Mark your calendars for these events in Abu Dhabi

 Abu Dhabi Calendar , a list of all the upcoming events in Abu Dhabi, has unveiled events for the 2025-2026 season. 
 

Source: Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism. The Traditional Handicrafts Festival will offer experiences that showcase heritage, culture and creativity.

This year's Abu Dhabi Calendar features highlights like the NBA Abu Dhabi Games; Saudi singer, actor and composer Abdul Majeed Abdullah; the winter experience Liwa International Festival; and the F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2025.

Kickstarting the action are back-to-back bouts from UAE Warriors 64, bringing mixed martial arts (MMA) to the capital. At the same time, culture-seekers can explore Mamluks: Legacy of an Empire, Louvre Abu Dhabi's main exhibition of the season. Running until January, it shines a light on the craftsmanship of one of the Islamic world's most influential dynasties – making it a must-visit cultural highlight. 

The excitement builds in October as global stars and regional legends take the stage from Smashing Pumpkins and Andre Rieu to Abdul Majeed Abdullah – with American comedian and actor Sebastian Maniscalco adding some homour to the event lineup. 

The NBA Abu Dhabi Games presented by ADQ will return together with basketball festival NBA District, bringing basketball action and exciting fan moments, alongside a combat sports schedule that includes Abu Dhabi Showdown Week, mixed martial arts fight UFC 321 and UFC ancillary events such as the Open Workouts, Official Press Conference, and Ceremonial Weigh Ins. 

Culture gets the limelight with Sheikh Zayed Festival and cultural centre Bait Al Oud's Strings Concert as well as exhibitions like Golden Ink: A Journey through Arabic and Islamic Manuscripts, annual exhibition and competition Art Here 2025 and Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim: Two Clouds in the Night Sky, a solo exhibition celebrating the work of pioneer Emirati artist Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim.

In November, concerts by Enrique Iglesias and Travis Scott headline the month, while foodies can indulge in culinary experiences at Michelin Guide Food Festival Abu Dhabi, Taste of Abu Dhabi and Open Fire Food Festival.

Cultural highlights include the Traditional Handicrafts Festival, Maritime Heritage Festival, Sounds of UAE, Abu Dhabi Art and Manar Abu Dhabi, all of which offer experiences that showcase heritage, culture, and creativity. Beetlejuice The Musical is also set to take over Etihad Arena this month.

The year draws to a close with music legends Rod Stewart and Arijit Singh lighting up Abu Dhabi stages, accompanied by the return of Saadiyat Nights, which brings star-studded concerts outdoors. Ludovico Einaudi and Lewis Capaldi will add both classical brilliance and soulful melodies to the month's lineup. 

F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2025 is set to provide full-throttle excitement, while festivals like Liwa Village, a part of the annual Liwa International Festival, and Mother of the Nation transform Al Dhafra Region, Al Ain Region and Abu Dhabi City into hubs of heritage and creativity, live music and high-energy adventures. 

More events will be announced as the 2025-2026 season unfolds. 

Hashtags: #InAbuDhabi, #UFCAbuDhabi 

Etihad Airways opens Abu Dhabi First Class Lounge & Spa

Etihad Airways has opened its new flagship First Class Lounge & Spa at Abu Dhabi International Airport’s Terminal 3. The space showcases the airline’s commitment to providing unparallelled and aspirational hospitality experiences.

Inspired by the world’s most prestigious hotels, private members’ clubs and fine dining establishments, the lounge is an ultra-exclusive lifestyle environment with unrivalled design, style and comfort, world class dining, and bespoke beauty and relaxation services.

The lounge features 16 unique zones designed to ensure that guests can relax, re-energise and be entertained in total luxury before boarding their flight. An àla carte restaurant, fitness room, Six Senses Spa, Style & Shave barbers, nail bar, TV room, secluded relaxation room, prayer room and children’s play room are part of the facilities.

Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways’ Chief Executive Officer, said: “Our new First Class Lounge & Spa is the jewel in the crown of our new lounge offerings worldwide and represents the best of our home city of Abu Dhabi. It is a showcase of intelligent product design, innovation, ‎and superlative hospitality and service. This is not just a lounge but the ultimate airline hospitality experience and one which perfectly mirrors Etihad Airways’ evolution into the best airline in the world.

“Continuing our journey of innovation, this new dedicated First Class environment demonstrates our on-going commitment to developing world-class products as we continue to reimagine travel.”

Measuring just under 1,700 m², and boasting expansive views of the airport, the new facility is open round-the-clock for the exclusive use of guests of The Residence, Etihad First Class, Etihad Guest Exclusive, Etihad Guest Platinum members (plus one guest), Etihad Airways Partner (EAP) airline First Class guests, EAP ‘Invitation only’ members (plus two guests) and EAP equivalent Platinum members (plus one guest).

Shane O’Hare, Etihad Airways’ Senior Vice President Marketing, said: “We are reimagining service and hospitality. Whilst this physical environment is truly remarkable, we have placed special emphasis on creating an aspirational luxury lifestyle space in line with our legendary inflight service offering. The result is the finest airline lounge and spa experience in the world.”

