January
December 28 2013-January 3 2014
At 300m, Tel Moreeb is the world’s tallest sand dune. Watch four-wheel drive vehicles tackle it during Liwa International Festival, a seven-day festival at Liwa Oasis in Al Gharbia. Highlights include a camel and horse race on New Year’s Day, a bike race the day after and a car race on January 3. A classic car show will run December 28-January 3, there will also be fireworks and food.
www.admc.ae, www.visitabudhabi.ae (02 884 0400).
January 4
Art Hub in Mussafah will launch an Eastern European exhibition of abstract paintings and sculptures by five artists from Serbia, Macedonia, Belarus and Croatia.
www.adah.ae (02 551 5005).
January 10
There are seven rounds to the UAE International Jet Ski Championships, hosted by Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club. Three of these are near the Breakwater – so you can watch the race close up. This is heat two.
www.adimsc.ae (02 681 5566).
January 9-11
Now in its 14th year, Abu Dhabi International Dance Festival is a popular fixture on the city’s cultural scene. Visitors can see and join in with the ABC of dance – Afro rumba, bachata and cha-cha. You can also watch salsa, hip hop, kizomba and zouk performances, as well as trying classes. Events are held at Aloft Abu Dhabi.
www.adidf.com (055 684 6848).
January 16-18
Used cars, modified cars, sports cars, luxury cars… The Pre-owned Car Show at Zayed Sports City has every kind of car. Browse for your next set of wheels, watch a car fashion show, a police car show, a remote control car racing competition and take part in a raffle (wonder what the prize will be?).
www.preownedcarshow.com (02 674 4040).
January 24
New and experienced Porsche drivers can whizz around the F1 grand prix track, Yas Marina Circuit.
www.porscheclubuae.com
January – date to be confirmed
Hotel Novotel Abu Dhabi Al Bustan, close to Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), will launch five dining options – Pepper, a buffet restaurant, Choice Cut steakhouse, Amber Belgian café, Caramel cafe and Waves, a pool bar.
www.novotel.com (02 501 6444).
February
February 1
France Art Month begins at Abu Dhabi Art Hub.
www.adah.ae (02 551 5005).
February 4-19
Gourmet Abu Dhabi 2014 will be held at hotels around the city. Sign up for boat dinners, cookery demos, masterclasses and a poolside barbecue with Latin American performers.
www.gourmetabudhabi.ae.
February 12-15
Bloggers and experts will be dispensing the latest beauty and style tips at Beyond Beauty Arabia in ADNEC. Discover the latest trends, get pampered at a nail spa, have a makeover and try skincare and perfume samples. NB: This event is not just for beautiful people.
www.beyondbeautyarabia.com (04 407 2418).
February 6-7
American comedian Tracy Morgan, best known for his roles on Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock, will perform at Du Forum on Yas Island.
www.thinkflash.ae, www.duforum.ae (02 509 8143).
February 6-7
Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club is hosting the UAE Wooden Powerboat Race at noon on the Breakwater.
www.adimsc.ae (02 681 5566).
February 10
Emirates will launch a new direct route to Taipei, Taiwan.
www.emirates.com (600 55 55 55).
February 10-March 1
Imagine the world-renowned Cirque du Soleil, but with horses. That’s Cavalia, a show featuring acrobats, dancers, musicians and 41 horses. Cavalia is part of the Qasr al Hosn Festival (February 20-March 1), nine days of cultural workshops, demonstrations of traditional Emirati skills and guided historical tours around Qasr al Hosn fort.
www.qasralhosnfestival.ae (02 666 4442).
February 12-15
Getting married? Over 250 exhibitors will show off bridal gowns, haute couture evening wear and jewellery at Bride Abu Dhabi 2014 at ADNEC. You can also sample cake and get inspiration for your honeymoon.
www.adnec.ae, www.thebrideshow.com (04 407 2418).
