UAE events calendar: December 2013

DECEMBER 1

Head to Al Ain for the aerobatic show, until December 2. Tickets at ticketmaster.ae

BidiBondi Movember closing party, 1pm. Free of charge; registered Mo-bros and Mo-sisters get 20 per cent discount. Call 04-4270515.

DECEMBER 2

It’s the UAE’s 42nd National Day. For a full list of events, visit gulfnews.com/tabloid

DECEMBER 3

Check out Off The Rails, an art exhibition at The Galleria, Al Maryah Island, with works by Abu Dhabi artist Noor Al Suweidi. Until December 7.
Healing Art exhibition by Wilma Burton at Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan by Rotana Abu Dhabi, until December 4.

DECEMBER 4

Punchline Comedy Club, with Wayne Deakin, Dave Johns and Daniel Townes, at Danat Hotel Al Ain, 9pm. Tickets, Dh150, at urbanevents.ae. Also at Jumeirah Creekside Hotel on December 5 and Abu Dhabi Golf Club on December 6.

Watch Trashed, a documentary featuring actor Jeremy Irons, with The Scene Club, at Dubai Knowledge Village Conference Centre, 8pm. Tickets free but need to be booked at thesceneclub.com; collect by 7pm before an hour of networking with fellow film enthusiasts.

DECEMBER 5

Swiss Arabian’s Lamhe, a tribute to Indian music of the 1950s-70s, with a tribute to the late Manna Dey, at Crowne Plaza Dubai, 9pm. Tickets Dh350 and Dh250 (including buffet dinner); Dh150 and Dh100 seating is theatre style; call 04-3373724.

The Movenpick Jumeirah Beach lights its Christmas tree, with help from Santa. 7-8.30pm. In Abu Dhabi, the Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri will be lighting up and selling hampers for charity, from 7.30pm.

Dubai Drama Group presents Steven Berkoff’s stage adaptation of Franz Kafka’s Metamorphosis, at thejamjar, Al Quoz, 7:30pm.  Entry is by donation and seating is free. 

At the movies: Its Saving Santa, a computer-animated comedy film. Enough Said, a sharp, insightful comedy exploring the mess that comes with getting involved and Rambo Rajkumar directed by Prabhu Deva starring Shahid Kapoor and Sonakshi Sinha

Dubai Christmas Festival at Media City Amphitheatre (until December 7). Go to dubaichristmasfestival.com.

DECEMBER 6

Graffiti artist Ruben Sanchez will turn a blank wall in Safa Park into an Expo 2020-themed work of art (legally!). Watch him from 2-5pm at The Archive.

Red Bull Soundclash at Dubai International Marine Club from 8pm, with Wust Al Balad and Autostrad.

We Are 9, Cypress Hill headline Infusion’s celebration, at Atlantis, tickets Dh250 (advance) and Dh290 on the door.

Sharon Cuneta and KC Conception, at Dubai Wonderland, show at 9.30pm. Tickets Dh100-300, on 055-9979474.

Dubai International Film Festival (Diff) begins. For full schedule and ticket details, go to dubaifilmfest

DECEMBER 7

Documentary Voices, a non-profit film education initiative this year focuses on ‘Children and Cinema’, until December 14. Workshops and lectures at Total Arts (Courtyard) Gallery and AM Studio in Al Quoz; contact documentaryvoices.com

You Are Beautiful, an art exhibition and auction in aid of female education in Pakistan, featuring the works of 10 Pakistani artists, at The Designers Gallery, JLT, 6-9pm. Call 050-4216601.

Stollen charity cake sale, with chefs from the Kempinski Mall of the Emirates baking 600 metres of German Christmas fruit cake – using 2,210 eggs, 600 kilograms of flour, 278 kilograms of raisins and 55 kilograms of marzipan. Slices (Dh5), half cakes (Dh50) and full cakes (Dh100) will be sold for Dubai Centre for Special Needs, from 10am.

DECEMBER 8

South African comedian Barry Hilton at The Gramercy, DIFC (also December 9). Show at 9pm, Dh175 including a drink; Dh350 with a three-course dinner and a drink. Call 04-4377511.

DECEMBER 9

Check out u/c: under construction, an exhibition by British Artist Michael David Bosworth at Coral Beach Resort – Sharjah, until xxx.

DECEMBER 10

More Cafe book club looks at The Cuckoo’s Calling, by Robert Galbraith (aka J. K. Rowling), 6.30pm at DIFC. Group limited to 12 people, RSVP tobookclub@more.com.

DECEMBER 11

Women’s Exhibition until December 14 at Dubai World Trade Centre, featuring products and services for women, as well as fashion designs, beauty, health and the culinary art.

Gingerbread factory and lighting of the Christmas tree at Sheraton Abu Dhabi, 4-7pm, Dh135 per child, Dh95 for adults; call 02-6773333.

DECEMBER 12

Gucci’s House of Artisans at The Dubai Mall atrium until December 15, with craftspeople making the brand’s handbags (including the Bamboo, pictured), shoes, fine jewellery and silk scarves in front of customers. Archival pieces on loan from Florence’s Gucci Museo will also be on display.

Mother, Baby & Child show at Dubai International Exhibition Centre (until December 14) has a winter wonderland theme, with education and edutainment, food, cooking demonstrations and appearances by Star Wars storm troopers, Lala Loopy and Father Christmas. Tickets Dh65 (advance, giving priority entrance to see Father Christmas); Dh125 per person on the door. The Very Snowy Holiday theatre show for 3-7 year olds.

McGettigan’s brings Irish comedians PJ Gallagher & Dave McSavage to Almas Tower, JLT, show at 9pm, tickets Dh120 at McGettigan’s JLT and DWTC.