Guests of The Residence enjoy the exclusivity of their own private space discreetly located adjacent to the main lounge entrance. The secluded area boasts a dedicated Savoy-trained Butler, custom-made Poltrona Frau Italian leather armchairs and sofas, its own shower room stocked with a range of Acqua di Parma products, a prayer room, and private dining.

Guests of the First Class Lounge & Spa will be attended to by a number of expertly trained staff - all of whom have undergone a rigorous selection process. The lounge features a General Manager, Concierge, Maître d’Hotel, Savoy-trained Butlers, chefs and mixologists among its highly trained lounge team.

The Executive Chef brings with him immense experience from a long career with leading hotel brands including Ritz Carlton, Shangri-La, and Intercontinental. His team of skilled Sous Chefs, Demi Chefs, and Chef de Partie create superior haute cuisine dining served at an àla carte dining area. Menus are changed frequently and feature a choice of Arabian, Indian and international cuisine made to order at any time of day. The kitchen prepares all dining in-house using the freshest, locally sourced, seasonal produce. Guests will also be able to experience a unique five-course Emirati tasting menu, developed by chefs from Mezlai at the prestigious Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi. A casual dining and bar snack menu is also provided.

A bespoke cocktail menu has been specially developed in partnership with leading London-based beverage consultancy Fluid Movement. The signature mocktail drink is the Abu Dhabi, which uses Middle-Eastern flavours such as aromatic cold brew coffee infused with cardamom and sprayed with delicate rose water. Everything on the menu is one-of-a-kind and named after Etihad’s leading destinations including New York, Melbourne, Shanghai, Paris, Mumbai, Sydney and London. Using ingredients inspired by these cities, beverages are hand-created by specially trained mixologists, using syrups and garnishes such as candy floss and dehydrated rhubarb.

The Six Senses Spa comprises three treatment rooms with shower facilities. First Class guests can enjoy a complimentary treatment, while guests in The Residence are offered two complimentary treatments.

In keeping with a focus on health and wellbeing, the Relax & Recline area features a large video wall made up of 27 individual screens, soothing sound and lighting, and is furnished with six Poltona Frau leather recliners. The fitness room is equipped with state-of-the-art Technogym treadmills and cross trainers, and male and female washrooms and showers.

The Style & Shave area is staffed by barbers offering a series of hair and shave services, including one complimentary express treatment and a shoe shine service. The nail bar provides hair and nail services, including nail art, and one complimentary express treatment.

HE Eng. Mohamed Mubarak Al Mazrouei, Chief Executive Officer of Abu Dhabi Airports, said: “We are delighted to support Etihad Airways with the launch of their First Class Lounge at Abu Dhabi International Airport. This new facility will offer guests a truly exclusive and premium experience, and is a reflection of the continued commitment by the airline and the airport to offer the best possible services to passengers flying through the UAE capital.”

From an interior design perspective, the principles of style, space and serenity are complemented by Etihad Airways’ distinctive Facets of Abu Dhabi branding. With its geometric patterns and colour palette inspired by the UAE landscape, it is the ultimate expression of 21st century Arabian modernism.

The new facility adds to the airline’s expanding collection of 14 Premium Lounges including one recently launched in Melbourne and Premium Lounges in Abu Dhabi (Terminals 1 and 3) and in Sydney. At Abu Dhabi Airport, Etihad Airways also operates a dedicated Premium Lounge within the unique US Preclearance facility, and a Premium Arrivals Lounge. 

ADIB launches Spice credit card for NRIs, NRPs

Source: ADIB. The new Spice Card offers a range of cashbacks if the owner hits a minimum spend.

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) has launched the Spice Card to complement its tailored product offerings to non resident Indians (NRIs) and non resident Pakistanis (NRPs) in the UAE.

The ADIB Spice Card offers NRI and NRP customers a chance to save more money with a range of competitive offers and discounts. This includes 9% cashback on all dining spends, 7% cashback on all supermarket spends, 4% cashback on fuel and 1% cashback on utility bills. The cashbacks apply on local as well as international spend, and customers also earn up to two reward points for every AED1 spent on other merchant categories.

Venkatesh Srikantan, Head of Retail - Expat Banking at ADIB, said, "While there are banking products in the UAE for Indians and Pakistanis to use in their home countries, there is a lack of products specifically tailored for them in the UAE. Our research shows that the spending habits and financial requirements of NRIs and NRPs centre on some common characteristics. As a customer-centric bank, it is of utmost importance for us to design value added products that suit their financial needs."

The Spice Card adds to ADIB's product offering for NRIs and NRPs. Last year, ADIB launched finance solutions for NRIs to buy properties in India and NRPs to purchase properties in Pakistan.

The Indian community in the UAE totals some 2.6 million people and constitutes 30% of the total population, making it the largest expatriate community in the country. Pakistanis form the second largest ethnic group in the UAE, with a population of over 1.2 million, constituting 12.5% of the country's total population.

A minimum monthly spend of AED3,000 is required on the Spice Card to qualify for the cashback offers with a maximum cashback cap of AED50 on utility payments, AED200 on restaurant bills, AED50 on fuel and AED100 on supermarket spending. ​