Good deals, free yoga, stage shows, indoor markets – we dig Dubai in the spring.

Here’s your weekend sorted…

THURSDAY 12

1. See a play suited to both young and old

peach

Who doesn’t love Roald Dahl? Today and tomorrow Ductac is staging a play adaptation of the wonderful book James and The Giant Peach. Join James on his journey from Dover to New York aboard a giant peach. Should be magical.

Ductac, Mall of the Emirates, Al Barsha. Thursday 5pm, Friday 11am, 3pm and 6pm, Dhs140 to Dhs195. Buy tickets here.

2. Get your skates on

rollerskates

Community group Dubai Skaters is hosting a meet tonight, starting from the back of Umm Suqeim Park, heading down Beach Road and back. So if you’re a roller blader or skater and have been looking for a crew to roll with, this is a very good start.

Umm Suqeim Park (the Jumeirah Beach Road side). 6.45pm, free. More info on Facebook

FRIDAY 13

3. Brunch and stay

jumeirah-beach-hotel

Dubai classic the Jumeirah Beach Hotel is offering a deal this weekend that means if you book a room at the best available rate you’ll get a brunch thrown in for free. And it’ll be a premium bubbly brunch too. A room will cost you about Dhs1,400, but then you’ll get brunch for two, free early check in and late check out, a complimentary room upgrade, free use of the kids club and unlimited access to Wild Wadi Waterpark.

Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Al Sufouh Road. From Dhs1,400. Tel: (04) 406 8500. More info on website.  

4. Spend the day at the spa

nysa spa

Nysa Spa & Fitness takes up a whole floor of the Hyatt Regency Dubai Creek Heights hotel, and it’s home to one of the best massages we’ve ever had in the city. With summer upon us, they’ve launched a deal that means for Dhs490 you get pool, gym and thermal suite access plus a body massage, a pedicure and manicure and a three-course lunch. That’s basically a full day of pamper and chill. The shiatsu massage we had at Nysa was effective and relaxing, and the bed was majorly comfy. The therapists here know their stuff.

Hyatt Regency Dubai Creek Heights, Oud Metha. Dhs490, 10am to 10pm, daily. Tel: 04 553 1259. More info on website.

5. See a soprano and a tenor

French soprano Sara Gouzy won the 1st prize at the prestigious International Song Competition in St Petersburg, Russia, and she’ll be singing at the One & Only Royal Mirage tonight. Also warming up his pipes for the concert is Joel Prieto, a Spanish tenor who was unanimously awarded all three prizes at Placido Domingo’s Operalia Competition in 2008 (that’s a big deal).

One & Only Royal Mirage, Al Sufouh, Dubai. 7pm to 10.30pm, Dhs250 to Dhs550. Tel: (050) 870 2674. Buy tickets here.

6. Watch Cinderella glide along the ice

ice-cinderella

Tonight and tomorrow you’ll be able to see beloved tale Cinderella acted out on the Dubai Ice Rink in Dubai Mall. Fans of skating will be able to see some sweet moves, while Cinderella groupies will get to relive their fave fairy tale.

Dubai Ice Rink, The Dubai Mall. Dhs50, 7pm today and 3pm and 8pm Saturday. Tel: 04 448 5111. Buy tickets here.

7. Go to The Other Side

At The Address Dubai Marina tonight you’ll find Teleferik, a French rock band from Paris with a lead singer that has a definite Janis Joplin vibe (that’s them in the music video above). The Other Side gig will also feature the Chronicles of Khan, a UAE-based rock band. Should be a fun night. Oh, and when you walk into the gig you’ll be given a padlock or a key on a chain and will be encouraged to find your match so that you can meet new people.

ANDLounge, The Dubai Marina. 9pm, tickets Dhs120 (cash only) on the door. Tel: (04) 551 9698. More info on Facebook.  

8. See a Detroit bad boy on the decks

Seth Troxler plays upwards of 150 gigs a year, and is one of the most outspoken and individual names in techno. As our sister mag Hype puts it, he “always weaves together woozy grooves, trippy synths and seductive, deep and cosmic techno that is full of libidinousness.” Also on the decks at Rixos today is Solomun, a three time DJ Awards winner who pumps out euphoric tunes.

Rixos The Palm, Palm Jumeirah. 10am to 11pm. More info on Facebook. 

SATURDAY 14

9. Start the morning with free yoga and treats

dina

This weekend at yoga store yApparel they’re hosting a free Jivamukti class with Yogi Dina. Then, post class Chef Nina will be serving up sugar-free, gluten-free and dairy-free treats. What a healthful way to start a Saturday. Note that the yoga class starts at 9.30am sharp. Oh, and bring your own mat and make sure to RSVP on the Facebook page to secure a space.

yApparel, first floor, Jumeirah Centre, Jumeirah Beach Road. Free, 9.30am to 11.30am. More info on Facebook. 

10. Stock up on veges

Ripe Market

Ripe Food and Craft market has moved indoors, so you can now stock up on your weekly dose of organic veges, cakes and other treats at Times Square Centre. Plus, this weekend bookshop Magrudy’s is hosting a reading corner for children, with story telling at 10am, 11am and 1pm (we’ve got it on good authority that absolute classic The Very Hungry Caterpillar will be one of the tales).

Times Square Centre, Al Quoz, Dubai. Free, 9am to 3pm. Tel: (04) 380 7602. More info on website. 

11. Go to The Design Bar

design-bar

Bit of a Pinterest-board-obsessive interiors buff? Well you’ll want to get to Ductac today for The Design Bar, a curated pop up show that’s bringing together a bunch of interiors, home and lifestyle brands/ You’ll find wares from Jordan, Lebanon, Australia, Vietnam and India. Plus, all the brands there proudly support traditional craftsmen.

The Gallery of Light, Ductac, Mall of the Emirates. Free entry, 10am to 7pm. Tel: (04) 341 4777. More info on website.

12. See a stirring documentary

The Land Speaks Arabic is an award-winning documentary that juxtaposes historical footage of Palestine before 1948 against eyewitness accounts and testimonials from the survivors of the 1947 expulsion. Moving stuff.

A4 Space, Al Serkal Avenue, Al Quoz. 7pm, free but on a first-come, first-served basis. More info on Facebook

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