Five things to do today: Catch the exhibition Crossings: An African Arabian Dialogue and sign up for the 3rd Nasimi Watersports Festival

Plus, see works by the Uzbek artist Timur Ernst Akhmedov; attend a talk on the urban development of the Gulf; and order a special Valentine’s Day edition of GlamBox

Crossings: An African Arabian Dialogue is an exhibition of works by Raouf Rifai and Joel Mpah Dooh. Pictured, Between the Dream and The Memory by Dooh. Courtesy The Mojo Gallery

See the exhibition Crossings: An African Arabian Dialogue, with works by Raouf Rifai and Joel Mpah Dooh. The pieces explore Africa's relationship, influence and contribution to the global language of contemporary art. From 10am to 7pm, The Mojo Gallery, Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz, Dubai, 04 347 7388, www.themojogallery.com

Check out the exhibition by the Uzbek artist Timur Ernst Akhmedov, who showcases a variety of paintings including Hunters (pictured) and his masterpiece Northern Song – An Enchanting Forest Landscape. From 10am to 10pm, Avenue at Etihad Towers, Ras Al Akhdar, Abu Dhabi, 800 384 4238, www.etihadtowers.com

Sign up to take part in the 3rd Nasimi Watersports Festival, where kids and adults can participate in fun races, watch demos of stand up paddleboard, kayak and surfski, plus enjoy plenty of action for paddlers of all abilities. On February 22, from 11am to 6pm, free entry, Dh90 to register to compete, includes BBQ, Nasimi Beach, Dubai, 050 768 9226, [e-mail]

Attend the talk Technics and Politics of Urban Expertise: A Gulf Case Study. The assistant professor of anthropology at University of the Pacific, Ahmad Kanna, will discuss urban studies and knowledge production in the Gulf since the 1990s. From 6.30pm to 8pm, NYU Abu Dhabi downtown campus, Abu Dhabi, 02 628 4000, www.nyuad.nyu.edu

Order the Valentine's Day edition of GlamBox, which includes a red lipstick, a gold nail varnish, a smoky eye palette, a contour brush, lid and lash make-up remover and a facial scrub. Order by February 11 for delivery by February 14, Dh300, www.glambox.me

* Compiled by Ellen Fortini