11 brilliant Eid breaks to fi x those holiday cravings TOP SUMMER BLOCKBUSTERS 12 NEW PLACES TO EAT AT AL QANA 13 TIMEOUTABUDHABI.COM | APRIL 2022 | VOL 21 | ISSUE 4 | DHS12 | PRICE INCLUDES VAT | AN ITP MEDIA GROUP PUBLICATIONtimeoutabudhabi.com April 2022 3 Inside This issue of Time Out in no time at all PAGE 14 FEATURES AND REGULARS 6 City life 8 Your World 10 Things to do 28 Life-changing books 40 Food 48 Family 52 Sport 56 Art & Culture 58 Shopping 64 Gaming 66 Hype Dish Top Eid escapes Ready for an unforgettable trip with the family? Stop daydreaming and start planning with our helpful guide Iftar inspiration PAGE 22 PAGE 34PAGE 60 You might already have favourites, but make sure to taste these popular plates from across the region at the evening meal No holiday is complete until you take a bite out of local cuisines – these are the signature Áavours you absolutely need to try Bucket list dishes It’s the best time of the year for movies. Order a large popcorn and go to the cinema to see these highly anticipated Àlms Top summer blockbusters4 April 2022 timeoutabudhabi.com Shades on, questionable Áoral shirt in the suitcase, and a beach bucket worth of daydreams: I know I’m not the only one with the holiday bug as I’ve heard many vacation and summer-centric plans discussed in restaurants across our great city recently. (I wasn’t eavesdropping, honestly – I was just hoping to pick up some packing tips about how to get a week’s wardrobe in a tiny carry-on.) Whether you’re looking for an unforgettable family trip for Eid, a lively getaway with friends, or are ready to Áy solo over the summer, we have you covered – down to the foods you should be seeking out on your travels this season. The excitement continues with a raft of blockbusters dropping in cinemas at every turn, and brand-new exhibitions coming to the capital. But Àrst, it’s time for a well-deserved break. So – turn those emails off, because the holiday vibes are on. JOIN THE CONVERSATION facebook.com/ timeoutabudhabi timeoutabudhabi @timeoutabudhabiyoutube.com/ timeoutgcc Hello, Abu Dhabi Heather Cichowski Editor Published by ITP MEDIA GROUP FZ-LLC © 2022 Time Out Group Ltd, London, UK. Time Out Abu Dhabi PO Box 500024, Dubai, UAE Tel +971 4 444 3000 www.itp.com Offi ces in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Riyadh, London & Mumbai ITP Media Group CEO Ali Akawi Managing Director Martin Chambers Editorial Director Holly Sands Time Out Abu Dhabi Editorial Editor Heather Cichowski Tel: +971 2 245 0083 email: heather.cichowski@itp.com News Editor Zoe Patterson Tel: +971 4 444 3000 email: zoe.patterson@itp.com Arabic Editor Aline Alkhoury Tel: +971 4 444 3695 email: aline.alkhoury@itp.com Group Video Editor Bharat Tahiliani Tel: +971 4 444 3559 email: bharat.tahiliani@itp.com Digital Content Lead Jeffrey Casiño Tel: +971 4 444 3591 email: jeffrey.casino@itp.com Content Executive Rodelito Mamuad Tel: +971 4 444 3657 email: rodelito.mamuad@itp.com Art Head of Design Gerald Du Head of Videography and Photography Molly Almasri Senior Image Editor Emmalyn Robles Image Editor Jemima Joy, Muhammed Akbar Studio Manager Abuzar Samo Senior Photographers Efraim Evidor, Adel Rashid Staff Photographers Fritz Asuro, Ajith Narendra Video Editors Amir Saqer, Sydney Stanislas Videographer Krystian Szachno Sound Engineer Alex Polyakov Production Group Production & Distribution Director Kyle Smith Production Manager Denny Kollannoor Production Coordinator Balasubramanian P Tel: +971 4 444 3871 email: balasubramanian.p@itp.com Distribution & Circulation Distribution and Circulation Manager Evijin Pathrose Tel: +971 4 444 3498 email: evijin.pathrose@itp.com Distribution Coordinator Avinash Pereira Tel: +971 4 444 3669 email: avinash.pereira@itp.com Circulation Executive Rajesh Pillai Tel: +971 4 444 3236 email: rajesh.pillai@itp.com Advertising Group Commercial Director Sally Whittam Tel: +971 4 444 3348 mobile: +971 56 104 0567 email: sally.whittam@itp.com Advertising Director Neil Kalidas Tel: +971 4 444 3119 Mobile: +971 52 109 2320 email: neil.kalidas@itp.com Senior Commercial Manager Hamdan Bawazir Tel: +971 52 895 1519 email: hamdan.bawazir@itp.com ITP Group CEO Ali Akawi CFO Toby Jay Spencer-Davies The publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for error or omissions contained in this publication, however caused. The opinions and views contained in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. Readers are advised to seek specialist advice before acting on information contained in this publication, which is provided for general use and may not be appropriate for the readers particular circumstances. The ownership of trademarks is acknowledged. No part of this publication or any part of the contents thereof may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without the permission of the publishers in writing. An exemption is hereby granted for extracts used for the purpose of fair review. Published under the authority of and in collaboration with Time Out Group Limited London UK. Printed for sale in AGCC and Egypt only. The name and