Date nights, dance floors and fandom fun. Discover the best things to do in Abu Dhabi this weekend
Here’s your weekend, neatly packed and ready to go. Whether you’re in the mood for cosplay, a beachside sweat session or something a little more candlelit and clinky-glasses, Abu Dhabi is pulling out all the stops with these fun things to do.
Animenia Abu Dhabi 2026
Image supplied
If anime, cosplay and gaming are your love language, this is your Super Bowl. Manarat Al Saadiyat turns into a riot of wigs, wings, swords and squeals, with fans proudly parading their favourite characters like it’s Comic-Con’s cooler cousin. Expect tournaments, pop-ups, photo ops and the kind of joyful nerd energy that makes you forget what day it is.
Location: Manarat Al Saadiyat, Saadiyat Island
Time: 4pm to 12am
Cost: Weekday pass from Dhs95, weekend pass from Dhs145
Contact: Animenia Abu Dhabi
John Mayer at Saadiyat Nights
Image supplied
Some artists perform. John Mayer talks through his guitar. The seven-time Grammy winner slides from soft, heart-tugging acoustics to bluesy rock that hits you right in the chest, with classics like Gravity and Slow Dancing in a Burning Room guaranteed sing-alongs. It’s the kind of night where you sway, close your eyes and pretend the song is just for you.
Location: Saadiyat Island
Time: Doors open 5pm
Cost: From Dhs345
Fahid Beach Club x Anamaya Wellness Morning
Image supplied
If your week felt like a blur, this is your reset button. You start with yoga, breathwork and meditation by the sea, then ease into a sweaty HIIT session before melting into sound healing while a DJ spins chilled, conscious beats. It’s calm, then fire, then calm again, like your nervous system just took a long exhale.
Location: Fahid Beach Club by Barbossa, Fahid Island
Time: Friday, 9:30am onwards
Cost: Dhs300 per person
Contact: (056) 358 4458
Lunar Afternoon Tea at Lobby Lounge
Image supplied
If your idea of romance involves fine china, soft music and something sweet on every tier, pull up a chair. This elegant afternoon tea blends the ritual of classic teatime with Lunar New Year symbolism and a gentle Valentine’s glow, with mandarin pastries, rose-lychee scones, red bean truffles and gold-leaf treats that feel almost too pretty to eat. It’s slow, refined and quietly indulgent, the sort of afternoon where you linger over every sip and forget the clock exists.
Location: Lobby Lounge, Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri
Time: 2pm to 6pm
Cost: Dhs175 per person with two beverages; Dhs275 per person with two hot beverages and three house beverages or a glass of champagne
Contact: (02) 509 8555
Barbossa Valentine’s Day Brunch
Image supplied
This isn’t a shy, candle-in-the-corner brunch. It’s loud, Latin and a little bit flirty, with roses on arrival, prosecco in hand and live sax and violin setting the mood. Add bold plates, tequila-spiked cocktails and a dance floor that refuses to sit still, and you’ve got a love story with a soundtrack.
Location: Barbossa, Yas Island
Time: Saturday, 1pm to 5pm
Cost: From Dhs249 per person
Contact: (050) 185 8068
Valentine’s Dinner at The Grill, Marriott Al Forsan
Image supplied
If romance to you means steak, soft lighting and actual conversation, this one’s for you. The Grill serves a four-course dinner designed for lingering, paired with a bottle of prosecco and a warm, old-school elegance that feels timeless. It’s date night done properly, phones down, glasses up.
Location: The Grill, Marriott Al Forsan, Abu Dhabi
Time: 6:30pm to 11:30pm
Cost: Dhs799 per couple
Contact: (02) 201 4000
Black Heart Black Saint Valentine’s Party
Image supplied
Forget red roses. This party dresses in black and means business. Female DJs spin groovy Afro house under the stars while the beach morphs into a late-night playground of dancing feet and salty air. It’s moody, magnetic and made for couples, singles and everyone who just wants to move.
Location: Fahid Beach Club by Barbossa, Fahid Island
Time: 9pm onwards
Cost: Dhs150 per person including one drink
Contact: (056) 358 4458
Valentine’s at Brick Rooftop Kitchen & Bar
Image supplied
Picture this. Sunset, fairy lights, greenery and the city glowing below you. Brick’s rooftop hideaway sets the scene with a cosy set menu for two, smoky dishes straight from the oven and a bottle of something bubbly to toast the night. It feels intimate without trying too hard, which is sometimes exactly what love needs.
Location: Aloft Abu Dhabi
Time: 6pm to 10pm
Cost: Dhs399 for two with soft beverages, Dhs499 for two with bubbly
Contact: (02) 654 5000
