What’s On has a full list of all the things to do for the weekend in Abu Dhabi, including workshops, deals, sports, entertainment and new openings.

It’s the start of the weekend, folks! But if you’re not sure what you’re doing yet, don’t worry. What’s On has the perfect solution, whatever mood you are in.

Thursday April 27

Be a bookworm

Stick your nose in a book or two at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. The fair will include
a display of poetry honouring the life of the late Emirati poet Ahmed Rashid Thani.
April 26 to May 2
Adnec, Al Safraat, Abu Dhabi, daily 9am to 10pm, free entry. Tel: (02) 5995276. Taxi: Adnec. adbookfair.com

Book your tickets to see Kid Koala live

This event happens in May, but tickets are free and signup opened yesterday, so we recommend you get in now. Kid Koala is a Montreal-based scratch DJ and the man behind graphic novel Nufonia Must Fall. It’s a futuristic story of a headphone wearing robot who falls in love, told with puppets.
May 11 and 12
NYUAD Arts Center, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, Thur 8pm, Fri 4pm, free but prior registration required. Tel: (02) 6284000. Taxi: NYUAD. nyuad-artscenter.org.

Friday April 28

See Olly Murs perform live

The British singer, who found fame on TV’s X Factor talent show, performs tonight on Yas island. Click here to read our exclusive interview with him. Event organisers Flash have joined forces with the Crowne Plaza Yas Island to offer a discounted brunch package called Olly Day Out on April 28. Buy a ticket to the concert and you get 20 per cent off your brunch bill at the hotel on the same day. You can choose to eat at either Stills, Jing Asia or Barouk on the day. One ticket per brunch is required – proof of purchase necessary.
du Forum, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, 7pm, Dhs250 to Dhs400. Tel: (800) 86823. Taxi: du Forum. thinkflash.ae

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.
Khalifa City A, Abu Dhabi, Fri noon to 4pm. Tel: (02) 5564111. Taxi: near the fire station. cloud9pethotel.com
See Proud Expressions exhibition on Yas

Head to Yas Mall for Proud Expressions, a touring art exhibition and series of workshops honouring the UAE’s heroes.
Yas Mall, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, 10am to midnight, free. Tel: (02) 4146401. Taxi: Yas Mall. proudexpressions.ae
Check out a new yoga studio

YogaOne is a new venue in Al Seef that offers a mix of classes including vinyasa flow, pre-natal
and children’s yoga, as well as more unique offers such as hot hatha and yoga for athletes. The studio offers flexible timings to suit office workers, as well as hosting a beginners donation-only class on Fridays.
Mangrove One compound, Al Seef, Abu Dhabi, from Dhs75. Tel: (055) 7164845. Taxi: behind Al Seef Mall. yogaone.ae
See Lest We Forget

Explore Emirati history with Lest We Forget, an exhibition of weapons, jewellery and henna.
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

Saturday April 29

See rapper Russ, live!

Head to Ghantoot to see rapper Russ, a rising star on the US hip-hop scene who hails from Roswell, Georgia. He’s had two Billboard 100 hits so far: What They Want and Losin Control.
Golden Tulip Hotel, Ghantoot, Abu Dhabi, Sat 6pm until late, Dhs250 to Dhs550. Taxi: Golden Tulip, Ghantoot. platinumlist.net
Find a New You at the Sheraton
The hotel’s spa is offering a 90-minute tension relief massage and body scrub called New You – and you can use the Jacuzzi, sauna and spa afterwards.
Sheraton Abu Dhabi, Al Markaziyah, Abu Dhabi, daily 10am to 10pm, Dhs250. Tel: (02) 6970272. Taxi: Sheraton Corniche.sheraton abudhabihotel.com
New dishes at Tamba

What’s On crowned Tamba’s Aditya Kumar Jha our chef of the year at the 2016 What’s On Awards, and he’s now added nine new dishes to the menu at his Indian restaurant. To start, you can try soft-shell crab with khadai dip, scallops with chilli, lime and kumquat or Chettinad braised beef salad and wild veg. New mains include pan-fried sea bream with caramelised lemon and beef tenderloin with kalimiri. Veggies can try a Bihari litti green curry.
World Trade Center Mall, Al Markaziyah, Abu Dhabi, Sun to Wed noon until 1am, Thur to Sat noon until 2am. Tel: (02) 3048219. Taxi: World Trade Center Mall. tambarestaurant.com
Lots of art at NYU
But We Cannot See Them is a new exhibition focusing on visual artists, writers and filmmakers including Hassan Sharif, Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim, Jos Clevers and more. The works were created between 1988 and 2008.
Until May 25
NYUAD Arts Center, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, Mon to Sat noon to 8pm, free. Tel: (02) 6284000. Taxi: NYUAD. nyuad-artgallery.org.
Shape up at the gym in six weeks
Not quite ready to commit to a gym contract? Then check out the Big Shape Up promotion this month at the health club in Marriott Hotel Downtown Abu Dhabi. The offer allows guests to have access to the facilities (gym, rooftop pool, steam room and sauna, etc) for six weeks. What’s more, if you do decide to purchase a full membership after your trial, you’ll receive 20 per cent off the price. Yearly memberships start from Dhs9,800 for singles and Dhs14,800 for couples.
Marriott Hotel Downtown, Al Wahda, Abu Dhabi, Dhs900 for six-week trial. Tel: (02) 3047531. Taxi: Marriott Downtown, near Al Wahda Mall. sarayspaabudhabi.com
Take in a collage
UAE artists are exhibiting collages at the Al Qattara Arts Centre this month in the emirate’s garden city.
Until May 18
Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, Sat to Thur 8am to 9pm, Fri 4pm to 9pm free. Tel: (03) 7118225. Taxi: near Al Ain Sports Club. visitabudhabi.ae