Friends, this week’s newsletter is slightly longer. It’s a good thing.

So I’m going to avoid the pleasantries and get right into it.

Let’s go.

Kayan Wellness Festival is happening this weekend (Feb 6-8) on Fahid Island in Abu Dhabi, and if you're into that whole mind-body-soul thing, this is basically the Super Bowl of wellness in the region. Gary Brecka's there. Steven Bartlett (Diary of a CEO guy) is there. Bear Grylls is doing something about resilience. It's not just yoga mats and green juice — they've got biohacking, ice baths, breathwork, sound healing, live music, and a Longevity Hub that's like stepping into the future. Full-day passes start around AED 275; kids under 12 are free. And honestly, the speaker lineup alone is worth it if you're curious about what all these people are on about when they talk about "optimization" and "longevity."

Taste of Dubai is back at Dubai Media City Amphitheatre Feb 6-8, and if you've never been, picture this: 16 restaurants all in one place, celebrity chefs doing demos, and kids under 12 eat free. Gino D'Acampo's there, Matt Preston's there, early bird tickets are AED 75. It's one of those things where you can actually try food from places you've been meaning to check out without committing to a full dinner reservation. Works great if you've got picky eaters.

Ramadan Souq at Grand Souq Deira is running through Feb 15, and this one's special. It's the fourth year they've been doing it, but it still feels authentic—not like the tourist-trap version. You've got traditional Hag Al Laila vendors (the kids' celebration that happens mid-Ramadan), folk performances, kids workshops, cultural storytelling, all of it free. Open 10am-10pm daily. It takes place at Old Municipality Street Square in the Grand Souq area of Deira — one of Dubai’s historic markets.

RAK Arts Festival at Al Jazeera Al Hamra Heritage Village runs through Feb 8. This is the UAE's last intact pearl-diving village, and it's been turned into a Contemporary Art Biennale featuring 106 artists from 49 countries. The theme is "Civilizations," which sounds heavy but is approachable — there are kids' passport-stamp stations, light-painting workshops, calligraphy sessions, and guided heritage tours. All free. And of course, Al Jazeera Al Hamra is just stunning on its own — it has an abandoned-village vibe, with turquoise water and crumbling coral houses. Worth the drive.

ADQ Community Carnival at Khalifa Park runs through Feb 8 (AED 10 tickets), and it's way bigger than it sounds. 17 companies set up interactive zones: rollerblading, inflatables, an open-air cinema, and food trucks. Fri-Sat 4:30pm-11pm, Sun-Thu 4:30pm-10pm. It's a government initiative, but genuinely fun for kids.

Burj2Burj Half Marathon is happening Saturday Feb 8 at 6:30am (SOLD OUT for runners, but you can still watch). If you've got kids who are into running or you just want to show them what 21km of determination looks like, the route goes from Jumeirah Emirates Towers through iconic Dubai landmarks. There's a whole expo at Coca-Cola Arena Feb 5-7 with family activities, wellness vendors, live entertainment. Free to attend the expo.

Animenia Abu Dhabi is Feb 11-15 at Manarat Al Saadiyat. If your kids are into anime (or if you secretly are), this is a full-scale "Neo-Tokyo" experience with recreations of scenes from Bleach, Dan Da Dan, Spy×Family, Gintama. They're doing an AED 400k cosplay competition (world's largest prize pool apparently), J-Pop performances, Tokyo street food, and gaming zones. Tickets from AED 95 onward.

Haribo Happy World opened in November at Dubai Festival City, and it's exactly what it sounds like — interactive exhibits, a themed café with Haribo-inspired snacks, and a massive retail section. If you've got young kids who are candy-obsessed and you haven't been yet, it's worth checking out.

Jebel Jais reopened Jan 31 after the December rains, and there are new rules: you need either a confirmed booking (zipline, 1484 by Puro restaurant, etc.) OR a Viewing Deck ticket (AED 10). The zipline's back, Jais Sky Tour opens Feb 7, and the drive up alone is worth it for the views. Temperatures at the peak are around 10-15°C right now, so bring layers.

Al Ain Flower Festival runs through Feb 16 at Al Sarooj Park (Free, 4pm-10pm daily). If you haven't done this yet, it's one of those things that photographs really well and is actually nice to walk through with the family. Over 1.5 million flowers, sculptures, illuminated installations. Evening visits are best.

Al Wathba Salt Lake is about 40-45 minutes from central Abu Dhabi, and if you've been seeing those turquoise water + white salt formations photos on Instagram, this is where they're from. It's not a "thing to do" so much as a "place to see" — there are no facilities, it's just nature being absurdly photogenic. Best visited Nov-March, early morning or late afternoon.

Buhais Geology Park in Sharjah (about 50km from the city) is fascinating. It's built into the landscape — five interconnected pods that look like fossils — and inside you learn about how this entire region was underwater 93 million years ago. There's an outdoor trail with real ophiolite boulders, ancient tombs, and a viewing deck. And yes, there's a coffee shop (KAW-FEE) with good specialty coffee and mountain views. AED 10.50 for adults, free for kids under 12.

Mazaara Farm in Al Bahya, Abu Dhabi (UAE's first certified organic farm since 2007) — kids can feed buffalo, horses, cows, sheep, harvest vegetables, and there's a farm café. Open 8am-8pm daily. Entry includes complimentary popcorn/juice.

Shuweihat Island is about 290km west of Abu Dhabi (2.5 hour drive). It's a traditional fishing village with beach cottages, dramatic cliffs, and volcanic-looking rock formations. There are NO facilities, so pack everything. If you want that "undiscovered UAE" feeling, this is it. Best for camping or day trips Oct-April.

Cinema — Savages opens Feb 5 at VOX. It's a stop-motion animated film from the director of "My Life as a Zucchini," set in Borneo and about a girl who rescues a baby orangutan and fights deforestation. Environmental themes, kid-friendly, but has some weight. If that’s not your thing there’s Curly Burly…

New Play Areas — TipTop is Dubai's newest soft play area with slides, climbing activities, arts & crafts (slime, canvas painting, bear painting), plus an outdoor zone for parents to actually sit. Gogo Village, close to Al Barsha, has climbing walls, ranger slides, trampolines, a toddler zone, and gardening activities if your kids are into that sort of thing. Oktopus Park by We Play has different zones for different ages — octopus play for toddlers, tech-interactive stuff for older kids, creative play areas. Worth checking out if the usual spots are played out.

Things Parents Are Talking About — Spain just announced they're banning social media for kids under 16, and it's sparking the conversation here too. Not a policy thing yet, but worth thinking about if you're navigating screens with your kids. Also, KG1/FS2 admission rules for Dubai schools — if your child turns 4 between July and November 2026, they're eligible for KG1 in September 2026. The cut-off date matters, especially if you're planning school transitions.

Big Bad Wolf Book Sale — Feb 26-March 8 at Sound Stages, Dubai Studio City. Books from AED 2, over 2 million titles, runs 10am-midnight daily. If you're a book family, this is the one. FREE entry.

This week's got range. You've got wellness if you're into that, food if you're hungry, culture if you want depth, nature if you want air, and books if you're willing to wait two weeks. The RAK Arts Festival and the Ramadan Souq both end Feb 8, so those are time-sensitive. Everything else you can catch throughout the week.

As always, check websites for any last-minute changes. Dubai weather is perfect right now (18-24°C), so anything outdoors is prime.

Talk soon,

Parves