Eid Al Adha 2021: things to do in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah during the long weekend

With Eid Al Adha around the corner, UAE residents will be able to enjoy a long weekend. The holiday will start on July 19 , giving residents five days off, along with the weekend. If you’re planning to spend the time in another country, here’s a look at some quarantine-free destinations that are less than a seven-hour flight away. Meanwhile, a number of hotels within the UAE have launched staycation offers for those who want that holiday feel without the hassle of flying. If you don’t have any travel plans, there are still plenty of ways to mark the long weekend within the UAE. Here are a few ideas: This is possibly the best time to indulge in some retail therapy, as Dubai Summer Surprises coincides with the Eid holidays this year. The sale will have more than 500 brands across malls offering discounts of 25 to 75 per cent. Some participating stores include Pottery Barn and West Elm for homeware, Mac and Faces for cosmetics, and Gap, Topshop, American Eagle Outfitters and more for fashion. There will also be raffle draws and daily promotions available. Various malls across Dubai; timings vary; www.mydss.ae The community mall in the Al Khawaneej neighbourhood is hosting a number of activities for Dubai Summer Surprises over the Eid holiday. Apart from exploring a number of newly launched speciality stores, visitors who spend Dh200 at Al Khawaneej Walk can also explore their limited-time Modesh and Dana Maze Wonderland. The attraction will feature a wall bursting with puzzles, photo opportunities and obstacles, and little ones will have to find a route leading them to a meeting with Modesh and Dana. There will also be live entertainment, such as a dabkeh performance, from 4.30pm to 8pm, taking place from Tuesday to Thursday, June 20 to 22. Thursday, July 15 to Sunday, August 15; entry to the maze is free on a Dh200 spend at Al Khawaneej Walk; www.alkhawaneejwalk.ae Coca-Cola Arena has partnered with Dubai Summer Surprises to launch CairoBelle, an evening of entertainment on Thursday, July 22. Egyptian star, Ruby, known for smash hits such as Enta Aref Leih , will be performing in Dubai for the very first time. Joining Ruby on stage will be one of Egypt’s most famous rock bands, Cairokee. Finally, Hassan Shakosh, who rose to fame thanks to songs such as Bent Ed Geran, will take to the stage to entertain visitors. Coca-Cola Arena will be working to a maximum capacity of 1,500 guests, who will need to be fully vaccinated. Thursday, July 22; 8pm onwards; tickets start at Dh298; Coca-Cola Arena, City Walk; www.coca-cola-arena.com Why not start your Eid holidays with a hearty breakfast? The restaurant in City Walk has launched a special Eid offer wherein residents can tuck into a traditional Turkish breakfast for Dh89 for two. Indulge in grilled sujuk sausage, fried cheese rolls, a cheese platter, a variety of spreads and jams, all with freshly baked bread, before spending your day exploring all City Walk has to offer. Tuesday to Friday, July 20 to 23; 11am-3pm; Dh89 for two; 04 385 4605 Surprise the children by bringing them face to face with their favourite cartoon characters. As part of DSS, there will be an interactive Tom and Jerry Cheese Town Experience taking place in Ibn Battuta mall until Friday, July 30. Take the little ones to this activation to enjoy games, as well as meet-and-greets with Tom and Jerry. Visitors can also explore the evolution of Tom and Jerry over the years with original artwork, sculptures and animations on display. Young fans can rediscover famous locations seen in cartoons, such as The Kitchen Illusion Space, The Interactive Study, The Living Room Illusion and Jerry’s Home. Daily, until Friday, July 30; noon to 9pm; free for the family after a minimum spend of Dh200 within the mall, excluding supermarkets, banks and government services; India Court, Ibn Battuta; www.ibnbattuta.com The mall in Jebel Ali is offering a jam-packed schedule to keep the family entertained this summer. Children can get creative with wall art and there's a summer camp in July offering workshops on gardening, reading, painting, ceramic work and cupcake and doughnut decorating. Meanwhile, adults can get fit as Festival Plaza is offering free