Thursday 17
Network with other women: If you’re a woman, and would like to meet new people, then head to Café Arabia for the American Women’s Network at 10am on the first and third Thursday of every month. Despite the name, you needn’t be an American to attend, nor must you have coffee if you prefer tea.
Café Arabia (02 643 9699).
Get your kids on the course: With the weather cooling down, now is the perfect time to spend some time outdoors and away from the TV and videogames. The Abu Dhabi Golf Club offers junior lessons for members and non-members every Thursday. A bit of fresh air is good for the kids.
Dhs20-Dhs53 www.adgolfclub.com (02 558 8990).
Enjoy freebies at Stills: Who says you can’t have a good time on the cheap in this city? Every Thursday is Ladies Night at the Stills Bar and Brasserie, with free selected house beverages from 8pm to 11pm. With DJ Jeff Davies there to set the mood, you should be in for a good time. It is the weekend after all.
Stills Bar, Crowne Plaza, Yas Island (02 656 3053).
Burn 700 calories: The Hilton Abu Dhabi is introducing ladies-only classes at the Hiltonia Health Club & Spa. Body combat, body step, zumba and the rather bluntly titled fat burning, will mean you’ll only have tanning to worry about when you go to the beach. Expect a supportive environment (and a burn) as their fitness instructors put you through your paces.
Hiltonia Health Club & Spa (02 681 1900).
Friday 18
Get your jazz on: They say jazz is never quite in fashion, never quite out of fashion, but when an event stars an award-winning artist, it’s worth going either way. The Franck Amsallem Jazz Concert at Splash Garden in Aloft Hotel is an opportunity for jazz aficionados to listen to a pianist, singer and composer. A little culture never hurt anyone (that we know).
Dhs150/175 per person. 9pm. www.timeoutickets.com
Sample masterful Italian: The chef of Filini Bar & Restaurant has been awarded the title of Italian Culinary Master Chef by the Academia Baralla, given to chefs with a proven record of professionalism and respect for Italian cuisine. Head to Radisson Blu Hotel to find out why.
www.radissonblu.com (02 656 200).
Winter-proof your wardrobe: Head down to the Marina Mall and check out the new winter collection at Koton. Jackets, scarves, caps, knit wear and animal print party wear are all available.
Marina Mall (02 681 6505).
Give the kids a time out: If you want the kids out of your hair for a few hours (while ensuring that they have a blast) you can do worse than to bring them to Fun City in Marina Mall. Between the rickety-looking (but perfectly safe) roller-coaster, and the dodgems there’s plenty to keep the little ones entertained.
Marina Mall. www.funcity.ae (02 681 5527).
Saturday 19
Freshen up by keeping warm: The quest to be warm and fashionable has plagued men and women for centuries – even if the concern is somewhat less extreme in Abu Dhabi. However, Splash at Mushrif Mall, has come to the rescue with a new winter collection to fill this niche.
Mushrif Mall (02 673 7911).
Try a new Lebanese menu: Do you enjoy Lebanese food but find you keep ordering the same dishes every time? Well for those who want to broaden their horizons, Barouk has just launched a mouth-watering new range of set menus that will add variety to your dinner, whilst giving you good value. They’ve also spruced up the entertainment with music and bellydancing, to enjoy with your shisha.
Barouk, Crown Plaza, Yas Island (02 656 3000).
Teach the kids to ride: Equestrianism is good for balance and confidence – and who wouldn’t want confident kids who don’t fall over too often? At the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, your children can join group riding lessons and make some friends.
www.adec-web.com (02 445 5500).
Live out your F1 fantasies: Learning to drive an F1 car, getting a team to hire you, and taking on the best in the world at the Yas Marina Circuit may be out of reach for most of us; but that doesn’t mean you can’t get a small taste of the excitement. The Al Forsan International Sport Resort offers you the chance to get on their world class circuit, hire a go-cart and go as fast as you can.
www.alforsan.com (02 556 8555).
Sunday 20
Try a different sport: If you’re in a sporty mood, and you have three friends who are up for trying something new and interesting, then Padel Tennis might be the way to go.
Zayed Sports City (02 403 4200)
Dance to cheesy music: Wouldn’t you like to dance to some tunes everybody loves to hate in a place where no one cares who designed your outfit? The Cheese Factory is the perfect place to go if you want to just let your hair down for the night.
