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
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
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
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2025, Thailand
UAE fixtures
May 9, v Malaysia
May 10, v Qatar
May 13, v Malaysia
May 15, v Qatar
May 18 and 19, semi-finals
May 20, final
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Jigra
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
EXPATS
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Why your domicile status is important
Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.
Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born.
UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.
A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Who is Allegra Stratton?
- Previously worked at The Guardian, BBC’s Newsnight programme and ITV News
- Took up a public relations role for Chancellor Rishi Sunak in April 2020
- In October 2020 she was hired to lead No 10’s planned daily televised press briefings
- The idea was later scrapped and she was appointed spokeswoman for Cop26
- Ms Stratton, 41, is married to James Forsyth, the political editor of The Spectator
- She has strong connections to the Conservative establishment
- Mr Sunak served as best man at her 2011 wedding to Mr Forsyth
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
