Category: What’s On

Baniyas Jiu-Jitsu Club moved to the front on the opening day of Round 7 of the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship at Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi on Friday, with Al Jazira Jiu-Jitsu Club second and M. O. D UAE third.The first day of the three-day Gi round featured Under-18, Adults and Masters competitors, with results across the divisions contributing to club standings as the championship approaches its eighth and final round.Baniyas entered the weekend already leading the

Aldar has set Saadiyat Grove, its new luxury retail and fine-dining destination in Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Cultural District, for a fourth-quarter 2026 opening, with more than 100 global brands and 20 concepts entering the region for the first time.The development will sit between Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, with Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi and teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi close by. Aldar said the one-square-mile destination is designed to combine shopping, dining, culture, hospitality, offices,

Dubai has approved an 80-kilometre road corridor linking Abu Dhabi and Sharjah through the emirate, a two-phase project intended to divert through traffic, strengthen freight movement and sharply reduce journey times on key sections of the network.Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, approved implementation of the New Fourth Corridor, which will run from Al Faya Road in Abu Dhabi to Al Shanouf Road in Sharjah. The first

The UAE has introduced an 11-day, 10-night tourism package linking all seven emirates, with the Grand Classic itinerary priced from Dh10,446 per person.The UAE Grand Tour platform went live on Monday, allowing travellers to book accommodation, private transport, guided sightseeing, selected meals and experiences through a single itinerary. The initiative was presented during Arabian Travel Market 2026 in Dubai and is intended to encourage visitors to travel beyond individual city stays and spend more time across the country.Abdulla bin Touq

Dubai’s Theatre of Digital Art will host Disco Experience by That ’70s Band on September 25, pairing live renditions of major 1970s dance hits with choreography, period-inspired costumes and the venue’s 360-degree digital projections.The show is scheduled to begin at 8pm, with doors opening at 7.30pm, according to the venue and ticketing information. Tickets are priced from Dh180, with several seating categories available.That ’70s Band will centre the production on three singer-dancers backed by a live ensemble featuring keyboards, bass,

The National Media Authority has joined the 35th Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, using its pavilion to highlight media regulation, publishing services and content-sector initiatives.The authority is taking part in the fair from September 13 to 18 at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi, where its pavilion in Hall 5 is hosting sessions, initiatives and activities focused on media, culture and content creation. The participation places the federal regulator alongside publishers, authors, cultural institutions and creative-industry representatives.The NMA said its presence reflects

Dubai’s Al Marmoom Oasis is offering visitors a four-hour Emirati cooking and Bedouin dining experience that combines hands-on food preparation with cultural activities in a desert setting.The programme, operated at Al Marmoom Desert Resort, allows participants to prepare traditional Emirati dishes under the guidance of a chef before eating the meal in a Bedouin-style lounge. Booking platforms list chicken, lamb and vegetarian options, giving visitors a choice of menus while retaining the same cooking-and-dining format.Participants are introduced to dishes associated

Tickets are now on sale for the 2026 Emirates Dubai 7s, which will bring six sports, international rugby, live music and expanded family entertainment to The Sevens Stadium from November 27 to 29.Gaelic football will make its debut at the three-day festival, joining rugby, netball, cricket, fitness and padel as organisers broaden the sporting programme. The event will also stage the opening round of the 2026-27 HSBC SVNS series, bringing leading men’s and women’s rugby sevens teams to Dubai.Organisers have

A free-to-use co-working area at 25hours Hotel One Central is giving Dubai residents and visitors a central workspace without a membership or advance booking, combining high-speed Wi-Fi, café access and informal seating beside the Museum of the Future.The hotel’s first-floor gallery contains a 189-square-metre co-working space with seating for up to 80 people, a bar and café island, and views over the lobby. The property describes the area as a light, airy workspace designed for creative thinking, meetings and productive

Abu Dhabi’s Warner Bros. World is moving ahead with its long-planned Harry Potter-themed land on Yas Island, with construction under way and new project details pointing to Hogwarts Castle, Diagon Alley and at least three rides and attractions.The development, announced by Miral and Warner Bros. Discovery in 2022 as the Middle East’s first Harry Potter-themed land, is being built as part of a substantial expansion of the indoor theme park. Warner Bros. World’s official website now lists the attraction

Moscow is hosting more than 1,200 competitors this weekend as the Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Grand Slam brings one of its biggest international fields to the Russian capital for the 2026-2027 season.The two-day competition, running on August 29 and 30 at the Dynamo Sports Academy, has attracted 1,220 male and female athletes from 32 countries. The field includes 85 black belts, giving the Moscow stop a strong concentration of elite-level competitors alongside athletes seeking international ranking points and experience.The tournament