workouts, including Pilates, BollyHIIT and Bhangra HIIT every Friday and Saturday, starting from Friday, July 8 to Saturday, July 31 with The PAD Fitness. Available daily, until Saturday, July 31; free; availability on first-come-first-serve basis; registration can be done at the venue; www.dubaifestivalplaza.com As part of Dubai Summer Surprises, Burjuman has launched Summer Farm. With the main atrium transformed into a farmland of themed backdrops complete with ceiling decor, farm swing, hidden caves and more, children between 6 and 12 can enjoy a number of edutainment activities such as crop and fruit harvesting, a virtual petting zoo, a planting workshop and augmented reality games such as fruit ninja and mini haystack tractor race. Families can capture picture-perfect memories against the themed backdrops and share them on Instagram and TikTok with the hashtag #BurJumanSummer for a chance to win mall vouchers too. Daily, until Sunday, August 15; 2pm to 10pm; free; www.burjuman.com This multipurpose motorsport and entertainment facility has an array of BMW M cars available to the public, so visitors can experience them on the track. There's also a 20 per cent discount on the BMW 330i M Sport driving experience until Tuesday, August 31. Meanwhile, if you buy any two driving experiences at the Dubai Kartdrome, an indoor and outdoor track facility for racing activities for all age groups, the third one is complimentary. Daily; 9am to midnight (the outdoor Kartdrome is open 9am to noon and 3pm to midnight); Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, Motor City; www.dubaiautodrome.ae A new kind of art gallery has opened in The Dubai Mall. Infinity des Lumieres uses more than 130 projectors, 58 speakers and 3,000 HD digital images to create an immersive experience for visitors. Three exhibitions are currently being shown, with the first being a light, sound and visual presentation of Van Gogh’s works, including The Potato Eaters (1885), Sunflowers (1888) and The Starry Night (1889). The centre also houses a boutique so you can pick up pieces of art afterwards. Daily; Dh75 for children up to the age of 13 and Dh125 for adults; The Dubai Mall; infinitylumieres.com The play museum has launched a family scavenger hunt and printing workshops over the Eid holidays. Children between the ages of 3 and 11 can experience the family-themed crossword scavenger hunt that tasks participants with collecting words from across its eight galleries in order to receive Eidiya at the end of the challenge. The printing workshop that follows will teach children about the process of printing in a hands-on manner, and let them leave with personalised Eid cards. Sunday to Saturday, July 18 to 24; Dh126 for one child and one adult (inclusive of admission, scavenger hunt and art printing workshop); www.olioli.ae This chic restaurant in Dubai Marina has numerous offers running over the Eid break. Start your day with breakfast and enjoy a 35 per cent discount on any main menu item, such as the toasted French brioche, Mediterranean breakfast or frittatas. Make a lunch reservation there and you get a buy-one-get-one-free offer on their main courses, including the truffle mushroom pizza, grilled Norwegian salmon and Mediterranean seafood paella. Those having dinner at the restaurant will get a free dessert when they buy two mains. Offer valid throughout Eid Al Adha; Tamani Marina Hotel, Dubai Marina; cafesociety.ae The restaurant is hosting a limited-time brunch throughout the Eid Al Adha break. Called the Nostalgia Brunch, dishes are meant to conjure up memories of diners' childhoods. There will be sharing-style starters and mains, plus live stations, including a chaat counter. Friday, July 23; 12.30pm to 4pm; prices start at Dh175 for the soft drink package; Taj Jumeirah Lakes Towers; www.tajhotels.com South American flavours meet Middle Eastern spices at this restaurant that has curated a special Eid Al Adha menu. The limited-time three-course Eid menu is designed to share and includes dishes such as lentil soup with beef chorizo, chicken anticuchos with sumac and togarashi, and lamb asado, a whole lamb shank slow-roasted in the style famous in South America. All this, and views from the 72nd floor to boot. Monday, July 19 to Friday, July 23; 6.30pm to 8.30pm; Dh199 per person; JW