February 19-21
Health and fitness nuts will gather at ADNEC for Health and Fitness Fun Day for free health screenings, horse riding and climbing sessions. You can also sign up to gyms, meet nutritionists and chefs and take part in a raffle.
www.healthfitness.ae (02 613 2000).
February 21
Watch The Rolling Stones perform ‘Jumping Jack Flash’ and other classics as part of their 14 On Fire tour at Du Arena.
www.du.ae (800 86 823).
February 25-27
Abu Dhabi Air Expo at Al Bateen Executive Airport will showcase 120 aircraft – enough to bring planespotters out in a cold sweat.
www.adairexpo.com.
February 26-March 1
Browse the latest gadgets to bore/entertain your mates with at Abu Dhabi Electronics Shopper 2014 at ADNEC.
www.adeshopper.ae (02 674 4040).
February 28
Abu Dhabi will open the Red Bull Air Race World Championships, a series of seven races held in six countries. Watch it on the Corniche.
Email office@redbullairrace.com, www.redbullairrace.com.
February 28
Take part in or watch TriYAS, an annual triathlon. The swim starts during the day, then the run and cycle race are under floodlights on the F1 Yas Marina Circuit.
www.yasmarinacircuit.com.
End of February
The latest branch of the popular Irish pub and live entertainment venue, McGettigan’s, is set to open at Al Raha Beach Hotel.
www.mcgettigans.ie (02 508 0555).
March
March 1
Canada Art Month begins at Art Hub.
www.adah.ae (02 551 5005).
March 2
Back for its 11th year, Abu Dhabi Festival will bring a host of cultural events to the city. Most events will take place March 21-31.
www.abudhabifestival.ae (02 651 0300).
March 10
Emirates will launch a new daily route to Boston, USA.
www.emirates.com (600 55 55 55).
March 14
Watch the third heat of the UAE International Jet Ski Championships on the Breakwater.
www.adimsc.ae (02 681 5566).
March 15
For the fourth year running, Abu Dhabi International Triathlon will be hosted on the Corniche. Competitors will take part in long, short, sprint or relay races. Email info@abudhabitriathlon.com,
www.abudhabitriathlon.com.
March 17
Founded in 2003, Bayt Al Farabi: Asil Ensemble is a group of musicians known for fusing contemporary and classical Arabic music. Watch them perform at 8pm at Abu Dhabi Theatre.
www.abudhabifestival.ae (02 651 0300).
March 21-April 20
As part of Abu Dhabi Festival, Bill Fontana will perform his world premiere of sound sculptures – music based on vibrations – at 6pm in Emirates Palace.
www.abudhabifestival.ae (02 651 0300).
March 21
Jazz legend Herbie Hancock will perform at 8pm in the Emirates Palace Auditorium.
www.abudhabifestival.ae (02 651 0300).
March 22-23
British Polo Day will take place at Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club 5pm-1am.
www.britishpoloday.com, www.grpc.ae (02 562 9050.
March 23
American soprano Renée Fleming will perform with the Dresden Philharmonic at 8pm at Emirates Palace Auditorium.
www.abudhabifestival.ae (02 651 0300).
March 26
After two and a half years in the planning and building, Yas Mall – the UAE’s second biggest mall – is due to open. It will hold a 16-screen cinema, H&M, designer brands and most importantly, Abu Dhabi’s first Cheesecake Factory.
www.aldar.com (02 810 5555).
March 28-29
Watch Coppelia by the American Ballet Theatre and Dresden Philharmonic in Emirates Palace Auditorium.
www.abudhabifestival.ae (02 651 0300).
April
April 4-11
The Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge is a major motorsport spectacular hosted by Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority over five days. Competitors face two days of pre-race challenges on motorbikes, quad bikes, four-wheel drives and trucks before taking part in the super special stage which will decide the starting order in the final. Competitors then brave the Liwa desert and Moreeb sand dunes in the Empty Quarter.
www.abudhabidesertchallenge.com (04 296 1122).
