Well, first things first, you can’t miss hanging out with us at Try Dubai on Friday! But there are also monster shakes to drink, EDM stars to dance to and buggy runs to try…

Enjoy the next three days team, all reports suggest the weather will be glorious!

Thursday 9

1. Get Xtreme 

End the week with a bang at Riverland Dubai at Dubai Parks & Resorts, which is playing host to Xtreme Acts on the River this weekend. From wakeboarding and skateboarding to parkour, you’ll see some pretty hardcore athletes in action. You can also join in on the fun with wall climbing, ziplining, and a bungee trampoline, as well as a Bagjump where you can jump from 26 metres.

Riverland, Dubai Parks and Resorts. February 9 to 11, 10am to midnight. Activities free of charge (parking free after 6pm, Dhs50 before then). Tel: 800 2629464. More info on website.

2. Admire the power of Krump

Last weekend there was a Krump workshop, and this weekend Alliance Française Dubai is hosting a contemporary Krump dance show at MOE called Praise The Mighty Kingdom. Krump was born in LA in the mid-90s and stands for Kingdom Radically Uplifted Mighty Praise. It’s an electrifying dance style, and so it should be a dynamic, affecting and emotional show.

Centrepoint Theatre, Ductac, Mall of the Emirates, Barsha. 8pm to 9pm. Buy tickets here.

3. Swing to a Parisian band

Excellent French jazz quarter The Presidents are returning to La Môme for this Thursday, Friday and Saturday night – they will perform a repertoire as well as take audience requests. Side – but important – note: We adore the steak at this excellent new restaurant, as well as their bottomless chocolate mousse.

Floor 49, Nassima Royal Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road. Restaurant open for dinner 7pm to 3am. Tel: (04) 308 0470. More info on website. 

Friday 10

4. Come to Try Dubai (and hang out with us!)

Yay! This Friday it’s Try Dubai, our very own event down at Barasti that will let you try new things, meet new people and sign up to new clubs. Head down – entry is free! – and you’ll get to meet the communities and clubs that make Dubai great (and they’ll be offering exclusive discounts on the day too). Follow the Facebook event page for more details, and head here to see a schedule of events and details of the discounts. Ooh, and the team at Barasti will be putting on special food discounts and happy hour deals for the occasion too. Basically, this is where it’s at (if we say so ourselves!).

Barasti Beach, Al Sufouh. Friday 11am to 5pm, free. More info on Facebook. 

5. Say nay to Valentine’s Day

Sick of Valentine’s Day before it’s even happened? McGettigan’s JLT is offering the perfect antidote with a fun-lovin’ Guys and Dolls brunch – an afternoon designed for groups of guys and girls to cut loose and enjoy an afternoon of great craic (with none of that lovey-dovey nonsense). Dhs249 will get you five hours of unlimited house beverages, plus access to a buffet and a la carte dishes. There’s also 20 per cent off for groups of six or more if you book in advance. Read about more anti-lovey-dovey Valentine’s Day events here.

McGettigan’s JLT, next to Bonnington Tower. Noon to 5pm. Tel: (04) 378 0800. More info on website.

6. Jam with Bob Marley’s son

It would have been reggae legend Bob Marley’s 72nd birthday this week, and to celebrate, his son Ky-Mani Marley will headline at the fourth edition of the Bob Marley Birthday Festival. Ky-Mani will be supported by friends, local bands and DJs, and TruckersDXB will bring the Caribbean flavour with some mouth-watering street food.

Dubai International Marine Club in Mina Seyahi. Doors open at 3pm. General admission Dhs125, on the door Dhs150. Age limit 21 and over. Tickets available at Virgin Megastores, UAE Exchange or online at Platinum List, Virgin Online, Ticket Line and 800Tickets. Tel: (055)  232 3956. More info on website.

7. Check out a new-launch EDM festival

Dance and classical fusologists Clean Bandit are headlining a new Dubai festival this weekend (their song Rockabye has had more than 300 million views on YouTube). The new fest’ Solis DXB promises to combine “some of the best live music and EDM” into a one-day event on the sand at Nasimi Beach. A great option for post-Try Dubai partying. You’ll also find German DJ Wankelmut there.

