubaiaquarium.com
For those in Abu Dhabi, the lovable Emirati grannies from Freej are back in a live show called Abood’s Dream. Based on the popular animated TV series, the full length show will follow the antics of Abood as he embarks on a fantasy adventure, while looking after one of the grandmother’s pet, a canary — a bird that lives in a fish bowl. Along the way he meets new friends and learns new lessons. Shows are in English and Arabic at Emirates Palace from July 31 to August 2. Check before purchasing tickets. They are priced Dh200 but are reduced with group purchases. Go to abudhabisummerseason.ae for more.
Always wanted to learn golf but was too scared to ask? Yas Links Abu Dhabi is offering a ‘Learn Golf in a Week’ package starting on July 27. The course aims to take complete beginners from the driving range to the golf course, with all instruction and equipment provided. Dh695. Go to yaslinks.com.
Those heading north might want to check out the family extravaganza at Al Hamra Golf Club in Ras Al Khaimah. On July 29, there will be music, belly dancing and activities including a bouncy castle for kids, roaming characters, henna and face painting and balloon bending. Dh140 per adult. Dh70 per child. For reservations, call 07-2447474.
The concerts
The annual Layali Dubai concert series returns this year with Saudi singing sensation Rabeh Saqer, Emirati diva Balqees Ahmad and Isamael Mubarak leading the celebrations on July 30 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The next day will see performances by Emirati singer Ahlam, Moroccan crooner Sa’ad Lamjarred and Shamma Hamdan. Tickets start at Dh200 and are available on platinumlist.ae. Shows begin at 8pm.
For Bollywood fans, Salim-Sulaiman, the music composing duo, will perform some of their biggest hits from over the years on July 31 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Known for hits including songs from films such as Chak De! India, Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl and Rab Ne Bana De Jodi, the pair will be joined by singer Shraddha Pandit and Indian Idol winners Shreeram and Vipul Mehta. Doors opens 7pm. Show starts 9pm. Tickets start at Dh145. Go to platinumlist.ae.
If Salim-Sulaiman don’t quite do it for you, there’s another Bollywood singer performing on August 1 at Al Nasr Leisureland Arena: Shreya Ghoshal. The singer and her 12-member troupe will perform for three hours at her Marhaba Dubai concert, running through some of her biggest hits over the years. Tickets start at Dh75. Doors open at 6pm and show begins at 8.30pm. Call 055-2041541 or 055-1037997. Or go to platinumlist.ae.
For something with a bit of Persian flair, Iranian pop stars Babak Jahanbakhsh and Morteza Pashaie will lead a concert on July 31 at Za’abeel Hall, Dubai World Trade Centre. The night will also feature a number of artists including Dooset Daram, Hame Donyam, Didani Shodi, Ta Hala Shode, Mano Sazam, Barf, Chi Shodeh, Ehsas, Zendegie Man, Oxygen and Mano Baroon. Tickets start at Dh150. Go to tixbox.com or call 050-1010924.
If you’re feeling a bit electric, the guys behind the Electric Days series of rooftop parties are bringing together their top DJs for a blow-out party at the Dubai Media City Amphitheatre on July 29. To be held inside a 1,300-capacity air-conditioned tent, the party begins at 5pm. Tickets are priced Dh220 (advance) and Dh250 at the door. Go to platinumlist.ae.
Nostalgia’s your thing? Then Sensation at Crowne Plaza, Shaikh Zayed Road, is bringing three R&B greats from the 90s: RL from Next (Remember the song Too Close?), Q Parker from 112 (Peaches and Cream) and Wingo from Jagged Edge (Let’s Get Married). Three great voices, one night on July 29. Tickets are Dh175 on platinumlist.ae. For tables call 050-6750816.
The movies
Phew! The Transformers are finally coming to our cinemas on July 28. While they’ve been bashing their way to the top of the box office despite being trashed by the critics (puns intended), the fourth instalment of the series, Transformers: Age of Extinction, sees Mark Wahlberg flex his muscles with the Autobots as they battle the evil Decepticons.
Or you can watch the monkeys take over the world in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, a sequel to the 2011 hit starring James Franco and Freida Pinto. This one is led by Andy Serkis as Ceasar, the leader of the apes, who now rule over humans as their civilisation collapses.
For those who prefer movies with a bit of scare, there’s The Purge: Anarchy, another sequel, about a couple who are stuck in the streets right as the annual purge — a 12-hour period where all crime is legal — commences.
For comedy, there’s Tammy, starring Bridesmaids star Melissa McCarthy, who hits the road with her hard-drinking grandmother (Susan Sarandon). And oh, there are more sequels as Step Up All In also releases. It’s the fifth in the dance movie. We won’t bother about plot details.
Arabic film lovers can look forward to Ahmad Helmy working his magic with Sone3a Fi Masr (Made in Egypt), about perilous relationships forged through social media and how it affects them.
Bollywood fans have not been left out in the cold this Ramadan with movies releasing as normal. This Thursday and through Eid, it will be all on Salman Khan’s muscular shoulders to carry Kick. With his last film Jai Ho turning out to be a dud, a lot rides on this action thriller. There’s scant info about the plot but going by Khan’s past films, it’s safe to say his fans won’t be bothered about such insignificant details. All we know is that Khan plays a thrill seeker who ends up as a high-profile thief nicknamed ‘the devil’. Go figure.
