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

Thursday March 1

Sevilla wants you to meet the meat

In need of a protein fix? Al Raha Beach Hotel’s Sevilla restaurant has launched Meet The Meat, a new Thursday night event for lovers of beef, lamb and chicken. On the menu is country sausages, mulwarra lamb, barbecue spare ribs, and more.
Al Raha Beach Hotel, Al Raha, Abu Dhabi, Thur 6.30pm to 10.30pm, Dhs195 with soft drinks. Tel: (02) 5080555. Taxi: Al Raha Beach Hotel. alrahabeach.danathotels.com

New healthy grub at Loca

Loca has created several new dishes for its menu that place an emphasis on gardenfresh, light ingredients. On it you’ll find papaya salad with cottage cheese and avocado, a burrito salad, a tomato soup and Caldo De Buey, an oxtail bone broth.
The Galleria, Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi, daily noon to 2am, from Dhs59. Tel: (02) 5823639. Taxi: The Galleria. locauae.com

East meets West on Saadiyat at a new exhibition

ADMAF’s Abu Dhabi Festival is back, and first up is From Barcelona To Abu Dhabi, a collaboration with the Barcelona Museum Of Contemporary Art. On display are works from the European museum alongside pieces by 20 Emirati talents. In total, there’ll be art on display from more than 60 creatives, spanning 90 years. Emirati artists exhibiting include Mohammed Kazem, Farah Al Qasimi, Ebtisam AbdulAziz and MA Ibrahim. Artists from the museum in Barcelona include abstract duo Gusmão & Paiva, who use 16mm film projectors for some of their pieces, the late Spanish sculptor Juan Muñoz and American conceptual artist John Baldessari.
Until March 17
Manarat Al Saadiyat, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, daily 9am to 8pm, free. Tel: (02) 6575800. Taxi: Manarat Al Saadiyat. abudhabifestival.ae

New art exhibition at the Fairmont

The Fairmont is hosting art by six local talents this month, and a huge name in the world of photography, as part of an inaugural exhibition by a new company created by Abu Dhabi-based artist Emily Gordon. iAM Here & Now is the first exhibition by International Artists Management, founded by long-time capital resident Gordon, to promote local and international talents (you may well have seen her work at the Fairmont before, at one of the No White Walls exhibitions – she’ll also be displaying work at this new event). Exhibiting are Australian landscape and fashion photographer Anthony Horth, plus locally-based talents Rashed Al Mansoori, Unni Kriens, Maryam Abdulla and more.
Until March 31
Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Khor Al Maqta, Abu Dhabi, free. Tel: (02) 6543238. Taxi: Fairmont Bab Al Bahr. fairmont.com/abu-dhabi, intlartmgmt.com

Friday March 2

Asia de Cuba has an all white party

The Chino-Latino fusion restaurant on the Corniche is partying for 13 hours this Friday – there’s just one rule, you must turn up wearing white.
Nation Riviera, Corniche Road, Abu Dhabi, Fri 1pm to 2am, Dhs380 to Dhs570. Tel: (02) 6993333. Taxi: opposite St Regis, Corniche. asiadecuba.com

Byblos Sur Mer has a new brunch

Grab a spot on the terrace overlooking the Arabian Gulf for this new, Mediterranean-themed brunch. On the menu you’ll find lamb tajjin, shakriyeh with lamb shank, a falafel station, grills, salads and desserts including Moroccan sweets.
InterContinental, Al Bateen, Abu Dhabi, Fri 1pm to 4pm, Dhs180 to Dhs350. Tel: (800) 423463. Taxi: InterContinental Abu Dhabi. dining-intercontinental-ad.ae

Try a new Street Food Brunch

You’ll need to head to the beach at the back of the Bab Al Qasr Hotel for a new brunch that’s a little different to most you’ll find in the city. First off, its opening hours are certainly unique – this is a nine-hour affair that runs on both Fridays and Saturdays (they show movies in the evening, and there’s a guitarist singing songs during the day). It features children’s activities such as a bouncy castle and the décor is neat – you can eat in cabanas, and some of the counters look like food trucks. It’s also pretty good value for money – the soft drinks package is Dhs180
Bab Al Qasr Hotel, Al Khubeirah, Abu Dhabi, Fri and Sat 1pm to 10pm, Dhs180 to Dhs350. Tel: (02) 2053003. Taxi: Bab Al Qasr, Corniche. millenniumhotels.com

