Enjoy an opulent meal at the pan-Indian restaurant Spice Mela's Kings and Queens Nights. The royalty-inspired dishes include lamb nehari shorba with nutmeg, cumin and yogurt, and shahi tukra, an exquisite bread pudding. From Dh295, Spice Mela, Rosewood Abu Dhabi, www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/abudhabi, 02 813 5550
See The Salon Group Show, which includes paintings, works on paper and photographs as well as small-scale sculptures that reflect the repertoire of young and mid-career artists working in the region or in the Middle Eastern diaspora. From 10am to 7pm, Saturdays to Thursdays (closed Fridays), The Third Line, Al Quoz, Dubai, 04 341 1367, www.thethirdline.com
Take the kids to the Alwan Children's Centre, where they can enjoy painting, cooking, accessory making, dancing and storytelling. Open Sundays to Thursdays, 7am to 9pm, Dubai Ladies Club, Dubai, 04 349 9922, www.alwan4kids.com
Sign up the kids, ages 8-13, for the Open Minds Artist Programme, to explore how creative expression can be used to communicate an idea through a work of art. January 25, 10am to 1pm, free, but children should bring a snack and water. Maraya Art Centre, Al Qasba, Block E, Maraya Community, Sharjah, rsvp@maraya.ae, 06 556 6555
Take the youngsters to The Archive for a seed-planting event by Goumbook, a regional green directory, as part of the Give a Ghaf campaign, where they can learn about the importance of the ghaf, the UAE's national tree, and its role in Emirati culture. For children ages 5-10. From 4.30pm to 5.30pm, Dh25, The Archive, Gate 5, Safa Park, Dubai, contact@goumbook.com
