Our picks: 14 things to do in Abu Dhabi this weekend

Written by:
Andy Sherwood
1st March 2018

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

Thursday April 12

Try a Thursday night sushi brunch

SushiSan in the Holiday Inn has launched a new Fusion Brunch for Thursday evenings, feauturing a DJ plus dishes such as sushi platters, a dim sum buffet, a deep fried station, Asian salads, soups and a 10-option sashimi bar.
Holiday Inn Abu Dhabi, Airport Road, Abu Dhabi, Thur from 6.30pm, Dhs185 to Dhs245. Tel: (800) 78744726. Taxi: Airport Road. sushisan.ae

Check out a new exhibition at the Louvre

Louvre Abu Dhabi has joined forces with the National library of France for its latest exhibition that examines the history of how humanity has viewed planet Earth as a sphere. Globes: Visions Of The World features more than 40 globes and spheres, some of which date back 2,500 years. In total, the exhibition features 160 works from France’s Bibliothèque nationale.
Until 2 June
Louvre Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, Dhs60, under-12s free. Tel: (600) 565566. Taxi: Louvre. louvreabudhabi.ae

Fashion meets art in Al Ain

The Garden City is hosting an exhibition of fashion illustrations over the next few months. Lines And Stitches features designs by UAE artists and inside you’ll find 21 pieces, along with eight art installations. There will also be workshops, hosted by fashion designers and illustrators from the UAE, every Saturday while the exhibition is running.
Until June 14
Al Qattara Arts Centre, Al Ain, Sat to Thur, 9am to 8pm, free entry. Tel: (03) 7118225. Taxi: Al Qattara Arts Centre. abudhabievents.ae

Make a splash at ladies’ night

Yas Waterworld’s ladies’ nights are back and running every Thursday.
Yas Waterworld, Abu Dhabi, Thur 6pm to 11pm. Tel: (02) 414200. Taxi: Yas Waterworld. yaswaterworld.com

Friday April 13

There’s a family festival on at A’l Bahar

The new area on the Corniche has a festival on this weekend with lots of activities for kids, including sand art, arts and crafts, wax modelling and an animal farm. There’s also a bouncy village, carnival games, jugglers, puppet shows, magicians and a giant bubble show.
April 13 to 14
A’l Bahar – Abu Dhabi Corniche, Corniche, Abu Dhabi. Tel: (800) 86823. Taxi: Abu Dhabi Corniche. al-bahar.ae

See live comedy at the InterCon

Head to Al Bateen for VDesi Laughs, a night of stand-up comedy featuring Daniel Fernandes, one of India’s leading English stand-up comedians. He headlined Comedy Zone Asia at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2016 where he also performed his solo show Daniel Fernandes – Unoffended. His TV credits include ABC TV’s Comedy Up Late aired in Australia and Comedy Central Asia’s Stand-Up Asia.
InterContinental, Al Bateen, Abu Dhabi. Tel: (050) 4685355. Taxi: InterContinental. platinumlist.net

Paw Patrol Live! is on at the du Forum

Do the names Chase, Ryder, Rubble and Skye mean anything to you? If they do, chances are you’re five years old – or a parent with a kid who watches the Canadian cartoon Paw Patrol on Nickelodean. The show, about a kid called Ryder who lives in Adventure Bay with his pals, a group of dogs who help him solve problems, has become a global phenomenon since it launched in 2013. Now you can see Paw Patrol Live!, a stage version of it, this weekend in the capital.
April 13 to 14
du Forum, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi,11am and 3pm, Dhs105 to Dhs315. Taxi: du Forum. thinkflash.ae

Celebrate Middle Eastern culture at Yas Marina

This weekend’s family friendly Decked Out event at Yas Marina is called Arabian Nights and there’ll be falconry shows, henna art, calligraphy classes, game stalls and a screening of the kids’ movie Aladdin.
April 13 to 14
Yas Marina, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, Fri to Sat, 3pm to 7pm. Taxi: Yas Marina. yasmarina.ae

Head to the Pet festival on Yas

The annual Pet Festival returns to Yas Island, with workshops on pet health, training, nutrition and even fashion shows taking place. Vets will also be in attendance, giving out advice on how to look after your fluffy friend in the UAE. There’ll also be play zones for children and craft bazaars.
April 13
du Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Taxi: du arena. petfestival.ae

Send your kids to Mermaid School

Yes, you read that right – Yas Waterworld is hosting mermaid classes over the next few weekends. Aimed at kids aged six and above, they’ll spend an hour in the morning learning to swim with a tail (the park will supply one if you don’t have a mermaid tail lying around at home). If you don’t have an annual pass for the park, it costs Dhs195 for the mermaids, but the price includes entry into the park for the rest of the day.
April 13 to 14
Yas Waterworld, Abu Dhabi, Fri to Sat, 9am, 10am, 11am, Dhs95 to Dhs195. Tel: (02) 414200. Taxi: Yas Waterworld. yaswaterworld.com

New exhibition at Warehouse421

For the past two years, UAE art has been making waves in Italy, and has been exhibited at the renowned Venice Biennale, an arts organisation based in the city. Now, those works are on display at Warehouse421 until June.
Warehouse421, Mina Zayed, Abu Dhabi, free. Taxi: Warehouse421 next to COOP in Mina Zayed. warehouse421.ae

Saturday April 14

Go glamping in the city

Fancy going camping but don’t like the idea of getting covered in mud and sleeping in a tiny tent? The Westin has launched a new glamping concept in its gardens – you’ll get to spend the night in a huge tent that is big enough to hold a double bed with room to spare, plus it comes with air con. What’s more, you get an Arabic breakfast and a barbecue dinner included in the price.
The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa, Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi, Dhs650. Tel: (02) 6169999. Taxi: Westin. westinabudhabigolfresort.com

New Saturday brunch at Roberto’s

The classy Italian has a family-friendly brunch on Saturdays called Pranzo in Gardino (Lunch In The Garden), which offer an “afternoon picnic vibe” plus activities for kids including face painting. To eat, you’ll get to try the oyster and cocktail bar, share five antipasti dishes, a choice of one main, ice cream, a chocolate platter and signature cocktails.
The Galleria, Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi, 12pm to 4pm, Dhs245, kids under free eat for free. Tel: (02) 6279009. Taxi: The Galleria on Al Maryah Island. robertos.ae

Seek out The New Identity

Etihad Modern Art Gallery’s latest exhibition The New Identity features an all-female cast of young UAE-based artists. Talents displaying in the exhibition include Emirati analogue photographer Amira Al Awadhi and Palestinian-Swedish rising star Alaa Mahmoud Alqedra, who sculpts and creates installations and drawings using household items such as kitchen tools and Lego.
Until April 30
Etihad Modern Art Gallery, Al Bateen, Abu Dhabi, free entry. Tel: (02) 6210145. Taxi: Al Bateen Mall. etihadmodernart.com