Time Out Abu Dhabi

Skip to content Home » Competitions » Win a one-night stay at InterContinental Abu Dhabi for two people Be the first to get all the latest news, reviews and deals into your inbox by signing up to our free newsletter, click here to sign up.

Abu Dhabi’s beach scene doesn’t slow down for summer. And right now, Kai Beach is the place to be. This stylish Saadiyat Island favourite has rolled out a new lineup of unbeatable weekday deals, meaning you can get outside for less this summer. Open daily from sunrise to sunset, Kai Beach is leaning into easy, come-as-you-are access with a focus on flexibility. Think less “one-off beach day”, more “repeat ritual”.

If your summer plans need a little Italian magic, Saadiyat Beach Club has just the thing. The Saadiyat Island hotspot is already famous for having some of the best white sands in the UAE – and now, they’re offering a summer-long collaboration that brings the glamour of the Italian Riviera to Abu Dhabi. Think easy afternoons, citrus-infused menus and sunset gatherings that stretch long into the evening.

If you’re anything like us, then you’ll already be planning what to do with your public holidays this year. And we’re not done yet. An update to the UAE public holiday law at the start of 2025 includes a section that allows dates of holidays to be moved, allowing for more long weekends. You might also like: UAE public holidays 2026: All the predicted days off revealed The law states that holidays can be moved to the beginning or the end of the week instead.

Whether you’re cheering on England, Argentina, France or Spain, the World Cup reaches its sensational conclusion across this week’s semi-finals and final. And now that the action has really heated up, even the most nonchalant of football fans can be persuaded into making the effort to get up off the sofa and get out into one of Abu Dhabi’s impressive World Cup screening venues or fan zones.

Abu Dhabi’s self-driving cars just got a glow-up. New blue licence plates stamped with “Auto Drive” and “Test” have officially hit Abu Dhabi’s roads, making it easier to spot autonomous vehicles when you’re out and about. The changes to license plates have been introduced to flag which cars are fully in commercial service and which are still in trial runs. It’s another step forward for futuristic technology becoming an everyday part of life in Abu Dhabi.

Mark your calendars: UFC is returning to Abu Dhabi, and it looks like it’ll be another knockout night. On Saturday July 25 2026, the Etihad Arena in Yas Island will be transformed to host UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi for one night only. The fight card has now been revealed in full. For the headline clash, UFC light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev will take on a challenge from Khalil Rountree Jr. In the bantamweight category, Umar Nurmagomedov returns to fight David Martinez.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 is heading to North America, with matches taking place across the USA, Canada and Mexico. And while that means a huge month of football across some seriously exciting host cities, it also means UAE fans will need to be a little more strategic with their viewing plans. After the very UAE-friendly timings of Qatar 2022, this tournament will look a bit different.

Abu Dhabi’s food scene is constantly evolving. And it’s about to get a fresh London-born addition. Nathalie, the London-born deli-come-café is loved for its wholesome dishes and minimal chic vibes – and it’s coming to Al Maryah Island. If you like this: 9 places to get London summer vibes in Abu Dhabi Nathalie first made a splash when it opened in 2018 on Mayfair’s Hanover Square.

The United Arab Emirates has announced four days of official mourning following the passing of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Father Emir of Qatar. Flags will be flown at half-mast at all official entities across the UAE and the country’s embassies and diplomatic missions abroad for a period of four days starting from Sunday July 12 and ending on Wednesday July 15.