Top 10: Celebrate the fourth birthday of The Galleria on Al Maryah Island, catch the final days of Dance in the Dark at Ayyam Gallery

Your essential guide to what's happening in the Emirates

Enjoy celebrations for the 4th birthday of The Galleria on Al Maryah Island, with roaming performers, kids' activities, cake and more. The Galleria

Abu Dhabi

Family festival

Celebrate the fourth birthday of The Galleria this weekend with activities that include roaming performers, children’s arts and crafts, balloon twisters and more. The first 40 guests that pass the concierge desk and wish The Galleria “Happy Fourth Birthday” will be given a gift bag, while the first 400 people will receive a piece of cake courtesy of Gossip Cafe and Desserts.

Daily until Sunday, with a cake-cutting and balloon drop on Sunday at 7.30pm, The Galleria, Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi, www.thegalleria.ae

Abu Dhabi

Bicycling event

Make plans to join the Cyacle Bikeshare Pedal It Out event with friends and family. Learn about the bike-hire programme and get a promo code for a week’s free Eid membership with every sign-up on the Cyacle app. There is also the chance to win prizes.

September 2, 5pm to 7pm, free, Cyacle Bikeshare, Nation Riviera Station, Corniche, Abu Dhabi, www.bikeshare.ae

A Cyacle rider bikes along the Corniche in Abu Dhabi. Courtesy Cyacle

Abu Dhabi

Family fun

Visit Bawabat Al Sharq Mall for a variety of back to school activities, including an Angry Birds activation zone with games and family crafts. Enjoy mask-making, doll-making, clay-modelling and hat-making, and watch the Angry Birds film. On weekends children can also meet the film's feathered stars – Red, Chuck and Bomb – while families can enjoy Angry Birds-themed photo booths.

Mall open daily 10am to 10pm, weekdays; 10am to 1am on weekends, activities run until September 11, 5pm to 10pm, Bawabat Al Sharq, Abu Dhabi, www.bawabatalsharqmall.ae

Nationwide

New movie

In The Hitman's Bodyguard, Michael Bryce (Ryan Reynolds), the world's top bodyguard gets a new client, hitman Darius Kincaid (Samuel L Jackson) who is also his enemy. Kincaid has to testify at the International Court of Justice and the two must put their differences aside to travel to The Hague. But they must fight to make it to the trial alive, and on time. Action, also starring Salma Hayek and Gary Oldman.

Screening at cinemas across the UAE (15+)

Abu Dhabi

Art exhibition

Catch the final days of Emirati Adornment: Tangible & Intangible, and explore representations of Emirati identity through modes of adornment. These are the both tangible, such as garments, jewellery and weapons, and intangible, such as the use of henna, kohl and fragrance. The exhibition is the latest iteration of the Lest We Forget project.

Daily until Sunday, 10am to 8pm, Warehouse421, Mina Zayed, Abu Dhabi, www.warehouse421.ae

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Read more:

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Dubai

Art exhibition

Catch the final week of Dance in the Dark by Iranian calligrapher Mohammad Bozorgi, whose painting and silk-screen compositions transform Arabic text into fluid forms. Pictured: Our Souls

Daily until Wednesday, 10am to 8pm; noon to 8pm on Saturday (closed Friday), Ayyam Gallery, Gate Village Building 3, DIFC, Dubai, 04 439 2395, www.ayyamgallery.com

See the exhibition Dance in the Dark at Ayyam Gallery, featuring works by Mohammad Bozorgi including Our Souls (detail, pictured). Courtesy Ayyam Gallery

Dubai

Performance

Get tickets now for Fiesta de los Muertos, a Halloween-themed music festival at the Autism Rocks Arena in Dubai. Gorillaz will headline the event. The British virtual band consists of four animated members, with hits including Feel Good Inc, Dare and Clint Eastwood. Also performing are American pop star Nick Jonas (Jealous, Chains), Lebanese-Canadian R&B singer Massari (Done Da Da, Be Easy) and Mexican band The Mariachis performing pop and rock standards, mariachi-style.

October 27, from Dh350, Autism Rocks Arena, Dubai, www.platinumlist.net

Dubai

Film screening

Catch a screening of the film The Transfiguration (2016) as part of the Diff365@Vox series. Milo (Eric Ruffin) is a troubled 14-year-old orphan who lives with his older brother in Queens. He tries to hide his fascination of vampire lore but when he meets his alienated neighbour Sophie (Chloe Levine), they form a bond that challenges his obsession, and blurs fantasy and reality. The film is directed by Michael O'Shea.

Opens today, and runs daily until September 6, tickets from Dh45, Cinema 9, Vox Cinemas, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai, voxcinemas.com

Dubai

Kids’ camp

Register your children ages 3 to 13 for the final week of the Gulf Star Summer Camp, where they can take part in a variety of activities, including sports, team games, arts and crafts, drama, dance and martial arts.

Daily until August 31, 9am to 2.30pm, Sundays to Thursdays, from Dh800 per week, Foremarke School, Dovecote Green Primary School, Jebel Ali School, Hartland International School, Clarion School and Repton School, Dubai, 050 429 4860, [e-mail]

Dubai

Eid offer

Book your spot at Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa for its Eid Al Adha celebration. There are a variety of options through which to enjoy the holiday including a one-man show at the Al Sarab Rooftop Lounge and live entertainment and Middle Eastern cuisine at the Al Hadheerah desert tent. Al Forsan restaurant offers an upgraded lunch buffet while children will enjoy the Aladdin’s Kids Club activities, with balloon-twisting, face-painting, arts and crafts, films and more. There will also be camel rides and you can have your picture taken with a falcon from 5.30pm.

September 1 to 3, various timings and prices, Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa, Dubai, 04 809 6194, [e-mail]