Your daily guide to community and cultural activities across the Emirates for December 19, 2016, including performances, festivals, art exhibitions, film screenings, health and fitness events, talks, classes, workshops and family fun.
Abu Dhabi
Film screenings
Catch two film screenings as part of the Cinema Space series. The Patience Stone (pictured), a film in Dari (Afhgan Persion) with English subtitles, is about a young woman in a country torn apart by war who looks after her comatose older husband and begins to tell him the truth about her life and suffering – things she never could have said if he were conscious. When I Saw You by Annemarie Jacir, is about a young Palestinian boy in a refugee camp in Jordan in 1967 who yearns to be reunited with his father, so he sets out alone to find him and meets up with a group of freedom fighters who take him under their wing. The film is in Arabic with English subtitles.
Today, 7pm for The Patience Stone; 9pm for When I Saw You, free with registration, Manarat Al Saadiyat, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, register at cinemaspace-abudhabi.splashthat.com
Abu Dhabi
Concert
Get tickets for performance the Vienna State Opera Gala Evening. As part of the Abu Dhabi Classics series, the musical ensemble associated with the history of European classical music will perform Mozart's masterpiece, Don Giovanni, through which the composer portrays each character's emotional state through music in both tragic and comedic sides of the story.
February 8, 7pm, from Dh100, Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi, www.abudhabiclassics.ae
Nationwide
New movie
The Emirati documentary Little Sparta is about the history of the region, focusing on the UAE. The title comes from a statement made by a high-ranking official of the international coalition, who referred to the UAE as Little Sparta, symbolising the country's courageous armed forces in the fight against ISIL. Emirati writer and director Mansour Al Yabhooni Al Dhaheri presents the history of the region using cutting edge cinematic methods. The film is in English.
Screening at cinemas across the UAE. (PG)
Abu Dhabi
Art exhibition
See the exhibition Realism: Two Angels, which features works by Crimean artists – and husband and wife – Katerina Spirtus and Andrey Dudchenko, who base their expression in realism, though interpreted in different ways, both iconographically and stylistically. Pictured: Crazy Tea Party by Katerina Spirtus
Daily until January 10, 10am-10pm, Saturdays to Thursdays (closed Fridays), N2N Gallery, first floor, Nation Towers Galleria, Corniche, Abu Dhabi, 055 283 2642, www.n2n-gallery.com
Al Ain
Family fun
Take a spin at Al Ain Raceway this holiday season and enjoy a 25 per cent discount on Arrive & Drive sessions. Bring family and friends and make a day of it. Each session includes a full safety briefing, race gear and 15 minutes of track time.
Offer valid until Saturday, 2pm to 10pm, Monday to Friday; 10am to 6pm on Saturday, Al Ain Raceway, Al Ain, 03 768 6662 www.alainraceway.com
Dubai
Art exhibition
Rituals of Love is an exhibition by Syrian artist Waddah Al Sayed featuring 25 paintings that transport the viewer to the artist's symbolist world of poetry and sweet reverie featuring suave colours and delicate shapes. Pictured: Naheel
Daily until January 10, 10am to 7pm, Sundays to Thursdays; 10.30am to 4.30pm on Saturdays (closed Fridays), Lamiatos Gallery, Podium Level P153, Emirates Financial Towers, DIFC, Dubai, 04 342 5243, www.lamiatosgallery.com
Dubai
Art exhibition
See images of Hollywood actress Elizabeth Taylor captured by the renowned photographer and friend of Taylor, Firooz Zahedi, during the movie star’s visit to Iran in 1976. The collection is unique in that it portrays a worldwide celebrity through the lens of a trusted friend, and the images have seldom been displayed in public. Pictured: An untitled image
Daily until March 1, 10am to 8pm, Sundays to Thursdays (closed Fridays and Saturdays), The Farjam Foundation, Building 4, DIFC Gate Village, Dubai, 04 323 0303, www.farjamcollection.org
Dubai
Concert
Get tickets for the Emirates Airline Dubai Jazz Festival 2017. Performing on the opening night is Tom Jones (pictured, What's New, Pussycat?, It's Not Unusual); the second night features Mariah Carey (Vision of Love, Always Be My Baby); and on the final night Enrique Iglesias (Hero, Bailando) will perform.
February 22 to 24, from Dh275, Dubai Media City Amphitheatre, Dubai, www.ticketmaster.ae
Dubai
Outdoor films
Enjoy a film screening at the outdoor movie theatre presented by Vox Cinemas at Galleria Mall. See Hollywood blockbusters in a relaxing, open-air atmosphere, where each ticket includes drinks, popcorn, cookies and nachos or a hot dog. Today see The Secret Life of Pets at 6pm and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story at 8.10pm or 11pm.
From Dh150, Galleria Mall, Al Wasl Road, Dubai, book at 600 599905, www.voxcinemas.com
Dubai
Fitness
Get pumped this holiday at The Beach Gym, a fully equipped outdoor gym by the sea with a variety of equipment for all sorts of full-body workouts, including CrossFit items, weights, rope climb, kettlebells, rowing machines and jump boxes, as well as group cycling classes and personal training sessions.
Open 6am to midnight, weekdays; 6am to 11pm, weekends, Dh60 daily entry fee, The Beach, JBR, Dubai, 04 323 2323, www.thebeach.ae