Things to do in the UAE this week, from Kevin Hart comedy tour to Bob Sinclar DJ night

There's plenty of variety across the UAE calendar this week — with events for foodies, sports enthusiasts and Broadway buffs alike.

This is The National's round-up of seven things to do over the next seven days, from February 20 to 26.

Monday

The annual food and beverage sourcing event, Gulfood, opens at the Dubai World Trade Centre on Monday.

More than 5,000 exhibitors are showcasing their products at the event, which runs until Friday. One of the key items on the agenda is Table Top, where renowned chefs are set to hold masterclasses and talks on sustainability and culinary fusions.

Chefs in attendance include Michelin-lauded Heinz Beck.

Visitor registration is required. More information is at gulfood.com

Tuesday

The WPT Modon Abu Dhabi Padel Master starts on Tuesday at Bab Al Nojoum, Hudayriyat Island in Abu Dhabi.

Global padel stars will descend upon the UAE capital to compete, while spectators can explore a fan village that includes family activities and food trucks.

The event is the first master tournament on the World Padel Tour's 2023 calendar. Padel athletes will be battling for a share of the €250,000 ($265,094) prize fund at the event, the highest amount ever awarded in a WPT tournament.

Tickets start at Dh50. More information is available at Abu-dhabi.platinumlist.net

Wednesday

Comedian Kevin Hart is performing at the Etihad Arena on Wednesday, bringing his Reality Check tour to Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

Hart, who was named Yas Island's chief island officer in a tourism campaign early last year, last performed in Abu Dhabi in 2016. The Jumanji: The Next Level actor has promised that “big things are coming”.

Tickets start at Dh439. More information is available at www.etihadarena.ae

Thursday

French record producer and DJ Bob Sinclar is performing at CouCou at Palm Jumeirah on Thursday.

Guests can expect to hear the artist's house hits, including World Hold On, Love Generation and Rock This Party (Everybody Dance Now). On the menu is an array of dishes such as burrata, truffle tuna with yuzu, guacamole and snails in garlic butter.

February 23; Dh2,000 minimum spend per person; dinner starts at 8pm, Sinclar to perform from 11.30pm onwards; The Palm Tower; 052 451 2188

Friday

Shrek The Musical is playing at Dubai Opera. Photo: Broadway Entertainment Group

Shrek The Musical, based on the Oscar-winning animated film, is playing at Dubai Opera.

The show had its premiere on Broadway in 2008 and was nominated for eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score, Best Actor and Best Actress in 2009.

Since its run on Broadway, it’s been performed on stages across countries including the UK, Ireland, France, Italy, Germany, Singapore, China and Thailand.

Tickets start at Dh275

Saturday

At the Dubai Festival Arena, personal development company Mindvalley, headed by Vishen Lakhiani, is hosting its first seminar in emirate.

The two-day affair includes sessions about conscious parenting, improving memory and starting a wellness journey. British therapist Marisa Peer, the founder of Rapid Transformational Therapy, is one of the speakers at the event.

Tickets start at Dh1,833. More information is available at mindvalley.com

Sunday

Artwork by Rana Begum, who is having a solo exhibit at Alserkal Art Week this year. Photo: Alserkal

Alserkal Art Week returns on Sunday with a full week of exhibitions and pop-up events.

Some of the highlights in this year's Art Week include a solo exhibit by Rana Begum, featuring the artist's exploration of light and colour. The week-long event will also bring back Slow Art Walks, a series where guests are invited to tour the venue's galleries with a focus on “feeling and mindfulness” through art, rather than “observation and understanding”.

More information is available on alserkal.online

Children who witnessed blood bath want to help others

Aged just 11, Khulood Al Najjar’s daughter, Nora, bravely attempted to fight off Philip Spence. Her finger was injured when she put her hand in between the claw hammer and her mother’s head.

As a vital witness, she was forced to relive the ordeal by police who needed to identify the attacker and ensure he was found guilty.

Now aged 16, Nora has decided she wants to dedicate her career to helping other victims of crime.

“It was very horrible for her. She saw her mum, dying, just next to her eyes. But now she just wants to go forward,” said Khulood, speaking about how her eldest daughter was dealing with the trauma of the incident five years ago. “She is saying, 'mama, I want to be a lawyer, I want to help people achieve justice'.”

Khulood’s youngest daughter, Fatima, was seven at the time of the attack and attempted to help paramedics responding to the incident.

“Now she wants to be a maxillofacial doctor,” Khulood said. “She said to me ‘it is because a maxillofacial doctor returned your face, mama’. Now she wants to help people see themselves in the mirror again.”

Khulood’s son, Saeed, was nine in 2014 and slept through the attack. While he did not witness the trauma, this made it more difficult for him to understand what had happened. He has ambitions to become an engineer.

The specs

Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo

Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm

Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm

Transmission: Eight-speed auto

Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km

On sale: December

Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)

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If you go

The flights

There are direct flights from Dubai to Sofia with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com) and Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), from Dh1,164 and Dh822 return including taxes, respectively.

The trip

Plovdiv is 150km from Sofia, with an hourly bus service taking around 2 hours and costing $16 (Dh58). The Rhodopes can be reached from Sofia in between 2-4hours.

The trip was organised by Bulguides (www.bulguides.com), which organises guided trips throughout Bulgaria. Guiding, accommodation, food and transfers from Plovdiv to the mountains and back costs around 170 USD for a four-day, three-night trip.

Key findings of Jenkins report

Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."