If you’re wondering what to do this week, you’re in the right place. We’re serving up everything from chocolate-making workshops to mangrove kayaking, obstacle races to candlelight concerts. And the weather!!! Perfect. We're talking 20-25°C during the day, crisp mornings around 13-14°C. This is peak Dubai winter, people.

Quick heads—up, though: January 10-22 is our coldest stretch (locals call it Dur Al Sittin), so pack a jumper for the evenings. And enjoy the amazing mornings.

Global Village is still going strong with the Wonderers' Kids Fest running through February 15. It's included with your regular Global Village entry, open daily 4-10 PM for kids aged 3-12. Interactive games, educational stuff, and yes, those Global Village mascots your kids will want photos with. More details here.

If your kids are the obstacle-course type, Spartan Middle East is back at Dubai Parks & Resorts on Saturday, January 24. They've got Sprint 5K (20 obstacles), Super 10K (25 obstacles), and Kids races for ages 4-14. More than 6,000 people showed up last year, so this is the real deal.

For the golfers (or golf-adjacent families), the Dubai Desert Classic runs January 22-25 at Emirates Golf Club. Cool? No? Whatever, it's still a nice excuse to grab breakfast at the club if you're in the area.

Quoz Arts Festival is happening January 24-25 at Alserkal Avenue—live music, art exhibitions, dance shows, the works. And if your kids are bookworms, Emirates LitFest (January 21-27) at the InterContinental brings authors, storytelling sessions, and workshops.

Want to make chocolate from scratch? Mirzam in Al Quoz has three killer workshops. The "Make Your Own Dubai Chocolate" session (AED 245, 90 minutes) lets you toast kataifi, grind pistachios, and craft your own viral pistachio kunafa chocolate bar. You take home 2 bars. Kids 6+ can participate, but those 6-10 need adult supervision. There's also the classic "Chocolate Factory Tour & Moulding Workshop" (AED 110, 90-120 minutes) where you tour the bean-to-bar process and mold 3 chocolate bars with your choice of toppings. Kids aged 4+ can participate. Book at Mirzam's website.

If you're looking to escape the city without actually leaving the city, here are your moves:

Sustainable City's Animal Sanctuary is free, open to all, and genuinely lovely. Feed donkeys, goats, chickens, ducks, peacocks, and giant tortoises. Bring your own veggies (coriander, lettuce, carrots, frozen peas—not for you, but for the animals). There's a Bee Garden with 100,000 honey bees, a dog park, kids' karting area, and horse riding at the Equestrian Club. Food trucks on site for coffee and snacks.

Hatta horse riding is calling your name. Hatta Horses at Wadi Hub runs guided rides through mountain trails, trees, and lakes—you'll spot Arabian oryx and gazelles if you're lucky. Various ride durations are available, and suitable for all levels. Contact them at +97150 5991482. Timings: 6:30-10 AM and 3-7 PM. Check it out.

And if Abu Dhabi's on your radar this week, Jubail Mangrove Park (AED 15 adults, AED 10 kids, free under 7) is stunning. 2km boardwalk through mangroves, kayaking from AED 89 (sunrise/sunset/night glow tours), electric dragon boat rides, bird watching (88 species including flamingos). Open 7 AM-9 PM daily. Best visited at high tide (1-3 PM). Note: closed Sunday, January 26, 7-11 AM for Jubail Island Run.

These concerts have been selling out, so book early. On Friday, January 16, catch "Best of 2000s Bollywood" (6:30 PM) or "Tribute to A.R. Rahman" (9 PM) at Madinat Jumeirah, from AED 150. If you're feeling fancy, January 23 brings Queen and Fairuz tributes at Burj Al Arab's Al Falak Ballroom—from AED 700, champagne included, dress code applies. Full lineup here.

Camping season is in full swing but new rules are here: no camping in wadis or flood-prone areas, mandatory permits for long-term stays (3-6 months), and fines up to AED 30,000 for waste dumping. Popular spots include Al Qudra Lakes, Hatta Campsite (from AED 99), Liwa Oasis, and Jebel Hafeet Desert Park. Short weekend trips don't need permits. Full camping guide.

Winter hikes are peak right now (best season: November-March). Family-friendly trails include Wadi Shawka (1 hour from Dubai, beginner-friendly), Al Rabi Mountain (1.5 hours, moderate), Jebel Jais (multiple trails), and Mushrif Park (easy, AED 10 entry fee). Advice: bring 3 liters of water per person, wear sunscreen, and start early morning or late afternoon. Trail details.

A few things changed in January that you should know about:

School timings shifted: Private schools now finish by 11:30 AM on Fridays (started January 9) because Friday prayers moved to 12:45 PM. Details here.

Plastic ban expanded: As of January 1, single-use plastic plates, cutlery, beverage cups and lids are banned. Switch to approved alternatives or face fines.

Sugar tax went tiered: Instead of a flat 50% tax on all sugary drinks, it's now based on actual sugar content. Might see some price changes at the supermarket.

DXB's Red Carpet service is expanding to arriving passengers at Terminal 3—biometric passport-free entry for eligible travelers. The airport's getting faster.

That's it. Get out there. Make some chocolate. Feed some donkeys. Kayak through mangroves. Dubai's giving you the perfect weather and a ridiculous number of options this week—don't waste it scrolling.

Stay cool (literally),
Parves