At the movies: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug brings together Benedict Cumberbatch, Orlando Bloom, Cate Blanchett Martin Freeman and Richard Armitage; For Kids there’s Tarzan, an animated motion capture, family film.

DECEMBER 13

The Prodigy, Calvin Harris play Creamfields Abu Dhabi, at du Arena, Yas Island. Tickets from Dh275. Go to thinkflash.ae

Susan Boyle performs a Christmas concert at Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi. Tickets from Dh250 at www.ticketmaster.ae.

Asha Bosle performs at Dubai World Trade Centre. Tickets, Dh100-2,000 (various categories) at 050-2254010.

Groove On The Grass festival with Ricardo Villalobos, at Emirates Golf Club, tickets Dh160 (early bird), at platinumlist.net, Dh250 on the door.

Sharmila Dance Gala, performances at 2.30pm and 7.30pm at DUCTAC. Tickets Dh155/200 at Virgin Megastore.

Jam Night at Maxx Music Bar & Grill, Citymax Hotels Al Barsha, with 25 jammers from 9.30pm. Takes place every second Friday of the month.

DECEMBER 14

It’s the last night of Diff, with the screening of American Hustle. The film’s star Christian Bale is rumoured to be on the red carpet. Stay tuned to @gulfnewstabloid for updates!

Eva Longoria hosts the Global Gift Gala at supperclub Dubai, Jumeriah Zabeel Saray. For tickets, write to

The Color Run [CQ], a 5k at Dubai Autodrome (entries are now closed).

Numaish winter show, a fashion exhibition at The Address Hotel Dubai Mall .

DECEMBER 15

DUCTAC’s Kids Christmas Art Camp, until December 19, for children aged 6-11, making festive decorations, drawing, painting, crafts and more. Daily 10am-1.30pm; five-day course Dh900. Call 04-3414777.

DECEMBER 16

Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony  in true festive style at the Al Raha Beach Hotel Lobby, 6pm-7pm  
                                          
Cabinet of Curiosities by Jaime Puebla, an exhibition of photographs shot in the UAE by Jaime Puebla at Gulf Photo Plus, Al Serkal Avenue.

DECEMBER 17

Middle East Film and Comic Con workshop, at The Magazine Shop, Media City. Entry free. RSVP on rsvp@mefcc.com.

DECEMBER 18

Visit the Souk Festive Market (from December17-27) at Madinat Jumeirah, open 3pm-midnight on weekdays; 1pm-midnight on weekends, with seasonal food and beverage snacks such as roasted chestnuts and gingerbread, a giant snow globe, an ice rink, Santa surfing, a reindeer rodeo, Santa’s grotto and the North Pole Train.

DECEMBER 19

Chicago Broadway Musical, the incredibly popular and famous Broadway musical is coming to Dubai World Trade Centre. Until January 3. Platinumlist.ae

At the movies: Bollywood’s Dhoom 3, starring Aamir Khan, Katrina Kaif and Abhishek Bachchan

DECEMBER 20

Beauty and the Beast, a family show by Barnyard Productions at Madinat Jumeirah,7pm. Tickets, Dh250-350, at madinattheatre.com. Shows also December 21-24 (11am and 3pm); December 26-28 (3pm and 7pm); December 29-30 (11am and 3pm); December 31 (3pm).

DECEMBER 21

Baby Bazaar, a monthly flea market for mums to sell pre-loved baby, toddler and maternity items (held on the third Saturday of the month), at Foutouh Al Khair Mall, 10am-2pm. Visit www.babybazaar.org or call 050-5532048.

DECEMBER 22

UAE Contrast of Time, an exhibition by established and upcoming photographers from the UAE Goodwill Photographers group, at Art Couture, Al Badia Golf Club, until January 7.

DECEMBER 23

BookMunch Cafe is bringing you glad tidings of good cheer with the best of Christmas fun and food, all children eating at BookMunch between will get a free gingerbread cookie with candy and frosting to decorate with. 

DECEMBER 24

Check out Lines and Colors an Arabic calligraphy exhibition with works by 10 Arab and Iranian artists, until December 25 at Pro Art Gallery, Palm Strip, Jumeirah Beach Road.

DECEMBER 25

Merry Christmas! For listings of Christmas Day, Christmas Eve and Boxing Day offers, check gulfnews.com/tabloid.

DECEMBER 26

High Impact Festival, at Meydan (also December 27) with performers from Africa and Asia. Headliners on 26 are P-Square, Mr. Vegas, Lira and Mafikizolo. Open to all ages; from 4pm-3am. Tickets, Dh299/545 at Virgin Megastores.
For table reservations, call 050-7486540.

At the movies: The Wolf of Wall Street based on the true story of Jordan Belfort, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, P.J. Byrne, and Jonah Hill.

DECEMBER 27

Filipino rock band Eraserheads perform at High Impact Festival, Meydan, tickets Dh259/399. highimpactfest.ae

DECEMBER 28

Nabil Nahas’ second solo exhibition at Lawrie Shabibi, presenting Fractals, his best-known series, and his Galactic paintings. Until January 9.

DECEMBER 29

El Moulid, a group exhibition by 15 Contemporary Egyptian artists exploring a unique cultural phenomenon at Gallery Ward

DECEMBER 30

Eyes Wide Open - An Afghan Journey, a photo exhibition by Pia Torelli at Alliance Francaise, Oud Metha, Dubai. Works will be for sale. Until December 31.

DECEMBER 31

It’s New Year’s Eve! Amid fireworks at Atlantis, Burj Khalifa and Emeli Sande and Pete Tong at Atlantis, there are a host of events taking place across the UAE. Check gulfnews.com/tabloid for updates.

Updated by Simi from HelpXpat

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