Egyptian writer, DJ and radio host Nihal El Aasar is challenging narrow definitions of Arab music by using radio, live performances and artistic collaborations to showcase underground sounds spanning electronic music, experimental composition, hip-hop, drill and regional club culture.Raised in Cairo and now based in London, El Aasar has built a multidisciplinary career that connects music with writing, politics and cultural analysis. Her approach rejects the idea that music from Arab countries can be represented by a single recognisable

The UAE National Golf Team will leave for Beijing early on Saturday as a three-player squad prepares to contest the Nomura Cup, one of the Asia-Pacific region’s leading amateur team championships.Mohammad Skaik, Sayed Rayan Ahmed and Sam Mullane will represent the UAE at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Golf Team Championship, scheduled from September 1 to 4 at Bayhood No. 9 International Golf Club in Beijing. The delegation will be headed by Emirates Golf Federation Secretary General Khalid Mubarak Al Shamsi and

Dubai's most talked-about skin booster may also have its most confusing name. “Salmon DNA” sounds like one treatment, but it is a popular label for a wider group of injectable products. Behind the nickname are different materials, concentrations and uses. Those details matter more than the trend.Many patients want hydrated, smooth and rested skin without obvious facial volume. Polynucleotide treatments fit this move towards gradual skin-quality improvement, but online language often makes related products sound identical. How a strange nickname became

Ferrari World Yas Island will mark Emirati Women’s Day with a women-only indoor running event on August 30, offering 2.5km, 5km and 10km races through the Abu Dhabi theme park and neighbouring Yas Mall.The third edition of the Ladies Run will be staged entirely in air-conditioned surroundings, allowing participants to compete during the summer without exposure to outdoor heat. The event has been structured for different fitness levels, ranging from beginners and walkers to recreational athletes and experienced runners.The

Dubai has added a new community shopping and lifestyle destination with the opening of The Grand at Nad Al Sheba Gardens, bringing grocery, retail and everyday services to the expanding residential district.The two-storey centre began its phased opening on August 19 and is anchored by the first Waitrose & Partners supermarket in Nad Al Sheba. The initial line-up also includes MMI, Heart Cottage Lane, Maple Bear Nursery, Al Jaber Optical and Fixperts, with restaurants, healthcare, beauty and fitness operators scheduled

Abu Dhabi will host the 35th Abu Dhabi International Book Fair from September 13 to 18, bringing publishers, authors and cultural organisations back to ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi for one of the region’s largest literary gatherings.Held under the patronage of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the fair is being organised by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, part of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi. The September schedule replaces the event’s previously

Disneyland Abu Dhabi is set to receive fresh global exposure through Disney Worldbuilders, a feature documentary examining how the entertainment group turns screen stories into physical destinations and offering glimpses of projects still being developed.The film, directed by Academy Award and Emmy-nominated filmmaker Leslie Iwerks, will receive its debut screening at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event in Anaheim, California, on August 16. It is scheduled to stream on Disney+ from August 20. The production looks behind the walls of

Dubai residents and visitors can exercise free of charge at an outdoor gym on JBR Beach, combining strength training with uninterrupted views of Ain Dubai and the Bluewaters waterfront.The fitness area is located near the pedestrian bridge connecting Jumeirah Beach Residence with Bluewaters Island. It provides a range of exercise equipment beside the sand, allowing users to add resistance work, calisthenics and cardiovascular training to a run or walk along the beachfront.Access to the gym is free, with no membership,

Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will open to the public on 11 December 2026, bringing one of the world’s longest-awaited cultural projects to Saadiyat Island after two decades of planning, redesigns and construction delays.The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi confirmed the date as preparations accelerate for the launch of the largest museum in the Guggenheim network. The institution will focus on global modern and contemporary art, with particular attention to artists and movements connected to West Asia, North Africa

Dubai-based mobility platform Zed is offering passengers 15 per cent cashback on completed rides throughout August, seeking to build customer loyalty as competition intensifies across the emirate’s app-based transport market.The reward is credited automatically to a passenger’s Zed Wallet after each qualifying journey and can be used towards later bookings on the platform. Customers can receive up to Dh20 for an individual trip, giving regular commuters a direct incentive to remain within the company’s digital ecosystem.Zed says the programme does

UAE stargazers are preparing for one of the year’s strongest meteor displays as the Perseid shower peaks overnight on August 12 and 13, with moonless skies expected to improve visibility across desert and mountain locations.The annual shower could produce dozens of visible meteors an hour under clear, dark conditions. Observers are likely to get the best views after midnight and before dawn on August 13, when the constellation Perseus rises higher and the shower’s radiant becomes better positioned above the

The UAE Youth Kickboxing Championship has opened in Abu Dhabi with 607 male and female athletes competing in one of the country’s largest domestic events for emerging combat-sport talent.The championship began on Friday at Mubadala Dome at Al Jazira Club and will run until Sunday. Organised by the UAE Muay Thai and Kickboxing Federation, it brings together competitors from 51 clubs across the country.Athletes are contesting 96 weight categories spanning four kickboxing disciplines. The breadth of the programme is designed

