16 things to do in Abu Dhabi over Eid Al Fitr

With many enjoying a full week off work for the Eid Al Fitr holiday, families will be looking for exciting and engaging activities across the emirate. Here we round up the top things to do in Abu Dhabi until June 8, including amusement parks, fireworks, food and shopping deals. Also, head here for things to do in Dubai over the Eid weekend . First day of Eid Al Fitr Ferrari World Abu Dhabi celebrates Eid Al Fitr with the Rollercoaster Rally, which sees the park open until midnight, with free entry after 6pm. Enjoy all the rides and attractions, including the Formula Rossa and the Flying Aces, as well as the gravity-defying Turbo Track and the Fiorani GT Challenge. A DJ will play top music, there will be roaming entertainment and shows at La Piazza Scale. free entry from 6pm to midnight, pay as you go from Dh60 per ride, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, www.ferrariworldabudhabi.com ___________________________________ Thursday, June 6 to Saturday, June 8 Eid Al Fitr Family Film Screenings at Louvre Abu Dhabi This Eid Al Fitr, enjoy family film screenings at Louvre Abu Dhabi, free when booked in advance online or at the ticketing desk. The animated films are linked to the current exhibition at the Children's Museum: Animals, Between Real and Imaginary. On June 6, at 5pm, see My Neighbor Totoro . On June 7 at 2pm, see Little Chicken's Egg-cellent Adventure and at 5pm see Nocturna . On June 8 at 5pm, see Beyond Beyond . 10am to 8pm, from Dh63, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, www.louvreabudhabi.ae ___________________________________ Throughout Eid Al Fitr Cipriani Yas Island reopens for Eid Al Fitr with traditional Italian cuisine and views of the fireworks displays. Enjoy dishes such as the risotto primavera, baked taliolini, carpaccio alla Cipriani and the vanilla creme meringue. Fireworks can be seen in Yas Marina daily during the public holiday from 9pm. 6pm to midnight, Cipriani, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, 02 657 5400, www.ciprianiyasisland.com ___________________________________ Wednesday, June 5 Yas Mall brings back its 24-Hour Mega Sale along with tax-free shopping. On purchases of Dh1,000 or more, receive a Yas Mall gift card loaded with the VAT amount. Participating retail outlets offer exclusive discounts; there will be instant-win prizes from mystery boxes and a triple-grand prize. 10am on June 5 to 10am on June 6, Yas Mall, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, www.yasmall.ae ___________________________________ Thursday, June 6 As part of the Hala BilKhaleej series, enjoy an Eid Al Fitr concert headlined by Hussain Al Jassmi along with Balqees Fathi and Eisa Al Marzouq. Festember will host pop-up fashion and retail vendors as well as local and regional food and beverage offerings. There will be a photo booth and Anghami music streaming lounges. from 7pm, from Dh100, Adnec, Abu Dhabi, www.ticketmaster.ae ___________________________________ Friday, May 31 to Thursday, June 6 Visit The Galleria Al Maryah Island this Eid Al Fitr and enjoy family friendly activities including henna art, face-painting, sand art and lantern-making. There will be yola dance performances and the first 100 visitors each day can take home souvenirs such as personalised Arabic calligraphy and sand-bottle creations. Plus, throughout the summer, The Galleria Al Maryah Island continues to mark the Year of Tolerance with an exhibition of photographs in collaboration with the National Archive. View never-before-seen images of historical moments that commemorate Sheikh Zayed. The collection highlights the values that the Year of Tolerance represents and the images span from 1965 to 1990. 3pm to 9pm, The Galleria Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi, www.thegalleria.ae ___________________________________ Daily until Monday, June 10 Dates are a popular gifting option throughout Ramadan and well into Eid. Head to Mushrif Mall on Airport Road, which is hosting a dates festival until June 10, to sample dates and related products, and to learn more about the nutritious fruit from cultivators and retailers. On offer are a variety of fresh and dry dates from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, as well as date jam, date syrup and sugar, date powder and pastes and ma’mool biscuits. Mall manager Aravind Ravi Palode says the highlight of the festival is the wide range of organic produce from the local farmers and the availability of ajwa dates, which are known for their medicinal properties. 10am to midnight, The Market at Mushrif Mall, Abu Dhabi, www.mushrifmall.com ___________________________________ Throughout Eid Al Fitr Chocolates are another suitable gifting option during this festive period, especially if they are embossed with Eid Mubarak greetings, as Sprungli's pralines are. The Swiss chocolatier, which was founded in Zurich in 1836, has created five gift boxes filled with its famed handmade truffles and pralines. Options include: a 24-piece selection in a blue rectangular box with a gold-foiled Arabesque; a 36-piece selection in a scarlet red box with wooden artwork; and the Arabic Bonbonniere box, filled with 43 pralines and truffles. For something a bit more extravagant, look to the Premium Dawra, a large black hamper with a golden design, and filled with chocolate squares and candied orange sticks enclosed in dark chocolate, with crushed almonds; or the Festive bonbonniere, a double-tray gift box filled with a range of 50 hand-crafted chocolates, pralines and truffles. Prices range from Dh210 to Dh580. Sprungli Boutique & Cafe, The Galleria, Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi, 02 621 9229 ___________________________________ Wednesday, June 5 to Saturday, June 15 Yas Gaming Festival brings the immersive world of video games to Yas Mall with activities for all ages, including 24-hour non-stop gaming on the first day of Eid. Visitors can look forward to appearances by YouTube gaming celebrities Zubair Sarookh and Hemo King, and gaming experts from IGN Middle East. There will be virtual reality experiences, retro games, a showcase of the latest games, cosplay and tournaments. Parents can also attend discussions on kid-friendly and educational gaming. 