9 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 21
Spin at the Abu Dhabi Sports Festival
The annual Sports Festival at Adnec is on all month, and you can have try your hand (or feet) at a ton of sports including football, volleyball, boxing, chess, tennis and judo. You can also attend a spin class three times a day run by the organisers of the Abu Dhabi Tour, the professional cycling race that takes place in the capital from October 20 to 23.
Adnec, Al Safraat, Abu Dhabi, Dhs40, timings TBC. Tel: (02) 4088995. Taxi: Adnec. adnec.ae
Generation V
There’s a new place for kids to hang out this summer at the Yas Viceroy. Generation V is a new children’s zone with a climbing wall, a soft play area and more. It’s for kids aged four to 12.
Yas Viceroy, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, Mon to Sat 10am to 9pm, Dhs60 per hour (first hour free if dining at the hotel). Tel: (02) 6560700. Taxi: Yas Viceroy. viceroyhotelsandresorts.com
Eat brunch at sundown
Who said brunch has to start at lunchtime? Caramel Restaurant has kicked off their weekend brunch, which goes from 7pm to 10pm in the evening. The menu includes everything from chicken lettuce bites with shitake mushrooms and hoisin sauce, chicken lollipops served buffalo style with blue cheese and mini Kobe beef sliders and mini truffled fish and chips.
The Collection, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, Sat to Thur, Dhs199 per person. Tel: (02) 6783344. Taxi: St Regis Saadiyat Island. caramelgroup.com
Friday July 22
Make a date for Liwa
There’s a good chance you’ve eaten your fare share of dates during Ramadan, but if you want to try a few more, then head to the Liwa Date Festival. Hosted in the Western Region until July 30, the festival expects to attract some 70,000 visitors. As well as buying dates and associated products, visitors can also check out a market selling traditional Emirati goods.
Liwa, Al Gharbia, Abu Dhabi, until July 30. Taxi: Liwa, Western Region. abudhabievents.ae
Play golf indoors
Zayed Sports City is home to Performance Golf, a high-definition indoor simulator that can create 18-hole courses (you can play 26 international courses) and through the summer they’re running a monthly league competition. Sign up and you get to play four courses (one per week) for Dhs950 and you’ll be pitted against people you’ve never met before – the idea being it’ll be a social event as well as a competition. After four weeks of play (you play a different course each week) the golfer with the best cumulative score is the winner. The winner gets Dhs500 and there’s also cash prizes for second, third and fourth place.
Zayed Sports City, Al Madina Al Riyadiya, Abu Dhabi, Dhs950 per month. Tel: (050) 1030234 Taxi: Zayed Sports City. zsc.ae
Take the kids to The District
Take your teens to the du Forum to check out the month-long calendar of activities that will see guests aged 14 to 22-year-olds take part in acting classes, attend fashion design shows, learn about smart phone photography and attend 3D design workshops.
Until September 17, du Forum, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, daily from midday to 10pm. Tel: (800) 555. Taxi: du Forum. visitabudhabi.ae
Saturday July 23
Play some cricket at Fun Nation
Aussie legend Brad Haddin will be giving a cricket clinic at the Fun Nation event on Yas Island from 4.30pm to 6pm (and Spongebob will be on stage around the corner from 5pm to 5.30pm to keep the little ones entertained). The batsman and wicket keeper will also do an on stage Q&A from 6pm to 7pm. Or, if you’re more of a footy person then you’ll find a football clinic from 3pm to 5pm with Italian legend Paolo Maldini this Saturday at the same event. The best bit, entry to the event is only Dhs40.
Fun Nation tickets are available now at ticketmaster.ae and all Virgin Megastore outlets across the UAE. Adult day passes are Dhs40, day passes for those age two to 12 are Dhs20, while a season pass (which allows multiple entry throughout the month) is just Dhs150.
Stay at a hotel
Avail the ‘stay for free’ package at Fairmont Bab Al Bahr (valid until September 30) and enjoy room rates start from Dhs600 per night, inclusive of a complimentary Dhs600 food and beverage credit to per night – meaning you can eat for free.
Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Bain Al Jessrain, Abu Dhabi, until September 30. Tel: (02) 6543333. Taxi: Fairmont. fairmont.com
Go to a waterpark
Beat the heat with a visit to a waterpark. Yas Waterworld has extended its hours during the summer season. Saturday to Wednesday you can stay from 10am to 8pm, while Friday the park will be open until 10pm.
Yas Waterworld, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, Dhs250 to Dhs485. Tel: (02) 4142000. Taxi: Yas Waterworld. yaswaterworld.com