Thursday 25
Head down to Hed: Expect chart-friendly house from the ubiquitous record label Hed Kandi as it makes another return to Left Bank. Twiddling the dials on the mixer tonight will be label boss Andy Warburton and Abu Dhabi DJ-about-town Cliff Townley. Slip into your most stylish clothes and gyrate away on the dancefloor.
Dhs50, free for ladies before 11pm. Left Bank, Souk Qaryat Al Beri, Bain Al Jessrain (050 701 4162)
Enjoy the crack of leather on willow: Following a decent battering of their long-time rivals last time round, England’s cricketers head Down Under as they attempt to keep hold of sport’s least impressive trophy. Yup – it’s Ashes time again. The first test kicks off today in Brisbane, so head along to your favourite sports bar or tune into Showsports to make sure you don’t miss a ball.
From 5am, until January 7.
Check out Yas’s new super-club: With venues in the world’s most stylish cities, the Cipriani name has become synonymous with a higher class of hedonism. Now, at last, the Italian brand has arrived in the capital, in the form of super-hip new watering hole Allure, which plays home to big name DJs every Thursday and Friday night.
From 10pm. Yas Island Yacht Club, Yas Island (050 596 9543)
Witness a street art showdown: As part of Flash’s Yas Island Show Weekends, Leave Your Mark On Yas sees teams of grafitti artists competing for supremacy in a staged battle of the spraycans. There are also workshops on offer for all budding Banksys out there.
Free. Noon-9pm. Flash Forum, Yas Island www.yasisland.com
Friday 26
Have some Nelly time: Canadian sonstress Nelly Furtado arrives in Abu Dhabi to promote her recently released greatest hits album, so get ready to sing along to tunes such as ‘I’m Like a Bird’ and ‘Turn Out the Lights’. She’s going to have to put on a blinding performance to come anywhere near Prince’s recent electrifying gig at the same venue.
Dhs150-Dhs450. 7pm. Yas Arena, Yas Island (www.timeouttickets.com)
Stroll out to prevent diabetes: Diabetes is a huge health issue in the UAE, with one in five of the population suffering
from the disease. Do your bit to raise awareness and cash for the Diabetes UAE charity with this walk around Yas Marina Circuit. We assume there’ll be no motor racing on the day.
5pm. Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi www.diabetesuae.com (02 404 0888)
Hit a beach party: If you’re up for a few drinks while soaking up the rays and enjoying some chilled house, then the Bayshore beach bar at the InterCon should be your port of call.
Dhs75. 2pm-8pm. Bayshore, InterContinental Abu Dhabi, Al Bateen (02 666 6888)
Saturday 27
Go karting: If watching the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix spectacular has inspired you to take up the sport, you can start your road to the F1 drivers’ championship at Yas Marina’s newly opened 800m karting track. Go down and burn some rubber.
2pm-10pm, Yas Marina Circuit (02 410 0888)
See some A-list art: Not checked out RSTW yet? You’re missing out on the city’s biggest art show in absolutely ages. It’s a rare exposé of art magnate Larry Gagosian’s personal, private collection, featuring canvases from Andy Warhol and Cy Twombly, among others. Absolutely unmissable.
Free. Until January 24. Manarat Al Saadiyat, Saadiyat Island.
Enjoy carnival for the carnivores: As well as serving up an endless supply of delicious charred meat, up until November 29 Chamas will be hosting a trio of glamorous Brazilian carnival dancers who’ll be putting on an energetic samba-style floor show for your entertainment.
Chamas, InterContinental Abu Dhabi, Al Bateen (02 666 6888)
Get some Wii time: Okay, so the pub might not seem like the most obvious venue for a game of baseball or a round of golf, but head on down to the Tavern’s Wii Night on a Saturday and they’ll fire up the console and let you and your friends get competitive over a hoppy beverage.
Tavern, Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort, Al Markaziyah (02 677 3333)
Sunday 28
Relax at a new spa: The Grand Millennium Hotel is now open for business, and so is its massive, luxurious spa. Zayna Spa has a huge range of treatments to reduce your stress levels. And if you book before December 15 you get a 15 per cent discount.