April 5
Art Hub will celebrate International Pillow Fight Day – and open Austria Art Month.
www.adah.ae (02 551 5005).
April 30-May 3
If you find yourself at Beauty Secrets 2014 in ADNEC and you’re obsessed with beauty, then you’re in the right place. Keep up to date with the latest skin, hair and body products and learn about fitness and nutrition.
www.adnec.ae (02 444 6900).
April 30-May 3
Chic Home 2014, a furniture and home decor exhibition, is for anyone interested in home trends. Browse and buy furniture, lighting and textile products in hall six at ADNEC.
www.adnec.ae (02 444 6900).
April 30-May 5
Bookworms, pencil Abu Dhabi International Book Fair into your diaries. The annual fair will be held at ADNEC. As well as browsing the 500,000 titles on display, listen to seminars, join workshops and swing by the illustrator’s corner.
www.adbookfair.com (02 657 6180).
May
May 3
Scandinavia Art Month begins at Art Hub.
www.adah.ae (02 551 5005)
May 5-10
Weddex 2014 – Al Ain Wedding Show is the 10th exhibition of its kind. Wedding dresses, presents and jewellery will be on display 3-10.30pm in Al Khabisi hall two, Al Ain Convention Centre.
www.adnec.ae (03 763 7686).
May 29
English metal band Black Sabbath of ‘Paranoid’ fame will perform at Du Arena on Yas Island, showing they’ve still got what it takes to rock with the best of them.
www.du.ae (800 86 823).
May 31
Art Hub launches Columbia Art Month.
www.adah.ae (02 551 5005).
June
June 1
Etihad Airways will launch a daily Abu Dhabi – Los Angeles economy service.
www.etihad.com (02 511 0000).
June 27-August 16
Summer Fest Abu Dhabi is a family-friendly programme of educational entertainment ranging from international theatre productions and Arabic concerts to bilingual comedy nights. Kids will love the obstacle course, fun fair and hurling themselves off the inflatable 10m tower, while adults can experience henna and calligraphy. Halls eight to 11, ADNEC.
www.summerfestabudhabi.ae (800 555).
June 30-date to be confirmed
Chess fans can game out at Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival in the Cultural Foundation. An annual event for the world’s top players, the main event is the master tournament, although there are tournaments for non pros too.
www.abudhabichess.com.
July
July 9-13
Over 16-year-old boys wanting to stay fit during Ramadan can join in the Mubadala Ramadan Football Tournament 2014 and learn new ball skills. The tournament will take place in halls one and two of ADNEC; it’s open to spectators, too, who can take part in interactive competitive games with football equipment as prizes.
www.adnec.ae (02 444 6900).
July 11-13
The most exclusive brands in categories ranging from gems and yachts to private islands, spas and sports cars will be on display at the World Luxury Expo. It’s hosted by Emirates Palace, naturally.
www.worldluxuryexpo-abudhabi.com (02 406 9594).
July 12-August 2
Shop for gifts, sample traditional Arabic cuisine, sing songs and watch dance performances at Ramadan & Eid Festival 2014. Ramadan celebrations will run 8.30pm-2.30am, Eid 4pm-midnight, in halls one to five at ADNEC.
www.adnec.ae (02 444 6900).
July 15
Etihad Airways will launch a daily Abu Dhabi to Perth route.
www.etihad.com (02 511 0000).
August
Abu Dhabi is closed for business
September
September 17-20
International and Arab designers will showcase their latest collections on a runway 4-11pm at Chic Lady Abu Dhabi in halls five and six at ADNEC.
www.adnec.ae (02 444 6900).
September 17-20
Since its launch in 2003, the International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition at ADNEC has been the place to go to for weaponry, equestrian and safari equipment. You can also watch an equestrian show, camel auction and falcon beauty contest. The show will be held 11am-10pm in halls seven to 11 and ICC Hall 12.
www.adihex.net (02 493 5104).
