Tree of giving

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Published: Fri 8 Jul 2016, 12:00 AM

Last updated: Fri 8 Jul 2016, 2:00 AM

Community mall Arabian Center's hit concept, Tree of Life, is back, and this year, it is all about helping underprivileged children. The initiative commemorates the spirit of giving by encouraging UAE residents and visitors to make a donation, in cash or in kind. For every donation, a lamp is lit, symbolising the kindness and generosity of people. Located in the Night Court of the Arabian Center, this year, it aims to support the social welfare of children in foster homes. The lovely, glowing installation will only be up till July 10, so hurry if you want to add more sparkle to those branches.
Paint yourself pretty
No Eid festivities can be complete without henna. If you want to get really creative, Color Club New York allows you to change your henna pattern like you change clothes! Their Face & Body paint is available in six colours, including gold and silver, allows for easy application and stays on for seven days. Should you want to remove it, you can always use an oil-based makeup remover or any regular body oil. They're available from Dh50 onwards and, let's just face it, the lure of golden henna is too hard to resist. Avl at Galina's Salon in Al Barsha and other leading salons in the UAE.

Do your part for the refugees
At a time when refugees around the world have found themselves facing a lot of stigma, Aleph Collective has come up with a heart-warming initiative to show us how we can all do our part to help. Daira, which stems from the Arabic world for 'circle', is symbolic of how we are all bound together as one community and is all about encouraging others to step up. The initiative will feature an evening of talks with people on the ground, as well as medical professionals and film screenings, art and live music. It is completely free and set to take place at The Jam Jar in Al Serkal Avenue on July 16 from 7.30pm onwards. Be there to be a part of the global conversation.

Customise your candy
Who can resist a bite of the sweet stuff during this festive time? Well, to satisfy your sweet tooth, Candylicious World in The Dubai Mall has some very special sweets for you. Not only are there loads of hampers to choose between, but you can get your hands on handmade candies form Spun Candy, shaped like little lanterns or 'Eid Mubarak' written in Arabic calligraphy. Then there is the3-D gummy printer at Magic Candy Factory, for truly personalised gifts and, last but not least, Hershey's biggest chocolate bar ever, weighing five pounds - the ultimate sharing treat for Eid. For more information, check out www.candyliciousworld.com.

Spend the Eid Hols at Ferrari World
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi has always been a favourite family destination, and now there's more incentive to pay it a visit. Their Eid Al Fitr celebrations run till July 9 and will feature traditional heritage performances from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman. Meanwhile, your little ones are sure to be entertained by a balloon twister, face painter, henna artist, falcon handler and bubble performer. All this, apart from the usual Ferrari World fun (who wouldn't want to spend their holidays on the world's fastest roller coaster?). For more information, visit www.ferrariworldabudhabi.com.

Summer means summer surprises
Every summer brings with it a new edition of the highly awaited Dubai Summer Surprises, and the festival this year (to take place form July 9 to August 20) promises to be fun for all. Some must-see highlights of the season are shows like Alvin & The Chimpmunks Live on Stage (July 19-25 at City Centre Mirdif, July 27-August 2 at Mall of the Emirates and August 4-10 at City Centre Deira) and Mercato Circus Fiesta (July 9-August 20 at Mercato Mall). Then there are workshops such as Lego Friends (July 28-August 6, Ibn Battuta) and even giant interactive games such as ANGRY BIRDS: Splat That! (July 10-19 at Festival Square, Dubai Festival City). For more info, check out www.dubaisummersurprises.com.