Top 10: Visit Winterfest at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, enjoy the Little Elf's Village at Dubai Marina Mall, and more

Your essential guide to what's happening in the Emirates

Winterfest is on at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi and features an ice-skating show, Fairytales on Ice. Ferrari World Abu Dhabi
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Abu Dhabi

Family fun

Ferrari World Abu Dhabi presents Winterfest, a festive tradition inspired by Ferrari, which features the Fairytales on Ice skating show, Bjorn the polar bear and a snow-play area, an interactive elf school for children, a candy-cane hunt and more for the whole family to enjoy. Take advantage of the special offer that gives visitors unlimited park access throughout the Winterfest period with the purchase of a bronze ticket.

Runs until January 6, from 10am to 10pm daily until Sunday; and from 10am to 8pm from January 1 to January 6, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, www.ferrariworldabudhabi.com

Dubai

Festive fun

Dubai Marina Mall presents the Little Elf’s Village with fun activities in a ­winter-wonderland setting. Visit the mushroom elf house, toy factory, giant leaf swing, wishing well, playground and more for the whole family to enjoy.

Daily until Sunday, 11am to 8pm, free entry, Dubai Marina Mall, Dubai, 04 436 1020, www.dubaimarinamall.com

Families will enjoy the Little Elf's Village at Dubai Marina Mall.
Families will enjoy the Little Elf's Village at Dubai Marina Mall.

Abu Dhabi

Fitness venue

Run the 884 steps of the National Stadium at Zayed Sports City at TrainZSC presented by Daman ActiveLife. The weekly vertical training sessions are a great workout that starts with a warm-up, ends with a cool-down and includes an optional fitness challenge at each quadrant focusing on arms and core. There will also be a bouncy castle for the little ones to enjoy, and free BMI screenings.

Mondays, 6pm to 9pm, free with registration, ages 12+, National Stadium, Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi, register at trainzsc.com

Abu Dhabi

Exhibition

See the exhibition Inventing Downtown: Artist-Run Galleries in New York City, 1952-1965, which examines the New York art scene, from the abstract expressionism in the 1950s to the pop-art and minimalism of the 1960s. The establishment of artist-run galleries led other artists to acquire spaces that shaped the creation and exhibition of their art. See more than 200 works by more than 50 artists including installation and performance art.

Daily until January 13, noon to 8pm (closed Sundays), NYUAD Art Gallery, NYU Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, www.nyuad-artgallery.org

Abu Dhabi

Kids’ camp

Register your children for the ZSC Kids Holiday Camp, which offers a full day of activities, beginning with free play from 8am, and activities starting at 9am including football, tennis, basketball, painting, bowling, obstacle course and group games. The camp runs weekly and is open on New Year’s Day.

Runs until January 11, 8am to 5.30pm, Dh1,000 per child per week, Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi, 02 403 4222, www.zsc.ae

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Abu Dhabi

Performances

Abu Dhabi Festival has a wide programme of events scheduled for February and March, and early-bird discount pricing until the end of the month makes gifting tickets a great option this holiday season. Find something for everyone among the performances, talks, workshops and exhibitions that will take place throughout the event.

Offer valid until December 31, various prices, Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi, www.800tickets.com/abudhabifestival

Dubai

Festive fun

Catch the final day of the festive activities at The Beach, opposite JBR. Little ones can enjoy multiple games, crafts and gingerbread art. See street entertainment from a winter-themed parade, and winter wonderland characters will interact with children. An ice-skating rink is available at the venue for all ages.

Today, 3pm to 11pm, free entry; skating rink is Dh15 for 20 minutes, The Beach, opposite JBR, Dubai, www.facebook.com/thebeachdubai

Dubai

New Year’s Day

Book tickets for the first New Year’s Day concert at Dubai Opera and enjoy a programme of classics performed by the 50-piece London Concert orchestra with soloists Ilona Domnich and Jesus Leon. Hear Nessun Dorma, Die Fledermaus Overture, and more.

January 1, 4pm, from Dh200, Dubai Opera, Downtown Dubai, www.dubaiopera.com

Dubai

Exhibition

See The Good Soil, a film essay by Michael John Whelan in which he investigates the relationship between the natural world and temporality. Whelan uses three different perspectives, symbolising the past, present and future, to tell the story of places such as the Svalbard Global Seed Vault and a 5,500-year-old Yew tree in Wales.

Daily until Saturday, 11am to 7pm, Saturdays to Thursdays (closed Fridays), Grey Noise, Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz, Dubai, 04 379 0764, www.greynoise.org

Dubai

Comedy

Get tickets to see comedian Jason Manford as he launches his Muddle Class tour in Dubai on New Year’s Eve. The comedian returns to Dubai with a gig in which he explores life growing up working class, then discovering that part of him became middle class, causing much confusion. Then ring in the new year with DJ Gail playing top hits, plus a 360-­degree view of the fireworks. Additional shows will take place in Ras Al Khaimah and Abu Dhabi.

December 31, doors open at 7pm, show starts at 8.30pm, from Dh195, Al Thuray Ballroom, Grand Millennium Barsha Heights, Dubai; January 4, DoubleTree by Hilton Resort & Spa, Marjan Island, Ras Al Khaimah; January 5, Ballroom, Park Rotana, Abu Dhabi, www.thelaughterfactory.com

Book tickets to see comedian Jason Manford in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Ras Al Khaimah. The Laughter Factory
Book tickets to see comedian Jason Manford in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Ras Al Khaimah. The Laughter Factory