Thursday 4
Join the arty party: For four days only, Abu Dhabi Art 2010 brings together exhibitors from some of the world’s best-known galleries for a huge celebration of contemporary artwork. It’s set to be the biggest weekend of the year for the city’s creative types, so pop along for a rare chance to see the latest pieces from some of the most exciting and inspiring figures in modern art.
Free. 3pm-10pm. Emirates Palace www.abudhabiartfair.ae
See some awards dished out: The Time Out Abu Dhabi Restaurant Awards are back. And while there’s sadly not space for all of you at the ceremony, you can still follow all the action live via Twitter. So keep your eyes on @TimeOutAbuDhabi where we’ll be broadcasting the winners as we name them.
www.twitter.com/timeoutabudhabi
Watch a theme park open: The original Ferrari World opening party was postponed following the death of Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah. With the mourning period now officially over, the world’s biggest indoor theme park is set to open its doors at noon, with tickets available on site.
www.ferrariworldabudhabi.com
Eat from the hand of a Thai master: Ian Kittichai is one of the top Thai chef’s on the planet. His Mumbai restaurant Koh is regularly cited by food critics as being one of the best in the city, and he also draws foodies’ praise for his eateries in New York and Bangkok. Try his delicious dishes at the Yacht Club, where he’ll be preparing a special masterclass cookery lunch.
Dhs120. Noon. Yacht Club, InterContinental Abu Dhabi, Al Bateen (800 423 3463)
Friday 5
Run for fun: The time has finally come for Abu Dhabi Striders Half Marathon (or 5km or 10km if you’ve not been training as hard as you should). Pull on those trainers and plug in your iPod; it’s going to be a gruelling race. 7am.
Hiltonia Beach Club (056 109 2346)
Go loco at the carnival: This weekend is the Brazilian Grand Prix, and to mark the final race before F1 comes to Abu Dhabi, there will be a huge Rio de Janeiro style carnival on the Corniche. Get along, join the procession and show off your samba moves.
Free. From 7pm. Corniche
Join in the Middle East’s longest group fitness session ever… Sound daunting? It isn’t! Running all day and evening, ZSC will have all sorts of sports and activities running throughout the day that you can join in as much or as little as you’d like.
Free. 8am-10pm. Abu Dhabi International Tennis Complex (050 800 6492)
Get wet and wild: The party season’s just getting going on Yas Island, but before Kanye West et al come to town next week, there’s one mother of a pool party happening at Centro, featuring DJs Chad Phunk, Natalie Brogan and more.
Dhs50. Centro, Yas Island (02 656 4444)
Saturday 6
Do yoga on the beach: What could make a better start to a nice, leisurely Saturday then a spot of yoga on the beach at the Corniche? Join in the Bake session for some sun salutations and downward dogs in the morning, and you’ll be feeling Zen and at one with the universe in no time.
9-10.30am. The Yoga Juice (050 826 5479)
Watch some martial arts masters: Jiu-jitsu is a Brazilian martial art in which experts use throws, choke holds and grappling to subdue their opponents. In keeping with the weekend’s Brazil theme, some of the UAE’s toughest jiu-jitsu fighters will be putting on a demonstration on the Corniche for your viewing pleasure.
Free. 4pm-6pm. F1 Fanzone, Corniche
Find out how the French do jazz: Saxophones, croissants and polo-neck jumpers, right? Wrong. Le Petit Orchestre Swing de France are actually all about violins, guitars and energetic gypsy jazz routines. They’re putting on a one-off show in the city tonight, so don’t miss it.
Dhs80. 8.30pm. November 6. Millennium Hotel, www.timeouttickets.com (02 614 6000)
Hit the mall: Need a new party frock or super-cheap pair of sunglasses? High street heavyweight and home of cut-price fashion H&M opens its doors in the capital today. Head on down and take advantage of the opening offers.
Abu Dhabi Mall, Tourist Club Area (02 645 4858)
Sunday 7
Suddenly have long hair! Amisque retreat offers a free consultation, cut and blow-dry when you get an application of Great Lengths hair extensions – the brand favoured by many a glossy-locked celebrity.