logo of Time Out are used under licence of Time Out Group Limited London UK. Time Out Abu Dhabi regular news-stand retail price is £3.50/Dhs12.00.IN PARTNERSHIP WITH Brix’s Macaron Sandwich TIME OUT DUBAI Read it. Eat it. Live it. New at Souk Al Bahar Untitled-3 126/05/2021 11:37:586 April 2022 timeoutabudhabi.com THE NATURAL HISTORY Museum Abu Dhabi is coming to Saadiyat Island. You heard us. The project will bring some of the rarest natural specimens from billions of years ago to the capital, including “Stan”, a 67-million-year- old tyrannosaurus rex skeleton that is one of the best preserved and more intact dinosaur specimens. The new UAE museum is slated to open in 2025 in Saadiyat Cultural District. The Natural History Museum promises to showcase earth’s natural history spanning a whopping 13.8 billion years (yes, billion). The journey through the galleries will take visitors from the formation of the earth to modern times, plus, it will highlight what the future could look like and seek to provide solutions to problems. The intent is to inspire younger Dinosaurs descending on Abu Dhabi generations to protect our incredible planet. Abu Dhabi’s Natural History Museum will set itself apart from others because it will tell earth’s history through an Arabian lens, and it will highlight local Áora and fauna, and the geological history of the incredible region. The Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi will be the largest of its kind in the region and bring some of the rarest specimens across the world to the UAE capital. Besides “Stan” the T-Rex, visitors to the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi will also be able to see the Murchison Meteorite. The specimen famously crash-landed in Australia more than 40 years ago, and is a special specimen because it has organic stardust compounds and pre-solar grains dating back to over seven billion years ago. The Natural History Museum will have a teaching institute and scientiÀc research centre that will undertake studies in zoology, palaeontology, marine biology, molecular research and earth sciences. The aim is to inspire everyone’s curiosity and a passion for the natural world. O Coming 2025. Saadiyat Cultural District, Saadiyat Island. “The largest of its kind in the region” City lifetimeoutabudhabi.com April 2022 7 Happiness spike THERE HAS BEEN an increase in happiness and satisfaction rates in the capital. The Department of Community Development (DCD) in Abu Dhabi recently announced that according to a survey, happiness in the emirate is up. The happiness and wellbeing index is a key quality of life indicator, which takes into account life satisfaction and happiness. Happiness in Abu Dhabi has increased on the index by 7.8 percent, for a Ànal score of 7.727 points out of 10. Something to smile about. O addcd.gov.ae. On view Thankfully, we don’t need to wait until 2025 to see Stan the T-Rex and the Murchison Meteorite because they’re coming to Abu Dhabi for a new exhibition featuring key specimens from the planned Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi. The show will open from Wednesday April 6 to Thursday May 12 at Manarat Al Saadiyat, and it will provide further information about the upcoming museum. O Wed Apr 6 to Thu May 12. Manarat Al Saadiyat, Saadiyat Island. Din Tai Fung Soup dumplings masterfully rolled out, stuffed with yummy Àllings and delivered to your table piping hot. Is anyone else drooling? Din Tai Fung, a world-renowned Taiwanese restaurant, is coming to Abu Dhabi soon. The restaurant will be joining much-loved Abu Dhabi favourites such as Loca, Dai Pai Dong, and Zuma in one of the city’s top places to eat: The Galleria. O Opening 2022. The Galleria Al Maryah Island. thegalleria.ae.City life 8 April 2022 timeoutabudhabi.com Louvre Residences Daydreaming about your next apartment in Abu Dhabi? There is a new mega- project coming to Saadiyat Island with unparalleled views of one of our favourite landmarks. Louvre Abu Dhabi residences by Aldar is bringing posh apartments, along with two new hotels, entertainment and leisure spaces, and a series of coworking spaces to Saadiyat Grove. O 2025. Saadiyat Island. A DUBAI FAVOURITE, Sticky Rice, is headed to Abu Dhabi in early 2022. Are you ready for some seriously good mango sticky rice, among other stellar dishes? Us, too. This is one of the most anticipated new restaurants opening in Abu Dhabi and it’ll be open at Yas Mall before you know it. Ready to dig in? O Opening 2022. Yas Mall, Yas Island, instagram.com/stickyriceae. Sticky Rice Hilton private island resort to launch LXR Hotels & Resorts is debuting in Abu Dhabi with a private island resort, complete with a golf course. The villa-only hotel is expected to open in 2023 and offers guests a private, secluded island, 80 expansive beach and water villas and access to the golf course. O Opens 2023. Al Nawras Island.There’s no such thing. That’s why Time Out has been reviewing Abu Dhabi restaurants anonymously since 2002. LUNCH? FREE Head to timeoutabudhabi.com/food-drink for the latest and greatest eats in townNext >