Art & Culture
Explore Manarat Al Saadiyat, a 15,400sqm arts and culture centre. Its four interactive gallery spaces host temporary and permanent exhibitions, such as the story of Saadiyat’s past, present and future. Daily, 10am-8pm. www.saadiyat.ae (02 657 5800).
Visit Barakat Gallery in Emirates Palace, and see ancient Chinese and Egyptian artwork such as paintings and jewellery. While you’re there, swing by the hotel’s gold bar vending machine on the ground floor and listen to live harpist or oud performances on the stage opposite, then stroll around the fountains outside. Daily, 10am-2pm, 5pm-10pm. www.barakatgalleryuae.com (02 690 8950).
It costs nothing to explore the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque on your own. Last entry is 9.30pm. Sat-Thu 9am-10pm, Fri 4.30pm-11pm. www.szgnc.ae (02 419 1919).
If the book you’re looking for isn’t in National Library, chances are it’s not in any – because it has the biggest collection in Abu Dhabi. Book hire is free (but you have to pay a Dhs400 deposit). Sun-Wed 8am-8pm;
Thu 8am-4pm. www.tcaabudhabi.ae (02 657 6034).
Visit the Light Box Gallery in Marina Wing at Yas Viceroy from now until January 11 to see Crossroads 14, an exhibition of colourful abstract paintings by Swiss artists Daniela Vincenz and Suzanne Ledergerber. Daily, 24 hours. www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com (02 656 0000).
Creative types will love the Art Hub, an art community in Mussafah. Each month the centre’s 14 galleries showcase the artwork of a different country; past exhibitions have included a Japanese tea ceremony demonstration, photography and shadow sculpture. Sat-Wed 9am-8pm; Thu 9am-2pm. Plot 38 MW5. www.adah.ae (02 551 5005).
Go back in time at the Heritage Village on the Breakwater, which is a reconstruction of a traditional oasis village. Wander the goats’ hair tent and campfire in the open museum, watching artisans demonstrating traditional skills such as metal work, pottery and weaving – if you’re lucky, you might get to try them yourself. Before you leave, stock up on dried herbs and handmade soap in the shop. Sat-Thu 9am-5pm; Fri 3.30pm-9pm. www.visitabudhabi.ae (02 681 4455).
Body & Mind
Always wished you could do smoky eyes? Want the perfect red lips? Have a free make-up demo at Mac in Al Wahda Mall – you can also have a complimentary trial of foundation or eye shadow. www.alwahda-mall.com (02 443 7070).
Community
It costs nothing to volunteer with Feline Friends, a not-for-profit organisation that rescues and fosters cats. Whether you want to fundraise or foster a cat, you can help out for just a few days as there is no minimum amount of commitment. www.felinefriendsuae.com (050 823 1569).
Film
Yas Marina’s Film Fridays give parents a welcome break every week, as kids can watch child-friendly films on mini chairs near the fountains. Fri 7pm-9pm. www.yasisland.ae.
Kids
The play area overlooking Yas Channel near the marina has a slide, climbing net and tire swing. Kids can also play in the nearby 10m fountain, while grownups can play chess on the oversized chessboard next to it. Daily, 24 hours. www.yasisland.ae
You might be satisfied with a second-hand Lexus, but Sheikh Hamad Bin Hamdan Al Nahyan isn’t. His 200-strong collection of vehicles is on display at Emirates National Auto Museum, an hour’s drive south of Abu Dhabi. Look out for the shiny transparent disco car, the world’s largest truck, his seven Mercedes in every colour of the rainbow – some fitted with fridges and TVs – and the military vehicle with the golf range on the roof. Children under ten go free with a paying adult (Dhs50). Daily 8am-1pm, 2pm-6pm. Hamim Road on E65 to Liwa Oasis (off E11), Al Gharbia. www.enam.ae (055 749 2155).
If you long for the days before you had kids when you could shop till you dropped then head to Ikea. Drop the kids off at Småland play area, which is free for an hour. As well as a ball pit, slide, climbing net and child-size kitchen, kids can watch films, play with toys and draw. Daily, 10am-10pm. Ikea, Yas Island. www.ikea.com (02 493 5808).
Music & Nightlife
Listen to R&B cover band News, at Opus in Le Méridien in Tourist Club Area. Sat-Wed 8pm-1.30am. www.lemeridienabudhabi.com (02 644 6666).
Resident band Groove Hearts play live every night at 49er’s The Gold Rush in Al Diar Dana Hotel. Daily, 9.30pm-3.30am. www.aldiarhotels.com (02 645 8000).
Shopping & Style
Browse the 25 stalls lining Yas Marina’s promenade every Saturday for handicrafts, clothes and organic food. Sat 10am-2pm. www.yasisland.ae.
Local women make traditional Emirati handicrafts such as silver-threaded embroidery, baskets and woven textiles on the premises of the Women’s Handicraft Centre. The government-run centre has a shop where you buy these artisanal products as well as Arabian oils and incense, after learning how they’re made. Karama Street (24 St), Al Mushrif, near the Immigration Office and Royal Stables, behind the General Women’s Union. Sun-Thu 7am-3pm. (02 616 1111 or 02 447 6645).
If you’re fed up with identikit malls, head to the souks near Dhow Harbour in Al Meena. At the far end of the Corniche, watch fishermen unload their catch at Mina Fish Market in an auction at 4am. Later on, browse for homeware at the Iranian souk opposite, including carpets, birds and all manner of other things. The area might not be glitzy, but it’ll feel authentic.
Sport & Outdoor
Need to drop a few pounds before Christmas? Have a free trial of the adult classes offered at My First Gym, near Al Wahda Mall. Zumba is Sun 4pm-5pm and Tue 4pm-5pm, circuit class is Wed 5pm-6pm and Thu 10.30am-11.30am, Salsa is Mon 7pm-8pm. www.myfirstgymuae.com (02 444 3560).
