Wednesday 21

Become a ‘Wish Maker’
Whether you’re an individual, group, school or corporate organisation looking to give back, donate time or money and help fulfil the wish of a child with a terminal illness and turn their dream into reality.
Ongoing. Make-A-Wish Foundation UAE, Humanitarian City (04 368 0217).

Meet with grape enthusiasts
Dubai Grape Club and Americans in the UAE come together for an evening of blind bottled grape tasting.
Dhs100. From 7.30pm. Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel, www.meetup.com/dubai-wine-club (no number).

Thursday 22

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).

Dubai Classic Rock Listeners’ group meet-up
This group of fun-loving air guitarists are getting together to listen to ‘decent music’ and rub shoulders with like-minded classic rock-lovers.
Free. From 8.30pm. Venue TBC. www.meetup.com/the-dubai-classic-rock-listeners-group (no number).

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).

Friday 23

Bi-weekly boardgame meet-up
The UAE Wargames/Boardgames Group is meeting for another afternoon of boardgames – bring your favourites along.
Free. From noon. The Pavilion, Downtown Dubai, www.meetup.com/UAE-wargames-boardgames-group (no number).

Dinner and shisha with the Weekend Fun Group
This social group will meet at Piccolo Mondo Bay Café to make new friends and connections over Lebanese food, shisha and soft drinks (individuals must pay for whatever they order). If you fancy meeting a bit later, the group will head for Bar Zar in Madinat Jumeirah at 11pm for drinks and some more socialising.
Free. From 8pm. Piccolo Mondo Bay Café, Marina Walk, Dubai Marina, www.meetup.com/chillout (no number).

Do something worthwhile with Friends of Cancer Patients
This local charity raises money, organises awareness campaigns and supports people battling cancer, as well as their families. The group welcomes willing volunteers to help out at events.
Free. Ongoing. Email info@focp.ae to enquire about volunteering opportunities. Corniche Road, Sharjah (06 506 5542).

X2 Multiples Festival
Twins, triplets, quads… all are welcome at this two-day celebration of multiples. If you’re not one, you’re still invited to the family day out, where there will be prizes for competing siblings.
Adults Dhs40, children Dhs10, family day ticket Dhs45, family weekend ticket Dhs70. 10am-6pm. Safa Park, www.x2-me.com (050 178 0747).

Saturday 24

Join the Dubai Small Business Breakfast Club
A networking event over breakfast for small business owners, join this group to find out more.
Dhs65 (Dhs55 breakfast, Dhs10 registration fee for new members). From 10am. Location TBC. www.meetup.com/dubai-small-business-breakfast-club (no number).

Take your recyclables to Emirates Environmental Group’s family day
Every Saturday, EEG encourages families 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).

Sunday 25

Foster a cat and help Feline Friends
This local cat-rescue organisation is always looking for volunteers to foster felines, even if only for short periods at a time, to enable it to help more abandoned pets or strays. There are also opportunities to help out by running stalls at regular book sales and in the call centre.
Free. Ongoing. To volunteer to foster a cat, email newvolunteers@felinefriendsdubai.com (no number).

Monday 26

African djembe and Arabic tabla classes
Learn to play the African djembe drum, which the organisers claim is a great way to de-stress. Alternatively, participants can also learn to play the tabla.
Djembe Dhs50 per session, Tabla Dhs60 per session, drums provided. Djembe beginners 7.20pm-8.20pm, regulars 7.40pm-8.40pm, Tabla 8.45pm-9.45pm. Ongoing. Ductac, Mall of the Emirates (056 744 2129).

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. It doesn’t matter what style or size your old kicks are, just pop them in the washing machine beforehand to 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).

Tuesday 27

Bi-weekly photography meet-up
Today’s meet-up theme for the Emirates Photography Club is ‘texture’, and there will be a showing of each member’s shots in a slide presentation. Bring your theme pictures on a flash drive, and label each of the files with your own name.
Free. From 7pm. The Pavilion, Downtown Dubai, www.meetup.com/emiratesphotoclub (no number).