Abu Dhabi this week: 7 activities to try

Abu Dhabi this week offers 7 fresh activities for families and culture-seekers, from museum discounts to neon padel and free creative workshops.

The capital’s calendar is full of short-run pop-ups and summer-season offers worth a weekday or evening visit. Highlights this week include The Silk Fold pop-up at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, neon padel sessions at Space42 Arena, discounted Saadiyat museums for residents and hands-on workshops from Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.

Most events run on a daily or weekly schedule through August and September, with ticketed museum entry from Dhs49 per person and spa and activity prices ranging from Dhs150 to Dhs450, depending on the experience.

The Silk Fold is a limited pop-up experience at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental that showcases Emirati craftsmanship, coffee culture and design-led storytelling in a curated setting.

The experience features a curated afternoon tea, Arabic coffee tastings, innovative coffee creations and desserts inspired by regional flavours, plus live performances and community talks. It runs Monday to Thursday, 4:00pm to 11:00pm in The Grand Dome with entry on a first-come, first-served basis and no reservations required. Related options this week include museum tickets at Dhs49 and spa treatments priced at Dhs450.

This pop-up is best for evening visits where atmosphere matters more than formal seating or tickets. Expect walk-in capacity limits during peak hours, and plan to arrive early if you want a table for tea or to attend scheduled talks.

The neon padel pop-up at Space42 Arena is a glow-in-the-dark padel experience offering daily sessions, music and themed nights, with courts available from Dhs245 per court.

Sessions run daily from 8:00am to 10:00pm, with Ladies Glow Night every Thursday from 4:00pm onwards. Packages are available for birthdays, corporate events and private celebrations, and the quoted starting price is From Dhs245 per court. The venue supplies glowing gear and music to create an energetic atmosphere for players and spectators.

For groups, compare weekday morning slots with evening sessions for lower noise and quicker court turnover. If you need a guaranteed slot or a private event, book early to secure the Dhs245 starting rate and avoid peak-time surcharges.

• Glow gear provided
• Music-led atmosphere
• Birthday and corporate packages
• Daily morning and evening sessions

UAE residents can access a 30% discount across Louvre Abu Dhabi, Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi and Zayed National Museum this week, with tickets priced at Dhs49 per museum until September 30.

The Saadiyat cultural trio is open daily with listed hours: Louvre Abu Dhabi and Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi run 10:00am to 6:30pm, while Zayed National Museum is open 10:00am to 8:00pm. Children under 18 and seniors aged 60+ enjoy free admission under the summer offer. This discounted Dhs49 rate is a time-limited resident benefit, so check entry windows before visiting.

If you plan to visit multiple museums in one day, factor in transit time across Saadiyat Island and the likely crowds on weekends. Book early in the morning to avoid peak visitor periods, and remember the 30% resident discount expires on September 30.

The Children’s Museum at Louvre Abu Dhabi is running a Board Game Adventure Summer Camp that is free for children and explores board games from around the world through hands-on play.

Available daily from 10:00am to 6:30pm, the camp welcomes children aged 5 14 and includes designing and building new games, learning the history and mechanics of traditional Emirati games, and hands-on activities. The children’s programme is free, while accompanying adults can use the Dhs49 summer ticket offer for the museum.

This programme is ideal for parents planning a longer museum day: drop children into the camp while adults tour the galleries, then regroup. Note the camp is geared to ages 5 14 and activities are scheduled throughout the day, so confirm arrival windows for drop-off and collection.

The EDITION Spa offers an Escape the Heat: Summer Deep Tissue Massage priced at Dhs450, with a day pass available for Dhs150 per person that includes pool and wellness facilities.

The 60-minute deep tissue treatment is designed to restore energy and reduce muscle tension; the day pass runs daily from 9:00am to 7:00pm and grants access to the outdoor pool, sauna, steam room and fitness centre, with the full Dhs150 value redeemable on food and beverage. The spa recommends booking the Dhs450 treatment in advance to secure preferred slots.

If you plan a full wellness day, the Dhs150 day pass plus the Dhs450 massage creates a combined-value experience that includes leisure facilities and dining credit. Check availability on weekdays for quieter times and avoid peak weekend hours if you want a more private experience.

Guggenheim Abu Dhabi’s Contemporary Makers Cohort 3 is accepting registrations for free woodworking workshops aimed at creatives aged 18 25, with applications closing on 16 August 2026.

The eight-week programme begins with a Woodworking Fundamentals workshop from September 9 to 13, then continues with weekly sessions every Thursday from September 24 to November 12 at MAKE, Abu Dhabi. Participants will learn woodworking techniques, develop a project from concept to completion, and receive mentorship from artists and cultural professionals. The programme is free to join, with a public showcase planned at the conclusion.

Spaces are limited and priority goes to complete applications submitted before the 16 August 2026 deadline. If you are eligible, prepare a brief portfolio or statement of interest to strengthen your application and register promptly to secure a free place.

Abu Dhabi Culture’s city-wide summer camp runs across Qasr Al Hosn, House of Artisans and Al Maqta’a Museum, offering hands-on heritage activities for children aged 5 14 with pricing from Dhs150 to Dhs900.

The programme runs on selected dates in August (10 13 and 17 20) with daily sessions from 10:00am to 2:00pm. Pricing is Dhs150 for a one-day camp, Dhs500 for a one-week camp and Dhs900 for a two-week camp. Activities include traditional crafts, storytelling, engineering-inspired workshops and heritage site tours that connect children with Emirati traditions and community practices.

This camp is suitable for parents who want flexible booking: choose single days, one-week or two-week options depending on remaining holiday time. Expect hands-on, active sessions that fill quickly; early bookers secure preferred dates and reduce the chance of mixed-age group placements.

This week in Abu Dhabi brings seven short-run and family-friendly experiences, from The Silk Fold at Emirates Palace to neon padel at Space42, with museum tickets at Dhs49, spa passes at Dhs150 and massages at Dhs450. Use resident discounts, early booking and weekday times to stretch value and avoid peak crowds while enjoying Saadiyat’s cultural offers and city-wide summer programmes.