Abu Dhabi Striders organise interval and speed-work training – meet at the Hilton car park on the Corniche. Sun 6.30pm. They also meet Tuesdays 5.30am-6.30am in the Abu Dhabi Golf Club’s gym car park. Email admin@abudhabistriders.com.
You can run on the Formula One track, Yas Marina Circuit, for free. Take a bike and you can cycle the 5.5km track, too. Tue 6pm-9pm, Wed 6pm-9pm women only. Yas Marina Circuit West, Gate 20. Pre-register at
www.yasmarinacircuit.com.
Pack your kit and head to Haddins gym in Zayed Sports City – because your first class is free. Sun 6am-9.30pm; Mon-Thu 6am-9.30pm; Fri 8.30am-12.30pm; Sat 2.30pm-6.30pm. Email michael@haddins.com
(02 403 4233).
Travel
Ride the bus! Okay, so it’s not free, but who can’t afford Dhs2? Take bus 063 from Khalifa Street in Al Markaziyah West in the direction of Marina Mall and you’ll ride parallel to the Corniche with great views.
Got visitors? Emirates operate a complimentary coach service for passengers with an economy class flight ticket who are travelling to and from Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Al Ain. It takes one hour 45 minutes one way and departs Abu Dhabi for Dubai 4am-10pm, and from Dubai for Abu Dhabi midnight-7pm. For the full schedule visit www.emirates.com.
There may be no such thing as a free lunch, but get ready for a week of free ridin’
Wednesday
December 11
6am-11pm From today until December 17, TOAD readers can visit Abu Dhabi City Golf Club for a free practice. Take this page along with you to the club’s reception and you’ll be given 50 balls and equipment,
and escorted to the driving range for a trial practice. www.adcitygolf.com (02 445 9600).
11am-10pm Nibble on stollen and mince pies in the grand lobby of Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan by Rotana as you listen to Christmas carols. The tree will be lit at 5.30pm then Father Christmas will make an appearance with his sack of presents. Look out for the gingerbread house on display. www.rotana.com (02 657 0000).
Thursday
December 12
6pm-7pm Practise your swing at the driving range at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. To reserve a place, email mrobinson@sbgolfclub.ae with the subject ‘free golf trial.’ www.adgolfclub.com (02 558 8990).
6.30pm Listen to the InterContinental hotel choir sing carols in the Piano Lounge as the Christmas tree lights get switched on. Go hungry because chef Danny Kattar will be there to cut you a slice of his mammoth 15m Christmas log. The choir will also perform 5.30pm-6.30pm December 15-19 and 22-25. www.ihg.com (02 666 6888).
4pm-6pm Kids will love this one, they can decorate gingerbread man cookies with icing and sweets at Amerigos in Radisson Blu on Yas Island. www.radissonblu.com (02 656 2000).
Friday
December 13
Noon-7pm Kids can join in arts and craft workshops, jump on a bouncy castle and have their faces painted on Yas Marina promenade. If that doesn’t tire them out then the kid’s football match, balloon artist demos and the water show by a mad scientist might! At 3pm Santa will make an appearance and you’ll be able to get your photo taken with him, which will be printed on to a Christmas card for you to take home. www.yasisland.ae.
Saturday
December 14
10am-2pm Head to the Evangelical Community Church in Al Mushrif to find a congregation of little angels and shepherds enjoying a children’s Christmas party in Upper Chapel 1. www.eccad.org (02 446 4563).
1.30pm-4.30pm A choir will be singing carols in Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi Yas Island while the Christmas tree gets turned on. If you’ve been good this year Santa will drop by. www.ihg.com (02 656 3000).
3pm-7pm As well as the kid’s craft workshops, bouncy castle and face painting, Yas Marina will greet Father Christmas at 3.30pm when he arrives by boat to switch on the tree lights. Get your photo with him and turn it into a Christmas card to send home. A brass band will play 4pm-4.30pm, 5pm-5.30pm and 6pm-6.30pm. www.yasisland.ae.
Sunday
December 15
Watch lifeguards being put through their paces in a series of challenges at the UAE National Lifeguard Championships, a one-day event to celebrate lifeguards’ skills. Highlights include a beach run relay at 8am, a casualty pick-up at 10.30am and beach sprint at 4pm. 8am-12.30pm, 1.30pm-9pm. Le Méridien Mina Seyahi Hotel, Dubai. www.supersportsdubai.com (050 657 5021).
Monday
December 16
6pm-7pm Practise your swing at the driving range at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club. To reserve a place, email mrobinson@sbgolfclub.ae with the subject ‘free golf trial.’ www.adgolfclub.com (02 558 8990).
6pm-8pm Listen in on a round-table discussion on how Oriental art produced by Western artists plays an important role in contemporary eastern cultural heritage, despite it often being a caricature of the Oriental culture. The discussion will involve three professors specialising in European 19th century art, anthropology and Islamic civilisation. Robert de Sorbon lecture hall, Universite Paris-Sorbonne Abu Dhabi, Reem Island. www.sorbonne.ae (02 656 9555).
Tuesday
December 17
3.30pm-5.50pm and 7.30pm-9.30pm Watch Peau D’Âne (1970), a French musical drama by Jacques Demy, with English subtitles. The king promises his dying wife that after her death he will only marry a woman as beautiful and virtuous as her. He decides the only way he can fulfill his promise is to marry her daughter. Disguised in donkey skin, the princess flees the kingdom to avoid the marriage. Ciné-club Theatre, Universite Paris-Sorbonne Abu Dhabi, Reem Island. www.sorbonne.ae (02 656 9555).
