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 14
Fun Nation
Fun Nation is three weeks of child-friendly entertainment, in part organised by local TV broadcasters MBC. Kids can get involved with interactive games that cover two themes: games and cooking, plus sports and fashion. There will also be several live stage shows taking place starring characters, such as Dora The Explorer, Spongebob Squarepants and Shaun The Sheep.
du Forum, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, daily 10am. Tel: (800) 555. Taxi: du Forum. visitabudhabi.ae
Eat the Rio way 
Chamas is serving a menu this month of dishes from Rio de Janeiro, including shrimp stew with chayote and salted cod fish pie.
InterContinental Abu Dhabi, Al Bateen, Abu Dhabi, Thur and Fri 6pm to 11.30pm. Tel: (02) 6666888. Taxi: InterContinental hotel. dining-intercontinental-ad.ae
Go to a spin class
Check out the new spin class at Cobra Fitness that will have you jumping off the bike. The 45-minute sessions are meant to workout your entire body and will see you alternate between indoor cycling with boot camp style mat exercises. Meaning in between cycle sets you’ll be doing bodyweight exercises including burpees, squats, push-ups and lunges.
Al Bandar, Al Raha, Abu Dhabi, Sun and Thur, 8.30am to 9.15am, Dhs70 per class. Tel: (02) 4496524. Taxi: Al Bandar, in Basement UB parking. facebook.com/muaythaiabudhabi
FRIDAY, July 15
Flyboarding
Bit hot outside, isn’t it? You can cool down at Le Méridien this summer on a flyboard. Some carefully constructed hoses are attached to a board you are strapped in to, and they could have you flying 15 metres in the air.
Le Méridien, Al Zahiyah, Abu Dhabi, daily 10am to 6pm, Dhs312. Tel: (02) 6446666. Taxi: Le Méridien. lemeridienabudhabi.com
Brunch is back
Jazz@PizzaExpress’ brunch returns today, offering a selection of pizza and pasta dishes served from the outlet’s new a la carte menu. There’ll be live music from the Johanna Sandell Duo and Uptown.
World Trade Center Mall, Al Markaziyah, Abu Dhabi, noon until 4pm, Dhs229. Tel: (02) 4447752. Taxi: World Trade Center Mall. pizzaexpressuae.com
Drink lemonade
There are nine new flavours of Beyonce’s favourite drink now available at Leopold’s Of London, including blackberry sorbet and blue lagoon mojito flavours. You can try them at the brand’s new Al Raha beach branch.
Al Muneera Beach Plaza, Al Raha, Abu Dhabi, daily 7am to 11.30pm. Dhs29. Tel: (02) 4444085. Taxi: Al Muneera Beach Plaza, Al Raha.
SATURDAY, July 16
Eat food for half the price
The Beach Rotana is taking 50 per cent off the bill at its signature restaurants during July, with each restaurant offering the promotion on a different night. Sundays it’s on at French-Polynesian bar and restaurant Trader Vic’s, Mondays at suhshi spot Benihana, Tuesdays at Indian restaurant Indigo, Wednesdays at Italian Prego’s and on Saturday’s at seafood outlet Finz.
Beach Rotana, Al Zahiyah, Abu Dhabi, timings vary. Tel: (02) 6979011. Taxi: Next to Abu Dhabi Mall. rotana.com
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 (twice a day during Ramadan) 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
