Our picks: 12 things to do in Abu Dhabi this weekend
01What’s On has a full list of all the things to do for the 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 November 10
See an Abu Dhabi Art concert
Lebanese artist and musician Raed Yassin will be performing alongside the Youth Group for Lewah Art group, a collection of around 20 Emirati musicians, at the Corniche. The Arabic language concert will feature a mash-up of unique sounds from drums, a traditional flute called a mizmar and performers clapping.
Corniche, Abu Dhabi, 8.30pm, free entry. Tel: (02) 6575800 Taxi: Manarat Al Saadiyat. abudhabiart.ae
Eat some supper at Koi
Koi’s Thursday night brunch is akin to a supper club – guests sit in the lounge area and dishes are served tapas-style to your table. Dishes on offer include creamy rock shrimp tempura and Californian rolls. You also get free-flowing wine and Saketini cocktails (a drink made with rice wine sake) included in the price.
The Collection, St Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, Thur 8.30pm to 11.30pm, Dhs199 with house drinks. Tel: (02) 6783334. Taxi: St Regis Saadiyat. koirestaurant.ae
Go to Taste of Abu Dhabi
Taste of Abu Dhabi returns to the capital this month in a new location and with a whole list of new restaurants to try. From November 10 to 12, Zayed Sports City will be dishing up bite-sized meals from 15 restaurants based here in the UAE. In addition to the grub, there’ll be celeb chefs like Sanjeev Kapoor and British restaurateur Ed Baines hosting cooking demos, live music from tribute band Björn Again, as well as a kid’s zone, VIP lounge and shopping at the exhibitor’s section.
Zayed Sports City, Al Madina Al Riyadiya, Abu Dhabi, Thurs 4pm to 11pm, Fri noon to 11pm, Sat noon to 10pm, tickets from Dhs65 to Dhs190. Taxi: Zayed Sports City. tasteabudhabi.com
Friday November 11
Go to Party In The Park
Now in its third year at Dubai Media City Amphitheatre, Party In The Park combines everything you love about music festivals – live bands, great DJs, food and drink, sunshine and a liberal sprinkling of festival madness – all without having to contend with mud, Wellies or getting stranded in a field miles from home. On the main stage you’ll see headliners – The Charlatans, Kaiser Chiefs and Travis. See you there!
Dubai Media City Amphitheatre, Fri 2pm to midnight, Dhs350, Dhs650 (brunch), Dhs1,200 (VIP). Tel: (04) 4273097. Metro: Nakheel. platinumlist.net
Take a boat ride and commune with aliens
Italian artist Anna Rispoli is known for her visual and audio installations and will be taking an audience on a boat ride along the waterfront of Abu Dhabi. Five Attempts To Speak To An Alien is a performance for Abu Dhabi Art that explores the idea of sending messages to aliens and will see Rispoli light up buildings along the waterfront to convey different messages.
Zayed Port, Mina, Abu Dhabi, 5.30pm to 7.30pm, from Nov 11 to 14, free with previous rsvp. Tel: (02) 6575800 Taxi: Manarat Al Saadiyat. abudhabiart.ae
Walk to beat diabetes
Do the 5.5km walk around the city’s F1 track to help raise awareness of diabetes at Walk2016. The event will feature a number of special events, competitions and entertainers from across Abu Dhabi’s communities, including music, jugglers and yoga instructors. There’s also bouncy castles, badminton and football games too.
Yas Marina Circuit, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, 5pm, Dhs20. Tel: (02) 6599800. Taxi: Yas Marina Circuit. yasmarinacircuit.com
Yoga with a beat
Combine your downward dog with some Brazilian mestra caxias drumming at a Let’s Go Yoga class.
The Down, Al Rowdhat, Abu Dhabi, 10am to 11am, Dhs100. Tel: (02) 6341425. Taxi: The Dome, near Zayed Sports City. letsgoyogame.com
Walk the desert and do a good deed
The Caracal Challenge is a 15km endurance walk through the Al Khatim desert (halfway between Abu Dhabi and Al Ain). Walkers will have to use the moon and stars to navigate their way across the sand dunes and the event will also raise funds for the Emirates Wildlife Society’s Terrestrial Conservation programme. The walk ends with dinner and music at a traditional Bedouin style camp. Pick up is at Khalifa Park.
Al Khatim, Abu Dhabi, 4pm to midnight, Dhs800 to Dhs1200. Tel: (+96) 599635414. Taxi: Khalifa Park. husaak.com
Saturday November 12
Party at Barfly
This bar down by the creek has several new dishes on its menu, including a grilled seafood platter with lemon butter caviar, plus chocolate fondant.
Venetian Village, Al Maqtaa, Abu Dhabi, Fri to Sat 6pm to 3am, Sun to Wed 6pm to 2am. Tel: (02) 4041951. Taxi: Venetian Village, by Ritz-Carlton. venetianvillage.ae/barfly
Eat French food from a Michelin star chef
What’s On Awards winner Le Beaujolais is hosting a Southern France-influenced menu prepared by Michelin star chef Mathieu Xavier. You can tuck into rabbit provençale style, lobster cassolet with menthol broad beans, plus chocolate and coconut curry for dessert. There’ll also be live music from an accordionist and a singer.
Mercure Abu Dhabi Centre Hotel, Hamdan Street, Abu Dhabi, Nov 12 to 24, daily noon to midnight. Tel: (02) 6333555. Taxi: Mercure Centre Hotel. mercure.com
Watch an award-wining film
Originally premiered at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival, The Ship of Theseus is an award-winning movie by Indian filmmaker Anand Gandhi that discusses organ transplants. Another event being hosted as part of Abu Dhabi Art, the film is composed of three separate short films following a photographer, monk and stockbroker.
Manarat Al Saadiyat, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, 7pm to 9.30pm. Tel: (02) 6575800 Taxi: Manarat Al Saadiyat. abudhabiart.ae
See Mr Stink in the capital
Check out Mr Stink, the classic children’s book by British comedian David Walliams, at this family-friendly stage show. It follows the story of a tramp who is befriended by a lonely 12-year-old girl called Chloe, who hides him in her shed when he needs somewhere to stay.
Abu Dhabi Theatre, Ras Al Akhdar, Abu Dhabi, 4pm, Dhs140 to Dhs195. Tel: (02) 6818821. Taxi: Abu Dhabi Theatre, Breakwater, near Marina Mall. virginmegastore.me, artforall.ae