Abu Dhabi Golf Championship
January 21-24
The ‘Desert Swing’ kicks off at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club. Expect to see big names competing for the Falcon Trophy – Paul Casey, Sergio Garcia, and new up-and-comer Geoff Ogilvy are onboard.
Tickets available from timeouttickets.com.
Gourmet Abu Dhabi
February 5-19
You better start buying bigger trousers now. Gourmet Abu Dhabi returns for a fortnight of guilty pleasures, with Bob Blumer among the star guests.
Abu Dhabi Triathlon
March 13
Fitness buffs, crack out your spandex because the Abu Dhabi Triathlon premieres in March. The 223km course winds all over Abu Dhabi, though a shorter distance course will also be offered for those hoping to compete but not kill themselves in the process.
Register to race at www.abudhabitriathlon.com.
Al Gharbia Watersports Festival
April 2-10
Head to the coast for a week of watery and sandy fun. Competitors will tear up the surf and sand during kiteboarding, kayaking, jet skiing, surfskiing, beach volleyball and football contests.
Womad Festival
April 22-24
They’re keeping this year’s lineup close to their chest, but we want to see Eric Clapton playing blues sitar with Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Is that too much to ask?
Summer in Abu Dhabi
July-August
When summer’s boiling furnace has you sweating every ounce of water from your pores, think SAD. Rumoured highlights include a robot zoo and children’s theatre.
Liwa Date Festival
Early August
Date growers around the region attend in the hopes of winning this prestigious competition. First prize gets a car. Second prize gets a car. Third prize gets a car…
Middle Eastern International Film Festival
October 14-23
Didn’t we tell you? We met Naomi Watts, Orlando Bloom, Eva Mendes and a whole host of other people worth name dropping. Drop by the public tent and see who you can bump into.
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
October-November
Expect the pre-race frenzy to begin before the summer comes. A word of advice if you’re thinking of attending for the first time: bring earplugs.
Fifa Club World Cup
December
Footie fans rejoice as the world’s top clubs once again return to battle for the Fifa Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi. Only 11 more months to go…