Dubai’s new Animal Welfare Shelter has attracted a steady flow of prospective adopters, with residents visiting the Warsan facility to meet stray cats receiving treatment, vaccination and rehabilitation before being offered permanent homes.The centre, located at the Birds and Pets Market, was opened by Dubai Municipality as part of a broader programme to improve animal welfare, encourage responsible pet ownership and manage the emirate’s stray-animal population through structured veterinary and adoption services.Veterinary staff said the shelter had been busy since

Dubai Municipality has opened an integrated animal welfare shelter in Warsan, combining veterinary care, rehabilitation and adoption services with a digital platform for residents seeking cats and dogs.The facility is located inside the Birds and Pets Market and is designed to provide a safe, humane environment for stray, abandoned and lost companion animals. It also gives prospective adopters access to verified information about each animal before they visit the shelter or begin an application.Animals placed for adoption undergo veterinary assessment

Abu Dhabi will host Power Slap 25 on 23 October, extending the capital’s association with the slap fighting promotion for a third consecutive year and strengthening its position as a destination for international combat sports events.The Monster Energy-backed show will bring leading competitors from Power Slap’s global roster to the UAE capital, with the full fight card, ticket details and broadcast arrangements expected to be announced closer to the event. The date falls on a Friday and continues the promotion’s

Louvre Abu Dhabi has placed Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s celebrated double portrait of Berthe Morisot and her daughter Julie Manet on display for a year, bringing one of the Abu Dhabi Collection’s most significant Impressionist works into the museum’s permanent galleries.Painted in 1894, the oil-on-canvas work depicts Morisot, a founding figure of Impressionism, seated closely beside her teenage daughter. The portrait combines the intimacy of a family image with a record of the friendships and artistic exchanges that shaped modern European painting

Dubai Municipality has opened an integrated animal welfare shelter in Warsan, expanding the city’s capacity to rescue, treat and rehome stray and abandoned pets.The Animal Welfare Shelter, located at the Birds and Pets Market, combines veterinary care, rehabilitation, adoption facilities and digital services within a single centre. It is intended to reduce the number of animals living on the streets while making responsible adoption easier and more transparent for residents.The facility includes a customer service centre, a pre-adoption viewing area

Abu Dhabi Festival has announced its full 2026 programme, bringing leading orchestras, opera singers, ballet companies, jazz musicians and contemporary artists to the capital for a season running from October 10 to December 19.The festival’s 23rd edition will be presented under the theme “The Wisdom of Culture”, with performances staged at Etihad Arena, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, the Cultural Foundation, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi and The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi.The UAE National Orchestra will open

King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa Park is emerging as a major summer attraction in Abu Dhabi, combining dense natural shade with an air-conditioned promenade and recreational facilities designed for year-round use.Located in the Al Mushrif area, the free-entry park features more than 1,100 mature Ghaf trees, elevated walking trails, cycling routes, meditation decks and open lawns. Its centrepiece is an air-conditioned walkway extending about 700 metres, offering residents and visitors an exercise and leisure space protected from the capital’s

Ticket sales have opened for the 23rd Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition, which will run from August 28 to September 6 at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi.ADNEC Group, a Modon company, said visitors can purchase admission through the exhibition’s official digital channels and Ticketmaster. The launch begins the public countdown to one of Abu Dhabi’s largest heritage, outdoor lifestyle and specialist trade events.ADIHEX 2026 will be held under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative

Dubai’s Palm Monorail has resumed operations after a six-month maintenance shutdown, restoring the only public transport service running along Palm Jumeirah.The reopening reconnects Palm Gateway with Al Ittihad Park, Palm Jumeirah Mall and Atlantis Aquaventure, giving residents, hotel guests and tourists an alternative to taxis and private vehicles. Passengers can again purchase tickets online or from customer service desks at the stations.The 5.5-kilometre elevated line offers panoramic views across the artificial island, the Arabian Gulf and Dubai’s coastline. A journey

Majid Al Futtaim’s VOX Cinemas at Mall of the Emirates has been recognised as the first fully accessible cinema in the Middle East, marking a significant shift in how entertainment venues in the region are adapting to universal design standards.The flagship Dubai cinema has secured Dubai Municipality’s Wosool Certificate of Compliance with Accessibility Regulations for Existing Buildings, becoming the first cinema in the GCC to receive this form of accessibility certification. The designation confirms that the venue has met formal

Dubai’s Jumeirah coastline is set for a major hospitality expansion as The Island by Wasl moves towards a planned third-quarter 2028 opening, bringing MGM Grand, Bellagio and Aria-branded hotels to a waterfront development near Burj Al Arab.The project, led by Wasl Hospitality in partnership with MGM Resorts International, is one of Dubai’s most closely watched leisure developments because it combines Las Vegas-linked hotel brands with a prime coastal location in Umm Suqeim. MGM Resorts chief executive Bill Hornbuckle has said