Welcome to all the new Gangstas!

UAE exits OPEC after 60 years. Sounds good...I think. But you know what sounds better? A boatload of events for you and the kids this week before everything shuts down for summer.

Let’s jump right in.

IF YOU DO NOTHING ELSE THIS WEEK:

1. Global Village — Through Sunday, May 10. Starting at AED 25. FREE under 3, seniors 65+, people of determination. This is it. The final week of Season 30 before it closes for the summer on May 10. Thirty years of this thing, and it's still the best value family outing in the city. 90+ country pavilions, street food from everywhere, rides, live shows, and shopping. Open 5pm-midnight daily. If you've been putting it off, stop. This is your last shot until October. Ages: All ages. Truly everyone.

2. Ripe Market — Through May 17. FREE. The farmers market reopened April 24 at Academy Park Al Sufouh (Fridays-Sundays 3-10pm) and also runs at Times Square Center on Sundays, and at the Dubai Hills Golf Club this Saturday, May 2. Local vendors, organic produce, artisan food, kids' entertainment, live music. Good for an evening out when you just need to wander and let the kids burn off energy. Ages: All ages, stroller-friendly. Best for families with kids 2-12 who need space to roam.

3. Al Serkal Art Month — Through May 18, Al Quoz. FREE. This isn't your standard gallery visit. Sixteen exhibitions opened mid-April across contemporary galleries, plus workshops, performances, live art, open studios, and a public artwork by Shilpa Gupta in The Yard. If you've got a teenager who's into art, design, music, or just needs to see something that isn't a mall, this is the move. Adults will actually enjoy it too. Ages: 8+ for the galleries and installations. Teens 13-15 will genuinely like this.

FOR OLDER KIDS & TEENS:

Aventura Parks — Mushrif Park. (Promo Code: TOGETHER2026 to get 30% OFF on all Park tickets). Dubai's largest zipline park. 35,000 square meters of Ghaf tree forest with 5 different circuits, 80+ obstacles, 24 ziplines. Minimum height 1.15m. Rangers circuit for younger kids, Extreme circuit for hardcore adventurers. Augmented reality escape games in the forest. Three hours to complete the course. Book online. Ages: 4+ , best for 10-17 who want actual adventure.

TopGolf Dubai — Emirates Golf Club. FREE mini-golf in The Garden from 5:30pm daily. Buy 1 hour of gameplay and get 30 minutes free (before 7pm or after 10pm). 96 climate-controlled hitting bays, three floors, and restaurants. Good for teenagers who want something competitive. Ages: All ages, but teens 13+ will enjoy this the most.

Nad Al Sheba Cycle Park — Open 24/7, FREE. 8km family cycle track, 4km running track, skate park, football/cricket/basketball courts. Bike rentals available. If your kids need to ride something with wheels, this is the place. Ages: Toddlers on training wheels to teenagers on BMX.

FOR EVERYONE:

Brands For Less Community Market — May 1-3, BFL Shopping Center, Motor City. Three days of local vendors, crafts, family activities. Ages: All ages.

Al Barari Playground — Closed Mondays. AED129 onward. Rope bridges, cargo nets, pirate ships, and shallow splash area. If your kids needs to climb, this is it. Go early before it gets too hot. Ages: 2-12, built for serious play.

Dubai Creek Harbour Promenade — Open daily, FREE (to walk, not eat!). Walk along the waterfront, skyline views, small parks, restaurants. 4 hours free underground parking at the Marina parking. Good for an evening walk when you just need to get out of the house. Ages: All ages, stroller-friendly.

Miracle Garden — Open daily, closing soon for the summer. AED30 for UAE residents (regular AED95, save AED65). FREE under 3. If you haven't been yet, go now. It closes for the summer in a few weeks. 150 million flowers, massive sculptures, the Emirates A380 covered in blooms. Ages: All ages, but 3-10 will get the most out of it.

Museum of Illusions — Al Seef. First 20 guests in UAE flag colors get FREE entry until May 15. Otherwise AED99. 60 optical illusions, vortex tunnel, photo ops. Good for when it's too hot outside. Ages: 5+, best for 8-14.

At The Top Burj Khalifa — Dubai Mall. AED99 for off-peak tickets (Level 124/125). If you've been putting this off because it's expensive, AED99 is about as cheap as it gets. Book online for better rates. Go at sunset if you can. Ages: All ages, though kids under 5 won't care much.

The Green Planet — City Walk. AED129 (regular AED155) Indoor bio-dome. 3,000+ plants and animals. Feeding sloths and meeting the giant otter. If your kids are into animals and you're sick of the heat, this works. Ages: 3+, best for 5-12.

SOMEONE WROTE TO ME ABOUT DOGS. HERE ARE A FEW IDEAS:

Reform Social & Grill — The Lakes. The most famous dog-friendly venue in Dubai. Outdoor garden is basically a dog park with a bar attached. British gastropub menu, dogs treated as VIPs. Open daily.

Lime Tree Café — Multiple locations (Jumeirah, Al Quoz). Long-standing pet-friendly policy. Dogs welcome on the terrace. Known for carrot cake and homestyle cooking. Open daily.

The Duck Hook — Dubai Hills Golf Club. British gastropub with outdoor green space. Dogs welcome in the outdoor area. Sunday roasts, steak and ale pie. Close to Dubai Hills Dog Park - combine a walk and dinner. Open daily.

KAVE — Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz. One of the few spots in Dubai that welcomes dogs indoors. Sustainability-focused warehouse-style space. Good for summer when outdoor seating is brutal.

Dog Parks: JLT Dog Park (Clusters H & V), Dubai Hills Dog Park, Springs 8 Dog Park, Al Quoz Pond Park, Bark Park Al Awir (desert facility, booking required).

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT LAST WEEK:

Central Park at Wasl Gate — Jebel Ali, near Energy Metro Station. FREE. Open daily. Dubai's new Central Park just opened mid-April. 82,700 square meters of jogging/cycling tracks, sports courts, skate park, amphitheatre lawn, kids' play areas, food trucks. Metro accessible. Ages: All ages. Skate park is great for teens.

NEWS YOU SHOULD KNOW:

Work from a Park starts May 1. Dubai Municipality is launching at Al Barsha Pond Park. Modular workspaces with Wi-Fi, power outlets, climate control. Book through the Letswork app. Part of their "future of work" push. Not really a family thing, but worth knowing if you're remote.

E-scooter enforcement unit starts May 1. Dubai Police and RTA are launching the Personal Mobility Monitoring Unit. They'll be monitoring cycling tracks, main roads, and soft mobility zones. If your teenager's riding rented scooters illegally, you might be getting the fine.

Dubai Parks and Resorts still closed. Motiongate, Legoland Dubai, Real Madrid World, and Legoland Water Park have been closed since early March. No reopening date announced. Cancel those plans.

Global Village closes May 10. This is your last week. Next season probably starts in October.

Ripe Market closes May 17. Last few weekends to go.

SEND THIS TO:

Someone whose kids have been bored all week, someone planning their weekend, or someone who keeps saying "we should go to Global Village" and never does.

Also, hey, this could be helpful for someone with teenagers who need to do something that isn't a screen.

Or to someone with a furry friend who deserves a proper outing.

Write to me, I read and respond to everything.

Till next week,

Parves