From racetrack runs to ballet, butterflies and big concerts, Abu Dhabi offers the best things to do this weekend
RunYAS 2026
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If your New Year fitness promises are already on thin ice, this one helps. On Sunday, January 11, Yas Marina Circuit opens its track to runners of all kinds, from school kids to serious pace chasers. You cross a finish line, grab your medal and feel smug before breakfast.
Location: Yas Marina Circuit, Yas Island
Time: January 11 at 7am
Cost: Yas Relay Dhs190 per person; Yas Lap Dhs220; Yas10k Dhs260
The Rage
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Umm Al Emarat Park’s night festival is back and this year it looks to Tokyo for inspiration. Expect five evenings of food, fashion, live entertainment and hands-on activities spread across the park. It’s lively, busy and built for lingering after sunset.
Location: Umm Al Emarat Park
Time: 4pm to 11pm
Cost: Dhs70 per person plus Dhs10 park entry
The Butterfly Gardens Abu Dhabi
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This new indoor attraction opens on January 9 and brings a calmer pace to Al Qana. More than 10,000 butterflies move freely through walk-through biodomes inspired by Asia and the Americas. It’s climate controlled, quiet and designed for slow wandering.
Location: Al Qana Walk, Al Khaleej Al Arabi Street, Rabdan
Time: Monday to Friday 10am to 8pm; Saturday and Sunday 9am to 8pm
Cost: Dhs55; Dhs150 combined with The National Aquarium
Manchester City Abu Dhabi Cup
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Zayed Sports City fills up with young football talent from around the world this weekend. Nearly 250 teams from 18 nations compete across under-8 to under-16 age groups, with boys and girls represented. The opening ceremony kicks things off on January 9 and the atmosphere carries through all three days.
Location: Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi
Time: From 4pm on Friday, January 9
Cost: Free entry
Diana Ross and Seal at Saadiyat Nights
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Two unmistakable voices share the same stage on Saadiyat Island. Diana Ross brings decades of Motown and solo hits, while Seal adds grit and soul from the 90s onward. Together, it’s a cross-generation night built on big songs and bigger memories.
Location: Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi
Time: January 9 , doors open at 5pm
Cost: Tickets from Dhs295
Ludovico Einaudi at Saadiyat Nights
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Italian composer Ludovico Einaudi returns with music that moves quietly but deeply. His piano-led pieces are known for their emotional pull and cinematic calm. It’s the kind of concert that leaves you feeling lighter than when you arrived.
Location: Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi
Time: January 10, doors open at 5pm
Cost: Tickets from Dhs295
Fontana Circus
Fontana brings circus acts and a dancing musical fountain to Marina Mall. Acrobats perform above the water while dancers move through it, keeping eyes wide and phones busy. It’s made for families and works well as an early evening plan.
Location: Marina Mall
Time: Various times
Cost: From Dhs100
Romeo & Juliet
Image: Cultural Foundation
The Russian State Ballet Mari El brings Shakespeare’s tragedy to the Cultural Foundation. Prokofiev’s score carries the story through dramatic ensemble scenes and intimate duets. It’s a classic, performed with precision and emotional weight.
Location: Cultural Foundation, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum Street, Abu Dhabi
Time: Friday, January 9, 8pm
Cost: From Dhs250
Contact: (02) 657 6348
Cinderella
Image: Cultural Foundation
This family favourite arrives with elegant choreography and rich storytelling. The Russian State Ballet Mari El leans into the humour of the stepsisters and the softness of Cinderella’s journey. It’s polished, colourful and easy to enjoy at any age.
Location: Cultural Foundation, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum Street, Abu Dhabi
Time: 6pm
Cost: From Dhs275
Contact: (02) 657 6348
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