Here’s our list of the top experiences as Abu Dhabi welcomes the warmth and beauty of spring.
It’s the perfect time of the year to explore the wonders of Abu Dhabi as the city comes alive with a host of activities, from cultural experiences and indulgent culinary options to thrilling adventures and world-class entertainment. Plus, Ramadan is just around the corner, offering unique opportunities to enjoy authentic cultural experiences and journey through some of the city’s best hidden gems during the Holy Month.
As Abu Dhabi welcomes the warmth and beauty of spring, here’s our list of the top activities and experiences to help you truly enjoy the wonderful month of March.
Abu Dhabi Festival
Fun, entertaining ways to immerse yourself in local culture
The 20th edition of the Abu Dhabi Festival kicks off this month, and it brings plenty of opportunities to enjoy the greatest works of music and art, and learn more about the rich cultural tradition of the UAE and beyond.
The headlining events to look forward to this month include the Middle East premiere of “De Scheherezade a Yo, Carmen”, by María Pagés, one of the world’s finest contemporary flamenco creators, on 10 March, the UAE debut of two-time Grammy Award-winning Jazz musician Gregory Porter on 11 March, and the world premiere of the “Pearl Diver’s Daughter” on 19 March, when Emirati writer Maitha Al Khayat and Emirati composer Eman Al Hashimi join forces with American contemporary dance Company E for the longest continuous augmented reality experience ever created. For more information and the complete list of events, visit abudhabifestival.ae
Mum’s the word
Give mum and the treasured women in your life a special treat
Make no mistake about it, March is a special month for women and here are two reasons why: the world celebrates International Women’s Day on 8 March, while the UAE commemorates Mother’s Day every 21 March. Whether it’s a relaxing staycation or a delicious dining experience, it’s time to show the amazing women in your life just how much you appreciate them!
Rhyme it
It’s a literary night out
World Poetry Day is celebrated on 21 March every year, recognising the important role of poetry in the arts and in cultures around the world. And lucky for you rhymers of Abu Dhabi, the city has the perfect venue where you can savour great food and drinks, while enjoying the company of fellow literary buffs.
March is also designated as UAE Reading Month, and there’s plenty of activities lined up for kids to read and train their imagination. In fact, the Department of Libraries of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi)’s Culture Sector “MAKTABA” is organising more than 100 literary activities, including poetry readings, storytelling, creative reading workshops and meet-and-greet sessions with leading authors. For more information about MAKTABA’s activities, visit library.dctabudhabi.ae
Go wild in the country
Head out into the wild
World Wildlife Day is commemorated on 3 March of each year to raise awareness about endangered animals and plants, while on the 21 March, the United Nations will mark International Day of Forests, which promotes the importance of forests and trees in our lives. These two events remind us that we – nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts alike – must take steps to protect these precious resources.
You don’t need to travel far to appreciate and learn more about these bounties of nature; being an archipelago made up of over 200 islands, Abu Dhabi is teeming with wildlife and mangrove forests! Head over to Saadiyat Island and discover free-roaming animals, including the Arabian gazelles and the critically endangered Hawksbill turtles that use the island as nesting ground. Dolphins are a regular sight frolicking in the bay as well.
Abu Dhabi also has the Middle East’s first-ever marine conservation centre, Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue, which comes in line with the UAE’s declaration of 2023 as the Year of Sustainability. Located on Yas Island, Yas SeaWorld Research and Rescue is a key contributor to marine-life conservation in the region.
For families, Emirates Park Zoo and Al Ain Zoo, with the majestic Jebel Hafit mountain in the background, are popular destinations. The zoos are home to hundreds of animals, including endangered species such as the Arabian Oryx. Other stunning nature reserves are Sir Bani Yas Island, which is home to many species such as cheetahs, giraffes and oryx, and also hosts important archaeological sites, including a 1,400-year-old Christian monastery, and Al Wathba Wetland Reserve, a blend of natural and manmade lakes where you can find different thriving species, including the island’s chief resident, the Greater Flamingo.
And don’t forget Mangrove National Park, a biodiversity hotspot that makes up about 75 per cent of the UAE’s total mangrove forest area. Explore the mangroves up close on a kayak, and don’t be surprised to see flamingos, herons and other bird or plant species. Jubail Mangrove Park is equally stunning, which is perfect for birdwatchers and nature lovers in search of the best Instagrammable hotspots.
Smile please!
Make this your happy day!
