ACTIVITY CENTRAL
The Festival at sustainable Masdar City in Abu Dhabi takes place today and tomorrow. Aiming to educate residents about sustainable practices and eco-friendly lifestyles and technology, activities include The Greenhouse, where visitors can learn how to grow their own food; Innovative Factory, where they build and test experiments related to renewable energy resources like solar, wind and water; and Arcade Alley, a sustainability-themed gaming area. From 10am-10pm today and 10am-6pm tomorrow. Catch Global EducationInteract, an education fair today at Grand Excelsior, Bur Dubai, and at Crowne Plaza, Abu Dhabi, tomorrow. Students can meet reps from 25 universities from nine countries at the fair, sign up for sessions with career counsellors and access course-selection guidance, post-departure briefing and support post-arrival. Free entrance. Visit thechopras.com.
Take a walk on the wild side at Emirates Park Zoo and Resort Abu Dhabi’s newly opened 6,500-square-metre extension. The new space is home to hippos, camels, sheep and exotic birds housed in enclosures similar to their natural habitats. Did you know the hippo is a ‘river horse’? The educative animal shows in the amphitheatre will teach that and more fun facts. Visit emiratesparkzoo.com.
The Al Basta market (below left) at Souq Al Shanasiyah in Heart of Sharjah – the restored area of the city – has been extended to March 31 with new weekend timings so you can explore the cultural souq’s Emirati handicrafts, traditional food and clothing and other stalls for longer: from 4-11pm on Friday and 9am-3pm on Saturday. The Sharjah Art Foundation is conducting a free waterfront tour tomorrow, from 2-7pm. You’ll get to stroll through the busy waterfront and Port Khalid, see how local fisherman sell their catch at Souq Al Jubail fish auction and meet fishermen and shopkeepers to learn their business jargon. The trip also includes a boat ride around the port and a food tasting featuring the day’s catch. Aged 15 and above, register at community@ sharjahart.org. Call 06 544 4133.