Atlantis The Palm, Palm Dubai, 3pm to 3am, Dhs150 early bird, Dhs250. Tel: (056) 675 6834. More info on Facebook. 

8. Get snap happy

Do you take your DSLR everywhere, or are you more of a smartphone camera star? No matter what your medium of choice, all photography lovers will find inspiration at Gulf Photo Plus Photo Week, which kicks off on Friday. Attend photography seminars and workshops with renowned photographers, and learn about the art of food photography, street photography and portraiture. Your ‘grams will be on point in no time!

Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz. February 10 to 17. Some free activities. Tel: (04) 380 8545. More info on website. 

9. Hear from legend Hassan Hajjaj

As part of Gulf Photo Plus week there’s a very special free Cinema Akil screening this weekend – they will be showing Karima: A Day In The Life Of A Henna Girl, which is directed by genius Moroccan photographer Hassan Hajjaj. The best bit? Hajjaj will be there and will give a talk from 8.15pm – with Karima, the star of the film there with him. Ooh, and snacks will be available at the movie screening too.

Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz, from 7pm, first come first seated. More info on Facebook. 

10. Relive the noughties at the Billionaire Mansion

It’ll be disco-tinged-house till dawn at the Billionaire Mansion tonight with French DJ Bob Sinclair playing at the swanky Italian restaurant and club. All those of the Love Generation need apply.

Billionaire Mansion, Taj Dubai, Business Bay, 7pm to 3am, phone for reservations. Tel: (04) 510 3100. More info on Facebook.

Saturday 11

11. Go on The Buggy Run

There’s a run this morning at Dubai Motor City’s Autodrome that is zero judgement and just about getting out there and having fun: the Buggy Run is an untimed 2.5km or 5km run for parents (or aunties, uncles, grandparents, friends etc) with bubs in buggies. Just think of the extra bicep workout! There will be post-race family-friendly entertainment too, so should be a fun morning out!

Dubai Motor City Autodrome, Dhs150 for a single buggy and runner and Dhs245 for a single buggy and two runners. Registration and race pack collection at 6.30am, race start at 7.30am, race end at 9.30am and event end at 12pm. More info and registration on website.

12. Watch the dragon boat finals at Dubai Marina

The Dubai Marina Dragon Boat Festival is back this weekend, and today’s the best day to check it out (as it’s the finals). Each boat is beautifully painted, and the sport is adrenaline filled – the 20 paddlers on each vessel really go for it during the races. The best views will be from Dubai Marina Mall, Pier 7 (or directly opposite) or on the Al Gharbi Street bridge.

Dubai Marina, 8am to 5pm, today and tomorrow. Tel: (04) 436 1020. More info on Facebook. 

13. Go for Saturday brunch with a Japanese twist

KYO Restaurant & Lounge’s new Yoshuku brunch will make you feel as though you’ve been magically transported to a secret tea garden in Kyoto. For Dhs220, you’ll enjoy traditional goodies like matcha, miso, sushi and sashimi, as well as a few western brunch favourites with a Japanese twist (ever tried Japanese-style eggs benedict?). We can’t get enough of the green tea-infused melon bread.

KYO Restaurant & Lounge, Golden Mile 1, Palm Jumeirah. 11am to 4pm. Tel: (04) 557 5182. More info on website.

14. Try Black Tap (and eat all your calories in one sitting)

New York spot Black Tap opened on Thursday and you’ll find it next to the gorgeous new Jumeirah Al Naseem hotel. Their craft burgers and beverages (including some ‘crazy shakes’) have diners queuing up around the block in the States, and even have some celebrity fans in stars including The Weeknd.

Black Tap, Jumeirah Al Naseem Hotel, Madinat Jumeirah, Jumeira Road, Dubai, 11am to 12am. Tel: (04) 422 9904. More information on Facebook. 

15. Go see Aladdin

Madinat Theatre is putting on a 10-day run of Aladdin, which starts this Thursday. It will be a feel good show with laughs, a magical lamp and some circus tricks. It’s definitely one for families. It’s on at various times each day – today there are shows at 3pm, 5pm and 7pm (although the latter is sold out).

Madinat Theatre, Madinat Jumeirah, from Dhs180 to Dhs270. Buy tickets here.

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