Our picks: 9 things to do in Abu Dhabi this long weekend
What’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 December 1
Look at cool photos
See snaps of the Sheikh Zayed Mosque and the Arab world at this photo exhibit from Mark Luscombe-Whyte.
The Galleria, Abu Dhabi Global Market Square, Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi, free entry. Tel: (02) 6166999. Taxi: Galleria Mall, Al Maryah. thegalleria.ae
Try some aqua aerobics
Tone your muscles in the pool with this watery weight loss class at Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan by Rotana.
Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan By Rotana, Al Khubeirah, Abu Dhabi, Thursdays 9.30am. Tel: (02) 65700182. Taxi: Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan By Rotana. rotana.com
Le Méridien launches new night brunch at Talay
The former What’s On Award winning Thai restaurant is now serving up an evening brunch. Hosted every Thursday night, the brunch will see a range of dishes brought directly to your table including Thai chicken satay, seafood tom yam soup, stir fried beef tenderloin with broccoli, sweet and sour chicken and mango sticky rice.
Le Méridien, Al Zahiyah, Abu Dhabi, Thursday 7pm to 10pm, Dhs199 per person. Tel: (02) 6446666. Taxi: Le Méridien Hotel. talayabudhabi.com
Friday December 2
MORE: 9 things to do for National Day
Check out the Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival
This heritage and cultural festival honours of the founder of the nation, Sheikh Zayed. There’ll be folklore events, Emirati singers, horse shows, military marching band parades, a classic car exhibition, traditional market and more.
Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi, free. Tel: (800) 555. Taxi: Al Wathba. zayedfestival.com
Abu Dhabi inspired eats at Hakkasan
The What’s On Award winning Chinese restaurant has launched an Only At The Palace menu that features dishes and cocktails that are only available in their Abu Dhabi outlet. The menu includes braised seafood soup with black truffle, crispy prawn with foie gras sauce and charcoal grilled wagyu rib-eye beef with sea salt and lime dressing.
Emirates Palace, Al Ras Al Akhdar, Abu Dhabi, daily 6pm to midnight, Fri noon to 4pm and 6pm to midnight. Tel: (02) 6907739. Taxi: Emirates Palace. hakkasan.com
Watch a football documentary
The Lights of Rome is a new football documentary from Image Nation that follows the Cinderella story of the UAE national football team, who managed to qualify for the 1990 FIFA World Cup. The film includes interviews with UAE football legends Ali Thani, Abdulrahman Al-Haddad and Khalid Ismaïl – who scored the now legendary goal against West Germany, amongst others.
Cinemas screening the documentary include Vox at Yas Mall and Nation Towers, Novo Cinema at World Trade Center and Cineroyal in Deerfields and Delma Mall. imagenationabudhabi.com
Saturday December 3
Eat brunch at Li Jiang
Friday isn’t the only day to indulge in a feast of food. Check out the new Saturday brunch at Li Jiang which serves up a range of Pan Asian cuisine including Thai beef salad, dim sum, Kung Po chicken, Nasi Goreng, laksa and lemongrass crème brulee.
Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi Grand Canal, Khor Al Maqta’a, Abu Dhabi, Saturday 1pm to 4pm, Dhs170 to Dhs370. Tel: (02) 8188282. Taxi: Ritz-Carlton. ritzcarlton.com
Saturday roast
Head to the Hemingway’s pub at the Hilton Abu Dhabi for a traditional English roast.
Hilton Abu Dhabi, Al Khubeirah, Abu Dhabi, noon to 4pm, Dhs120. Tel: (02) 6811900. Taxi: Hilton Corniche. hilton.com
Eat raclette at Jones the Grocer
Move over fondue, raclette is the new way to eat gooey cheese. The traditional Swiss meal sees a round of semi-soft raclette cheese melted and scraped onto your plate. The cheese is paired with a platter of cold cut meats from the deli, pickles and skin-on boiled potatoes. Diners will also receive three glasses of grape. The promotion will be held at three Jones outlets in the capital including Khalidiyah, Al Muneera and Al Raha.
Pearl Plaza Tower, Khalidiyah, Abu Dhabi, Dhs140 per person. Tel: (02) 6395883. Taxi: Opposite BMW Showroom. jonesthegrocer.com