Dubai Diary: Where to go and what to do this weekend?
We are so spoilt for choice this weekend that it will be difficult to decide what to pen down in your schedules.
The final weekend of the Skywards Dubai International Jazz Festival will sound off with a big bang with Jason Mraz and James Morrison still to perform; meanwhile the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships and the Jazz Cup between cricketing nations England and Pakistan also beckons.
Didn’t we say it would be difficult to decide? Here’s the skinny anyways. Have fun.
Thursday, February 23
Skywards Dubai International Jazz Festival 2012
It is the final weekend for Skywards Dubai International Jazz Festival, so aficionados need to make haste before the last of the tickets are snapped up in a buying frenzy, especially since lead acts that are set to perform include Jason Mraz and James Morrison.
Thursday will see Mraz headlining the event, which is being held at the Festival Park, Al Badia Festival City, Dubai, alongside Toca Rivera, from 10.30pm until midnight.
But that’s not all; the evening entertainment kicks off at 7pm for the hour-long performance by Sandi Thorn, followed by Spyro Gyra taking to the stage at 8.30pm.
Come Friday and the fabulous James Morrison will take to the stage at 10.30pm, who will be supported by earlier performances by Dirty Robbers at 7pm and Brett Dennen at 8.30pm.
Tickets are priced at Dh995, Dh595, Dh395 and Dh295 for each day. Children under 12 years enter free.
Organised by Chillout Productions, call: 04 391 1196
Jazz Cup: Pakistan vs England
Cricket has never been more exciting as Pakistan takes on England at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Sports City in what promises to be a nail-biting T20 match.
Tickets are fast selling out, so make haste if you want to catch all the action. Prices start at Dh30 and go up to Dh250. Children under two years enter free.
Doors for this evening match open 6pm, with the game starting at 8pm.
Those who can’t make it for the Thursday match can also head down on Saturday to catch the last of the T20 matches between the two cricketing nations. Call: 04 425 1111
Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships 2012 (Women's Day 4)
Sporting fans have been eagerly waiting for the most coveted event of the year, with the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships having commenced at the Dubai Tennis Stadium.
Catch eight of the world’s top 10 women’s players and seven of the top 10 men’s players to centre court where they will vie for the title and a share of the $4 million total prize purse.
Held under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the 2012 line-up of stars is shaping up to be as strong as previous years, and one where some of the world’s best will take on the up and coming stars, all of whom are focused on claiming both valuable ranking points.
Fans can expect to enjoy special 20th anniversary celebrations as the championships will look back on past stars achievements as well as exciting action on the court with extra seating on Court One for ticket holders to catch the extra games.
Dubai Duty Free will continue to run the increasingly popular Ladies’ Day activities, special children tennis clinics, as well as a variety of family-fun and entertainment over the two-week event.
Tickets cost Dh150, with matches starting at 2pm and 7pm.
Friday, February 24
Punch-A-Tantra: The five cool mantras
For the first time in UAE, Maayavi Dance Drama Concept, the makers of “Piya Bawari” present “Punch-A-Tantra: The 5 Cool Mantras.”
The stage show is a new age interpretation of five old fables, which have delighted many a child as a perfect bedtime story.
With enchanting music, stunning visuals and endearing performances by 55 enthusiastic Maayavis (as the kids are affectionately referred to), this dance drama production will showcase five stories with five moral values with a twist, styled uniquely to create a magical theatrical experience.
Being held at the Sheikh Rashid Auditorium, Indian High School, tickets are priced at Dh75 and Dh100. Call: 050 104 6140
Saturday, February 25
The Tiger Who Came To Tea
Possibly taking a page out of the recent events that saw a 4WD cruising down Jumeirah Beach Residence with a tiger hanging out the window, this children’s play is just as entertaining.
The doorbell rings just as Sophie and her mummy are sitting down to tea. Who could it possibly be?
What they certainly don’t expect to see at the door is a big, stripy tiger.
The tea-guzzling tiger is back on the road in this delightful family show, packed with oodles of magic, sing-a-long songs and clumsy chaos.
David Wood OBE is undisputedly England’s leading writer and director of plays and musicals for children.
His many successes include “Shaun The Sheep”, “Fantastic Mr Fox”, “The Gingerbread Man”, “BFG” and many more.
Today is the last day to catch this theatrical production, which is open for children three years and up at the First Group Theatre, Souk Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai.
Tickets are priced at Dh130 and Dh135. Call: 800 4669