Amisque, Vision Hotel Apartments (02 699 2699)
Go fishing: Start the week as you mean to go on – with a relaxing spot of fishing. Where else can you spend a day eating snacks and sleeping on a boat while calling it sport? Join one of the Sheraton’s fishing trips and they’ll even cook up your catch at the end of the day.
Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel and Resort, Corniche Road East, Al Markaziyah (02 697 0272)
See colourful cars: For the past few weeks, schools and colleges have been painting up some pedal cars as part of an F1 project. The vibrant vehicles will be paraded on the Corniche this evening.
From 7pm. Corniche
Watch the Brazilian GP on the beach: All the heart-stopping motorsports action from the Interlagos track in Brazil will be screened live on a giant screen on the Corniche beach. This is the place to watch the race if you love F1.
Free. 8pm. Corniche beach.
Monday 8
Potter about: Small, cosy art space Abu Dhabi Pottery shows off the work of Homa Farley – head on down for a browse, or even sign up to one of the classes and pick up the skills to sculpt your own masterpiece.
Open Sat-Thu 9am-1pm, 4.30pm-9pm. 16th Street, Khalidiyah Gardens, Al Khalidiyah (02 666 7079)
Get pampered: Let trendy salon Sugar keep you feeling sweet with a mean manicure and pedicure, or a relaxing scalp massage.
Open Sat-Thu 10am-10pm; Fri 3pm-10pm. Corniche Tower A, Al Khalidiyah (02 681 8784)
Enjoy some free drinks: It’s ladies’ night at Cristal on a Monday, so if you fit the criteria head on down and sip on some free bubbly while listening to jazz and R&B tunes.
6pm-8pm. Millennium Hotel Abu Dhabi, Al Markaziyah (02 614 6000)
Get yourself green: Associate professors from California University are jetting in to give a talk on ‘Realising the Eco City’. As the majority of the letters we receive from readers express concerns about Abu Dhabi’s carbon footprint, we reckon this might be one for the city’s TOADs.
Free. 7pm. Al Mamoura Auditorium.
Tuesday 9
Have a blast from the past: Bored of all these new-fangled sounds? Music these days just sound like noise to you? Head on down to Flashback at Eight bar, where you can dance the night away to all the hits from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s.
Free (by reservation only, reservations@eightabudhabi.com), Eight Restaurant & Bar (02 558 1988)
Skate with the girls: It’s ladies’ morning at the Zayed Sports City Ice Rink, where you can join your fellow ladies for a swift skate followed by a warming cup of coffee and a chat.
Dhs90, 8.30am, Zayed Sports City Ice Rink (02 444 8458)
Do some acquatic stretching: Jump into the pool at the Sheraton Abu Dhabi and do some intensive body stretching. If this intensive class doesn’t tone you up, nothing will.
Dhs 30. 9am. Sheraton Abu Dhabi, Corniche (02 697 0272)
Get classical: Sir Simon Rattle, one of the world’s greatest conductors, will be leading the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra for some rousing classics by Haydn and Brahms.
Dhs120-650. 8pm. Abu Dhabi Classics, Emirates Palace, www.timeouttickets.com
Wednesday 10
Dance by the sea: Tonight sees the return of Beats on the Beach, so stroll along to the Corniche for a free evening of live music, featuring sets from Chipmunk, Ahmed Al Sherif, Kelly Rowland and more.
Until November 13. Corniche public beach.
Have a retro party: Feeling nostalgic? Still Love the ’80s? promises a lively night out for those looking to get their groove on to the guilty musical pleasures of yesteryear.
Stills Bar & Brasserie, Crowne Plaza Yas Island (02 656 3053)
See some Emirati art: There’s just a week left to check out Dropping Lines, a new exhibition of work from a local group known as The Flying House. Hassan Sharif is one of the creatives involved – those who’ve visited the Salwa Zeidan gallery in the past will be aware of the Dubai-based artist’s bizarre sculptures, which fuse everyday objects together in seemingly random piles.
Free. 9am-7pm. Salwa Zeidan Gallery. (02 666 9656)
