Live comedy, exhibitions, the last weekend of the Liwa Sports Festival, plus ramen and fondue menus and a whole lot more

Thursday January 4

The Disaster Artist is in cinemas from today

Real life brothers James and Dave Franco play aspiring actors Tommy Wiseau and Greg Sestero, the bizarre brains behind what is arguably the worst film ever made, 2003’s The Room. A celebration of everything that is so bad it’s good, this quirky biopic lampoons the duo’s desperately misguided quest for fame. It makes for an uncomfortable and compulsive watch, like a “tag a mate and don’t say anything” meme on Instagram.

Check out an animation exhibition

Comic Craze showcases works from the UAE’s flourishing community of comic artists, such as Khalid Bin Hamad, whose sci-fi animation series Empire Of N uses the Japanese animated style of anime to reflect on the Emirati identity. It ends this weekend.
Until January 7
Manarat Al Saadiyat, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, free. Taxi: Manarat Al Saadiyat. Tel: (800) 555. abudhabievents.ae

Dunes will get bashed at the Liwa Sports Festival

Watch brave souls try to conquer the Tel Moreeb dune at the Liwa Sports Festival. The nine-day festival concludes this weekend but will feature drag races, camel races, bike races, motocross challenges and even host a classic cars competition in the Liwa Desert.
Until January 5
Moreeb Dune, Liwa, Al Gharbia, Abu Dhabi, timings vary. Tel: (050) 6668997. Taxi: Moreeb Dune, Liwa Desert. lsc.ae

Friday January 5

See comedian Jason Manford live

The British stand-up and TV show personality is a massive name back in the UK – and he is in the capital for one night.
Park Rotana, Khalifa Park, Abu Dhabi, 7pm, Dhs295 to Dhs350. Tel: (050) 8786728. Taxi: Park Rotana. thelaughterfactory.com

There’s an awesome photography exhibition on Saadiyat

Check out photos from the past ten years of the Emirates Photography Competition.
Until March 31
Manarat Al Saadiyat, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi. Tel: (800) 555. Taxi: Manarat Al Saadiyat. abudhabievents.ae

A new exhibition at The Louvre

The inaugural special exhibition at Louvre Abu Dhabi, From One Louvre To Another: Opening A Museum For Everyone, traces the history of Musée du Louvre in Paris and will run throughout the first quarter of 2018. It will feature approximately 145 significant paintings, sculptures, decorative arts and other pieces from the collections of Musée du Louvre and Château de Versailles.
Louvre Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi. Tel: (600) 565566. Taxi: Louvre Abu Dhabi. louvreabudhabi.ae

Learn all about the Trucial Scouts

This exhibition in Abu Dhabi’s garden city of Al Ain looks at the history of the region’s security force from the 1950s.
Until April 2018
Al Jahili Fort, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, free. Tel: (800) 555. Taxi: Al Jahili Fort. abudhabievents.ae

Winterfest at Ferrari World

The Yas Island themepark becomes a winter wonderland to celebrate Christmas, for the fifth year in a row. There’s snow slides for kids to try, plus an ice skating show called Fairytales On Ice featuring seven international performers. There’s also an elf school and kids can hang out with Bjorn the Polar Bear in a snowy play area.
Until January 6
Ferrari World, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, timings vary. Taxi: Ferrari World. Tel: (02) 4968000. ferrariworldabudhabi.com

Visit the Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival

Learn about the UAE’s founding father at this annual festival – expect spectacular parades, falconry shows and plenty more.
Until January 27
Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi, timings TBC. Tel: (800) 555. Taxi: Al Wathba, near the cycle track. abudhabievents.ae

Fondue time at Emirates Palace

BBQ Al Qasr, the alfresco-only restaurant at Emirates Palace, has created a new cheese and charcuterie menu for January. On it you’ll find classic French dishes such as raclette, fondue and tartiflette, along with a selection of meats from around the world.
Emirates Palace, Al Ras Al Akhdar, Abu Dhabi, daily 6.30pm to 11.30pm. Tel: (02) 6907999. Taxi: Emirates Palace. kempinski.com

Saturday January 6

Eat ramen at Tori No Su

Like big bowls of noodles? Japanese restaurant Tori No Su is starting 2018 with a ramen menu. On it you’ll find Kaizen miso ramen (prawn, scallop, calamari, fish cake, shiitake onion, carrot, nira, beansprout, spring onion, miso paste) and spicy beef ramen (sliced beef, chili miso, carrot, onion, beansprout, shiitake, nira, sesame seeds, corn).
Jumeirah At Etihad Towers, Ras Al Akhdar, Abu Dhabi, Sun to Thur noon to 3.30pm, 7pm to11.30pm, Fri and Sat 7pm to 11.30pm, Dhs70. Tel: (02) 8115666. Taxi: Etihad Towers. jumeirah.com

See In The Making at Warehouse 421

There’s something missing from Warehouse 421’s new exhibition – every object on display is incomplete, or only partly made. Think half-built computers, musical instruments and pieces of sports equipment. In The Making is in Abu Dhabi as part of the UK/UAE 2017 Year Of Collaboration, a series of events and exhibitions put on by both countries.
Until February 11
Warehouse 421, Mina Zayed, Abu Dhabi, timings and prices TBC. Taxi: Warehouse 421 next to COOP in Mina Zayed. warehouse421.ae

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