Wednesday 22

Donate unwanted trainers to Soles for Souls
If you have old sneakers kicking around the house, Soles for Soles is taking donations of trainers to give to the UAE’s labourers. Just make sure they’re clean.
Ongoing. Drop-off point: Sun-Thu 9am-6pm, Fortune Promoseven, Office 449, Emarat Atrium, Sheikh Zayed Road. Call Arun (050 457 6873).

Riding for the Disabled
Lend a hand at riding classes for children and young adults with physical and mental disabilities by leading horses and offering support to riders. No previous experience is necessary – just patience, good humour and commitment. Get in touch via the details below.
Free. Sun-Wed 9am-11.15am. Ongoing. Desert Palm Resort, Al Awir Road, rdadinstructors@live.com (050 716 3779).

Thursday 23

PlayDay gamer event
Gamers will get a chance to play some of this year’s most hotly anticipated titles at a PlayDay at the Living Rooms Café in Festival City. Titles such as Street Fighter vs Tekken and Resident Evil Racoon City, both of which are pegged for launch next month, as well as Asura’s Wrath and Ninja Gaiden 3, will be on show.
Free. 6pm-11pm. Living Rooms Café, Dubai Festival City (04 232 5444).

Community drumming
Head down to Marina Mall every Thursday to take part in family community drum circles and fire dancing. All ages and abilities are welcome to join in, from beginners to experts, and drums are provided.
Free. Thu 6.30pm-9pm. Ongoing. Ground floor, Dubai Marina Mall (050 659 2874).

Emirates Photography Club camel racing meet-up
This group of photography enthusiasts meet to compare notes and practise different scenarios as they snap camel racing.
Free. From 2pm. Al Marmoom Camel Racetrack, Dubai-Al Ain Road (04 832 6526).

Hercules Trophy inter-company sports challenge
Take part in a corporate team-building event and compete in a series of 12 challenges. The winning team walks away with the trophy and everyone gets to join in with the barbecue and entertainment afterwards.
Dhs9,125 per team of five, Dhs9,550 per team of six, Dhs9,975 per team of seven; free for spectators, barbecue Dhs200 per person. 8am-10pm. The Sevens, Al Ain Road (04 391 4791).

Monthly Mingle get-together
Relatively new group ‘Dubai Funny Gangs’ gathers for its first ever meet-up – join in to be part of something new.
Free. From 9pm. Location TBC. www.meetup.com/dubai-funny-gangs.

Friday 24

League of Legends tournament
Take part in this five-on-five gaming tournament. Prizes of up to Dhs1,250 are up for grabs.
Dhs50 per team member. From 4pm. Ground Zero Gaming, Plaza Level, Bahar 3, JBR (04 422 7935).

Trip to Liwa Oasis with The Wild Travel Group
This group of like-minded travel enthusiasts meets for an overnight camping trip in Liwa. Guides will set up a camp and put together a barbecue dinner, and all camping gear (including tents, mattresses and sleeping bags) will be provided.
Price TBC. Set off from Dubai at 8am, meeting points will be established once numbers are confirmed. www.meetup.com/wild-travels.

UAE Wargames meet-up
Join this board game-loving group to play Cranium.
Free. From noon. Shakespeares & Co, Al Attar Tower, Sheikh Zayed Road, www.meetup.com/UAE-wargames-boardgames-group.

Saturday 25

Hear inspiring speakers at BOLDTalks
Four speakers take the stage for provocative talks on everything from leadership to child slavery, with speakers including a survivor of the Chilean mine disaster and documentary maker Miki Mistrati.
Dhs200. From 10am. Ductac, Mall of the Emirates, www.boldtalks.com (04 341 4777).

Learn Romanian for free
As part of its new extended weekend programme, Eton Institute is inviting people to ‘learn Romanian, the language of vampires’ with its new, free course for beginners throughout February. Places are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first served-basis.
Free. Fri-Sat 3pm-4.30pm. Until March 3. Eton Institute, Knowledge Village, www.eton.ac (800 3866).

Take your recyclables to Emirates Environmental Group’s family day
Every Saturday, EEG encourages families to visit its headquarters on Jumeirah Beach Road to drop off any recyclable household waste, including plastic, aluminium cans, paper and glass.
Free. Open 8.30am-5.30pm. Villa JMR 68 117A, Jumeirah Beach Road, Jumeirah 1 (between Dubai Zoo and Beach Centre), www.eeg-uae.org (04 344 8622).