< Previous20 AUTUMN 2025 TIMEOUTABUDHABI.COM La Petite Maison MikaBrunch bucket list 2025 TIMEOUTABUDHABI.COM AUTUMN 2025 21 hearty portions and all the comfort food classics that make for a proper laid-back weekend feast. With its warm atmosphere and traditional pub setting, this is a brunch that feels just like home – only better, because someone else is doing the cooking. O Dhs219 (house beverages), Dhs125 (soft drinks). Sat-Sun 2pm-5pm. Oryx Hotel, Khalidiya, (02 692 2218). La Petite Maison If you’re looking to end your weekend on a high, make a beeline for one of Abu Dhabi’s best French restaurants, LPM. Sure to make you say ooh la la, kick things off with a bread and viennoiserie basket before baked eggs with tomato and basil, or poached eggs with crab on toast. For mains, the roasted wagyu beef or pan-fried sea bream make great options. Pair it all with a glass of something sparkling or a signature mixed drink, and you’ve got yourself a brunch with true Riviera flair. With its chic setting and effortlessly cool vibe, this is the kind of spot where every dish feels like a little treat. O Dhs465 (house beverages), Dhs640 (bubbly), Dhs390 (soft drinks). Sun noon-4.30pm. The Galleria - Al Maryah Island, lpmrestaurants.com (02 692 9600). Paradiso For a quintessential Italian dining experience in the sun, look no further than Paradiso. Taking place outside on the expansive terrace of the vibrant waterfront dining destination, in addition to a stand-out menu of all your Mediterranean favourites like beef carpaccio, burrata and rib-eye steak, grilled gambas and roasted cockerel, you can also expect top glasses of grape, and classic mixed drinks to match the setting. With friendly service and plenty of atmosphere, warmth and charm, live music will take you on a trip to Tuscany without heading to the airport. O Dhs450 (house beverages), Dhs450 (bubbly), Dhs300 (soft drinks), Sun 1pm-4pm. Yas Bay Waterfront, paradisoabudhabi.com (050 437 2869). Outdoor brunches Alba Terrace Make the most of this lovely terrace season with an al fresco brunch at the swanky Abu Dhabi EDITION. A reservation destined to help us forget our longings for a quick trip to Saint-Tropez, chefs dish up a saucy selection of Mediterranean specialities directly to the table. This includes a mix of Alba Terrace classics, new seasonal creations and items from the poolside wood-fired oven including braised lamb shank, prawn risotto and a marvellous truffle pulled beef pizza. O Dhs395 (house beverages), Dhs265 (food only). Sat 1pm-4.30pm. The Abu Dhabi EDITION, Al Bateen, editionhotels.com (02 208 0000). Mika For brunch with unmatched views of Yas Marina, Mika brings a taste of the Mediterranean with its trendy Riviera Brunch. This Time Out Abu Dhabi Restaurant Awards winner for best European restaurant, features a fantastic menu created by chef-patron Mario Loi and team whip up a tasty selection of small plates and sharing platters that come with a Alba TerraxeBrunch bucket list 2025 22 AUTUMN 2025 TIMEOUTABUDHABI.COM boutique grape offering. O Dhs449 (house beverages), Dhs595 (bubbly), Dhs299 (soft drinks). Sat 1.30pm-4.30pm. Yas Marina, Yas Island, mika.ae (056 433 1422). Brunches to impress Crust The Saturday Best Brunch at Crust serves up a clever mix of Middle Eastern, Western and Asian bites from executive chef Christian Buenrostro, with desserts so good you’ll wish you had room for seconds. Generous, well-thought-out and totally Instagram-worthy, it’s the kind of weekend spread that truly impresses anyone looking for a proper foodie experience. Add in attentive service and a relaxed yet polished vibe, and you’ve got a brunch that’s as much about the experience as it is the food. O Dhs550 (house beverages), Dhs425 (soft drinks), Sat 1pm-4pm. Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island, fourseasons.com (02 333 2444). The Director’s Club at WB A far cry from the hotel’s family-friendly Sidekicks brunch, this sophisticated meatery throws a much fancier affair, complete with premium cuts, the finest beverages and live entertainment to boot. Upon arrival you’ll be greeted with a tower of bubbly and, once seated, sit back and relax as a selection of sharing-style appetisers, including The Director’s Club signature beef tartare, burrata, truffle, and old bay prawn po’ boys and oysters Rockefeller are all served directly to the table. O Dhs399 (house beverages), Dhs599 (bubbly), Dhs275 (soft drinks). Sat 1pm-4pm. The WB, Yas Bay, Yas Island, hilton.com (02 815 0000). Zuma Looking to treat the in-laws? Brunch at Zuma should do just that. The perfect excuse to dig into a jaw-dropping range of dishes from the Japanese restaurant’s fantastic menu. Take inspiration from the izakaya style of informal eating and indulge in an array of starters including the renowned shrimp tempura with yuzu chilli mayo, crispy fried squid and plenty of sashimi, nigiri and maki. While for mains you can enjoy grilled Chilean sea bass with green chilli and ginger dressing, spicy beef tenderloin with sesame or red chilli and roasted lobster with shiso ponzu butter. Top it off with incredible desserts and mixed drinks, and you’ve got a brunch that no one on the table would easily forget. O Dhs595 (house beverages), Dhs695 (bubbly), Dhs495 (soft drinks), Dhs195 (kids aged four-12). 12.30pm-4pm. The Galleria, Al Maryah Island, zumarestaurant.com (02 401 5900). ZumaIN THE KNOW AT AL SEEF MALL & ANDALUS AL SEEF RESORT. This season, Al Seef Mall & Andalus Al Seef Resort is buzzing with unmissable experiences, exciting new openings, and family-friendly activities for all to enjoy! THE HAUNTED WALK Step into the spooky spirit at The Haunted Walk, taking place along The Walk at Andalus Al Seef Resort. Entry is free, or grab a bucket for AED 30 and join the trick-or-treat trail with participating retailers. Stamp your map along the way and get entered into a draw to win something big. Plus, don’t miss the pumpkin carving stations, a seasonal favorite for kids and families. 30-31 OCT 01 NOV AL SEEF COFFEE FESTIVAL Abu Dhabi's top coffee celebration is back for its second year, and it's free to enter. You can sip on the best brews from the UAE's finest roasters, enjoy the vibe with live DJ sets from Secret Coffee Parties, and explore unique items at Mint Market's curated shops. It's a full festival experience celebrating coffee, culture, and shopping. 15-16 NOV RESTAURANTS & WELLNESS Wild & The Moon White Smoke Steakhouse Protein House NEW OPEN INGS WORKSHOPS & CLASSES Top Stretching Batuli Cakery Andreas Pasta-Making Classes Batuli Cakery Workshops Tufting Time Custom Rug Designing Splatter Room’s ‘Let Loose’ with Paint FOR MORE INFO: +971 56 433 0159 alseefmall.com O C T 01 N O V t s a ulll est al e pe e ce celeb at g co ee, gggg24 AUTUMN 2025 TIMEOUTABUDHABI.COM Events season is here – the next three months are going to be a whirlwind. By Harriet Shephard A bu Dhabi’s busiest season has arrived – there are so many events happening it’s almost overwhelming. From star-studded music concerts and world-class sporting tournaments, to food festivals and massive art fairs, there’s countless unforgettable experiences on offer – the only challenge is fitting them all in (and getting some sleep and attending a little thing called work in the process). So, start getting those tickets booked and planning every minute of your free time. The next few months might just be some of the best of your life. Art and culture Abu Dhabi Art Fair Want a new painting to liven up your apartment? Well, make sure you get down to Abu Dhabi Art Fair, the biggest BIG Go or go home Abu Dhabi Art Fair Rest of the year round up TIMEOUTABUDHABI.COM AUTUMN 2025 25 Enrique Iglesias26 AUTUMN 2025 TIMEOUTABUDHABI.COM event of the year for Abu Dhabi’s creative community. Hosted inside the beautiful Manarat Al Saadiyat and featuring collections from over 100 different galleries, the legendary art fair invites you to get lost in room after room of amazing exhibitions and immersive installations, browse works for sale from local and international artists – mingle with other like-minded arty types whilst sampling the truly excellent lineup of home-grown food trucks. Free (register in advance). Nov19-23, Manarat Al Saadiyat, abudhabiart.ae. sure you schedule in visiting some of the more remote, island-based ones, too. O Free. From Sat Nov 15. Various locations, abudhabiculture.ae. Festivals Mother of the Nation Festival An unmissable one for families, the annual Mother of the Nation Festival takes over part of the Abu Dhabi Corniche for several weeks every winter (and brings smaller pop-ups to Al Ain and Al Dhafra). Offering an action-packed fusion of kids’ rides, games and activities, food trucks, immersive exhibitions, big-name concerts and more. The details for 2025’s edition are still under wraps, but every year it just