September
Cranleigh boarding school on Saadiyat is due to open. Students will be able to try archery, climbing, street dance and kayaking, amongst other activities.
www.cranleigh.ae (800 8342).
October
October 16-25
Movie buffs can gorge on film at Abu Dhabi’s eighth Film Festival, which will be held in multiple locations. Attend red carpet screenings of new films and harrowing documentaries, take part in short film competitions and workshops, and listen to panels of directors and storytelling sessions.
www.adff.ae, www.artinthecity.com (02 401 1900).
October 31-November 2
Watch the world’s best judoka (judo practitioners) compete at the Judo Grand Prix 2014, organised by the International Judo Federation. The location is to be confirmed – 2013’s event was at ADNEC.
www.intjudo.eu.
October 1-31
The Bavarian tradition, Oktoberfest, will be back for another year at various venues. Celebrate it by sampling speciality hops, sauerkraut, sausages and pretzels while listening to German bands.
October 2-31
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, so expect a host of fundraisers to be organised as part of the Abu Dhabi Goes Pink campaign.
Email events@breastcancerarabia.com. www.breastcancerarabia.com.
November
November 23-29 (dates may change)
The Emirates International Date Palm Festival takes place annually at ADNEC, giving you the chance to sample local dates and those from Jordan, Iraq, Oman, Morocco and Iran. A heritage village area will host date palm climbing and an amateur date photography competition. Allergic to dates? Best stay away then.
www.datepalmfestival.com (050 817 9727).
November 19-22
Over 50 modern and contemporary galleries from around the world showcase their works during Abu Dhabi Art at Manarat Al Saadiyat, on Saadiyat.
www.abudhabiartfair.ae (02 406 1501).
November 20-22
One of the most anticipated events of the year, Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix 2014 will kick off with practice races at 1pm on November 20 at Yas Marina Circuit.
www.f1mix.com, www.yasmarinacircuit.com.
November 26-29
If you’ve been thinking about buying a new car or blinging up your existing one, the Al Ain Motor Show is for you. Global manufacturers will unveil new models and sell spare parts and accessories to enhance your vehicle in Al Khabisi hall two, Al Ain Convention Centre.
www.motexuae.com, www.adnec.ae (03 763 7686).
November
Back for the 11th time, the Al Ain Aerobatic Show will be held at some point in November at Al Ain International Airport.
www.alainaerobaticshow.com (800 86823).
November
The five-star Gloria Sports City Hotel is set to open in Zayed Sports City.
November
Sign up for Walk 2014, a 5km walk around Yas Marina Circuit. The event, which starts at 2pm, is organised by Imperial College London Diabetes Centre as part of its public health awareness campaign, Diabetes-Knowledge-Action, which encourages people to walk briskly for 30 minutes a day. Over 20,000 people walked the walk in 2013.
www.icldc.ae (02 404 0888).
December
December 2
Celebrate National Day – which commemorates the day the UAE was born in 1971 – with fireworks and an annual car parade along the Corniche.
December 4-5 – dates may change
Watch Emirates Victory team against ten others to see who will reach the chequered flag first in the ninth and penultimate rounds of the Abu Dhabi Powerboating Grand Prix.
Various venues. www.class-1.com.
December 7-14
The International Festival of Falconry will be held at Al Forsan International Sports Resort, an hour south of Abu Dhabi. Track houbara and hares on camels and horses with guidance from local Emirati falconers, or take a shorter camel excursion nearer camp. There will also be a falcon-themed art and craft exhibition.
Email info@falconryfestival.com, www.falconryfestival.com.
December 17-January 3 2015
The offshore boating race that is the Volvo Ocean Race 2014 starts in Alicante in Spain and travels to Gothenburg in Sweden over nine months – racing through Abu Dhabi’s Breakwater on the way.
Email ADOR-Info@ador.ae, www.volvooceanraceabudhabi.com.
Events may require pre-booking and a fee. Details are subject to change – call ahead for further information
