WEEKEND GUIDE
Find out what’s happening in the UAE this week.
It’s raining festivals this weekend and the next in Dubai, and you will be spoilt for choice - choose anything from literature and food to music and yoga classes. Tonight, catch 15-time Grammy Awardwinning singer/songwriter/producer Alicia Keys (top right) on the last day of the Dubai Jazz Fest. The Fallin’ singer is fresh from displaying her music talents after playing two pianos at once at the Grammys, so we’re sure she’s going to deliver an incredible performance at the 17th edition of the festival taking place at the Media City Amphitheatre. Tickets for Dh350 at dubai. platinumlist.net.
There’s more tunes in store for us. Dubai’s first-ever street music festival (right) is back for a second innings at JBR, and over a span of 10 days the rhythm’s gonna get you with more than 200 performances by 55 artists from over 20 countries. As part of 24 weeks of non-stop fun with the #WOWJBR campaign, until February 27, five open-air stages will host musicians and their traditional/unconventional instruments. On attendance will be the first Emirati rocker Hamood Bafoory; Ray, the 2012 beatbox champion of the UAE; and Walter Scalzone, a percussionist who includes a combination of unique visual effects to his act. International acts will include India’s first female bagpiper Archy J/The Snake Charmer, classical singer Josephine Shaw and sarod player Soumik Datta. The festival is free to attend.
Then there’s a firm favourite on the regional calendar, the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature (left). From March 1 to 9, whether you’re a kid or an adult, or a kid at heart, there’s something for you – from book signings with celebrated authors, to masterclasses, talks, panels, poetry nights under the stars, murder mystery dinners, workshops on everything from writing an unexpected end to your book to marketing your book on social media. The event sure packs one big literary punch. Book at tickets.emirateslitfest.com. Be a Foundation Friend, and you’ll get a 10 per cent discount plus various other benefits including lounge access. And until Monday, there’s also a great competition running! Solve a riddle for your chance to win one of five Golden Tickets to the festival – they will give you access to all sessions and special events, book signings without queuing up, and a chance to mingle with authors too - plus a Montegrappa rose gold plated pen with an 18k gold nib. You can also purchase one of three gold tickets for Dh20,000. Visit emirateslitfest.com/ festivaltreasure.
For foodies, the Dubai Food Fest is on. Galeries Lafayette Le Gourmet at City Walk is hosting a Street Food Fair, so you can sample eats from the streets worldwide with music and entertainment. It’s also a great venue to enjoy some alfresco eating with the family before the long summer arrives. Entry is free.
For more, head to the ever-popular swyp Beach Canteen at Jumeirah Beach, behind Sunset Mall, where you’ll get to sample various homegrown and international food concepts at a fun-packed family event filled with food trucks and pop-up shops – and meet celebrity chefs while you’re at it.
To burn all those calories and get your fitness fix, there’re free boot camp sessions and yoga classes every weekend until March 9 at Kite Beach.