There’s world-class tennis stars at Zayed Sports City, dune bashing carnage in the Western Region, plus so much more

Thursday December 28

See some of the biggest stars in tennis

Today is the first day of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship. Players including Dominic Thiem and Novak Djokovic are competing, and for the first time, two of the sport’s biggest female stars are also going head-to-head – Serena Williams and Jelena Ostapenko.
Abu Dhabi International Tennis Centre, Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi, Dhs50 (kids) to Dhs1,795. Tel: (800) 86823. Taxi: Zayed Sports City. mubadalawtc.com

The New Year’s Eve Countdown Village is officially open

Making its debut this year is the Countdown Village. It’ll have live music, a fireworks show, 50 F&B outlets, a balloon park, glowing kites and a graffiti wall. There’ll be a concert on NYE with local, homegrown performers playing, plus a laser show. The singers performing on NYE are Egyptian star Tamer Hosny and Emirati singer Hussein Al Jasmi.
December 28 to 31
Breakwater, Corniche, Abu Dhabi, timings and prices TBC. Taxi: Breakwater, near Marina Mall. Tel: (800) 5000. abudhabievents.ae

Check out the Liwa Sports Festival

Watch brave souls try to conquer the Tel Moreeb dune at the Liwa Sports Festival. The nine-day festival will feature drag races, camel races, bike races, motocross challenges and even host a classic cars competition in the Liwa Desert.
Until January 5
Moreeb Dune, Liwa, Al Gharbia, Abu Dhabi, timings vary. Tel: (050) 6668997. Taxi: Moreeb Dune, Liwa Desert. lsc.ae

New menu at Bord Eau

The Shangri-La’s What’s On Award-winning French restaurant Bord Eau has revamped its menu. On it you’ll find a six-course set menu featuring starters such as duck foie gras with fresh fig, mains including oven-baked black seabream and Australian Wagyu beef tenderloin and chocolate tart for dessert. A seafood, four-course menu inspired by the French Riviera has also been added.
Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi, Sun to Fri 6.30pm to 11.30pm. Tel: (02) 5098511. Taxi: Shangri-La, Qaryat Al Beri. shangri-la.com

Check out a cool UAE-themed exhibition

emARTi 46 is on at Le Royal Meridien and features artworks from talents from all seven emirates. The exhibition looks at the country’s tradition, heritage and spirit.
Until December 29
Le Royal Meridien, Al Markaziyah, Abu Dhabi, 9am to late. Taxi: Le Royal Meridien. Tel: (02) 6742020. leroyalmeridienabudhabi.com

Friday December 29

There’s an awesome photography exhibition on Saadiyat

Check out photos from the past ten years of the Emirates Photography Competition.
Until March 31
Manarat Al Saadiyat, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi. Tel: (800) 555. Taxi: Manarat Al Saadiyat. abudhabievents.ae

New brunch on offer at Toro Toro

The pan-Latino giant is now serving brunch every Friday. On the menu you’ll find smoked guacamole, seafood ceviche, salads, a taco stand, empanadas and cachapas and sides such as sweet potato fries and quinoa salad. There’s also an ice cream stand for dessert. Live music will be performed on the day from the outlet’s Cuban house band.
Jumeirah At Etihad Towers, Al Khubeirah, Abu Dhabi, Dhs295 to Dhs545. Tel: (02) 8115882. Taxi: Etihad Towers. d2.fajridemo.com/torotoro

A new exhibition at The Louvre

The inaugural special exhibition at Louvre Abu Dhabi, From One Louvre To Another: Opening A Museum For Everyone, traces the history of Musée du Louvre in Paris and will run throughout the first quarter of 2018. It will feature approximately 145 significant paintings, sculptures, decorative arts and other pieces from the collections of Musée du Louvre and Château de Versailles.
Louvre Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi. Tel: (600) 565566. Taxi: Louvre Abu Dhabi. louvreabudhabi.ae

Learn all about the Trucial Scouts

This exhibition in Abu Dhabi’s garden city of Al Ain looks at the history of the region’s security force from the 1950s.
Until April 2018
Al Jahili Fort, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, free. Tel: (800) 555. Taxi: Al Jahili Fort. abudhabievents.ae

Have a lazy lunch at Tamba

The What’s On Award-winning Indian outlet has launched a new Lazy Lunch concept for Fridays. The menu features 20 dishes that are served to your table.
WTC Mall, Al Markaziyah, Abu Dhabi, Fri 12.30pm to 4pm. Tel: (02) 6728888. Taxi: WTC Mall. tambarestaurant.com

There’s a new McGettigan’s in Al Ain

Located at the Danat Al Ain Resort, the new McGettigan’s is designed just like its sister bar in Abu Dhabi with the addition of a huge terrace overlooking the hotel’s pool. It has 12 large screens showing sport, a menu featuring classic Irish dishes, and a daily happy hour.
Danat Al Ain Resort, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi. Taxi: Al Ain Danat. Tel: (03)7046000. mcgettigans.com

Winterfest at Ferrari World

The Yas Island themepark becomes a winter wonderland to celebrate Christmas, for the fifth year in a row. There’s snow slides for kids to try, plus an ice skating show called Fairytales On Ice featuring seven international performers. There’s also an elf school and kids can hang out with Bjorn the Polar Bear in a snowy play area.
Until January 6
Ferrari World, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, timings vary. Taxi: Ferrari World. Tel: (02) 4968000. ferrariworldabudhabi.com

Visit the Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival

Learn about the UAE’s founding father at this annual festival – expect spectacular parades, falconry shows and plenty more.
Until January 27
Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi, timings TBC. Tel: (800) 555. Taxi: Al Wathba, near the cycle track. abudhabievents.ae

Saturday December 30

Get your kids on their bikes

Cycle For Health UAE, an event organised by Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi with Healthpoint and the Imperial College London Diabetes Centre, takes place in Zayed Sports City – on the day you’ll find a 1.9km-long course for beginner cyclists to hurtle around. It’ll take you on a loop of the stadium at Zayed City, plus closed roads. There are bikes and helmets available for you to use for free and the event is very much aimed at families and beginners who want to find out more about the benefits of pedal power. There’ll be lessons for kids taking their first steps on a bike. There’ll also be free health screenings on the day, workshops on exercises you can try, plus healthy food cookery demos.
Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi, Sat 8am to 1pm, free. Taxi: Zayed Sports City. clevelandclinicabudhabi.ae

See In The Making at Warehouse 421

There’s something missing from Warehouse 421’s new exhibition – every object on display is incomplete, or only partly made. Think half-built computers, musical instruments and pieces of sports equipment. In The Making is in Abu Dhabi as part of the UK/UAE 2017 Year Of Collaboration, a series of events and exhibitions put on by both countries.
Until February 11
Warehouse 421, Mina Zayed, Abu Dhabi, timings and prices TBC. Taxi: Warehouse 421 next to COOP in Mina Zayed. warehouse421.ae

Save at the spa

Iridium Spa is offering 90-minute massages at the discounted price of Dhs520 (instead of
Dhs915) if you book it in the morning.
The St Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi, daily 9am to 2pm. Tel: (02) 4988996. Taxi: Saadiyat. iridiumspaabudhabi.com

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