Marriott Marquis Dubai; www.hotelcartagena.ae In need of a vacation without leaving the city? Caesars Palace Dubai has launched daycation packages for Eid Al Adha holidays. From Monday, July 19 to Wednesday, July 21, a pass is priced at Dh180, with Dh150 redeemable on food and beverages, while from Thursday, July 22 to Saturday, July 24, passes are priced at Dh380 per person with Dh280 redeemable on food and beverages. There are also different cabana packages available, all with redeemable credit, if getting some sun and pool time is your idea of a relaxing break. Monday, July 19 to Saturday, July 24; prices start at Dh180; 045566466; Residents in the capital will be spoilt for choice with the events taking place on Yas Island. The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi has announced there will be a number of concerts by regional superstars . Assala, Hussain Al Jassmi, Tamer Hosny and Myriam Fares will be performing at the Etihad Arena on Thursday and Friday, July 22 and 23. There will also be three days of firework displays over Yas Bay, starting on the first day of Eid Al Adha. The pyrotechnic shows will also be broadcast every night at 9pm on the Yas Island Instagram channel, so you can enjoy it from the safety of your home, as public gatherings are not allowed. Thursday and Friday, July 22 and 23; tickets for the concerts are available on www.etihadarena.ae and www.platinumlist.net Now may be the best time to shop the sales as shopping deals and discounts can be found in more than 3,500 stores across multiple malls in the capital until August 31 as part of the Abu Dhabi Shopping and Dining Season. Some participating brands include Burberry, Chaumet, Dior, Fendi, Gucci, IWC Schaffhausen, Max Mara, Panerai and more. Shoppers can also take part in the Shop & Win promotion, run in partnership with Visa, in which Visa cardholders spending Dh200 or more in participating outlets can win prizes, cars and a share of four million Etihad Guest Miles. Daily, until Tuesday, August 31; www.retailabudhabi.ae Clymb Abu Dhabi recently launched Dare to Soar, a free indoor skydiving show, where the instructors showcase their best moves. The shows take place every Friday at 6pm, and if you’re tempted to imitate their stunts after, you can scan QR codes to get 20 per cent off on your first flight. Fridays, until August 28; 6pm; Clymb Abu Dhabi, Yas Island; clymbabudhabi.com Since there’s nothing like ice cream to beat the heat, why not try a new flavour – or 1,000? Thanks to a record-breaking collaboration between Abu Dhabi Culinary and Pan-n-Ice, 1,001 flavours are now available at the Ice Cream Lab pop-up in Yas Mall. Try out flavours such as coffee and cookie dough, bubblegum and pistachio, mint Oreo and meringue, matcha and passion fruit, and cherry and popping candy, for a limited time only. Additionally, the Ice Cream Lab at Yas Mall will featuring residencies by other international brands; Eiswelt Gelato, the popular American dessert shop, is bringing its animal-shaped, home-style Italian gelato to Abu Dhabi for the first time on 22 July. Local ice cream favourites Corner Cone Gelato and Native Café are also taking part. Daily, until Wednesday; Ice Cream Lab, Yas Mall; www.yasmall.ae The restaurant's weekend spritz, a cross between a lunch and a brunch, which is usually held every Friday and Saturday, has been extended on account of Eid Al Adha. Guests will be able to experience all the Alba Terrace classics from Wednesday to Saturday, July 21 to 24. Moreover, the hotel has launched a Workshop and Spritz package, held every Saturday of July. The flower workshop will take guests through creating their own floral arrangements using premium stems, under the guidance of the creative director of Gosha. There's a separate flower workshop for children between the age of 5 and 10 at Dh100 per child. The workshop is held every Saturday of July; 11am to 1pm, followed by the The Weekend Spritz; Dh700; The Abu Dhabi Edition; www.editionhotels.com/abu-dhabi The much-loved Italian restaurant on Yas Island has launched some limited-edition dishes for Eid Al Adha. Diners can now sink their teeth into creations such as the lentil salad with prawns, orange, spring onion and cherry tomatoes; home-made "bigoli" with duck ragu; or the oven-roasted lamb shoulder with mashed