Fly a kite on Bani Yas

The annual Sir Bani Yas Kite Fest takes place this weekend, and the entry fee includes a kite kit plus water taxi transfer from Jebel Dhanna, and island transportation to and from the event. Camping packages are also available, with prices starting at Dhs580. There’ll also be a complimentary sausage sizzle, music and games for the kids included in the entry fee.
March 2
Desert Islands Resort & Spa, Abu Dhabi, Sir Bani Yas Island, Fri 11am to 5pm, Dhs150, Dhs100 children. Tel: (02) 8015400. Taxi: Sir Bani Yas Island. sir-bani-yas-island.anantara.com

Truckers Beats on Yas

Live music and 15 food trucks await you and your belly on Yas Island, along with a craft market.
Yas Links, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Tel: (055) 5502261. Taxi: Yas Links golf course. truckers.ae

Find out What The Ladybird Heard

A stage version of the classic children’s book What The Ladybird Heard is coming to Abu Dhabi. Art For All are the company putting on this tale of two robbers, Hefty Huge and Lanky Len, who try to steal a farmer’s prize cow, only to discover a whole load of animals have ganged up on them, thanks to their very own spy – a canny ladybird. It’s suitable for children aged two and above and the show lasts 50 minutes. The book was written by Julia Donaldson, who penned the classic Gruffalo stories.
March 2
Abu Dhabi Theatre, Breakwater, Abu Dhabi, timings TBC, Dhs155 to Dhs180. Tel: (04) 3042340. Taxi: near Marina Mall. artforall.ae

Got an idea? Head to Saadiyat

The Abu Dhabi Ideas Weekend, a festival about innovation, takes place on Saadiyat this weekend. Back for a second year, The Ideas Weekend will feature workshops examining the challenges currently facing the world, and will look at what some of the planet’s greatest minds are doing to solve them. Taking place on NYU’s walkways, it’s billed as a street festival and is aimed at families. As well as the talks, there’ll be musical performances on both evening and there will also be interactive experiences, games, food stalls and art to keep all the family entertained.
March 2 and 3
NYU Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi, Fri and Sat 3pm to 10pm. Taxi: NYU. ideasweekend.ae

New venue for the Eat.Play.Laugh brunch

Fancy dining out alfresco this weekend? The Marriott Downtown’s adults-only brunch has moved to the hotel’s rooftop bar Grill@25.
Marriott Hotel Downtown, Al Wahda, Abu Dhabi, 12.30pm, to 4pm. Dhs330 to Dhs540. Tel: (02) 3047777. Taxi: Marriott Downtown, near Al Wahda Mall. marriott.com

Go see From One Louvre To Another

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 features 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

Saturday March 3

It’s the ITU World Triathlon this weekend

The ITU sees professional and amateur athletes race each other at the same time on Yas this weekend, as they swim, run and cycle for glory. The famous Brownlee brothers, from the UK, are competing this year. Not taking part? Still head here for food trucks, a climbing wall, a bike park and an inflatables zone, a market place selling sporting goods, and an athletes’ area with physiotherapy and live music.
March 2 and 3
Yas Marina Circuit, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, prices vary, 7.30am. Taxi: Yas Marina Circuit. premieronline.com, triathlon.org

Get shocked and get fit

There’s a new way to shed lots of calories in less time – Voltfit is a 20-minute session that will burn the equivalent of a four-hour workout session. So how does it do it? With electric shocks, but not ones big enough to make smoke come out of your ears. The mild current stimulates your muscles (it’s known as EMS, Electrical Muscle Stimulation) and not only will it increase the effectiveness of your session, it’s also claimed it can help with muscle recovery afterwards.
Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Khor Al Maqta, Abu Dhabi, Dhs300, Dhs4,250 for 16 sessions. Tel: (02) 6543238. Taxi: Fairmont. fairmont.com/abu-dhabi

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