8 fun things to do in Abu Dhabi this week: May 18 to 21

These are the best things to do in Abu Dhabi this week, including beach daycations, workouts, dinners and sunset strolls

Work deadlines, school runs, inbox chaos. Some weeks feel endless. Luckily, Abu Dhabi knows how to soften the edges a little. This week’s lineup of things to do includes long lunches with pool access, sunset runs, Japanese dinners worth dressing up for and even a stroll through one of the city’s most beautiful equestrian spaces. Here are some of the best things to do in Abu Dhabi this week.

Grand daycation at Verso

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A lazy afternoon at Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi sounds like exactly the right kind of midweek reset. Verso’s daycation package includes a hearty Italian set menu alongside complimentary beach and pool access, which means you can easily turn lunch into an entire afternoon stretched out under the sun. Families are welcome too, so this works just as well for a relaxed weekday catch-up as it does for a quiet solo escape with a book and an Aperol Spritz nearby.

Location: Verso, Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi

Time: Daily, 12pm to 6pm

Cost: Dhs115 for a two-course set menu; Dhs135 for a three-course set menu

Contact:  02 510 1234 

Book dinner at NIRI Restaurant & Bar

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Few restaurants in Abu Dhabi have built the kind of loyal following NIRI has. Tucked into Mamsha Al Saadiyat, the sushi counter remains the best seat in the house, especially if you want to watch the chefs work through precise sashimi cuts and beautifully assembled plates. Order the corn tempura, grilled skewers and cocktails infused with sake, yuzu and tea, then let the evening unfold naturally from there.

Location: NIRI Restaurant & Bar, Mamsha Al Saadiyat

Time: Daily, noon to 11pm

Cost: À la carte

Contact: 02 546 8886

Business lunch at W Abu Dhabi

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If your workday could use a small upgrade, this Yas Island business lunch does the trick nicely. For Dhs75, guests can tuck into a three-course menu at Garage at W Abu Dhabi while looking out over Yas Marina Circuit. It is polished enough for meetings, relaxed enough for an overdue lunch break and affordable enough to justify escaping the office for an hour or two.

Location: Garage, W Abu Dhabi, Yas Island

Time: Daily, 12:30pm to 3:30pm

Cost: Dhs75 for three courses

Contact: 02 656 0000

Stroll around The Royal Stables

One of Abu Dhabi’s quietest hidden gems sits right in the middle of the city. The Royal Stables offers shaded pathways, open paddocks and a calm atmosphere that feels worlds away from busy roads and office towers. Visitors can meet the horses, walk through the grounds and simply slow down for an hour or two. Golden hour here is especially beautiful.

Location: The Royal Stables, Abu Dhabi, Al Mushrif Area

Time: 8am to 12pm; 3pm to 7pm

Cost: Free entry

Contact: 02 447 8111

Slow evenings at Alba Terrace

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Alba Terrace gets the pace exactly right. The Mediterranean-inspired restaurant at The Abu Dhabi EDITION invites guests to settle in slowly with a three-course menu featuring burrata, truffle tagliolini, seafood paella and classic tiramisu. Add the free-flow drinks package and suddenly dinner turns into a long, easy evening where nobody rushes to leave the table.

Location: Alba Terrace, The Abu Dhabi EDITION

Time: Daily, 6pm to 11pm

Cost: Dhs120 with free-flow soft beverages; Dhs220 with free-flow house beverages

Contact: 02 208 0000

Sweat it out at TrainYAS

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Running on an actual Formula 1 track never really gets old. TrainYAS opens Yas Marina Circuit to walkers, runners and cyclists twice a week, turning one of Abu Dhabi’s most famous landmarks into a giant outdoor fitness space. Some people come to push themselves. Others stroll with family while the sun sets over the circuit. Either way, it beats another treadmill session indoors.

Location: Yas Marina Circuit

Time: Mondays and Wednesdays, 6pm to 10pm

Cost: Free with registration

Contact: TrainYAS

Morning Zumba at The Galleria

If your workout playlist deserves a proper audience, The Galleria’s Zumba mornings are calling. The sessions combine cardio with Latin-inspired dance moves and feel far more like a party than exercise. It is energetic, upbeat and a good way to shake off the stress before the rest of the day begins.

Location: The Galleria, Al Maryah Island

Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9am to 10am

Cost: Free

Contact: 02 493 7400

Golden hour run at Bab Al Nojoum

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This Hudayriyat Island sunset run comes with serious main character energy. The 5km route loops around the coastline just as the sky starts changing colour, followed by complimentary drinks once everyone crosses the finish line. Even if running is not usually your thing, this one makes a convincing argument.

Location: Bab Al Nojoum, Hudayriyat Island

Time: Tuesdays, 5:30pm

Cost: Free

Contact: babalnojoum_hudayriyat