The world celebrates International Day of Happiness on the 2oth of this month, so be sure to get your fill of happy vibes on this special occasion. One of the easiest ways to release ‘feel good’ hormones that make us happy is, drums rolling, a good dose of laughter. So why not reward yourself with heaps of laughter courtesy of stellar stand-up comedians Mo Amer and Maz Jobrani, who will be performing at Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Saturday, 4 March. Tickets are available at etihadarena.ae starting from AED 250.
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One night only
A one-night Kabayan affair with Kapamilya stars
Filipinos are finding more and more reasons to love Abu Dhabi. In fact, the Filipina expat living in the capital who won AED 10 million in last Saturday’s Mahzooz draw wants to buy a house and bring her family here. Here’s one more reason Pinoys love Abu Dhabi: the emirate is a favourite destination of Filipino stars. And yes, we’ve got the latest wave of celebrities coming over for a one-night show on 18 March at the Abu Dhabi National Theatre.
Zanjoe Marudo, Kathryn Bernado, Daniel Padilla and Joshua Garcia will be in town all the way from the Philippines for ABS-CBN’s G! Kapamilya Tour, which will also have stops in Barcelona and Milan. The performance kicks off at 6.30pm, doors open at 5.30pm. For tickets, visit https://abu-dhabi.platinumlist.net/event-tickets/86278/gkapamilya
Road trip
Adventure on the road
Abu Dhabi is perfect for great adventures on the road and one of the best routes to try is the long, worn route to Jebel Hafit. Road trippers will undoubtedly enjoy negotiating a spectacular climb of over 1,200 metres to the top, where adventure seekers will find stunning vistas of the desert and amazing rocky limestone formed over millions of years.
Geek out!
Meet-up with Darth Vader & Co at Comic Con
Ready to geek out? This year’s edition of the Middle East Film and Comic Con (MEFCC) is happening 3-5 March at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) and you’ll never get enough of gaming, anime, comics and pop-culture fun. Plus, you might just bump into a bunch of A-listers visiting the event, including Darth Vader actor Hayden Christensen and Stranger Things star David Harbour, who will be available for a meet-and-greet with fans. For more information and purchasing tickets, visit mefcc.com
Dance, dance, dance
Music festivals galore
The next two weeks are going to be very busy for Abu Dhabi’s music scene with two major festivals hitting the UAE capital one after the other. On 4-5 March, the biggest EDM music festival ULTRA will finally land in the Middle East, bringing the world’s best EDM DJs to Yas Island’s open-air Etihad Park for two days of dancing and grooving tunes.
As if that wasn’t enough, one of the UK’s biggest urban music festivals Wireless takes off on 11 March also at Etihad Park, featuring headline hip-hop acts such as M.I.A, Raja Kumari and Travis Scott. For more information and purchasing tickets, visit ultraabudhabi.com for the ULTRA event, and wirelessfestival.me
Connect with culture
Catch world-class pianists and performing artists at NYUAD
Performing art lovers, we also have something special for you. For the entire month of March, the Arts Center at New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) has lined up a series of exhibitions starting with the UAE premiere of the Balimaya Project on 3 March at The Red Theater, where UAE-based Indian vocalist, songwriter, and performing artist Shilpa Ananth will perform an opening set. Cinema enthusiasts can indulge in a selection of free-to-watch Arab short films handpicked by Black Box Cinema to be shown at The Blue Hall on 13 March.
Also catch the performances of international star pianist Bruce Liu, Van Cliburn International Piano Competition gold medallist Haochen Zhang and 16-year-old British-Chinese violin prodigy Leia Zhu.
NYUAD Art Gallery is also hosting a spring exhibition titled “the only constant”, which is inspired by the work of legendary artist Tarek Al-Ghoussein and features other artists such as Patty Chang, Gil Heitor Cortesão, Sharon Lockhart, Taus Makhacheva, Haroon Mirza, Clifford Ross, Thomas Struth, and Vivek Vilasini. Featuring 27 different works, the exhibition is curated by the Executive Director of The NYUAD Art Gallery and University Chief Curator, Maya Allison. Catch the exhibition from Tuesday through Sunday, 12pm to 8pm. For more information, visit nyuad-artscenter.org/en_US/events/dayplanner and nyuad-artscenter.org
Seasonal delights
It’s your last chance to find great buys, enjoy outdoor movies at winter markets
The winter markets are among the best ways to embrace the cooler weather and soak up the festive atmosphere in the capital. Discover a range of seasonal delights, traditional food and drinks, handmade crafts and gifts ideas.
For starters, check out Park Market at Umm Al Emarat Park, which features vendors and SMEs, local businesses and a place where you can pick up the very best in fresh and organic produce, resin art candles, Abayas, Turkish fashion, antiques, crocheted items, silver accessories, customised hats and bags, skin care products, and perfume. There are also nightly outdoor film screenings at 6.30pm and 8.30pm at the Park’s Children Garden. The market is open Friday and Saturday, 4pm to 11pm, until 18 March only.
