Your guide to all the events taking place in the nation’s capital over the next few days – What’s On would like to wish all our readers Eid Mubarak!

Thursday June 14

The World Cup starts today

Four weeks of international football kicks off tonight when host nation Russia take on our neighbours Saudi Arabia. Click here for your guide to where you can catch all the games in the capital.

Win at Emirates Park Zoo

The zoo has several promotions running to mark the Eid weekend, including a Spin The Wheel competition and money-off vouchers for activities in the zoo. There’s also raffle prizes up for grabs, including a one night stay at the zoo, plus passes to the park’s summer camp.
Emirates Park Zoo, Al Bahia, Abu Dhabi. Tel: (02) 5010000. Taxi: Emirates Park Zoo. emiratesparkzooandresort.com

Friday June 15

Eid fireworks at Yas Marina

The first day of Eid is expected to be today (depending on the lunar sighting), and Yas Marina will have three nights of fireworks, plus carnival games and a night market. Click here to learn more.
Yas Marina, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, Eid Al Fitr weekend, daily until late, free. yasmarina.ae

Zayed: Story Of A Nation exhibition

You can check out artworks by students in Abu Dhabi that celebrate Sheikh Zayed at Saadiyat’s cultural hub.
Manarat Al Saadiyat, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, daily 11am to 5pm, free entry. Taxi: Manarat Al Saadiyat. visitabudhabi.ae

Eid celebrations and culture in Al Ain

To mark the end of Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr, Al Ain’s five museums are hosting events on the second and third days of Eid that are free to attend. The museums taking part are Al Jahili Fort, Al Ain Palace Museum, Al Ain Oasis, Al Ain Museum and Qasr Al Muwaiji and they’ll be showcasing Emirati hospitality and visitors can learn about traditional folklore, food, clothing and celebrations. Kids can meet cartoon characters at Al Jahili Fort.

Go collecting at Etihad Modern Art Gallery

Etihad Modern Art Gallery’s annual exhibition and souq are back, giving you the chance to admire works by local artists, and maybe even buy a piece. The artworks on display have been featured at all of the gallery’s shows over the past year, and the event is now in its fifth year. The souq will be selling a selection of contemporary art pieces, including modern acrylic and oil paintings and digital prints.
Until July 31
Etihad Modern Art Gallery, Al Bateen, Abu Dhabi, free entry. Tel: (02) 6210145. Taxi: Al Bateen Mall. etihadmodernart.com

Have brunch at Roberto’s

The Italian outlet on Al Maryah is serving a special edition of its Andiamo Brunch on Friday to mark Eid, and its family Pranzo Brunch on Saturday.
The Galleria, Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi, prices and timings vary. Tel: (02) 6279009. Taxi: The Galleria on Al Maryah Island. robertos.ae

Even more fireworks displays

To get you even more into the Eid spirit, there will be a five-minute firework display taking place at Abu Dhabi Corniche and Hazza bin Zayed stadium in Al Ain on Friday, June 15 at 9pm.

Ferrari World’s 24-hour Rollercoaster Rally returns

Yas Island’s theme park will once again this Eid be open for 24-hours, starting today at 11am. The park will be showcasing four zones based on the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. As well as the rides, you’ll be able to try roller skating, hula hooping, and more and there’ll be music performances and a retro gaming area.
Ferrari World, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, from 11am. Tel: (02) 4968000. Taxi: Ferrari World. ferrariworldabudhabi.com

Saturday June 16

Urban RetrEAT opens at Yas Mall

There’s a new place to eat at Yas Island’s gigantic shopping centre – and it’s a place where you’ll be able to try 12 cuisines. Urban RetrEAT features UAE street food vendors on a three-month rotation, meaning you’ll be able to try a variety of dishes from all over the globe. Vendors that have signed up for it include seafood outlet Off The Hook, Latin-American food truck Casa Latina, Firefly Burger and Casa De Churros.
Yas Mall, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Taxi: Yas Mall. urbanretreat.me

Go on a shopping spree and get discounts

Good news, shoppers. The Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT) has announced that the capital will see a city-wide sale as part of Eid Fest celebrations. Kicking off at 10am on Friday, June 15, and running a full 24-hours until 10am on Saturday, June 16, the shopping extravaganza is inspired by the runaway success of last year’s Mega Sale at Yas Mall. A total of seven participating shopping malls will be offering discounts of up to 90 per cent. The malls taking part are: World Trade Centre (WTC) Mall, Al Jimi Mall, Dalma Mall, Hili Mall, Marina Mall and Bawadi Mall, with Yas Mall yet again participating.

Go for brunch at Olives

The outlet owned by celebrity chef Todd English is serving brunch between 12.30pm and 9pm and there’ll be live music as well.
Venetian Village, Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal, Abu Dhabi, Dhs199 to Dhs409. Tel: (02) 4041941. Taxi: Venetian Village. venetianvillage.ae

Eid brunch at Saadiyat Rotana

The new hotel on Saadiyat Island is hosting its Eid brunch at all-day dining outlet Sim Sim. There’s also a kids’ area, with face painting, art classes and martial arts and hip hop mini classes.
Saadiyat Rotana Resort & Villas, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, 12pm to 4pm, Dhs285 to Dhs395. Tel: (02) 6970000. Taxi: Saadiyat Rotana. rotana.com

Learn about Sheikh Zayed at The Galleria

This year, the UAE has been celebrating what would have been Sheikh Zayed’s 100th birthday, and during June you can learn more about the country’s founding father at a new photography exhibition. Running throughout the Holy Month, on display are 40 images, many of which show the impact of his legacy on the country and important landmarks in the UAE’s history. There’s photos of the opening of the country’s first national university in 1977, plus an image of Sheikh Zayed with Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed Al Qassimi and Sir Geoffrey Arthur, who was a British resident in the Gulf, before the signing of the Treaty Of Friendship, between the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom, at the Jumeirah Palace in Dubai in 1971.
Until June 17
The Galleria, Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi, Sat to Wed 10am to 10pm, Thur 10am to midnight, Fri noon to midnight, free. Taxi: Galleria. Tel: (02) 6166999. galleria.ae

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