Our picks: 14 things to do in Abu Dhabi this weekend
Your guide to all the things you can do over the weekend in the nation’s capital, such as workshops, deals, sports, entertainment and new openings
Thursday July 27
Listen to opera at Circo
Italian restaurant Circo in the Intercon hosts Vox Livens tonight, who’ll be singing Italian opera favourites.
InterContinental Abu Dhabi, Al Bateen, Abu Dhabi. Tel: (02) 6666888. Taxi: InterContinental Abu Dhabi. ihg.com, voxlivens@gmail.com
Go and see 2017’s biggest movie so far – Dunkirk
Written and directed by Christopher Nolan, the hotly-anticipated film adaptation of the ‘Miracle of Dunkirk’ – the great rescue of 400,000 allied troops during one of the fiercest battles of World War II – places the viewer directly amidst the chaos. The carnage is intense: ships sinking into the English Channel, a beach addled with ravaged soldiers whilst dogfights swoop overhead. It has opened to rave reviews worldwide.
See Talents Around The World
Featuring an all-star lineup, this stage production is part of Abu Dhabi Summer Season and brings together a group of performers who have competed on their country’s Got Talent TV series. Artists include India’s Got Talent stars XIX Crew, a hip hop dance group as well as Irish tap dancers Narnia, acrobatic performers Habasha Circus Group and Khulan Circus Group and Ukrainian Shadow show performers Verba.
Until Aug 31
Bawadi Mall, Meyzad Road, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, daily 5pm to 10pm, free. Tel: (03) 7840000 Taxi: Bawadi Mall
Learn about Emirati history
Take a trip back in time and explore Emirati history with Lest We Forget: Emirati Adornment: Tangible & Intangible, an exhibition of weapons, jewellery, henna and more.
Until August 27
Warehouse421, Mina Zayed, Abu Dhabi, Tue to Sun 10am to 8pm, free. Taxi: Warehouse421 next to COOP in Mina Zayed. warehouse421.ae, lwf.ae
Boogie to R ’n’ B at Empire
Abu Dhabi has a new nightclub – Empire opened last weekend at the Yas Viceroy, and offers revellers a panoramic view of the city’s F1 track and state of the art LED and sound systems. Thursday is R ’n’ B night.
Yas Viceroy, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, Mon, Tue, Thur 11pm to 3.30am, Fri 10pm to 3.30am, free entry, table bookings from Dhs2,000. Tel: (050) 5015052. Taxi: Yas Viceroy. facebook.com/empireyas
Make a splash at pool party Cachée
The second edition of new pool party/club night Cachée takes place at Saadiyat Beach Club and promises live performers, gourmet food, fire shows and DJs spinning the wheels of steel. Saif and Sound, DJ SLIM, and DJ KaBoo are on decks duty tonight.
Saadiyat Beach Club, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, Dhs80 entry (ladies), Dhs200 (gents). Tel: (02) 6563500. Taxi: Saadiyat Beach Club. saadiyatbeachclub.ae
Check out a new NYU exhibition
Woven Identities is a new exhibition on Saadiyat that looks at the often transient lifestyle that people lead in the UAE and examines how we conform to our environment.
The Art Gallery at NYU, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, Mon to Sat noon to 8pm, free but prior registration is required. Taxi: NYUAD. nyuad-artgallery.org.
Friday July 28
Adopt a pet
Abu Dhabi’s pet hotel Cloud9 is having an adoption day today – there are dogs, cats and bunnies all looking for new homes and loving owners.
Street 23, Villa 2, Khalifa City A, Abu Dhabi, Fri 4pm to 8pm. Tel: (02) 5564111. Taxi: near the fire station. cloud9pethotel.com
New menu at Ray’s Grill
Ray’s Grill, on the 63rd floor of Jumeirah At Etihad Towers, is offering new steaks from Argentina, France and Ireland and it also has a new signature dishes selection, featuring teriyaki beef short rib, a seafood mixed grill, plus beef Wellington with truffled celeriac purée and grilled asparagus.
Jumeirah at Etihad Towers, Al Khubeirah, Abu Dhabi, daily 12.30 to 3.30pm, 7pm to 11.30pm.
Tel: (02) 8115666. Taxi: Jumeirah At Etihad Towers. jumeirah.com
There’s a new art exhibition at Emirates Palace
Equus & Folium is an exhibition of large-scale paintings of horses and digital paintings of leaves by Bernado Nieves and Daniela Carletti. You’ll find it in Italian restaurant Mezzaluna.
Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi, daily 12.30pm to 7pm, free. Tel: (02) 6907999. Taxi: Emirates Palace. swissartgateuae.com
Party with Masha & The Bear On Ice
Inspired by Russian fairy tale Masha & The Bear, this Abu Dhabi Summer Season show on ice features more than 30 figure-skaters, dancers and acrobats who come together to showcase their skills in colourful costumes through music and drama.
July 28 to 29
Zayed Sports City Ice Rink, Abu Dhabi, Fri 3pm and 6.30pm, Sat 3pm. Dhs95 to Dhs245, Tel: (02) 4034200 Taxi: Zayed Sports City. tixbox.com
Go for brunch at The Foundry
The Southern Sun’s Raising The Steaks brunch returns for a special one-off event in July, with grilled steaks, a foie gras station, lamb shank, beef tartare, seared salmon and churros on the menu.
Southern Sun Abu Dhabi, Al Zahiyah, Abu Dhabi, 12.30pm to 4pm, Dhs229 to Dhs369. Tel: (02) 8184888. Taxi: Southern Sun, near Corniche Hospital. tsogosunhotels.com
Saturday July 29
Check out a very long happy hour
The Tavern’s happy hour lasts for five hours every Saturday to Wednesday, with drinks priced as low as Dhs20.
Until August 31
Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort, Corniche Road, Abu Dhabi, 8pm to 1am. Tel: (02) 6773333. Taxi: Sheraton Corniche. tavernpubabudhabi.com
Get creative at Warehouse421’s camp
The art hub in Mina Port is running workshops for kids and grown-ups this summer. A variety of sessions are available covering topics such as yoga, ceramics, 3D printing, table decorating, board games and aboriginal art. All in all, Warehouse421 is holding more than 50 workshops and sessions – that’s far too many to list, but click here for a preview of some that caught our eye.
Until August 10
Warehouse421, Mina Zayed, Abu Dhabi. Taxi: Warehouse421 next to COOP in Mina Zayed. warehouse421.ae