Abu Dhabi Review

Over 150 Events To Hit The Capital As Abu Dhabi Announces Back-To-Back Events

Artist, songwriter and producer will.i.am unveiled Abu Dhabi's biggest events season yet, with more than 150 back-to-back events taking place across the emirate over the next six months.

MUSIC | SPORTS | FAMILY AND ENTERTAINMENT | CULTURE | FOOD

The jam-packed line-up of activities and experiences means there is something for every resident and visitor, including Abu Dhabi Grand Prix concerts headlined by Ava Max, Tiësto and Foo Fighters, NBA and UFC events, cultural festivals, interactive family shows, and more performances.

Foodies can enjoy the region’s first and biggest Michelin Food Festival along with the return of Taste of Abu Dhabi, MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants and Abu Dhabi Culinary Season.

The calendar’s cultural programming, museum exhibitions, and educational initiatives will be shining a light on the UAE’s rich history and heritage, with a diverse offering of visual and performing arts activities.

If you are a music lover, expect a diverse mix of acts and artists, with something for everyone – from top-billed contemporary artists from the Umsiyat Music Series and performances by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with Brian Tyler, Vasily Petrenko and Timothy Chooi, to Nancy Ajram and Spacetoon Orchestra at the Mother of the Nation festival and Liwa Village.

The new season will also feature the return of annual book festivals in Al Ain Book and Al Dhafra which serve as pivotal celebrations of Emirati literature and culture, providing unique opportunities to connect with eminent writers, publishers, and artists from the UAE.

Added to the list this year will be Saadiyat Nights, which promises weekly live entertainment on the beach from December through to February 2024. Another first for the emirate and the region is the World Supercross Championship Abu Dhabi GP, which will offer adrenaline-fueled excitement for the penultimate round of WSX Championship.

Yas Island will be the host for lots of winter fun including, Winter Fest at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi and the Winter Spectacular at Warner Bros. World™ Abu Dhabi.

Meanwhile, the Middle East debut of Broadway’s Hamilton, set for January 2024 at Etihad Arena, has announced an additional week of shows due to popular demand.

The complete line-up is below

MUSIC

Robbie Williams XXV Tour: Taking centre stage for an unforgettable evening of pure entertainment, the veteran singer-songwriter is ready to mesmerise fans with his energetic showmanship, infectious charisma, and a repertoire of timeless classics that comprises 25 years of hits. Live at Etihad Arena, Yas Island on 18 October
Force of Nature featuring Natalia Osipova: Emirates Palace hosts Natalia Osipova on 12 October
Al Zaman Al Jameel Festival: Focused on Egyptian and MENA region music from the nineties, the festival will take place on 3 and 4 November featuring Wael Kfoury, Hani Shaker, Ehab Toufic, Hameed Alshaari and Hesham Abbas
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra: The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with Vasily Petrenko and Timothy Chooi on 3 November at the Emirates Palace
Brian Tyler Live in Concert: An evening of cinematic sounds awaits, with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and renowned film music composer Brian Tyler, alongside Vasily Petrenko and Timothy Chooi live at Etihad Park on 4 November
Hyperound K-Fest Abu Dhabi 2023: An electrifying one-day festival that will bring the best of K-pop music and culture to Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena on 11 November
Arijit Singh: The King of Bollywood Playback singing will be performing live at the Etihad Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi on 18 November
MOTN Concerts: International, regional and local talents such as Nancy Ajram and Spacetoon Orchestra are set to play at the Mother of the Nation festival from November 2023 to January 2024
Saadiyat Nights: Weekly musical acts will take to the stage on Saadiyat Island for this inaugural and homegrown Experience Abu Dhabi event running from December 2023 to February 2024

SPORTS

NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2023: Following last year’s sell-out success, the Dallas Mavericks and the Minnesota Timberwolves will go head-to-head for two pre-season games at Etihad Arena on 5 and 7 October
Abu Dhabi Showdown Week 2023 and UFC 294: The UFC® returns to Abu Dhabi with UFC® 294, bringing week-long city-wide activations, fan events, athlete meet-and-greets, fitness challenges, nightlife parties, F&B offerings and much more from 16-22 October
World Supercross Championship Abu Dhabi GP: Taking place for the first time in the region, the penultimate round of WSX Championship promises adrenaline-fuelled excitement on 4 and 5 November
Formula 1® Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: The 15th F1 Abu Dhabi Prix season finale promises to be bigger and more exciting than ever, with an iconic sunset race and world-class after-race concerts between 23 and 26 November
Abu Dhabi T10 League: The seventh Abu Dhabi T10 cricket season will see eight teams battle it out on the field between 28 November and 9 December, including last year’s tournament winners Deccan Gladiators along with Bangla Tigers, Delhi Bulls and Team Abu Dhabi
World Tennis League: With its unique combination of high-level sports and world-class entertainment, World Tennis League will enthral sports fans with its schedule of games and musical extravaganzas between 21 and 24 December

