Indoor activities are the order of the week as the mercury soars, with plenty planned for foodies, families and culture buffs.
Here, The National rounds up seven things to do around the Emirates, from May 6 to 12.
Monday, May 6
May ushers in peak mango season, and Indian eatery Dhaba Lane is celebrating the tropical fruit with a month-long festival of curated dishes.
Although typically eaten for dessert, mango is included in a number of savoury items at the restaurant, from dynamite prawn pakoda (Dh40) to chicken with green mangoes (Dh42). There is also aam rasna pani puri (Dh20), and mango kofta curry (Dh40). For desserts, sample crispy mango tres leches (Dh25).
Until mid-June; noon-3.30pm, 6.30pm-midnight; a la carte prices; various locations across Dubai
Tuesday, May 7
Rise and shine with a breakfast at The Pods on Bluewaters Island. The dome-bound dining spot was only open for lunch and dinner previously, but has now added an affordable breakfast menu for early risers.
Diners can opt for the breakfast platter (Dh49) that includes made-to-order eggs, hash browns, cherry tomatoes, baked beans, grilled mushrooms, veal sausage and smoked turkey bacon, served alongside unlimited tea and coffee. If this is not your jam, a la carte classics include a stack of pancakes (Dh29), shakshuka (Dh29) and more.
The pods are ideal for privacy, and diners can also listen to their own choice of music by connecting their phones to the built-in speakers.
Open daily, 8am-noon for breakfast; a la carte prices or Dh49; Bluewaters Island; 04 453 8994
Wednesday, May 8
Have a rubber ducky lying around the house? Take it with you to Kokoro and enjoy a free hand roll.
The social media-famous Japanese restaurant from Houston recently opened in Dubai. It bills itself as the UAE's first handroll bar, offering options such as avocado and spicy tuna. Rubber ducks are a prominent feature of the 44-seater venue, hence the gimmick.
Chefs Daniel Lee and Patrick Pham's menu is also inundated with fresh fish options with quintessential Japanese flavour profiles, including bluefin tuna with pickled cucumber; salmon with white ponzu; and scallop with orange.
Open Wednesday to Sunday, noon-10pm; a la carte prices; Al Quoz, Dubai
Thursday, May 9
Fans of Thor can head to Madame Tussauds Dubai as the pop culture museum unveils Chris Hemsworth’s wax figure.
On loan for a limited-time from Madame Tussauds Vienna, the Hemsworth’s figure wears a light blue linen suit, plus various rings and necklaces. It also features the Australian celebrity's famous “three-day beard”, as well as his tattoos. The figure joins the likes of Dwayne Johnson, Taylor Swift and Justin Timberlake in the A-list Zone, one of the six themed areas of Madame Tussauds Dubai.
Sunday to Thursday, noon-8pm; Saturday, 11am-9pm; from Dh150; Bluewaters Island, Dubai; madametussauds.com
Friday, May 10
Families in the capital can catch a reimagined performance of Swan Lake at The Arts Center, NYU Abu Dhabi.
Duck Pond transforms one of the most romantic dance pieces into a family-friendly affair, featuring the enchantment of the ballet and the thrill of the circus. The stage brims with colour and humour, but at its core, the show is a story about identity and finding one's true self.
Circus visionary Yaron Lifschitz is the mastermind of the show, while 10 members of the world-renowned Circa ensemble are taking to the stage.
May 10, 7.30pm; May 11 and 12, 3pm; from Dh52.50; NYU Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Marina District; nyuad-artscenter.org
Saturday, May 11
Belt out your favourite tunes at Chinese restaurant Xu, which has launched a lively karaoke brunch.
Tucked inside Kempinski Hotel, the dining spot will serve an array of Asian delights, including spicy cucumber, cherry wood Peking duck and wok-fried radish cake for appetisers. Guests can then choose one main course, with options such as sweet and sour chicken, steamed sea bream and vegetarian mapo tofu – all served with steamed rice and seasonal vegetables.
Saturdays; 1pm-5pm; from Dh295 per person; Kempinski Hotel, Mall of the Emirates; 04 394 6252
Sunday, May 12
Take the littles ones to see a new play being staged at Zabeel Theatre.
The Lion Inside is a heart-warming tale of confidence and self-esteem. It follows a mouse who is fed up of being ignored by other animals, and wishes he could roar like a lion. The story is based on the bestselling children's book of the same name by Rachel Bright and Jim Field.
May 11, 10am-noon, 2pm-4pm and 4.30pm-7.30pm; May 12, 10am-noon and 2pm-4pm; from Dh135; Zabeel Theatre, Jumeirah Zabeel Saray Hotel; dubai.platinumlist.net
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
THE DETAILS
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Dir: Ron Howard
Starring: Alden Ehrenreich, Emilia Clarke, Woody Harrelson
3/5
The Birkin bag is made by Hermès.
It is named after actress and singer Jane Birkin
Noone from Hermès will go on record to say how much a new Birkin costs, how long one would have to wait to get one, and how many bags are actually made each year.
MATCH INFO
Fixture: Thailand v UAE, Tuesday, 4pm (UAE)
TV: Abu Dhabi Sports
The view from The National
Results
3pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (Dirt) 1,000m; Winner: Dhafra, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer)
3.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Al Ajayib, Antonio Fresu, Eric Lemartinel
4pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m; Winner: Ashtr, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi, Majed Al Jahouri
4.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m; Winner: Falcon Claws, Szczepan Mazur, Doug Watson
5pm: Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan Cup – Prestige Handicap (PA) Dh100,000 (D) 1,700m; Winner: Al Mufham SB, Al Moatasem Al Balushi, Badar Al Hajri
5.30pm: Sharjah Marathon – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 2,700m; Winner: Asraa Min Al Talqa, Al Moatasem Al Balushi, Helal Al Alawi
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Going grey? A stylist's advice
If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”
RESULT
Bayer Leverkusen 2 Bayern Munich 4
Leverkusen: Alario (9'), Wirtz (89')
Bayern: Coman (27'), Goretzka (42'), Gnabry (45'), Lewandowski (66')
It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
The Vile
Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah
Director: Majid Al Ansari
Rating: 4/5
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
