Things to do this weekend in Abu Dhabi
What’s On has a full list of all the things to do this weekend in Abu Dhabi, including workshops, deals, sports, entertainment and new openings.
It’s the start of the weekend, folks! But if you’re not sure what you’re doing yet, don’t worry. What’s On has the perfect solution, whatever mood you are in.
THURSDAY, July 16
Cruise down the Corniche
Jalboot now hosts boat cruises down the Corniche every evening. Trips last for an hour.
Hiltonia Beach Club, Corniche, Abu Dhabi, daily 8.15pm to 9.15pm, Dhs50.
Tel: (600) 575756. Taxi: Hiltonia Beach Club. jalboot.ae
Solve a mystery
For any wannabe Sherlock Holmes out there, Challenge Chambers will let you live out your crime-solving dreams. Get a taster with Trapped, a 30-minute scenario in which you have to escape a locked room, or up the ante with one of their 60-minute experiences that offer the chance to join a spy agency or compete to solve a murder.
Al Wahda Mall, Al Wahda, Abu Dhabi, Sun to Wed 10am to 10pm, Thur to Sat 10am to midnight, Dhs75 to Dhs125. Tel: (02) 4452522. Taxi: Al Wahda Mall. challengechambers.com
New menu at Boa
The Californian-influenced steakhouse Boa turned two recently, and has launched a new menu to celebrate. It’ll be available during Ramadan after sunset and features seared Japanese beef served with asparagus salad, plus halibut carpaccio with baby spinach, melon, cucumber and Leche de Tigre to start. New mains include a lamb rump casserole and a roasted cod fillet. You can finish it all off with a baked Alaska for dessert.
Eastern Mangroves Promenade, Al Markaziyah, Abu Dhabi, daily 7pm to 11.30pm. Tel: (02) 6411500. Taxi: Eastern Mangroves Promenade. easternmangrovespromenade.ae
Go caving
Forget flying to the mountain ranges of Europe or taking a degree in archaeology, you can now enjoy the experience of caving within the air-conditioned comfort of Adventure HQ. The Yas Mall outdoor store’s tunnel network is the first of its kind in the Middle East, and is said to be as lifelike an experience as possible without the risky business of clambering into a real life cave. You can go rock climbing here, too.
Yas Mall, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, Sat to Wed 10am to 10pm, Thur and Fri 10am to midnight, Dhs60. Tel: (02) 5650996. Taxi: Yas Mall. yasmall.ae
FRIDAY, June 17
Watch the Euros on Yas
We’re a week into the European Championships now and every game of the tournament is being shown on a 10mx6m LED screen inside the du Forum. In there you’ll also find a fanzone, food, competitions and activities for children. Entry is free.
du Forum, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, free. Tel: (055) 5490716. Taxi: du Forum. duforum.ae
Go animal spotting at the new safari park
Al Ain Zoo is now even bigger – April saw it open the largest manmade safari park in the world. It’s home to 250 animals, including spotted lions, zebras, giraffes and antelopes. The park is spread over 217 hectares – that’s the size of 217 rugby fields.
Al Ain Zoo, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, daily 4pm to 10pm, Dhs200. Tel: (03) 7992000. alainzoo.ae
Go for a dive
The Sheraton has opened its Scuba Master Diving Centre, offering night dives, beginner classes and more.
Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel And Resort, Corniche Road, Abu Dhabi, daily 8am to 6pm. Tel: (056) 5859083.
Taxi: Sheraton Corniche. sheratonabudhabihotel.com
SATURDAY, June 18
Discounts at the spa
Ladies treat yourselves to a 30 per cent discount on spa services at Tips And Toes this Ramadan.
12 Street, Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi, daily 9am to 9pm, Dhs300. Taxi: near Al Yasmina School. tipsandtoes.com
Ramadan celebrations at The Galleria
The Galleria is hosting a series of activities to celebrate Ramadan this year, including an exhibition by local calligrapher and graffiti artist Dia’a Allam. There’s a falconry display, a selection of arts and crafts activities for kids, henna artists and a band performing daily from July once the holy month comes to an end.
The Galleria, Abu Dhabi Global Market Square, Al Maryah Island, Sat to Wed 10am to 10pm, Thur 10 am to midnight, Fri noon to midnight. Tel: (02) 616 6999. Taxi: Galleria on Al Maryah. thegalleria.cae
See The Voice Of Art – LAST CHANCE
It’s your last chance to see The Voice of Art exhibition from the La Parole Art Gallery. The show features work by 13 artists, including German Moroccan painter Dr. Nadia Najjari, Serbian creative Maja Poljak and Lebanese talent Hind Wehbe.
Al Forsan International, Sports Resort, Khalifa City A, Abu Dhabi, daily 10am to 7pm. Tel: (02) 5568555. Taxi: Al Forsan. alforsan.com
Try new meats at The Foundry
You can now sample new dishes and cuts of meat at The Foundry in Southern Sun Abu Dhabi. The steakhouse has updated its menu to include pan-seared barramundi, oven-roasted Welsh lamb rack with charred eggplant purée and langoustine risotto. New meat cuts on offer include Ekro, a milk-fed veal tenderloin from Holland, as well as grass-fed striploin and T-bone entrecôte steaks from Irish butchery John Stone.
Southern Sun Abu Dhabi, Al Zahiyah, Abu Dhabi, daily 7pm to 11pm. Tel: (02) 8184888. Taxi: Southern Sun hotel, near Corniche Hospital. tsogosunhotels.com
Buy art on the cheap
Abu Dhabi Art Hub’s affordable art exhibition is still going strong. The annual show features over 200 pieces of art from over twenty artists from a variety of backgrounds including French painter Brigitte Roshay, Egyptian craftsman Remon Adel, Emirati painter Yaaqoub AlKhoori, Filipino painter Ruben Calimlim and Indian painter Sreedev Karthika. Best of all, all the works will be priced from Dhs250 to Dhs2,000 to suit most budgets.
Abu Dhabi Art Hub, Mussafah, Abu Dhabi, 7pm. Tel: (02) 5515005. Taxi: Near ICAD residential city. adah.com
See some Ukrainian art – LAST CHANCE
Head over to the N2N Gallery to see an art exhibition dedicated to printmaking techniques. Intricate Lines features artwork from Ukrainian artists Oksana Stratiychuk, Andrew Levitzky, Nikolay Dudchenko and Olesya Dzuraeva, and will include a selection of etchings, linocuts and sculptures. The exhibit is on until June 20.
Nation Towers, Al Markaziyah, Abu Dhabi, Sat to Thur 10am to 10pm, closed Fridays, free. Tel: (02) 6659858. Taxi: Nation Galleria mall. facebook.com/N2NGallery