Your guide to all the things you can do over the weekend in the nation’s capital, such as workshops, deals, sports, entertainment and new openings

Thursday August 17

Try a global lunch at Sofra BLD

The Shangri-La’s all-day dining outlet, Sofra BLD, has launched a new lunch menu featuring dishes from five of its restaurants, including Chinese Shang Palace and French outlet Bord Eau. You can try blow-torched yellow-fin tuna nigiri, tandoor chicken leg, grilled lemongrass chicken, scallop siew mai, pan-seared beef tenderloin and more. The offer runs until September 16.
Shangri-La, Al Maqta, Abu Dhabi, Sun to Thur noon to 3pm, Dhs165. Tel: (02) 5098888. Taxi: Shangri-La. shangri-la.com

Save money with this month’s What’s On magazine

Inside our August edition you’ll find 100 2-for-1 vouchers to use in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and beyond. There’s dining deals, hotel stays, spa treatments and much more. It’s on-sale in all good stores now.

See art at Emirates Palace

Equus & Folium is an exhibition of large-scale paintings of horses and digital paintings of leaves by Bernado Nieves and Daniela Carletti. You’ll find it in Italian restaurant Mezzaluna.
Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi, daily 12.30pm to 7pm, free. Tel: (02) 6907999. Taxi: Emirates Palace. swissartgateuae.com

Friday August 18

Say namaste to Salim-Sulaiman

Two of India’s most famous music composers are performing for one night only this month in the capital, at an Abu Dhabi Summer Season concert that will also celebrate the country’s 70th Independence Day. Salim and Sulaiman Merchant are brothers who have composed and produced music for more than 100 Bollywood movies. They’ve also got international pedigree – they worked with South African singer Loyiso Bala and Kenyan singer/songwriter Eric Wainaina on the 2010 Fifa World Cup song Africa – You’re A Star.
Emirates Palace, Al Ras Al Akhdar, Abu Dhabi, 8pm, Dhs75 to Dhs1,000. Tel: (800) 555. Taxi: Emirates Palace. Platinumlist.net

Run around Yas Mall

Finding it a bit too hot to run outside at the moment? Yas Mall hosts the Abu Dhabi Indoor Run this weekend with local events organisers Gulf Multi Sport. Runners can have a crack at 2.5km, 5km and 10km runs on a looped course of the ground floor of the shopping centre. The best news? The air conditioning will be on. And you can leave your credit cards at home – the run takes place at 8am, before the stores open and the mall is mobbed with shoppers.
Yas Mall, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, Fri 8am to 10am, Dhs50. Tel: (02) 44481421.Taxi: Yas Mall. my5.raceresult.com, gulfmultisport.com

Eat brunch at Barfly by Buddha Bar

Barfly relaunched its brunch last weekend. Dishes on offer include wagyu rib eye and mochi ice cream.
Venetian Village, Al Maqtaa, Abu Dhabi, Fri 1pm to 4pm, Dhs225 to Dhs425. Tel: (02) 4041951. Taxi: Venetian Village, by Ritz-Carlton. venetianvillage.ae/barfly

Laugh at Mike Epps live

Actor and comic Epps is known for his role in The Hangover (he played Black Doug). He’s performing stand-up live in the capital tonight as part of Abu Dhabi Summer Season.
Al Raha Beach Theatre, Al Raha, Abu Dhabi, 6.30pm, Dhs145 to Dhs245. Tel: (800) 555. Taxi: Al Raha Beach Theatre. platinumlist.net

See Talents Around The World

Featuring an all-star lineup, this stage production is part of Abu Dhabi Summer Season and brings together a group of performers who have competed on their country’s Got Talent TV series. Artists include India’s Got Talent stars XIX Crew, a hip hop dance group as well as Irish tap dancers Narnia, acrobatic performers Habasha Circus Group and Khulan Circus Group and Ukrainian Shadow show performers Verba.
Until Aug 31
Bawadi Mall, Meyzad Road, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, daily 5pm to 10pm, free. Tel: (03) 7840000 Taxi: Bawadi Mall

Saturday August 19

Watch Seven Sisters

Noomi Rapace, Willem Dafoe and Glenn Close star in this curious tale of a dystopian future where overcrowding on planet Earth means families are restricted to only having one child. So what happens when you have seven? Rapace plays all of the septuplets, who are named after the days of the week (and are only allowed outside on the day of the week they’re named after). It’s in UAE cinemas from this weekend.

Get lost in Tom & Jerry – The Cheese Maze

One for all the family, this interactive play zone gives kids the chance to immerse themselves into the cartoon world of Tom & Jerry from 5pm to 10pm daily. They’ll have to carry a giant block of cheese through a maze set with traps – where Tom is waiting – and Jerry is on hand to help. Today is the last day.
Dalma Mall, Musaffah, Abu Dhabi, daily 5pm, 7.30pm and 9.30pm, free. Tel: (800) 325626255 Taxi: Dalma Mall. dalmamall.ae

Spend at Tips & Toes and you could win a holiday

Need a vacation? You could win one to Bali if you head to Tips & Toes this month. If you spend more than Dhs500 in a single visit to any branch in the UAE, you will be entered into a draw to win a three-day trip for two to the idyllic island of Bali. Eight customers, and their plus ones, will be whisked away to stay at the luxurious Chapung SeBali Resort & Spa in the heart of Ubud.
Deluxe Villas, 12th Street, Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi, daily 9am to 9pm. Tel: (02) 5572255. Taxi: Khalifa City. tipsandtoes. com. ALSO: Marina Mall

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