The Ripe Market at Al Maryah Island, meanwhile, is a glorious outdoor destination with fantastic views of the sea. Guests can peruse through local business stalls, featuring everything from local organic fruits and vegetables from their own farms and other local farmers. The Ripe Market is open Friday and Saturday, 3pm until 10pm, until April.
And how could we miss the new Saturday Market in Al Ain Oasis, which includes a farmer’s market, live entertainment and lots of activities. One thing unique about this market is that the vendors change weekly, so there is always something new to discover.
The Saturday Market is open until 25 March, 3pm to midnight. Entry fees are AED 20 for ages 12 and up, AED 10 for children ages three to 11 and. Children aged two and under and people of determination enter free of charge.
Sports action
Heating up in the capital this month
For all you sports buffs, there are plenty of sports action happening across the capital. Head over to the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi, and catch the season-ending events happening this month, including the exciting 100km ride for the Sheikh Zayed bin Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Endurance Cup for Private Owners CEN on 17 March, and the Abu Dhabi Festival Open Endurance Cup CEN 120 km ride on 19 March.
The Jr. NBA Abu Dhabi League is also heating up in the capital, with the boys and girls leagues drawing closer to an exciting finale on 12 March.
For Abu Dhabi’s hippophiles, here’s your last chance to catch the very best equestrians in the capital as the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Festival winds down with the Al Forsan International Showjumping Cup & UAE Young Horse Final on 2-5 March at Al Forsan International Sports Resort. Plus, the venue also hosts horse-riding classes with the Al Forsan Equestrian Academy for levels F1 to FJ8. More than an equine retreat, Al Forsan International Sports Resort also offers water sports on an inflatable and for AED 35 per hour and AED 150 with wakeboarding. A group of four gets an inflatable for AED 100 per hour.
From 24 March, Al Forsan International Sports Resort will also host the Ramadan Karting Competition, which is open to karters 12 years old and above. Races are held daily from 9pm to 10pm. For more information, call 800 9900
And here’s one for all the triathlon fans out there: World Triathlon Championship Series Abu Dhabi, which is part of the 2023 World Triathlon Championship Series, returns to the capital for the eighth time on 3-4 March. This is your chance to catch the best athletes from across the world compete head-to-head at Yas Marina Circuit for the triathlon’s most prestigious race series. Thousands of age-group and junior athletes from the UAE, the GCC and beyond will join the world’s best triathletes for this landmark event.
For non-competitors, head out to the Athlete Village and Expo, centred in the F1 pit lanes, which will be jam-packed with family-friendly entertainment, retail booths, delicious food and beverage, and viewing platforms to watch your favourite triathletes compete. For more information, visit abudhabi.triathlon.org
If long-distance running is your thing, why not join the fifth annual ADCB Make-A-Wish ZSC Run happening on 11 March at Zayed Sports City. The run, which supports the Make-A-Wish Foundation UAE’s mission to grant wishes of children suffering from critical illnesses, features a 10K, 5K and family-friendly 2.5K runs, all starting and finishing inside the iconic Zayed Football Stadium. The first 1,000 runners registered will receive the iconic Make-A-Wish t-shirt and all finishers will receive a commemorative Make-A-Wish medal. To register, visit gulfmultisport.com
Shutterbugs
Learn new and enhance old tricks in photography
Calling all shutterbugs: Head to the Photography Studio at Manarat Al Saadiyat to catch The Shot, where you can catch some of the earliest photography techniques and images produced from the early 1800s, including works by renowned, pioneering photographers. The exhibition also highlights how modern-day techniques can enhance such photos with the artistic use of light and shadow – especially for black and white photos. Happening for the first time in the Middle East, the new exhibition will run until 24 April.
Art attack!
Be part of the 421’s ‘Winter 2023 Program: RE/COLLECT THIS’
An independent platform dedicated to supporting emerging creative practices, 421 has a new line-up for its “Winter 2023 Program: RE/COLLECT THIS”, which will run in tandem with new exhibitions that support emerging artists from the region. The season also includes over 20 artist-led workshops, talks and special events that explore contemporary modes of memory-making. The exhibitions are open to the public and free to attend, while most of the talks, workshops and special events are free of charge, unless otherwise stated on the 421 website. Entry fees depend on the nature of the activity. 421 is open 10am to 8pm, Tuesday to Sunday, in Mina Zayed. For more information about 421 and to register, visit www.421.online
Exploring India
Bollywood at Louvre, Holi festival: Celebrate India in Abu Dhabi
From the vibrant colours and aromas of its cuisine, to the rich cultural traditions, there are plenty of opportunities to experience the best of Indian culture right here in Abu Dhabi this month.
