Things are slowing down some as the summer makes itself known. Pop culture buffs can make a beeline for exhibitions and comedy shows, while adrenalin-seekers can sign up for a race in Ski Dubai or one last outdoor camp in Ras Al Khaimah.
Here, The National rounds up seven things to do around the Emirates, from May 13 to 19.
Monday, May 13
May 13 marks International Hummus Day, and there's no shortage of places in the UAE where the creamy concoction can be sampled – from traditional recipes to modern creations.
One to try in Dubai is the traditional hummus with pine nuts served at Bait Maryam restaurant in Jumeirah Lake Towers (JLT), headed by award-winning Palestinian-Jordanian chef Salam Dakkak.
Those in Abu Dhabi can head to Lebanese restaurant Alya, which serves a trio of hummus, one of which contains pulled brisket and is simply outstanding.
Cooking enthusiasts can follow this recipe shared with The National by chef Solemann Haddad, of Michelin-starred Moonrise fame, complete with shishito peppers.
Tuesday, May 14
Fans of Netflix show Bridgerton can restock their lotions and potions as Lush launches limited edition products inspired by the show.
The collection includes a perfume formulated with romantic florals, with hints of mint, sage and rosemary (Dh225); a dual-aroma bath bomb with cocoa butter (Dh50); a body wash with sweet lemon rose (Dh175); and a body lotion with vanilla, cocoa butter and fresh meadowsweet (Dh110).
Available until supplies last on the Lush mobile application and Lush.com, as well as Lush stores across the UAE.
Wednesday, May 15
If you're looking to pick up a new skill, a mixology masterclass might hit the mark. Expert mixologists at H Hotel are hosting daily classes for people who want to hone their mocktail and cocktail-making skills, using a variety of flavourful ingredients, including non-alcoholic spirits from Lyre's.
Participants will also be treated to canapes during the hour-long class.
Daily, 3.30pm-6.30pm; from Dh140 per person; Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai; hhoteldubai.com
Thursday, May 16
May 16 is the last day to register for the fifth DXB Snow Run, taking place on May 19 at Ski Dubai. Held in partnership with Dubai Sports Council, the city's “coolest run” is open to participants aged 13 to 70, and has individual and group categories.
The slopes of Ski Dubai, complete with its in -4⁰C climes, will be converted into loops measuring 3km and 5km. Prizes yet to be revealed will be kept aside for the winners, but every participant will get a shirt, sling bag and commemorative medal.
Registration closes May 16; race on May 19; from Dh95; from 6am; Mall of the Emirates, Dubai; www.premieronline.com
Friday, May 17
Catch an exhibition by Italian artist Paolo Troilo at The Foundry in Dubai. The show, called Unzipme, showcases Trolio's hyper-realist figurative paintings crafted entirely using his fingers. It marks his debut in the Middle East, having previously showcased in major cities such as New York, London and Istanbul.
The exhibition is all about open-mindedness. In the nine tapestries on display, Troilo uses unusual materials, including denim and zippers.
Until May 24; 10am-10pm; free to attend; Downtown Dubai; 04 367 3696
Saturday, May 18
Head to Ras Al Khaimah for a wilderness staycation at Bear Grylls Explorers Camp, which is due to close its facility on May 25 before it gets unbearably hot.
Overnight stays in one of the camp's 16 en-suite cabins are currently discounted, available to book from Monday to Sunday. A cabin can accommodate up to three people. Guests can choose from one of four outdoor activities offered on site, including high ropes course, hiking, archery and air rifle shooting.
A barbecue package costs an additional Dh150, with a menu featuring classic grills, from shish tawook to corn on the cob.
Until May 25; Dh325 per night on weekdays, Dh525 per night on weekends; Jebel Jais, Ras Al Khaimah; www.beargryllscamp.ae
Sunday, May 19
Head to Theatre of Digital Art in Dubai for a deep dive into the life of famous artist Frida Kahlo.
From her turbulent marriage to her unapologetic artistic expression, Viva La Frida is a tribute to the Mexican painter's personal and professional journey – via vivid projections and sound design.
“We believe Frida Kahlo's story, as both a woman and an artist, was remarkably ahead of its time and continues to be profoundly relevant today,” says Toda managing director, Daria Prodaevich.
Until May 31; 10am-11pm; from Dh110; Souk Madinat, Jumeirah, Dubai; toda.ae
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Where to buy art books in the UAE
There are a number of speciality art bookshops in the UAE.
In Dubai, The Lighthouse at Dubai Design District has a wonderfully curated selection of art and design books. Alserkal Avenue runs a pop-up shop at their A4 space, and host the art-book fair Fully Booked during Art Week in March. The Third Line, also in Alserkal Avenue, has a strong book-publishing arm and sells copies at its gallery. Kinokuniya, at Dubai Mall, has some good offerings within its broad selection, and you never know what you will find at the House of Prose in Jumeirah. Finally, all of Gulf Photo Plus’s photo books are available for sale at their show.
