Our condolences tothe Al Maktoum family on the passing of Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who died on Monday at 76. He was Deputy Chairman of Dubai Police and helped found Al Wasl Sports Club back in 1960.

Dubai is in official mourning until Wednesday, September 30 — flags at half-mast, Dubai Fountain paused with no reopening date, and live entertainment on hold. The K-Fest launch concerts got postponed, and Speedy Comics moved to October because of it. Everything else in the city carries on as normal, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and the other emirates aren't affected, so this week leans that way.

> Full Moon Astrophotography Workshop — Mirzam Chocolate, Al Quoz
Mirzam's teamed up with AlSadeem Astronomy for the Harvest Moon — think next-gen digital telescopes, a walkthrough of how to photograph the moon, and chocolate while you wait your turn. Four hours, it’s free, and you can register here. — Sat 26 Sept · 6–10pm

> Sharjah Safari — Al Dhaid
Reopened for its fifth season after 186 births this spring — a lot of what you'll see is small and still finding its legs. Bronze gets you a walking tour, Gold puts you in a vehicle through the savannah zones for hours. Go early, the afternoon heat…well, you know how it is. Daily 8:30am–6pm. Prices for adults and 3 to 12: Bronze AED 40/15, Silver AED 120/50, Gold AED 275/120 · under 3 free

> Pet Lovers' Gathering — Al Shamkha Square, Abu Dhabi
Free, dogs welcome, no registration needed. A nice low-stakes evening if you're up that way. — Fri 25–Sun 27 Sept · 5–9pm

> MINT Market Family Market — Zabeel House, The Greens
Free entry, dog-friendly, homegrown UAE brands, kids' activities. — Sun 27 Sept · 12-6pm

> Dubai Crocodile Park — Mushrif
Kids go free with a paying adult right through to October 31 — only at the counter, not online. — Daily 10am–8pm · AED 95/75

Six completely free spots across the country, all bring-your-own-everything: Al Qudra in Dubai (Best for Golden Hour) for classic dunes and easy sunsets, Wadi Shawka in RAK for mountains and awesome stargazing, Al Aqah Beach and Wadi Tayyibah in Fujairah for ocean-and-mountains or quiet palms, Al Mirfa in Abu Dhabi for the best coastal sunrise in the country, and Al Wathba Lake (Best for a Cookout) — 13 designated sites with built-in BBQs right on the water. One rule everywhere: leave zero trace, take your trash home with you.

While you're out that way, the lakes around Al Wathba and Al Ain are pretty underrated. Salt flats, up to 4,000 flamingos at the Wetland Reserve (no camping overnight), and Zakher Lake near Al Ain, which just got proper roads and winter camping facilities.

> Mister Baker Mums' Cake Class — Jumeirah
Mommy Moments frosting and decorating masterclass. Free, but RSVP first. Thu 24 Sept · 3–5pm

> Paddington Bear Afternoon Tea Party — JLT
A proper little tea party themed around the bear himself. Fri 25 Sept · 4:30–6:30pm · Paddington ECC, Cluster P

> Little Dahlings — Courtyard Playhouse
Interactive storytime where the audience helps shape the story as it goes — different every time. Sat 26 Sept · 11am

> TODA: Three Little Pigs
A 360° immersive digital experience. Sat 26 Sept · 10:30am. Theatre of Digital Art

> RC Cities Dubai — The Galleries, Meydan Avenue, Nad Al Sheba 1
You get a realistic mini construction site filled with actual desert sand where both adults and kids can drive hobby-grade scale machinery. Switch between mini excavators, bulldozers and RC 4x4s. Daily 10am–10pm · from AED 50/hour

> Wen Kids City — Dragon Mart
Budget-friendly indoor soft-play area in Dubai. About as cheap as unlimited play gets in this city, and parents get in free. — AED 30

> Very Hungry Caterpillar Drawing Competition
Ages 3–6, draw a plate of food the caterpillar would love, email to [email protected]. Winner gets 4 tickets to November's show. — Closes Oct 9