Grand Millennium Al Wahda, Hazza Bin Zayed Street (02 443 9999)
Get literary: Undoubtedly one of the city’s best-kept secrets, this little-known literary haven boasts a catalogue of over 10,000 books. So spend some time with your nose in one of them and catch up on the lastest releases.
Al Shaheen Library (02 676 8995)
Pay a visit to the Chocolate Gallery: Got a sweet tooth? The large windows on to the chocolate workplace at Chocolate Gallery are hugely popular with kids, so take them for a sweet treat -– they’ll be on a sugar high all day.
Chocolate Gallery, Fairmont Bab Al Bahr (02 654 3238)
Catch some culture: Head to the Souk Qaryat Al Beri where you can enjoy some activities and watch showcases of traditional Emirati customs and entertainment as part of the Festival at the Souk.
6pm-10pm. Souk Qaryat Al Beri, Bain Al Jessrain
Monday 29
Head down for some heritage: Fancy a bit of culture to counteract all that shopping? The Heritage Village near Marina
Mall boasts a museum, stalls where you can buy Bedouin crafts and even
its very own camel.
Corniche Road, Ras Al Akhdar (02 681 4455)
Try a different way to relax: For an alternative way to loosen those stressed muscles, head to Mizan Naturotherapy Centre and try a flotation tank. For the less adventurous, yoga and massage are also available.
Sat-Thu 9am-9pm. Flat 204, Dubai Islamic Bank Building, Airport Road, Madinat Zayed (02 633 7838)
Enjoy some free beverages: Monday may seem a little too close to the start of the week to be partying, but it would be just plain rude to turn down an offer of free bubbly, red and white available to ladies all night. Monday, Wednesday 9pm-2am.
Zenith, Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort, Al Markaziyah (02 677 3333)
Learn karate: Take a class in the ancient Japanese art of kicking and punching stuff. The Sheraton’s friendly class will help you on your way to black belt.
Dhs35. Monday, Wednesday, Saturday 6pm-9pm. Karate/kickboxing class, Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort, Al Markaziyah (02 677 3934)
Tuesday 30
Bust some moves: Pick up some new dancefloor skills at Abu Dhabi Dance, with classes in a range of styles, from samba to salsa. Got no rhythm? No matter, complete beginners are more than welcome to sign up.
Open Tue 7.30pm-9.30pm; Thu 7.30pm-9.30pm. Hilton Abu Dhabi, Al Khubeirah, www.danceabudhabi.com (050 410 1535)
Go for a high-speed boat ride: Strap on your life jacket and take an adrenaline-fuelled trip on the Arabian Gulf with Yellow Boat Speed Boat company. Be prepared to get wet!
Dhs125. Yellow Boat Speed Boat (800 8044)
Get fit in the water: Can’t choose between splashing around in the pool and pilates? Now you can do both. Take the plunge and get toned up with some aqua pilates.
Dhs30. 9am-10am. Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort, Al Markaziyah (02 697 0272)
Get cultured: Soak up some tradition at Al Jahili – a nineteenth-century Arabic fort that hosts regular concerts and also has an exhibition devoted to British travel writer Wilfred Thessiger.
Open Tue-Thu 9am-5pm; Fri 3pm-5pm; Sat 9am-5pm. Al Jahili Fort, Al Ain (03 754 3996)
Wednesday 1
Get into the Christmas spirit: Visit One to One – the Village’s Christmas Bazaar which opens tonight at 5.30pm with the festive lights switched on at 6pm.
Free. One to One – the Village (02 495 2000)
Ride a horse: What better way to take in Abu Dhabi’s great outdoors than from a galloping stallion? Take a horse riding lesson and enjoy Abu Dhabi’s stunning scenery.
Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club (02 445 5500)
Eat fish and meat: Some people like a nice bit of seafood. For others, steak is king. Luckily, those heading along to Jing Asia today can enjoy the best of both worlds at a very tasty price. That’s right – it’s Surf’n’Turf Night.
Dhs160. From 7pm. Crowne Plaza Yas Island (02 656 3000)
Dance like a local: Emirati music mogul Haneef Al Raisi presents the latest in his successful series of house music parties at Sho Cho tonight, with big name DJs joining the local beat-mixer on the decks. Flick to page 72 for our interview with the man himself.
Sho Cho, Souk Qaryat Al Beri (02 558 1117)
