The Smash Room opened its first branch in Abu Dhabi this month. Chris Whiteoak / The National
The Smash Room opened its first branch in Abu Dhabi this month. Chris Whiteoak / The National
The Smash Room opened its first branch in Abu Dhabi this month. Chris Whiteoak / The National
The Smash Room opened its first branch in Abu Dhabi this month. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Things to do in the UAE this week, from The Smash Room to laughing out loud at live comedy


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Plenty of new venues have opened in the UAE – from Boom Battle Bar in Dubai, to The Smash Room in Abu Dhabi – giving residents more options for a fun day or night out with friends and family.

Here, The National rounds up seven things to do in the Emirates from July 17 to 23.

Monday

Popular Dubai venue The Smash Room has opened its first branch in Abu Dhabi. Head to Nahil Building on Al Rawdah Street, near Zayed Sports City, to beat the Monday blues, quite literally.

The venue is known for giving guests the cathartic experience of destroying furniture and appliances such as washing machines and television sets. The Abu Dhabi branch also has a cafe and a dedicated zone for arcade games.

Open daily 12.30pm-11pm; from Dh69; Al Rawdah Street, Abu Dhabi; thesmashroom.com

Tuesday

Axe-throwing at Boom Battle Bar. Victor Besa / The National
Axe-throwing at Boom Battle Bar. Victor Besa / The National

Head to Boom Battle Bar at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Dubai – Jumeirah Beach on Tuesday.

The entertainment venue, which is an outpost of the famed UK spot, offers activities such as augmented reality darts, mini golf and karaoke, as well as an axe-throwing facility. Each activity has individual packages (for example, 30 minutes of axe-throwing for up to eight people costs Dh215) and guests can order from an a la carte menu of finger foods.

Open Mon-Fri 4pm-1am; Sat-Sun 4pm-2am; prices vary; Jumeirah Beach Residence, Dubai; boombattlebar.com

Wednesday

Head to Al Ain Convention Centre for the city's first summer sports festival.

Several courts are available to book in the air-conditioned Al Khabisi Hall 1, including two for football, two for padel tennis and five for badminton.

Open daily until August 20; 10am-10pm; from Dh50; Al Jimi, Al Ain; adsummersports.ae

Thursday

Take the children for a free Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles performance at The Galleria Al Maryah Island
Take the children for a free Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles performance at The Galleria Al Maryah Island

Catch Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo and Raphael in action as The Galleria Al Maryah Island mall in Abu Dhabi offers three daily live performances of Nickelodeon's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles this month.

The mall has also created Green Extreme, an activity zone themed around the comic book franchise. This can be accessed upon spending a minimum of Dh200 at Central Kitchens on the third level of the mall.

Daily until July 23 (live show) and July 30 (Green Extreme); 1pm-9pm; free (show) and Dh200 (activity zone); Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi; thegalleria.ae

Friday

Comedians Adam Bloom, Michael Fabbri and Red Richardson are taking to the stage of Movenpick Hotel Jumeirah Beach in Dubai for The Laughter Factory's Leave Your Worries Outside tour.

Bloom is known for his high-energy acts, while Fabbri shows off his observational style of humour. Richardson quips cheeky one-liners.

Friday from 8.30pm; Dh160; Jumeirah Beach Residence; ticketslover.com

Saturday

Head to Sound Stage 3 in Dubai Studio City for two exhilarating boxing matches.

The venue has been transformed into a ring where two pairs of boxers will go head to head. The first fight is between Jazza Dickens from Liverpool and Hector Andres Sosa from Argentina, who is defending his International Boxing Organisation world featherweight title.

The match will be followed by a round between Muhammad Waseem from Pakistan and Filipino boxer Donnie Nietes for the IBO bantamweight world title.

Saturday from 4.30pm; from Dh75; Dubai Studio City; dubai.platinumlist.net

Sunday

The Time Out Market in Souk Al Bahar, Dubai, is hosting a Sip & Paint event on Sunday.

Leading the activity will be artists Rakhi Sawalani and Marina Roussou from the Desert Art Collective. Guests will be able to paint while enjoying drinks of their choice.

A ticket to the session includes three drinks from a set list, while participants can also order bites from the food hall's 17 restaurants.

Sunday 4pm-6.30pm; Dh199 per person; Downtown Dubai; reservationsdxb@timeoutmarket.com

Company profile

Name: GiftBag.ae

Based: Dubai

Founded: 2011

Number of employees: 4

Sector: E-commerce

Funding: Self-funded to date

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

Freezer tips

  • Always make sure food is completely cool before freezing.
  • If you’re cooking in large batches, divide into either family-sized or individual portions to freeze.
  • Ensure the food is well wrapped in foil or cling film. Even better, store in fully sealable, labelled containers or zip-lock freezer bags.
  • The easiest and safest way to defrost items such as the stews and sauces mentioned is to do so in the fridge for several hours or overnight.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
 
Started: 2021
 
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
 
Based: Tunisia 
 
Sector: Water technology 
 
Number of staff: 22 
 
Investment raised: $4 million 
The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre, twin-turbocharged V8

Transmission: nine-speed automatic

Power: 630bhp

Torque: 900Nm

Price: Dh810,000

The candidates

Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive

Ali Azeem, business leader

Tony Booth, professor of education

Lord Browne, former BP chief executive

Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist

Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist

Dr Mark Mann, scientist

Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner

Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister

Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster

 

Explainer: Tanween Design Programme

Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.

The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.

It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.

The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.

Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”

'Ashkal'
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Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

THE BIO

Occupation: Specialised chief medical laboratory technologist

Age: 78

Favourite destination: Always Al Ain “Dar Al Zain”

Hobbies: his work  - “ the thing which I am most passionate for and which occupied all my time in the morning and evening from 1963 to 2019”

Other hobbies: football

Favorite football club: Al Ain Sports Club

 

Updated: July 17, 2023, 5:11 AM`