PJ O’Reilly’s (02 674 2020)
Tend to your luscious locks: Hair loss is a pretty common problem among men and women in this part of the world. Lee Stafford’s range of Hair Growth Treatment is hitting the UAE’s shores. This stuff’s been selling out all over the world, so there might be something to it.
Dhs59, Spinneys. Khalidiya (02 681 3538)
Dive! Dive! Dive! If you feel like you need a change of scenery, you can’t do much better than going underwater. See Abu Dhabi from a different perspective and learn a skill that will broaden your holiday horizons for years to come. Emirates Divers Centre offers PADI courses that will turn you into a qualified scuba diver, or they can take you out snorkelling if you just want a day out without the commitment.
www.edc-ad.ae (02 643 2444)
Monday 21
Try out a new spa: The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort is open, and it’s offering Spa treatments. If you like novelty, and enjoy being pampered, then what better way to spend an hour or two than to have strangers make you feel beautiful?
Saadiyat Island (02 498 8888).
Have an antipasti buffet: Enjoy an all-you-can-eat antipasti buffet with two beverages of your choice for Dhs95 at Frankie’s. Keep in mind, that this is essentially a buffet made up of starters, so you should be able to try loads of food before the tank is full.
Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Bain Al Jessrain (02 654 3333).
Get a make-over: You’ve got places to go, people to see, why not look your best? Changes Hair and Beauty gives great hair-cuts, specialising in blondes and colour correction. If you want a general spruce-up, this place is just the ticket.
Liwa Centre, Block-C, Hamdan Street (02 634 1147).
Dig into Vietnamese food: Do you want a delicious salad with mangos in it? How about some crunchy and refreshing summer rolls? From unusual curries, to minty meat dishes, Hanoi’s got you covered. With pleasant staff and decent portions, there’s something for every taste.
Khalifa Bin Zayed Street (02 626 1112).
Tuesday 22
Get your hands dirty: Ghost your favourite movie? No? We can’t blame you. But we bet you’ll enjoy making pottery with your bare hands. Abu Dhabi Pottery offers classes every Tuesday.
www.abudhabipottery.com (02 666 7079).
Dance with tigers: Tuesday nights at Left Bank are Tigerlicious. Enjoy Singapore’s premier brew at discounted prices, while ladies get three fruity mixed beverages for free. The setting is achingly stylish and the music is equally chic.
Souk Qaryat Al Beri, Bain Al Jessrain (02 558 1680).
Eat a yummy curry: Kebabs and Kurries offers a delicious and completely meat-free lunch for all recovering meat-eaters at Dhs40. Of course, if you’re a confirmed carnivore, their Dhs55 meal-deal is still more than reasonable.
Souk at Central Market, Al Markaziyah (02 628 2522).
Help heal the world: If you follow the news these days, it seems there’s always some disaster or other going on; flooding in Thailand, two earthquakes in Turkey, the list goes on. Luckily Volunteer in Abu Dhabi is an outlet for selfless do-gooders to help raise money for foreign aid and help out around town. In this land of plenty, it feels good to help the less fortunate.
www.volunteerinabudhabi.com (04 452 1106).
Wednesday 23
Have a night out: Wednesdays at the Eight Restaurant & Bar are Models Night Out. If you’ve got a little money to burn and you want to live out your hip-hop video fantasies, then this is a good bet.
From 10pm, Eight Bar & Restaurant (02 558 1988).
Add some colour: Juicy Couture has added some brightly coloured clothes to their holiday collection. If you find your wardrobe is a little beige, then this is the place to add some neon to your look.
Al Bateen Street (02 658 0397)
Feel weightless: So you’ve always wanted to know what skydiving felt like, but value your life too much to actually jump out of an airborne object? Then Spacewalking is for you – get lifted into the air by an 875 horsepower wind-turbine, and have a blast. There is a 90kg limit for people who want to try it out.
Abu Dhabi Country Club, www.spacewalk.ae (02 446 3653)
Foster a feline: Feline Friends rescues cats and kittens and works to find them homes. They are always looking for people to foster an animal on a temporary basis (if you can’t adopt them outright). Worst-case scenario, you get to help a cat transition into its new life as a happy pet. Who knows, you might just fall in love with it and want to adopt it permanently. Dog people need not apply.
www.feline-friendsuae.com (050 582 2916)