In Abu Dhabi, Louvre Abu Dhabi has a beautiful selection of catalogues and art books, and Magrudy’s – across the Emirates, but particularly at their NYU Abu Dhabi site – has a great selection in art, fiction and cultural theory.
In Sharjah, the Sharjah Art Museum sells catalogues and art books at its museum shop, and the Sharjah Art Foundation has a bookshop that offers reads on art, theory and cultural history.
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
The Transfiguration
Director: Michael O’Shea
Starring: Eric Ruffin, Chloe Levine
Three stars
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Huroob Ezterari
Director: Ahmed Moussa
Starring: Ahmed El Sakka, Amir Karara, Ghada Adel and Moustafa Mohammed
Three stars
How much sugar is in chocolate Easter eggs?
- The 169g Crunchie egg has 15.9g of sugar per 25g serving, working out at around 107g of sugar per egg
- The 190g Maltesers Teasers egg contains 58g of sugar per 100g for the egg and 19.6g of sugar in each of the two Teasers bars that come with it
- The 188g Smarties egg has 113g of sugar per egg and 22.8g in the tube of Smarties it contains
- The Milky Bar white chocolate Egg Hunt Pack contains eight eggs at 7.7g of sugar per egg
- The Cadbury Creme Egg contains 26g of sugar per 40g egg
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg
Real Madrid (2) v Bayern Munich (1)
Where: Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
When: 10.45pm, Tuesday
Watch Live: beIN Sports HD
ZAYED SUSTAINABILITY PRIZE
Match info
Athletic Bilbao 0
Real Madrid 1 (Ramos 73' pen)
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Poacher
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Ballon d’Or shortlists
Men
Sadio Mane (Senegal/Liverpool), Sergio Aguero (Aregentina/Manchester City), Frenkie de Jong (Netherlans/Barcelona), Hugo Lloris (France/Tottenham), Dusan Tadic (Serbia/Ajax), Kylian Mbappe (France/PSG), Trent Alexander-Arnold (England/Liverpool), Donny van de Beek (Netherlands/Ajax), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon/Arsenal), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Germany/Barcelona), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Juventus), Alisson (Brazil/Liverpool), Matthijs de Ligt (Netherlands/Juventus), Karim Benzema (France/Real Madrid), Georginio Wijnaldum (Netherlands/Liverpool), Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands/Liverpool), Bernardo Silva (Portugal/Manchester City), Son Heung-min (South Korea/Tottenham), Robert Lewandowski (Poland/Bayern Munich), Roberto Firmino (Brazil/Liverpool), Lionel Messi (Argentina/Barcelona), Riyad Mahrez (Algeria/Manchester City), Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium/Manchester City), Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal/Napoli), Antoine Griezmann (France/Barcelona), Mohamed Salah (Egypt/Liverpool), Eden Hazard (BEL/Real Madrid), Marquinhos (Brazil/Paris-SG), Raheem Sterling (Eengland/Manchester City), Joao Félix(Portugal/Atletico Madrid)
Women
Sam Kerr (Austria/Chelsea), Ellen White (England/Manchester City), Nilla Fischer (Sweden/Linkopings), Amandine Henry (France/Lyon), Lucy Bronze(England/Lyon), Alex Morgan (USA/Orlando Pride), Vivianne Miedema (Netherlands/Arsenal), Dzsenifer Marozsan (Germany/Lyon), Pernille Harder (Denmark/Wolfsburg), Sarah Bouhaddi (France/Lyon), Megan Rapinoe (USA/Reign FC), Lieke Martens (Netherlands/Barcelona), Sari van Veenendal (Netherlands/Atletico Madrid), Wendie Renard (France/Lyon), Rose Lavelle(USA/Washington Spirit), Marta (Brazil/Orlando Pride), Ada Hegerberg (Norway/Lyon), Kosovare Asllani (Sweden/CD Tacon), Sofia Jakobsson (Sweden/CD Tacon), Tobin Heath (USA/Portland Thorns)
In numbers
1,000 tonnes of waste collected daily:
- 800 tonnes converted into alternative fuel
- 150 tonnes to landfill
- 50 tonnes sold as scrap metal
800 tonnes of RDF replaces 500 tonnes of coal
Two conveyor lines treat more than 350,000 tonnes of waste per year
25 staff on site
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Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters
The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.
Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.
A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.
The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.
The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.
Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.
Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment
But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.
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Wednesday's results
Finland 3-0 Armenia
Faroes Islands 1-0 Malta
Sweden 1-1 Spain
Gibraltar 2-3 Georgia
Romania 1-1 Norway
Greece 2-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Liechtenstein 0-5 Italy
Switzerland 2-0 Rep of Ireland
Israel 3-1 Latvia
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SHAITTAN
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Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae