Things to do in the UAE this week, including a date festival, SpongeBob and classic cinema

This week brings a diverse itinerary of events across the UAE – from family-friendly shows in Sharjah and a shot of culture in Abu Dhabi, to all things art and food in Dubai. Here, The National rounds up seven things to do in the Emirates, from July 24 to 30. Take the little ones to Sharjah's City Centre Al Zahia mall to see live performances of SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick, the characters from Nickelodeon’s beloved cartoon . Aside from the free daily stage shows, there are also meet-and-greet opportunities with the mascots, as well as an activity area with sea-themed games that require a minimum spend of Dh200 at the mall. Until Sunday, 2pm-10pm; City Centre Al Zahia, Sharjah; citycentrealzahia.com Catch a screening of the 1973 film Mean Streets by legendary director Martin Scorsese at Cinema Akil on Tuesday. The American crime drama is a semi-biographical tale of the first-generation sons and daughters of New York's Little Italy mafia. It follows Johnny Boy, played by Robert De Niro, as he struggles to repay his debts to a loan shark and taps a friend involved in criminal activities to bail him out. Tuesday, 9.15pm; Dh56.50; Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz, Dubai; cinemaakil.com Take a trip to Al Dhafra to attend the Liwa Date Festival, Abu Dhabi. The free-to-attend event welcomes dozens of vendors who showcase different varieties of dates. It is also the perfect place to learn more about the fruit's rich history and its significance in Emirati heritage. Aside from the pop-up market, there are competitions and other activities on site. Until Sunday, 4pm-10pm; Al Dhafra, Abu Dhabi; abudhabiculture.ae Head to the DIFC's ICD Brookfield Place for the free-to-enter All Eyes on Summer Moon exhibition, which features the vibrant and colourful work of Palestinian-American artist Lena Kassicieh. Art aside, the event also has summer-inspired games as well as food and beverage pop-up stalls by restaurants such as La Nina and Lulu and the Beanstalk on different days, with French restaurant Josette serving dishes on Thursday. Until August 10, from 6pm; the Dubai International Financial Centre; icdbrookfieldplace.com Attend a dim sum masterclass at The Noodle House in Dubai on Friday. The session, which is available for both children and adults, will teach participants how to fold and cook dumplings, from prawn siu mai to vegetable wontons. Everyone receives a free glass of iced tea while sampling their own creations. Children receive free refills of iced tea and a complimentary bento box. The offer is available at the City Walk and Jumeirah Beach Residence branches. Every Friday and Saturday until September 2, from noon; Dh130 for adults, Dh80 for children; City Walk ( 800 323 232) and Jumeirah Beach Residence (04 352 6615), Dubai The indoor concert series Beat the Heat, which is part of Dubai Summer Surprises, continues on Saturday with a performance by three regional artists. Performing on The Agenda's stage are Egyptian rapper Afroto, Tunisian singer Balti and Sudanese rapper Soulja. Saturday, from 7.30pm; tickets start at Dh160; Dubai Media City; dubai.platinumlist.net Head to Colnago on Al Hudayriyat Island, Abu Dhabi, for an interactive session on how to beat pre-diabetes. Farah Hillou, a functional dietitian, and Bhuvan Srinivasan, chief business officer of health tech company Ultrahuman, are going to tackle issues such as causes and preventions of the chronic disease, as well as the benefits of continuous glucose monitoring. Refreshments will be provided and there will be a 20-minute movement session led by trainer Zelmare Vijoen. Ticket holders are automatically entered into a draw to win health supplements and a month-long subscription to Ultrahuman's glucose monitoring technology. Sunday, 10am-11.30am; Dh80 per person; Al Hudayriyat Island; longevity.livehealthymag.com

Things to do in the UAE this week, including a date festival, SpongeBob and classic cinema

Martin Scorsese's Mean Streets is screening in Dubai and Abu Dhabi is hosting a health session about preventing diabetes