Your guide to all the things you can do over the weekend in the nation’s capital, including workshops, deals, sports, entertainment and new openings.


Thursday August 24

Check out DJ Lee Van Dowski at Iris

The French-born, Swiss-raised melodic house and techno DJ performs on Yas Island at Iris tonight.

Yas Marina, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, 9pm to late, free entry. Tel: (055) 1605636. Taxi: Yas Marina. irisabudhabi.com

The Galleria turns four

The mall on Al Maryah Island is hosting its fourth birthday celebrations this weekend. There’s a cake cutting and balloon drop tonight at 7.30pm, and the first 30 guests who pass by the concierge desk and wish the centre a happy birthday will receibe a free gift bag. The first 400 guests will get a slice of cake from Gossip Café.

The Galleria, Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi, Thur to Sat 3pm to 9pm, free entry. Tel: (02) 6777271. Taxi: Galleria. thegalleria.ae

See The Hitman’s Bodyguard

Teaming Ryan Reynolds with Samuel L Jackson is an absolute master stroke in this comedy thriller. They play high-level bodyguard Michael Bryce and notorious hitman Darius Kincaid on the hunt for an eastern European dictator (Gary Oldman) in exchange for getting Darius’ wife (Salma Hayek) out of prison. Reynolds and Jackson deliver a solid comedy that’s both machine gun-quick on action and laughs – we’d be surprised if there wasn’t a sequel already on the cards. It’s in UAE cinemas from today.

Check out an abaya exhibition

The second Abaya & Jalabiya exhibition is on at Adnec this weekend: expect fashion shows and displays.

Adnec, Khaleej Al Arabi Street, Abu Dhabi, Thur to Sat 10am to 6pm. Tel: (050) 6221797. Taxi: Adnec. baderuae.com

Save money with this month’s What’s On mag

Inside our August edition you’ll find 100 2-for-1 vouchers to use in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and beyond. There’s dining deals, hotel stays, spa treatments and much more. It’s on sale in all good stores now.

Try sushi with a local twist

Sushina is a new sushi restaurant that puts a bit of fusion into its dishes – Emirati cuisine is spliced with Japanese classics for unique flavours.

World Trade Center Mall, Al Markaziyah, Abu Dhabi, Thur to Sat 10am to 11pm, Sun to Wed 10am to 10pm. Taxi: WTC Mall. facebook.com/sushiname

Friday August 25

Neon nights Yas Waterworld

Yas Waterworld is hosting Neon Nights tonight, followed by four times in September (1, 8, 22, 29). There’s light shows, glow in the dark drinks, a DJ and a LED hydrojet show.

Yas Waterworld, Abu Dhabi, Fri 10am to 10pm, from Dhs250. Tel: (02) 4968008. Taxi: Yas Waterworld. yaswaterworld.com

See talents from 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.

Bawadi Mall, Meyzad Road, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, daily 5pm to 10pm until Aug 31, free. Tel: (03) 7840000 Taxi: Bawadi Mall

Saturday August 26

Save on fitness at In Balance

The Novotel & Ibis Gate Hotels’ health club, In Balance By Novotel, has offers on its membership plans. Sign up for a year and get an additional three months’ access for free. You’ll get two months for six months and an extra month if you sign up for one month.

Novotel & Ibis Gate Hotels, Al Maqta, Abu Dhabi. Tel: (02) 5089714. Taxi: Novotel and Ibis Gate Hotels, near Maqta Bride. novotel.com

Yas Mall’s holding a Thai festival

Celebrate Thailand on Friday and Saturday this weekend at Yas Mall – there will be Muay Thai shows, Thai cooking demonstrations and umbrella painting workshop for art fans. The festival will also include cooking lessons, where Yas Mall guests will be introduced to the Thai art of food carving.

Yas Mall, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, Fri and Sat 2pm to 10pm, free entry. Tel: (02) 4146382. Taxi: Yas Mall. yasmall.ae

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