10am to 10pm, Yas Mall, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, www.yasmall.ae ___________________________________ Monday, June 3 and Tuesday, June 4 June is Women’s Golf Month and there are two ladies-only Women’s Golf Days on June 3 at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club and on June 4 at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. The Ladies Pro-Am on June 3 at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club is a nine-hole Texas scramble followed by a light brunch. There is also a two-hour complimentary ladies’ golf clinic, along with drinks and canapes, from Dh50. The following day, attend the event at Abu Dhabi Golf Club that includes playing on the garden course from Dh100, and an optional Dh30 to play in the Texas scramble. There will be an early breakfast, a nine-hole fun competition, prizes, discounts on merchandise as well as food and drinks. June 3, 8am, from Dh100 for members, from Dh250 for non-members, Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, 02 499 8000, golfreservations@sbgolfclub.ae; June 4, 9am shotgun start, from Dh100, Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi, 02 885 3555, lwixon@adgolfclub.ae ___________________________________ Wednesday, June 5 to Thursday, June 6 Malls across the capital and Al Ain will be taking part in a 24-hour Mega Sale to mark Eid Al Fitr. More than 500 retailers will be taking part in the sale, which will run from 10am on Wednesday June 5 to 10am on Thursday June 6, across 16 malls. Participating malls include Yas Mall, The Mall at World Trade Centre, Al Jimi Mall, Abu Dhabi Mall, Bawadi Mall, Dalma Mall, Al Raha Mall, Al Wahda Mall, Barari Outlet Mall, Foah Mall, Khalidiyah Mall, Madinat Mall, Mazyad Mall, Mushrif Mall and Marina Mall. Other malls including Al Ain Mall, City Centre Al Masdar, Deerfields Mall and Hili Mall will offer extended opening hours on June 5, allowing shoppers to make the most of the bargains until 3am. From 10am on June 5 to 10am on June 6 ___________________________________ First day of Eid On the first day of Eid, visitors to Yas Waterworld will be treated to performances throughout the day from traditional yola dancers and drummers, while enjoying the park’s 40 rides, slides and attractions. from 10am to 8pm, from Dh250, Yas Waterworld, Yas Island www.yaswaterworld.com ___________________________________ Thursday, June 6 Keen racers can take part in the Eid Race for Eidiyyah Karting Championship on Thursday June 6 for the chance to win a cash prize. Up to 40 drivers will be able to take part in the races across two categories; under 80kg or above 80kg, while there will be a separate race for children. Poll positions will receive prizes of up to Dh6,000. 6pm to 10pm, Yas Kartzone, Yas Marina Circuit. www.yasmarinacircuit.com ___________________________________ Wednesday, June 5, and First day of Eid through the Fourth day of Eid Marina Mall Abu Dhabi will be celebrating Eid with the return of its 24-hour sale on June 5, with several outlets offering customers promotions ranging from buy-one-get-one-free to discounts of up to 90 per cent. Children will enjoy a performance of Nickelodeon Rocks!, which features characters including Dora the Explorer, SpongeBob SquarePants, Paw Patrol and Shimmer & Shine. There are three shows daily between 4.30 pm and 9.15 pm from the first day of Eid to the fourth day of Eid. June 5 for the 24-Hour sale; First day of Eid until the Fourth day of Eid for Nickelodeon Rocks, Marina Mall, Breakwater, Abu Dhabi, www.marinamall.ae ___________________________________ Daily until Wednesday, June 5 The annual event plays a key part in the capital’s Eid celebrations. While it may have been running throughout Ramadan, the market takes on fun and celebratory spirit throughout Eid with plenty of children’s rides and family entertainment. When it comes to the shopping there are plenty of options. From saffron tea and Emirati luqaimat snacks to lavish dresses and the latest phones, the festival is a boon for bargain hunters. Bringing your best haggeling skills and soak up the atmosphere. 8pm to 2am, free entry, The Ramadan and Eid Market, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, www.adnec.ae ___________________________________ Daily, ongoing The much loved wildlife venue is gearing up for another busy season. For this Eid celebrations the zoo have a number of family friendly animal activities. When it comes to the animal shows you can see check out crocodile and budgie feeding sessions. There are camel and pony rides and photo sessions with an array of birds. The zoo also has cultural activities such as coffee making and craft workshops. 3pm to 9am, from Dh30, Al Ain Zoo, Nahyan The First Street, Al Ain, www.alainzoo.ae

16 things to do in Abu Dhabi over Eid Al Fitr

There's plenty to do all week long in the capital this holiday, including fireworks, food and shopping deals