potatoes. For dessert, there’s a new Napoleon cake with strawberries. The dishes are on the menu until the end of July, while the restaurant’s usual a la carte menu will also be available. Daily until Saturday, July 31; 6pm to midnight; Yas Marina; www.ciprianiyasisland.com The restaurant has a business lunch on offer from Sunday to Thursday. For Dh110 per person, guests can get a choice of two appetisers and one main course. Some starters on offer include the Chilean sea bass croquettes, wild mushroom ceviche, salmon maki rolls and Wagyu beef baos, while mains include spicy beef fillet and grilled tiger prawns. The restaurant has also restarted its Friday brunch and has launched a four-course lunch experience, Fin De Semana, on Fridays and Saturdays for Dh199 per person, all of which will be on offer during the Eid holidays. Available daily; timings vary according to offer; Coya Abu Dhabi, Al Maryah Island; www.coyarestaurant.com/abu-dhabi/ Dine at the cafe at Al Muneera, and children 12 years and below eat for free this Eid Al Adha. Some dishes on the children’s menu include beef and chicken sliders, spaghetti bolognese, chicken tenders with French fries, mini margherita pizza, and mac and cheese. Meanwhile, adults can tuck into their famous dishes (the lobster pizza is a must-try) and catch fireworks across the Yas Bay waterfront at 9pm. Monday to Thursday, July 19 to 22; 6pm to 10pm; Al Muneera Beach Plaza, Al Raha; www.berris.ae To mark the occasion of Eid Al Adha, there will be spectacular fireworks. Visitors can expect three-minutes of pyrotechnics on the first day of Eid Al Adha at 8pm, overlooking the Khalid Lagoon. Meanwhile those who visit the waterfront destination between July 20 and 23, will also find live entertainment. There will be roaming parades with artists and acrobats, celebrity impersonators, live music and more, creating a festive ambience. First day of Eid al Adha; 8pm; free; www.almajaz.ae For some retail therapy outside malls, Expo Centre Sharjah is the place to be. There will be an Eid Al Adha Exhibition held at the centre for a limited time only, in partnership with Liz Exhibitions. Promising to "bring together leading retailers under a single roof", visitors will be able to get their hands on a wide range of perfumes, abayas, fashion accessories, cosmetics and gift items. Some of the brands that have confirmed their participating are Sharaf DG, Bosch, Beko, Call It Spring, Nine West, Naturalizer, Hush Puppies, Clarks, Splash and Skechers. Expect bargain prices, special deals and thousands of products on display. Parking is available onsite. Thursday, July 15, to Saturday, July 24; 11am to 11pm; Dh5 for entry, with those under the age of 12 entering for free; Expo Centre Sharjah; www.expo-centre.ae Why not take some time to explore the attraction on Al Noor Island? The temperature-and-humidity-controlled Butterfly House houses more than 20 exotic butterfly species, making this a fun and educational trip for the whole family. Visitors can enjoy free entry with the purchase of a self-guided tour or a Noor Cafe ticket, starting from only Dh35 until August 31. Those booking two Junior Butterfly Keeper Family Packages will get one free. Visitors can also pre-book two Sky Watcher tickets and get one adult or child ticket free for a stargazing experience. Packages available until August 31; timings vary; discovershurooq.ae There will be fireworks at Arada’s Aljada and Nasma Residences, starting from the first night of Eid Al Adha on Tuesday at 8pm, and continuing for the next two nights. Those visiting Madar Aljada don't have to leave after the fireworks either as the entertainment destination will be screening blockbuster movies during the Eid holidays on the UAE’s largest outdoor cinema. From 8.30pm onwards, enjoy family-friendly movies including High School Musical , Pirates of the Caribbean , Black Panther , Ant-Man and The Wasp and more. Sunday, July 18 to Saturday, July 24; free; www.aljada.com/en/experience/events Dubai Summer Surprises to return in July: what to expect from the shopping festival 12 summer camps in Dubai and Abu Dhabi for children to try

Eid Al Adha 2021: things to do in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah during the long weekend

Shop the sales, check out some dining packages or attend a concert