Eid Al-Fitr 2018: 15 Great Things To Do In UAE This Weekend

The weekend is finally here! And, to help you make the most of it we’ve shortlisted 15 great things to do in the UAE this weekend. We’ve even got some staycation and travel ideas for those lucky enough to get a few more days off to celebrate Eid al-Fitr 2018.

BiCE Ristorante

The Italian restaurant has devised a special menu in celebration of Eid al-Fitr. The three-course meal will feature appetizers such as crispy calamari with zucchini and meatballs in tomato sauce, mains include oven-based Seabass with roasted vegetables (yum) while there’s rosemary panna cotta for dessert.

Location: BiCE Ristorante, Hilton Dubai Jumeirah
When: 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm, June 15 and 16
Price: AED195
Contact: +9714 318 2520,

Festival City Fireworks

Dubai Festival City will be celebrating the religious holiday with a special display of fireworks. While you wait for colors to fill the night sky, be sure to check out the many restaurants such as Morimoto, Buca di Beppo, and Joe’s Crab Shack at Festival Bay.
Location: : Festival Bay, Dubai Festival City Mall
When: 9 pm and 10:30 pm, June 15
Contact: 800 332,

La Mer

The retro beachfront will be filled with roaming jugglers, live music, and a football fan fest to help you celebrate Eid al-Fitr in style. While you’re there be sure to check out Tart Bakery for a 15 percent discount and Backyard BBQ for a three-course Eid meal priced at AED75. There’s also a 20 percent discount on sunglasses and frames at Sun Eye Optical – nice.
Location:  La Mer
When: 5 pm-11 pm, June 14 to 16
Contact: +9714 317 3999,

La Perle by Dragone

The region’s first water show will resume on June 13 so, you can check out the jaw-dropping acrobatic stunts once again. This Eid weekend, you can get up to 40 percent off the original ticket price.
Location: Al Habtoor City
When: 7 pm-8:30 pm, 9:30 pm-11 pm, subject to availability
Price: From AED252
Contact: +9714 437 0001,

Dubai Desert Road Run

Choose between a 3km and 10km run before you mentally prepare to kick off at 6am on Saturday. All runners receive a medal, so if you’re not in the best shape, don’t worry. If you’d rather not run at all, the food stalls and live entertainment will keep you plenty occupied.

Location: ‘The Sevens’ Village central area
When: 6am, June 16
Price: AED90 for the 3km, AED130 for the 10km

Assala Nasri Live

The Syrian vocal artist is well-known in the region for great tunes and renditions of classics. Her Egyptian track ”Law Ta’rafou” (red: If You Know) launched her musical career. With 28 years in the industry, her work revolves around a range of Arabic genres, from pop to tarab. Prepare to enjoy her soulful music as Nasri performs her old singles as well as her new hits.
When: June 16
Location: Dubai Opera
Price: From AED450
Contact: +971 4 440 8888,

Brunch on the QE2

All aboard for a floating meal with rows of great food for Eid. From buffets to live cooking stations and even a junk-food corner, the QE2 serves up British roasts, sushi and seafood as well as International dishes. Packages start from AED250 and there’s an after-brunch party at the Yacht Club.
When: 1pm-4pm, June 15-June 16
Location: Mina Rashid Port
Price: From AED250
Contact: +971 4 526 8888,

Hakkasan

With one of the best tasting Peking ducks around, and it being a gathering spot for the most famous faces around London, Hakkasan’s brunch will make you feel like the celebrity you’ve always wanted to be. The menu is made up of modern Cantonese cuisine, the main idea is to share, but it’s hard to when each bite is filled with delectable flavours.
When: 12pm-4pm, Friday
Location: Jumeirah Emirates Towers
Price: AED199 with selected teas; AED299 with soft drinks; AED420 with house beverages, AED638 with bubbles
Contact: +971 4 384 8484, website

Zaya Nurai Island, Abu Dhabi

Getting there is just as fun as staying there. Don’t believe us? You will. Take a road trip down to the capital’s Saadiyat Island and catch a ride in one of the boats heading to Zaya Nurai. Once you get there, you won’t even feel like you’re still in the UAE. Sitting on white sandy shores and overlooking the Arabian Gulf, your private villa will have the perfect sunset view through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows. And with great restaurants serving sushi and organic dishes, this is also a foodie haven, and then some.
Deal: Beach villas from AED2,205
Contact: +971 2 5066 222,

Colombo, Sri Lanka

Colombo is the country’s prime cultural and commercial hub and offers a fantastic range of things to do. Culture lovers should jump at the chance to explore some of Sri Lanka’s finest temples and historic sites including the unique Gangaramaya Temple, a mixture of ancient and modern architecture. Galle Face Green Promenade is one of the most beautiful spots in the city to watch the sunset and gaze over the Indian Ocean. If you’re interested in exploring Sri Lanka’s heritage, be sure to check out the National Museum of Colombo and The Dutch Period Museum.

Tip: Treat yourself to an Ayurveda treatment, a common health practice in Sri Lanka. It’s a great way to rejuvenate the mind, body and soul.
Flight time: Just over four hours
Price: From AED1,243 on

Yas Marina Fireworks

Once you’ve made your way down to the capital, it’s a good idea to head over to Yas Island for three days of food trucks, a night market with a DJ, international cuisines and tons of fireworks, which can be best seen onboard a traditional dhow. There’s also be carnival games, competitions and tons for the little ones to do.
Location: Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
When: June 14 to 16
Price: Free entrance

Zero Gravity

The beach club is making it’s much awaited return this weekend. Aside from live entertainment, an unlimited food and drinks package is on the cards. It’s AED249 for women and AED299 for men. They will also be screening the footie.
Location: Dubai Marina, Skydive Dubai Drop Zone
When: June 15 to 17, 12pm-5pm (brunch), 5pm-8pm (offer on beverages)
Price: AED249 (ladies), AED299 (men) for brunch
Contact: +9714 399 0009,

Atelier M

Atelier M has set up a fan zone especially for the tournament. Four massive screens will air every single second of the tournament so you can be sure that you won’t miss a single goal, penalty or theatrical dive. There will be special food and beverage packages to keep you fueled throughout the daily screenings that take place from 6pm onwards. The venue will also be hosting daily competitions that will see lucky fans walk away with jerseys from the teams taking part and one lucky winner also stands the chance to grab a Brazil shirt that has been signed by the legend that is Pelé.
Location: Atelier M, Pier
Contact: +971 4 450 7766,

Atlantis, The Palm

A whopping 2,000 people of all ages can watch the World Cup matches together. With a gigantic 28 square metre HD display you can choose to immerse yourself among the mega fans at “The Stadium” or opt for a more chilled vibe at “The Bench” which has a gaming corner. You could also win a trip to the Cup’s winning nation and a getaway to the hotel.

Location: Atlantis, The Palm
Contact: +971 4 426 2626, website

Aquaventure After Dark

The much-loved water park will be open until 12am, this Eid weekend. Aside from the park’s 20 adrenaline filled rides, there will be tons of prizes up for grabs and two live music zones.
Location: Atlantis, The Palm
When: 8pm-12am, June 16
Price: From AED123 when you book online
Contact: +971 4 426 1169, website