Things to do in Abu Dhabi this weekend: Top 7 events

This weekend's guide lists seven must-see things to do in Abu Dhabi for families, food lovers and night owls across the capital.

Abu Dhabi offers a compact but varied weekend slate from May 15 to 17, combining free cultural access, family-friendly outdoor markets and late-night tasting rooms. Highlights include The Royal Stables family weekend with free entry and artisanal stalls, a three-day Pickl x Crumbld dessert pop-up at Mamsha Al Saadiyat starting from Dhs50, and museum free days running May 16 to 18 that include the Louvre Abu Dhabi and Qasr Al Hosn.

This list prioritises practical details for planning: opening times, exact prices where published, and booking notes. Expect brunch options from Dhs370 at La Petite Maison, a theatrical agave tasting at Barbossa with minimum spends of Dhs200 per person or Dhs500 per table, and quick day-trip data such as Al Ain Zoo entry from AED31.50 so you can choose activities by budget and family needs.

Yes, The Royal Stables family weekend is one of the accessible and family-focused things to do in Abu Dhabi this weekend with free entry and live equestrian displays. The Royal Stables event runs Friday to Sunday from 4pm to 9:30pm and combines dressage shows, pony rides and a farmer's market on the Arena Lawn and Indoor Arena in Al Mushrif.

The event is explicitly free to attend according to the organiser information and features local food trucks and artisan stalls selling UAE-grown produce and handmade goods. Key facts: entry is free, the event runs three days with evening timings 4pm to 9:30pm, and the Royal Stables contact is 02 444 2444. For families, free entry plus low-cost add-ons such as pony rides and market purchases make it a low-budget weekend option compared to a brunch from Dhs370 or museum entries that may require pre-booking despite being free for International Museum Day.

Plan for heat and crowds: evenings are better for children, shaded lawns are available but some activities take place outdoors and booking for specific items such as pony rides may be limited. If you need structured family time, allocate two hours minimum to see a dressage show and browse market stalls. Highlights: this is a low-cost way to experience equestrian culture in Abu Dhabi without the Dhs200 to Dhs500 minimum spends you may encounter at nightlife tasting rooms.

• Dressage shows and pony rides for kids
• Farmer's market with UAE-grown produce
• Food trucks and artisan stalls
• Evening timing reduces daytime heat

The Pickl x Crumbld pop-up is at Pickl, Mamsha Al Saadiyat, and the menu starts from Dhs50 for warm crumble creations served with soft serve or custard. The three-day collaboration runs May 15 to 17 from 3pm to midnight and offers made-to-order warm crumbles with toppings such as pistachio, Biscoff and knafeh, served in an informal pop-up format perfect for a sweet-tooth weekend stop.

Operational details matter for planning: opening hours are 3pm to midnight which makes this ideal as an afternoon treat or late dessert after Mamsha dining; prices are published from Dhs50 which positions the pop-up as an affordable indulgence versus a brunch priced from Dhs370 or a tasting experience with minimum spends of Dhs200. The pop-up is walk-in friendly but expect queues at peak times, and contact via Instagram @pickl.mena is recommended for quick questions.

For families or groups the format is casual but not table-service oriented, so plan to order at the counter and bring children for a shareable warm dessert experience. If you have dietary requirements check with Pickl on toppings and bases before purchase. The pop-up is also a useful low-cost complement to a Mamsha evening, where live music programming runs on select weekends without separate entry fees.

La Petite Maison's La Vie en Rosé is a Sunday terrace brunch at The Galleria Al Maryah Island featuring French Riviera-inspired dishes and a kids' corner, with prices starting from Dhs370. The brunch runs Sundays from 12pm to 4:30pm and includes a range from pastries and scallop crudo to sharing mains such as braised lamb shoulder and Provençal chicken casserole, plus a cocktail cart for table service on the terrace.

For budgeting and comparison: the brunch's starting price of Dhs370 is a mid-to-high bracket option relative to budget outings like Pickl's Dhs50 pop-up and low-cost family events like The Royal Stables which offer free entry. Expect a seated, multi-course format designed for relaxed dining; the kids' corner allows parents pockets of uninterrupted time, which is a practical benefit for families. Reservations are advisable given the brunch's popularity at The Galleria and the restaurant's established reputation in Abu Dhabi.

If you prioritise value, compare the per-head Dhs370 brunch cost to alternative weekend spends such as museum visits which are free during International Museum Day or a Dhs31.50 Al Ain Zoo trip per adult for a day out. For a special-occasion weekend, La Petite Maison offers a more formal dining rhythm and menu complexity that suits celebratory or long-table family meals.

• French Riviera–style menu and sharing mains
• Cocktail cart on the terrace
• Seated multi-course experience
• Dedicated children's area for family convenience

La Catrina at Barbossa is an intimate 90-minute guided agave tasting room on Yas Bay with a Dhs200 minimum spend per person or Dhs500 minimum spend per table. The experience pairs regional agave spirits with tapas-style dishes and cocktails, and operates Thursdays from 7pm and Friday to Saturday from 6:30pm, requiring advance booking for small groups because the room is deliberately limited in capacity.