seems to get bigger and better. Anyone else got their Manar Abu Dhabi 2.0 Remember those cool light installations and sculptures that seemed to suddenly pop up around Abu Dhabi in 2023? (Personally, we’ll never forget those surreal pyramids on Fahid Island that you could see from the highway). Well, Manar is back for another round – this year’s artworks are rumoured to be even more incredible. Featuring the imaginations of 35 artists from across the globe, look out for the displays along the Corniche, the Eastern Mangroves, Saadiyat Island and along the city’s coastline – make Taste of Abu Dhabi Mother of the Nation FestivalRest of the year round up TIMEOUTABUDHABI.COM AUTUMN 2025 27 fingers crossed that Australia’s viral BROOKI bakehouse will be making a return? O Details TBC. Various locations, including the Corniche, @motnfestival. Taste of Abu Dhabi If you’re a bit of a foodie, you simply must get yourself down to Abu Dhabi’s most delicious family festival. Combining demonstrations, meet and greets with celebrity chefs, food and drink tastings, market stalls from local producers and of course, every kind of food truck and pop-up restaurant you can ever imagine (ranging from naughty cheat day burgers to fine- dining concepts you just can’t miss), live bands, DJs and kids’ entertainment that complete the laid-back festival vibe. You’ll want to come hungry for this one. O From Dhs60. Nov 14-16. Yas Gateway Park South, Yas Island, tasteofabudhabifestival.com. Fitness Abu Dhabi Spartan World Championship Weekend 2025 Making every other OCR experience look like child’s play, this epic Spartan challenge invites you to truly test your limits and race alongside elite athletes through the wilds of Abu Dhabi’s desert, all while creating a tonne of memories with your crew in the process. Featuring 21km, 10km, 5km – kids’ races, all completed with thrilling obstacles and electric high energy, it’s time to start training/practising your finishing poses for the photos now. O From Dhs313. Nov 20-23, Al Wathba, spartan.com. ADCB Zayed Sports City Pink Run As one of the first community runs of the season, the ADCB Zayed Sports City Pink Run is often a little bit toasty, but its welcoming and uplifting ambiance (and the finisher’s goodie bag and T-shirt) make it more than worth it. Now in its 14th year and held in support of Breast Cancer Awareness (it has so far raised more than Dhs500,000 for the worthy cause), it also provides you with an easy way of giving back. O From Dhs140 (2.5km, 5km or 10km run). Sat Oct 18. Zayed Sports City, @gulfmultisport. ADNOC Marathon The most inspiring, feel good and generally warm and fuzzy day on the calendar, the ADNOC Abu Dhabi brings the community together every year for a day of endorphin- boosting fitness and wholesome family fun by the beautiful blue waters of the Corniche. If you’re nervous about signing up, don’t think, just do it. With distances ranging from 2.5km to a full marathon, the vibes are always unbeatable – the inclusive ambiance is so friendly you’ll likely come away with a whole new group of pals. Last year’s event featured over 33,000 participants of all abilities – this one is predicted to attract even more. O From Dhs65. Sat Dec 13, ADNOC HQ, Corniche Road, adnocabudhabimarathon.com. Music and theatre Beetlejuice The Musical While sadly slightly too late for Halloween, we’re sure you’ll agree that getting to see the Broadway adaptation of Tim Burton’s ‘80s cult classic, just down the road from home, is an opportunity that’s far too good to miss. Bringing a gothic twist and a dose of darkly comic spooky fun to Yas Island, you can expect to be left enthralled by the extraordinarily creepy sets and costumes – desperate to rewatch the original movie once you get home. O From Dhs145. Nov 20-30, Etihad Arena, Yas Island, etihadarena.ae. Enrique Iglesias Everyone’s favourite ‘90s and ‘00s Latino heartthrob is coming back to Abu Dhabi – it’s set to be a steamy, sell-out affair. Get ready to croon along to hits such as Bailamos, Escape and Hero (the ultimate tear-jerker) – enjoy reminiscing about simpler times and feeling like a teenager again. We apologise in advance for our non-stop dancing... O From Dhs325. Sat Nov 1, Etihad Arena, Yas Island, etihadarena.ae. ADNOC MarathonRest of the year roundip 28 AUTUMN 2025 TIMEOUTABUDHABI.COM Travis ScottRest of the year round up TIMEOUTABUDHABI.COM AUTUMN 2025 29 Rod Stewart Anyone else