Abu Dhabi's weekend calendar is unusually loaded this time round, mixing Chinese festival rituals, a Filipino night at a waterpark, free art on Saadiyat and a run of genuinely tempting tables. Here's what's worth knowing about.
The most atmospheric pick is at Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri on Friday, September 25, where Shang Palace marks China's Mid-Autumn Festival with a dim sum lunch (Dhs168) or a festive dinner from Dhs278, running noon to 11pm. Between courses you can catch Bian Lian face-changing performers, fan dances, a Gongfu tea ceremony and, the highlight, a lantern-release ceremony at the infinity pool from 8pm to 9pm for diners.
Yas Island goes loud on Sunday, September 27, when Yas Waterworld's Kabayan Night returns from 4.30pm to 10pm with Filipino singer-songwriter Dionela headlining. Tickets from Dhs125 cover the live acts, DJs, a street-dance parade, Filipino street food and, importantly, the park's 70-plus rides including the new Lost City expansion. Free shuttle routes run from selected points across the UAE.
Culture is well served and mostly free. Manarat Al Saadiyat hosts Jalsa on Saturday at 6pm — an evening of live performance and spoken word from a collective co-founded by Hamad Alshamsi, Abdullah Alshamsi and Preston D'Costa (free, but limited first-come registration). At the same venue through the weekend, 2pm to 7pm, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi-commissioned artist Agatha Gothe-Snape presents Network of Answers: a phone booth that asks visitors questions about life in the city, feeding a collective archive of voices. No booking needed.
For families, Milestone Cafe in Al Nahyan runs a two-hour optical illusion art workshop for ages seven to 13 on Sunday, 11am to 1pm, materials and a doughnut included, at Dhs99.
The food line-up is strong. Villa Sélène launches Oumsia, a Friday-night Mediterranean sharing menu (fig carpaccio, halloumi fries, tagliata di manzo, cardamom tiramisu) with Gulf and Yas Links views and live piano — Dhs240 per person or Dhs390 for two, 6pm to 9pm. At The Galleria, Isabel Mayfair does afternoon tea daily 3pm to 6pm with lemon meringue tartlets, Paris-Brest and a coffee, tea or mocktail each, at Dhs200 for two. A new limited-edition pop-up from Emirati coffee house RUKN opens Friday at Mandarin Oriental Emirates Palace, running until October 30 with Arabic coffee, rare teas and traditional breakfast plates under a 'Woven Council' theme. And for slow mornings, The B Club (from 7.30am Saturday) pours Kyoto-sourced matcha alongside breakfast sandwiches from Dhs42.
With entry-level tickets from around Dhs99–125 for the waterpark night and kids' workshop, and several free options, it's a genuinely budget-friendly weekend — best suited to residents with a free Saturday, or visitors already in the UAE who can slot an extra night or two in the capital.