From a cost perspective this is a mid-ticket nightlife option: the published minimum spend of Dhs200 per person positions it above casual dessert pop-ups but below full private events. The added Dhs500 table minimum is useful for small groups to secure seating. The tasting includes theatrical elements such as an agave salt library with over 30 house-made blends, making it more of a specialist, experiential night compared with free live-music strolls or family-focused afternoons.

Operationally, the experience suits groups who want a theatrical tasting rather than a standard bar night. Budget at least Dhs200 per person and consider ordering food to complement spirits so you meet the minimum spend with value. Bookings are essential; check availability early in the evening slots to avoid disappointment on Friday or Saturday nights when Yas Bay footfall increases.

• Guided agave tasting across Mexico
• Tapas and cocktail pairings included
• Agave salt library with 30+ blends
• Intimate, theatrical tasting format

Yes, free museum access for International Museum Day is one of the highest-value things to do in Abu Dhabi this weekend because major institutions offer free entry from May 16 to 18. Participating venues include Louvre Abu Dhabi, Qasr Al Hosn, Al Ain Museum, Delma Museum, Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi and Zayed National Museum, providing a wide cultural range without admission cost for those dates.

The explicit free-entry window lowers the per-person cost to zero, making museum-hopping an efficient low-budget cultural day compared with paid options such as La Petite Maison brunch from Dhs370 or the Barbossa tasting with a Dhs200 minimum spend. For planning, check individual museum opening hours and pre-book where required; Louvre Abu Dhabi and Zayed National Museum have timed-entry systems and may require online reservations despite free admission. Using the free days strategically allows visitors to see multiple flagship sites in a single weekend without cumulative entrance fees.

Visitor strategy: prioritise marquee sites early in the day to avoid crowds and use the cooler morning hours for outdoor heritage sites like Qasr Al Hosn. If you intend to visit three or more museums, you save the equivalent of at least Dhs370 per person compared to a single higher-cost brunch, so allocate time rather than budget. Free museum days also present a good alternative when outdoor conditions make long open-air plans less comfortable.

• Louvre Abu Dhabi included in free days
• Great value way to stack multiple museum visits
• Pre-book timed entries for busy sites
• Ideal for cooling off and cultural depth

Yes, Al Ain Zoo is a classic full-day family escape and remains a strong value option with adult entry from AED31.50. The zoo houses over 4,000 animals including giraffes, lions, rhinos and Arabian oryx, and offers animal encounters and a safari experience that can comfortably fill a full day outside central Abu Dhabi.

Budget-conscious families will find the AED31.50 starting price per adult to be cost-effective compared with paid brunches and tasting rooms. Practical planning notes: the zoo is open daily from 9am to 8pm so early arrival gives cooler temperatures for outdoor exhibits; additional paid experiences such as close encounters or safaris have separate pricing so budget extra if you want those add-ons. The size of the landscaped grounds makes Al Ain Zoo a viable option for a full-day itinerary that combines animal experiences and picnic-style downtime.

For commuters the drive to Al Ain is a manageable day trip and works well as a contrast to city-centre activities such as Mamsha evenings or museum visits. If you have young children pair the zoo visit with shaded picnic breaks and plan to allocate at least four to six hours on site. Compared to a Dhs370 brunch per person, a family of four visiting Al Ain Zoo on the published adult rate will typically spend less, depending on extra experiences.

• Over 4,000 animals including Arabian oryx
• Safari experience available for additional fees
• Suitable for a full-day family outing
• Lower per-person cost than many premium brunches

Mamsha Al Saadiyat's Dine and Vibe is a weekend live music crawl where multiple restaurants host simultaneous performances and entry to the promenade is free, turning an evening meal into a multi-venue music experience. The event runs every weekend until May 24 and participating venues include NIRI, Antonia, Black Tap, Society and TING IRIE, allowing visitors to wander between jazz, acoustic and pop sets while deciding where to dine.

There is no entrance fee for the promenade or the music crawl, but dining costs vary by venue and are charged separately; expect menu prices from casual outlets to higher-end tables such as Antonia or NIRI which may be comparable to a Dhs370 brunch when ordering full meals and cocktails. The format suits groups who prefer variety and mobility over a single seated restaurant booking. Use the free entry plus paid dining model to tailor spend: sample one signature dish and one drink per venue to keep costs moderate or commit to a single restaurant if you prefer a full meal.

Operational tip: start early in the evening to secure seating at your chosen restaurant and to enjoy multiple sets. If you plan a budget-friendly night, prioritise food trucks or casual spots and treat a single higher-end restaurant as the anchor for the evening. Dine and Vibe is particularly useful when weather is mild because the promenade setting amplifies the live music atmosphere without an additional ticket cost.

• Free live music across multiple restaurants
• Flexible spend: pay only for dining
• Great for evening strolls and alfresco dining
• Runs every weekend until May 24

This weekend in Abu Dhabi balances free cultural opportunities such as museum access May 16 to 18 with paid experiences ranging from Dhs50 dessert pop-ups to La Petite Maison brunch from Dhs370 and Barbossa tasting minimums of Dhs200. Choose activities by budget and group type to maximise value and avoid peak-time queues by booking where timed entry is required.