in the mood for a good singalong? Well Sir Rod Stewart, one of the true legends of the global music scene, is bringing a night of back-to-back nostalgic hits to Etihad Arena – there’s a seat with your name on it. After 50 years of producing music and with more than 250 million records sold, he’ll be performing his most timeless classics, including Tonight’s the Night, You’re In My Heart, You Wear It Well and many more. Has he still got it? You bet he has. Do you still remember the words? You bet you do. Don’t miss out on tickets while they are still available. O From Dhs395. Wed Dec 17. Etihad Arena, Yas Island, livenation.me. Travis Scott Marking his third performance in the capital, Grammy-nominated rapper Travis Scott is bringing his Circus Maximus World Tour to Etihad Park this November – to say it’s going to be epic is a major understatement. Now officially the highest-grossing solo rap tour of all time and with the set designed to look like a haunted theme park, the jaw-dropping spectacle promises to be filled with awe-inspiring pyrotechnics and special effects, shout along smash hits and ‘pinch- me’ moments that you and your group will treasure forever — in person and over on all of your socials. O From Dhs495. Sat Nov 15, 7.30pm. Etihad Park, Yas Island, travisscott.com. Sport Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League We’re no stranger to futuristic technologies here in Abu Dhabi. However, the idea of watching autonomous race cars compete on Yas Marina Circuit for a Dhs8.2 million prize fund still sounds a little bit crazy. After its debut last year (drawing in 10,000 spectators), the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League will return to Yas Island on Saturday November 15 for another edition that features the most advanced self-driving vehicles from across the globe. O Free. Sat Nov 15, Yas Marina Circuit, Yas Island, a2rl.io. Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship There’s no better way of maximising November’s cooler temperatures than a day out at the golf – this year’s HSBC Championship will feature some seriously big names (including Masters Champion Rory McIlroy). Whether you’re fanatical about the great game or you’re still not quite sure on the rules (which bit is the ‘green’ again?) you’ll have a fantastic experience filled with sporting action, family entertainment, refreshing drinks and gorgeous views over the mangroves. Oh – keep an eye out for this year’s ladies’ day announcement — women normally get a few drinks thrown in for free. O Free (Thu-Fri), Dhs75 (Sat-Sun). Nov 6-Nov 9. Yas Links, Yas Island, europeantour.com. Games of the Future 2025 Love playing sport and gaming? Well Abu Dhabi is about to host your dream event. Combining the speed and power of physical athleticism with the drama and skills of immersive digital gaming, Games of the Future is sure to be like no other sporting tournament you’ve ever seen before. Combining ‘phygital’ disciplines such as football, basketball, dancing and shooting, as well as tech sports and esports, each athlete will first compete in their chosen sport digitally – then again in real life before being awarded a final score. O Free. Dec 18-23. ADNEC, gofuture.games. Mubadala Abu Dhabi Sail Grand Prix 2025 Season Grand Final Spending the weekend by the Corniche is always a good idea – it’s even more appealing when you know that 12 of the world’s biggest sailing teams will be there battling it out in the final of the Sail Grand Prix. While it’s possible to glimpse the action from a distance from the Corniche boardwalk, buying a seat in the grandstand treats you to a much better view – you can even ‘bring your own boat’ (yes, really) and take in the action from the water, too. Last year’s event featured a live performance from Take Out – we’re still waiting with baited breath to see who will be providing this year’s after-party entertainment. O Price TBC. Nov 29-30. Al Mina, sailgp.com. UFC 321: Aspinall vs Gane World Heavyweight Championship The next Abu Dhabi-hosted UFC championship is going to be a biggy... Britain’s Tom Aspinall will be defending his undisputed heavyweight title against France’s Ciryl Gane – it’s sure to leave you on the edge of your seat from start to finish and beyond. O From Dhs1,100. Sat Oct 25, Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, etihadarena.ae. Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship UFCNext >