Your guide to all the events taking place in the nation’s capital

Thursday March 15

Cheer on athletes at the Special Olympics MENA Games

The global Special Olympics takes place in Abu Dhabi in March 2019, but this week you can see athletes from the MENA region compete in 16 different sports. Around 1,800 athletes are expected to take part and the games are being held at several locations in the city, including at NYU, Adnec and Yas Marina Circuit. The athletes will be competing in sports including cycling, badminton, basketball and more. Entry for spectators to all the events is free.
Until March 23
facebook.com/WorldGamesAD

See Tinie Tempah perform live on Yas

The British urban singer, rapper, and songwriter will be performing at night club Mad on Yas Island this evening.
Mad, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, 11pm to 3.30am. Tel: (055) 8346262. Taxi: Mad, by Yas Marina. facebook.com/MadOnYasIsland

Get fit on Reem

A new two-day festival celebrating the great outdoors is taking place on Reem Island this weekend. Let’s Promenade will feature watersports such as kayaking, plus performing arts shows, dance and fitness classes (including Latin) and activities for kids. There’ll also be a market bazaar and food trucks.
March 15 and 16
The Promenade, City Of Lights, Reem Island, Abu Dhabi, Thur and Fri 4pm to 10pm. Tel: (800) 360. Taxi: Reem Island Promenade. three60leisure.com

Visit Morocco… in Abu Dhabi

You can learn all about the North African country this month at Adnec – Morocco in Abu Dhabi is a festival running until March 19, with displays covering culture, architecture, art, music, food, customs and traditions, plus exhibits from the Morocco Museum Of Modern Heritage.
Until March 19
Adnec, Al Khaleej Al Arabi Street, Abu Dhabi. Tel: (02) 4446900. Taxi: Adnec. adnec.ae

Friday March 16

Walk for a good cause in Al Ain

The Al Ain Rotana has joined forces with the UAE Red Crescent for the eighth edition of the annual Walkathon For Children With Cancer. The event has raised more than Dhs700,000 since it started in 2011. All money raised will go towards helping children battling cancer at Tawam Hospital.
Al Ain Rotana, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, 8am to 11am. Taxi: Al Ain Rotana. (03) 7545111. rotana.com

Fifth Harmony live in concert

One of the biggest girl groups on the planet is coming to the nation’s capital this weekend,
and will perform their hits including Work From Home, Sledgehammer and more at the du Forum.
du Forum, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, 7pm, from Dhs655. Tel: (02) 6277997. Taxi: du Forum. thinkflash.ae

New brunch at Le Méridien

The Al Zahiyah hotel has launched The Village Kitchen Brunch, an alfresco event taking place on the grass. You can try dishes from most of the hotel’s outlets, including Italian Pappagallo, Greek outlet Acropolis, and two pubs – Captain’s Arms and NRG. There’s a play area for kids with a bouncy castle.
Le Méridien, Al Zahiyah, Abu Dhabi, 1pm to 4pm, Dhs139 to Dhs229. Tel: (02) 6446666. Taxi: Le Méridien. thevillageatlemeridienabudhabi.com

Saturday March 17

Watch a puppet show at Louvre Abu Dhabi

A Tree And A Boy is a puppet show performed by South Korea’s Befu Theatre Company. It explores the life of a boy growing up and draws parallels with the growth of a tree.
March 16 to 17
Louvre Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, Dhs50, 5pm. Tel: (600) 565566. Taxi: Louvre. louvreabudhabi.ae

Celebrate St Patrick’s Day

Check out our full guide to all the best places to go if you’re celebrating the Feast Of Saint Patrick this weekend. There’s events on at venues including McGettigan’s, Hemingways and Heroes.

Singing The Legends: A Night Of Jazz With Omar Kamal

An Abu Dhabi Festival performance, Palestinian singer and composer Omar Kamal is known for his eclectic catalogue of songs and captivating performances that range from Sinatra’s jazz and swing to tunes from timeless Arab idols like Mohammed Abdel Wahab and Fairouz.
Emirates Palace Auditorium, West Corniche Road, Abu Dhabi, 8pm, Dhs200. Tel: (050) 1299103. Taxi: Emirates Palace. abudhabifestival.ae

Celebrate The Beauty Of Women

Abu Dhabi Art Hub is celebrating International Women’s Day on March 8, and Mother’s Day on March 21 – more than 15 local and international artists are showcasing pieces at their new exhibition The Beauty Of Women. Art Hub says the exhibition shows “how exquisite and how extraordinary women are in many different ways”.
Until March 23
Abu Dhabi Art Hub, World Trade Center Mall, Al Markaziyah, Abu Dhabi, daily 10am to 10pm, free. Tel: (02) 5515005. Taxi: WTC Mall. adah.ae

There’s an art exhibition at the Fairmont

The Fairmont is hosting art by six local talents this month, and a huge name in the world of photography, as part of an inaugural exhibition by a new company created by Abu Dhabi-based artist Emily Gordon. iAM Here & Now is the first exhibition by International Artists Management, founded by long-time capital resident Gordon, to promote local and international talents (you may well have seen her work at the Fairmont before, at one of the No White Walls exhibitions – she’ll also be displaying work at this new event). Exhibiting are Australian landscape and fashion photographer Anthony Horth, plus locally-based talents Rashed Al Mansoori, Unni Kriens, Maryam Abdulla and more.
Until March 31
Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Khor Al Maqta, Abu Dhabi, free. Tel: (02) 6543238. Taxi: Fairmont Bab Al Bahr. fairmont.com/abu-dhabi, intlartmgmt.com

East meets West on Saadiyat

ADMAF’s Abu Dhabi Festival is back, and first up is From Barcelona To Abu Dhabi, a collaboration with the Barcelona Museum Of Contemporary Art. On display are works from the European museum alongside pieces by 20 Emirati talents. In total, there’ll be art on display from more than 60 creatives, spanning 90 years. Emirati artists exhibiting include Mohammed Kazem, Farah Al Qasimi, Ebtisam AbdulAziz and MA Ibrahim. Artists from the museum in Barcelona include abstract duo Gusmão & Paiva, who use 16mm film projectors for some of their pieces, the late Spanish sculptor Juan Muñoz and American conceptual artist John Baldessari.
Until March 17
Manarat Al Saadiyat, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, daily 9am to 8pm, free. Tel: (02) 6575800. Taxi: Manarat Al Saadiyat. abudhabifestival.ae

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