Wednesday 23

Buy T-shirts for a good cause
Manzil, a non-profit organisation for children with special needs, is selling T-shirts featuring prints from students at the school to raise funds for a new bus. All proceeds go directly to the cause.
Dhs50 each. Ongoing. Manzil, www.manzil.ae, giftshop@manzil.ae (050 981 7767).

Thursday 24

See an exhibition charting Dubai’s maritime history
‘Dreams of the Sea: The Maritime History of Dubai’ marks the launch of a wider maritime history project, which aims to collect stories from those involved in the UAE’s maritime history.
Free. Daily 9am-11pm. Until January 26. Dubai Heritage Village, Bur Dubai (04 393 7151).

Friday 25

Donate unwanted clothes Aid in Motion distributes second-hand clothing to those in need within the UAE. If you have unwanted items you want to donate, call the 24-hour hotline to arrange collection. www.volunteerindubai.com (06 403 4535).

Try something new with The Tiffin Club
Get your teeth into new cuisine as The Tiffin Club prepares to meet at a Chinese, Turkish or Vietnamese restaurant – and those who RSVP will be able to vote on which is chosen.
Free, attendees pay for their own meal. From 7pm. Venue TBD. www.meetup.com/thetiffinclub (no number).

Saturday 26

38 Smiles adoption day
Give a loving home to a cat or kitten: local animal group 38 Smiles aims to rehome as many furry balls of fun as possible. There will also be a DVD and book sale to help raise funds.
Free. 1pm-4pm. Pet Zone Vet Clinic, near Mazaya Centre (04 346 7870).

Australia Day barbecue
Celebrate Australia Day with Aussies and other expats at this immensely popular beach barbecue.
Free. 11am-4pm. Barasti Beach, Le Méridien Mina Seyahi, rsvp@abcduae.com (no number).

Buy greetings cards from Al Noor
Students from Al Noor Training Centre for Children with Special Needs have created a range of cards, with proceeds going directly towards operational costs at the centre. If you want to put a smile on a student’s face this season, the centre also has a wish list on its website, where you can choose items from a number of price brackets.
Dhs4.50 each. Al Noor Training Centre, Al Barsha, www.alnoorspneeds.ae (04 323 4993).

Sunday 27

Send unwanted gifts to a new home
Give or sell unwanted toys, exercise equipment, computers, phones, kitchenware and more to TakeMyJunk, which sells items at a low price to those in need, and uses the funds raised to provide further assistance.
Pick-ups around town. info@takemyjunkuae.com (050 179 4045).

Monday 28

Volunteer to foster homeless animals
Dubai’s Feline Friends rescue operation is constantly in need of volunteers to foster cats. If you can’t offer a permanent home, it’s the perfect way to lend a hand.
Free. Ongoing. Feline Friends, www.felinefriendsdubai.com, fostering@felinefriendsdubai.com (no number).

Tuesday 29

Fitter, faster and more agile: fitness entrepreneurs talk
Fitness entrepreneurs from Dubai’s growing industry share their stories, with talks from Platform 3’s Benny and Omar, Detox Delight’s Claudia and Nicole, Noviplus’s Enisa, Karim from Fityou and Manuel from Nike+ Run Club.
Dhs75. 7.30pm-9.30pm. Make Business Hub, Al Fattan House, Dubai Marina, tai@makebusinesshub.com (no number).

Positive affirmation workshop
Find out how positive affirmations can hold the key to success and happiness.
Dhs36. 6.30pm-8.30pm. Breath and Health, Al Wasl Road, Umm Suqeim, www.meetup.com/theta-healing-dubai (04 348 9940).