Top UAE food, fitness, film, art and music events in February

Courtesy Gulf Photo Plus

Arne Reinhardt

Courtesy Bride Dubai

Courtesy Real Food Festivals

Ethan Miller / Getty Images for iHeartMedia / AFP

Courtesy Glam Affaire

Courtesy XYoga

Photo by Joshua N. Timmermans

Courtesy Paramount Pictures

Courtesy Dubai Food Festival

There’s no excuse for claiming you are bored this month. From live music and comedy nights to food festivals and yoga gatherings, here is our team’s pick of the top events happening in February.

February 4-13: Sharjah Light Festival

The annual event returns for its sixth edition. Using three-dimensional lighting techniques, the festival features a series of cleverly executed moving visual displays projected onto some of the emirate’s landmark buildings. It is a brilliant display of technology and art.

• Entrance is free; visit www. sharjahlightfestival.com

February 5-12: Dubai Photo Week

Hosted by Gulf Photo Plus, one of the foremost photography galleries in the region, Dubai Photo Week is back for its 12th year. The week-long programme of workshops, seminars and events, led by experts in the fields, encourages the development of skills in a variety of photographic disciplines.

• For more information, visit www.gulfphotoplus.com

February 10-11 and February 28: Free concerts

Performing this month as part of New York University Abu Dhabi’s free inaugural arts season is the Aakash Odedra Company from the United Kingdom, which will perform the world premiere of new work, Murmur 2.0, on February 10 and February 11. Also among the most eclectic offerings this month is the Balkans brass ensemble Fanfare Ciocarlia, who arrive on February 28 in the middle of their 20th-anniversary celebrations. Both performances are at The NYUAD Arts Center, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi.

• For more information and to register for free tickets, visit www.nyuad-artscenter.org

February 10-13: Bride Dubai

Design your dream wedding with tips from the experts at Bride ­Dubai. Tickets are now on sale for the event, at Dubai’s World Trade Centre, which will feature more than 250 exhibitors, ­including Arabian jewellers, florists and designers. Must-see ­couturiers include Dubai-based Ezra Santos and Ayesha Depala. Wedding planners and travel agents will also be on hand to offer advice and hold workshops for those planning to tie the knot.

• Tickets are from Dh20. For more information, visit www.thebride­show.com/dubai

February 11-13: Love Food Festival

Abu Dhabi's inaugural Love Food Festival brings more than 19 food trucks from the UK and the UAE to serve up street food to the masses. In addition, there will be celebrity-chef demos, live music, a tea and cake area, children’s workshops, a food market, pop-up food vendors and more.

• Tickets are Dh30 online and Dh40 at the door. February 11-13 in Al Ain at Al Jahili Park; February 18-20 in Abu Dhabi at Mushrif Central Park. Visit www.lovefoodfestival.ae

February 11-12: RedFest DXB

With 12 acts performing over two days, RedFest DXB, at Dubai Media City Amphitheatre, is, arguably, the closest thing we have to a “proper” music festival. The teen-tastic bill stars Steve Aoki, Rita Ora, The Vamps, Dawin, Grace and Nathalie Saba on day one, followed by Adam Lambert, Fifth Harmony, Eva Simons, Redfoo, MistaJam and Trey Songz on day two.

• Tickets start from Dh400 daily. Visit www.redfestdxb.com

February 12: Radhika Vaz

New York-based comedian Radhika Vaz brings her one-woman show, Older. Angrier. Hairier, to Dubai Community Theatre & Arts Centre, Mall of the Emirates. She focuses her wit on the challenges of ageing in a culture that worships youth, her ­decision not to have children and the stress that accompanied this choice, and her constant struggle to overcome her obsession with ­housework.

• For tickets, visit www.ductac.org

February 19-20: XYoga Dubai

Strike a pose at this inaugural yoga event, which will be held in the shadow of Burj Khalifa in Downtown Dubai’s Burj Park area. The health and wellness festival, focused on “360° holistic living”, is being staged to promote Dubai as a leading regional yoga hub. Classes will be available to yogis of all ages and experience. There will also be live entertainment, plus stalls selling yoga apparel and healthy food. Sessions run from sunrise to sunset daily.

• For more information, visit www.xyogadubai.com

February 24-26: Dubai Jazz Festival

Now in its record-breaking 14th year, the decidedly ­grown-up ­Dubai Jazz Festival returns to the Dubai Media City ­Amphi­theatre for another three-night run. Day one will bring American pop band Toto, Britpop survivors James plus kooky YouTube ­cover sensation Postmodern Jukebox. On day two, Sting returns for his second year running, alongside smooth jazz performer Chris ­Botti, with support from David Gray. The event culminates with Latin-rock legend Carlos Santana, plus lively percussion ­ensemble La Bomba de Tiempo on the final day.

• Daily tickets start from Dh325 on www.ticketmaster.ae

February 25: Zoolander 2

Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson return for more ­outrageous fun in this long-awaited sequel to 2001's Zoolander. Male model Derek Zoolander (Stiller) and his buddy, ­Hansel ­McDonald (Wilson), must infiltrate the world of high ­fashion to find an assassin who is systematically ­eliminating the world's most beautiful celebrities. Bonus: Benedict Cumberbatch makes a show-stopping cameo.

• Zoolander 2 is scheduled to release on Thursday, February 25, in cinemas across the UAE

February 25 Dubai Food Festival

Grab your forks, because the Dubai Food Festival begins with Eat the World DXB in Burj Park, a celebration of street food featuring more than a dozen food trucks and local vendors. Then there’s the popular The Beach canteen – featuring stalls from 15 home-grown restaurants – which serves as the festival’s hub. Another highlight is the debut Restaurant Week, a 10-day event that offers the chance to dine in 30 upscale restaurants serving three-course set menus for only Dh189 per person. The festival ends with the annual Taste of Dubai festival from March 10-12 at Dubai Media City.

• For information and updates, visit dubaifoodfestival.com