The January hotlist: check out the month’s activities ranging from concerts, comedy nights and movie premieres to cookery classes and yoga gatherings

Kimberley French / Twentieth Century Fox

Courtesy The White Room Dubai

Courtesy The Fureys

Andrew Cooper / Weinstein Company via AP

Courtesy Saad Haroon

Getty Images

Courtesy DSF

Jeff Topping for The National

Stefan Hoederath / Redferns / Getty Images

Fox via Getty Images

Courtesy Reem Falaknaz / Gulf Photo Plus

January 6 Parisian touch at Bistro Des Arts

Check out Raclette Nights at the newly opened Bistro Des Arts on the Dubai Marina waterfront. The French bistro serves moreish melted cheese with select meats and freshly baked bread. Don’t forget to try the famous blueberry pie. Every Wednesday from 8pm to 10pm. Dh245, including unlimited select drinks. Call 04 551 1576; visit bistrodesarts.ae.

January 7 See Leonardo DiCaprio fight a bear

After suiting up in The Great Gatsby, Leonardo DiCaprio roughs it out in the man-versus-nature drama Revenant, directed by acclaimed Spanish director Alejandro Iñárritu. Could this be the film that finally nabs Leo that much-eluded Best Actor Oscar?

January 9 Get a free manicure with any facial at The White Room

Throughout the month, The White Room spa in Dubai is offering a free manicure with every facial that is booked. The extensive facial menu includes a number of treatments, such as the 60-minute energising and detoxifying Éclat Cocoon for Dh295; and the Le Grand Classique, which involves 90 minutes of skin purifying and complexion toning for Dh350. Available at any of The White Room branches in Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Marina Mall, or Motor City. For more information, visit www.whiteroomdubai.com.

January 14 Melodies and stories with The Fureys

Folk music forms part of Ireland's DNA and The Fureys are one of the nation's finest exports of the genre. Led by brothers Eddie and George Furey, the five-piece will serenade a crowd at Abu Dhabi's The Club with selections from their five-decade career. Tickets cost from Dh150 from www.timeouttickets.com

January 15 Quentin Tarantino's The Hateful Eight is unleashed

The uber-cool director’s latest Western rides into town this weekend. Features a star-studded cast including Tarantino regulars Samuel L Jackson, Kurt Russell, Michael Madeson and Tim Roth, not to mention the welcome big-screen return of Jennifer Jason Leigh.

January 16 Laugh at The Brown Party

Pakistani comedians Saad Haroon, Danish Ali and Salman Qureshi have found fame by recounting their memories of growing up in desi households, from mothers obsessed with feeding them to fathers who remain involved in their personal lives. The three stand-up guys will take the Ductac stage for a night of humorously familiar everyday scenarios. Haroon returns to the UAE after being named the World’s Second Funniest Man by the Laughter Factory USA. Ductac, Mall of the Emirates. 6pm. Tickets cost Dh125 from dubai.platinumlist.net.

January 20 Put on an apron and cook with chocolate

Learn how to prepare chocolate-infused dishes at the School of Culinary and Finishing Arts Dubai in Jumeirah Lakes Towers. Whip up a white-chocolate baba ganoush, cook strip loin with barbecue chocolate sauce and pommes Anna, and finish off with a delicious chocolate mousse. From 6.45pm to 9.30pm. Dh250 per person. To book a space, call 04 379 4044 or visit www.scafa.ae.

January 21 Visit Market OTB at Burj Park

Market OTB is back for its third season in Downtown Dubai to coincide with Dubai Shopping Festival. Housed at Burj Park, the 3-hectare island in Burj Lake at the Burj Khalifa, the fair offers a chance to spend a day outdoors and browse the booths and kiosks set up by local and international home-grown brands, snack on delicious food and participate in fun activities. Emerging artists will perform on stage. There will also be a library, spa, club, boot camp, games box and pop-up classes such as dancing and typography. The park is accessible by bridge from The Dubai Mall. Until January 30.

January 22 Celebrate wellness at YogaFest Middle East

Get your Zen on with a special session during YogaFest Middle East, a sustainable community event that brings together yoga instructors and students to support important causes. This first session will help raise funds for Dubai Foundation for Women and Children. Participants will go through two 60-minute yoga sessions of flow and yin yoga, followed by a 30-minute meditation session. All you need to bring is a mat, water and community spirit. Dubai Internet City Amphitheatre. Visit www.yogafest.me

January 28 Take a trip down memory lane with Simple Minds

The Scottish soft rockers return to the UAE after their last visit headlining the Lifestyle Festival in Dubai in 2002. To be honest, the set list hasn’t changed much, with the exception of a few tracks from a recent album. But with evergreen hits such as Don’t You (Forget About Me) and Promised You A Miracle bound to be played, they are sure to leave the crowd thrilled. At Dubai Tennis Stadium; tickets cost from Dh225 from platinumlist.ae.

January 28 The return of Mulder and Scully

Fans of The X Files, rejoice: a rebooted version of the sci-fi series, starring David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson, debuts at midnight (appropriately spooky, don't you think?) and will air every Thursday

January 31 Ras Al Khaimah – through the lens

Enjoy Emirati photographer Reem Falaknaz’s stunning insights into Ras Al Khaimah. The Place of Perpetual Undulation explores the northern emirate’s mountain villages, culture and people through a series of photographs. At Gulf Photo Plus, Dubai. Closes on January 31. Visit www.alserkalavenue.ae