And if you’re a Bollywood fanatic, here’s a novel way to enjoy Indian cinema in the capital: head out to Louvre Abu Dhabi for the Bollywood Superstars: A Short Story of Indian Cinema exhibition, which features extracts from numerous films and artworks as it explores the diverse origins of Indian cinema. The exhibition is on until 4 June. For more information, visit louvreabudhabi.ae
Holi, one of India’s most popular and colourful festivals, is happening on 8 March, and Abu Dhabi is playing host to a plethora of activities leading up to the big day. On Saturday, 4 March, the Color Beach Party at Al Raha Beach Hotel is returning for its second edition, and once again promising to be the ultimate Holi celebration with 12 hours of non-stop music by an impressive line-up of DJs from India and UAE, and stunning beachfront views to boot. For more information, call 050 676 5563 or visit tinyurl.com/colorbeachauh2023
And dare not miss Rang Barse Abu Dhabi on Saturday, 4 March, featuring 12 artists and 12 hours of non-stop incredible entertainment at the Abu Dhabi City Golf Club, Greens. Catch DJ Praveen Nair along with Dubai’s Finest Bollywood DJ Chirag, DJ Hani Project, Abu Dhabi’s local favourite DJs and many more to set an epic mood starting 10am! For more information, call 058 8263636.
Of course, no festival is complete without the customary feast and there are plenty of Holi-themed dining concepts to choose from on the day itself. Options include Indigo Restaurant at Beach Rotana Abu Dhabi, where you can enjoy the traditional Indian festival with a gastronomic twist, through the likes of classic Holi specialities such as chaat, thandai, gujiya, and much more, and Namak at Dusit Thani, where you can delight your family and friends with a sumptuous four-course set menu from the Michelin guide-approved restaurant.
Indigo Restaurant’s Holi special is on 8 March, 12pm to 3:30pm for lunch and 6:30pm to 12am for dinner. For reservations, call 02 6979186. Namak’ Holi-themed dinner is from 7pm to 11pm, starting at AED 175; for reservations, call 02 698 8137.
The Brits are coming!
Have you tried juniper-infused drinks? Why not?!
Hidden bar at Rosewood Abu Dhabi, will hold its very own juniper-infused drink tasting festival. And it’s al fresco so you can take advantage of the sublime spring weather. A lively weekend is on the cards, filled with bespoke juniper-infused drinks, tempting food stations, live music, games and immersive tasting experiences, all set on the destination’s stunning waterfront terrace. Taking place on Saturday, 4 March, 4pm to 4am, the one-day-only event is perfect for food connoisseurs, juniper-infused drink enthusiasts and music lovers alike. Entry is priced AED 100 including one complimentary drink. For bookings, email [email protected] or call 02 813 5550
It’s a secret!
Get off the beaten track
Hush, hush… We’ve found a gorgeous secret garden in Abu Dhabi that will make you swoon! Located in Al Ain’s Al Hiya district, wandering through the lovely garden truly feels like walking through a dream with a rainbow of colours and refreshing scents filling the air – this garden is a true masterpiece of nature. Visiting hours are 3pm to 7pm daily, with a AED 15 entry fee. The secret garden is, well, not so easy to find, so we recommend you put Mohammed Al-Hosani Farm into Google Maps.
Pray!
Visit the first-of-its-kind Abrahamic Family House
The Abrahamic Family House is the newest destination in Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Cultural District that features a mosque, a church and a synagogue. The complex reflects Abu Dhabi’s reputation as a melting pot of diverse cultures, with the country working towards creating a safe secular space for all to practice their faith freely. Visitors can book guided tours starting this month. Visit abrahamicfamilyhouse.ae for more information
Break your fast!
Ramadan 2023 in UAE: dates announced for the Holy Month and Eid Al Fitr
With Ramadan approaching, the capital now comes alive with one of its beloved traditions: Iftar! Ramadan is likely to begin around 23 March according to astronomical calculations, and many dining and hospitality venues are now in the thick of preparations for the best dining experiences.
Al Forsan International Sports Resort, for instance, has revamped the menu at its Como Restaurant, generally known for serving fine northern Italian cuisine, to serve the finest traditional local delicacies. There is also a talented oud player serenading as diners take in the wonderful views. For bookings and more information, call 02 65 656 29 or 055 675 1317, visit alforsan.com
We’ve sampled a few and bring you this guide to some of the best Iftar and Suhoor offers in Abu Dhabi.
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