Dubai's K-Fest was meant to launch big this week, but the free K-pop concerts at Festival Bay fall inside the mourning period and have been postponed — no new date yet. But we still have to-dos that are definitely worth knowing: a free Dalgona Latte at Nespresso through October 4, Korean BBQ cups from AED 29 at Cupbop, a K-beauty pop-up at Al Ghurair Centre, and a K-Beauty Night at ROXY Dubai Hills on the 30th for AED 185 (Your ticket covers a Korean film screening alongside a gift bag filled with skincare goodies)

If you actually want the live stuff, Abu Dhabi's the move. The Korean Film Festival at Manarat Al Saadiyat runs free all weekend with booking (you have to pre-book here) — six films, a UAE National Orchestra performance opening Friday night, though one film (Exhuma) is a horror, so check before bringing younger kids. And K-Pop Fever hits Etihad Arena Saturday with twelve singers and dancers doing the big hits live, from AED 95.

> Little Fermenters — Tabchilli, Al Quoz
Parent and child, ages 7–12, make kimchi, sauerkraut, and fermented pickles together, then take home three jars and matching aprons. — Sun 27 Sept · 4–6pm, also Oct 11 & 25 · AED 400 for both

> Awayedna — Ma'an, Abu Dhabi
Hands-on Emirati heritage sessions: majlis etiquette, horse riding, desert skills. — Strictly for Ages 8–16 · register via @maanabudhabi

> SOPM Academy Auditions
They’re holding talent auditions for their elite Academy program. Looking for skilled singers, guitarists, pianists, and drummers ready to form real bands, record music, and perform on live stages. Ages 10+. DM @sopmdxb

This is one of my favourite places to take the kids, and if you plan the afternoon right, it kinda runs itself. A few ideas: Start at The Charm Bar — pick charms, make something small together, take it home. Then burn some energy at Strawberry Fields, which has a little play space plus a well-curated toy and book shop. When it's time to eat, Pekoe does coffee and something baked if you're keeping it light, or Middle Child if everyone's hungry. There are many other options, ofcourse. Then get hands-on at thejamjar — blank canvas, real paint, check their schedule before you go. Finish at Cinema Akil's Cinemini, which brings in animated and family films from around the world — a nice change from the usual multiplex run.

If your crowd skews older, and you don't mind a 20-minute drive down the road, Fightertown Simulators in DIP is worth the trip: full-motion flight simulators, fly a dogfight alongside two friends. It’s genuinely one of the more unusual outings you'll find for a teenager.

The Glass House at Quranic Park in Al Khawaneej is five dirhams and worth every one — a fully air-conditioned greenhouse of plants mentioned in the Quran, figs and olives and pomegranates, genuinely calm. And if reading's your thing, the Reading for Pleasure Caravan Conference is touring the country for free — Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain

Dubai Fountain — shows paused for the mourning period, no reopening date yet.

Etihad Rail's Dubai station opens Sept 30 — Al Yalayis, near Jumeirah Golf Estates, 57 minutes to Abu Dhabi, with a footbridge to the Metro. Sharjah's Al Dhaid station opens the same day, right next to the safari.

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque now charges entry — AED 5 for residents, AED 10 for tourists, still free for worshippers, 60+, and under-3s.

Guggenheim Abu Dhabi tickets are on sale for the December 11 opening, AED 70, free under 18.

Young Trader registration is open through school offices, closing October 15. Ages: all

Dad Club DXB has a busy few weeks — the Papa Series with Mamas & Papas this Saturday, golf on Oct 1, Dad & Kid Swim on Oct 3, Dad & Kid Kickboxing on Oct 4.

Dubai's reopening season starts in October: Motiongate on the 7th with Fright Nights alongside it, Dubai Miracle Garden on the 8th, and Global Village general sales opening on the 26th of this month. Also worth marking: K-POPz Live got an extra show added for Oct 2 after Saturday sold out, the Motor Show hits Al Qasba in Sharjah on Oct 3 with free entry, Speedy Comics “Come Play” lands its new date of Oct 10–11, and Cultural Foundation Abu Dhabi is bringing Anime Memories on Oct 17 — a live concert of music from One Piece, Naruto and Miyazaki films, performed by musicians from Tokyo. Further out, Sheikh Zayed Festival opens October 30 and runs to March.

That's your week. Do what makes you happy!

— Parves

Reply to this. I read everything.