FAMILY AND ENTERTAINMENT

Disney On Ice Presents 100 Years of Wonder: The emirate will welcome back this ever popular family show between 11 and 15 October at Etihad Arena, this time celebrating Disney’s 100th anniversary
Mother of the Nation Festival: The annual celebration of world-class live entertainment, culinary experiences, pop-up stores, and a plethora of activities will return from 15 November 2023 – 1 January 2024 across Abu Dhabi and expand into Al Ain and Al Dhafra
Abu Dhabi International Boat Show (ADIBS): An unmissable lifestyle experience, offering an exclusive opportunity to explore a fantastic line-up of yachts, sailing boats, house boats, fishing, water sports and marine equipment presented by leading international and local brands taking place from 9-12 November at ADNEC Marina
Abu Dhabi Winter Shopping Season: Offering residents an unparalleled retail experience, Abu Dhabi Winter Season will run from 24 November 2023 to 31 January 2024
The Giant Italian Circus (Al Ain): A must-visit event for families, The Giant Italian Circus will feature more than 40 comedy, musician, sport, kids and family entertainment shows with more than a hundred talents performing in Al Ain Square between 7 November and 8 December
Storm the Block: Putting local comics talent on the global map and developing a comics ecosystem in the UAE, Sandstorm’s Storm the Block event will see the convergence of local and international culture and art from 8-10 December
Liwa Village: The second edition of Liwa Village, hosted from 8 to 31 December at Moreeb Dune, is set to expand this year to include new IP for kids and families every weekend along with local, regional and internationally popular artists set to dial up the celebrations
The Illusionist Magic Show: World’s best-selling touring magic show is set to take to the stage of Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena on 9 and 10 December, with a range of magical performances that will leave the audience questioning what is real and an illusion
Saadiyat Beach Wellness Festival: The five-day wellness festival taking place across Saadiyat Island from 10-14 January 2024 will introduce tailored wellness programmes with international figures such as Sadhguru delivering sessions
Hamilton Broadway Show: The Tony®, Grammy®, Olivier, and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, HAMILTON, will make its Middle East debut at Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena from 17 January until 4 February 2024
Middle East Film & Comic Con 2024: The world-famous pop culture festival that unites movie, TV and comic lovers across the globe is set to return to Abu Dhabi between 9 and 11 February 2024
Scooby Doo and The Lost City of Gold: One of the most beloved international franchises of all time, Scooby Doo will bring its world of mystery and laughter to Abu Dhabi on 2 and 3 March 2024
Cirque du Soleil: For its Abu Dhabi debut, Cirque du Soleil promises to take guests of all ages on a journey filled with extraordinary acrobatics, mesmerising dance performances, and captivating circus-like acts, taking the stage at Etihad Arena in April 2024

CULTURE

Letters of Light at Louvre Abu Dhabi: Featuring some of the oldest texts of the three monotheistic religions, this exhibition is held in partnership with Bibliothèque nationale de France and France Muséums and will run until 14 January 2024
Sheikh Rohani Theatre Play: Featuring Kuwaiti artist Hassan Al Balam, this theatrical extravaganza will take the audience on a journey of drama and comedy as it hits Abu Dhabi on 6 and 7 October
Abu Dhabi Classics: A new season of dynamic classical and traditional musical performances in the UAE capital brings a line-up of world-renowned orchestras and soloists from 12 October until 4 November
The Traditional Handicrafts Festival: Celebrate the artisans and craftsmanship behind some of the most cherished Emirati crafts and practices at the Traditional Handicrafts Festival, taking place from 1 - 20 November at Souq Al Qattara in Al Ain
Al Ain Book Festival: This prominent platform for the local and regional publishing and creative industry will provide unique opportunities to hear from and interact with writers, publishers and painters from 19-25 November
Abu Dhabi Art Fair 2023: In its landmark 15th edition, Abu Dhabi Art will present its biggest fair to date with 92 galleries from 31 countries participating. The fair will run between 22 to 26 November at Manarat Al Saadiyat
Al Dhafra Book Festival: A celebration of Emirati literature, the event will provide a unique opportunity to network with writers, publishers and illustrators from the UAE from 4-10 December
Al Hosn Festival: From 19-28 January 2024 at Al Hosn site, step back in time and immerse yourself in Emirati traditions, from hospitality and food to experiencing national dress, customs, performances and crafts
Maritime Heritage Festival: Celebrating the seafaring traditions of the UAE, the festival features a cultural programme of craftsmanship, performances, workshops and culinary experiences, taking place from 23 February – 3 March 2024 at the Abu Dhabi Corniche

FOOD

Exceptional Chef Series: The Abu Dhabi Exceptional Chef Series will see 12 Michelin-starred chefs host unforgettable dining experiences, including Chef’s Kitchen activations and intimate Four Hands Dinners, showcasing the very best of local and international cuisine. The most exciting culinary offering in the region is taking place in multiple restaurants around the city until 15 October
Abu Dhabi Culinary Season: The emirate’s annual six-week food festival will take place from 15 October to 5 December across the UAE capital, delivering a uniquely diverse schedule of experiences across a range of cuisines, styles and price points
Taste of Abu Dhabi: Three days of enjoying the trendiest up-and-coming restaurants in the city, a celebrity chef line-up like never before, and an all-new music concept, from 10 to 12 November in Gateway Park
MICHELIN Food Festival: The region’s first MICHELIN food event will promote and celebrate the diverse food culture of the MICHELIN Guide Abu Dhabi’s selection of restaurants, taking place at Louvre Abu Dhabi’s Park from 7 to 10 December
MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants: This event on 13 February will celebrate the best places to eat across the 19 countries in the MENA region, with unforgettable dining experiences, recognition for the region’s top eateries, thought-provoking conversations and more
The Open Fire Food Festival by Steve Harvey: An unparalleled journey celebrating the diverse culinary traditions of various cultures, with BBQs reigning supreme – taking place 24 – 25 February 2024, at Abu Dhabi Hill, Yas Marina Circuit on Yas Island