What to do in Abu Dhabi - Latest News

There’s a certain appeal to pulling into a drive-thru with no idea what you’re getting. One thing leads to another, and you end up trying more than you expected, but it feels worth it. At Al Qana Drive-Thru in Abu Dhabi, you’ve got over 20 spots in one place, so it’s easy to go from burgers and pizza to coffee, matcha, and dessert without leaving your car. What you’ll find at Al Qana Drive-Thru: Craving burgers? Aballii Burger, Wayback Burgers, White Smoke, Sauced, Gather On Pizza lover? Slice 45 In the mood for something sweet? Chocolicious Sweets, Hoop Desserts and...

The UAE passport has officially entered the major league, now the second strongest in the world in the 2026 Henley Index. With access to 187 countries visa-free, Emiratis can enjoy more travel freedom than ever before: the EU, the UK, Thailand, Switzerland, Singapore, South Korea, and Japan, just to name a few. This marks a significant rise, up from 10th place just last year, and an impressive leap from its modest 38th position in 2016. Today, the UAE is ranked alongside countries like Japan and South Korea. In the past 10 years, the country has gained visa-free access to 152...

If buses are part of your daily routine in Abu Dhabi, your usual route might look a bit different from April 15. Rabdan Bus Interchange is no longer in service. Passengers will now need to use new stops, as several routes have moved to different hubs across the city. Here’s what’s changed. Passengers who used Rabdan Interchange will now head to: Al Qanah Al Maqta’a Mall The following bus routes now operate through these locations: 407, 300, 203, 101, A10 Additional changes following the Rabdan Interchange closure: L42 and X5 now start and end at Al Qanah Q3 runs between...

What your child eats at school has mostly been out of your hands. That’s starting to change in the UAE with a National Guide for Food and Beverages in the School Environment. The newly issued guide sets strict rules for what schools can serve, how food is handled, and who is responsible for it. According to it, all school food outlets must follow the same strict standards, whether it’s a canteen selling pre-packaged items, a cafeteria preparing sandwiches, or a full-service kitchen. There are 13 responsibilities covering how food is handled, prepared, and monitored. The most relevant change is that...

Abu Dhabi has plenty of activities taking place this week, and it’s a good moment to join in. Whether it’s an easy morning run or an evening outing with family or friends, here are the details of two community races taking place across the city. Mohammed Bin Zayed City Run on April 15 The Wednesday event includes three distances: 1 km, 3 km, and 5 km. Entry fee is AED 50. Participation is free for people of determination. Date: April 15, 2026 Time: 7 PM Location: Mohammed Bin Zayed City Park You can join this running event here. Run for...

The world has never felt so connected, but there are still so many new destinations to reach. Etihad Airways adds five more cities in China to its network, with direct routes from Zayed International Airport. You can now fly to: Shanghai Pudong (PVG) Guangzhou (CAN) Chengdu (TFU) Hangzhou (HGH) Shenzhen (SZX) All flights will be operated on the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, with 28 business class seats and 262 economy seats. Whether you’re travelling for business or tourism, China has a lot to explore. Before this, Beijing was the only direct option from Abu Dhabi. With these 5 direct flights, you...

A shared sense of pride for the UAE brought people together this weekend at Hudayriyat Island. And it was a moment for the books. 153 healthcare workers from 64 nations, all of whom call the UAE home, carried the giant country’s flag together to complete a Guinness World Record. It took place during the closing ceremony of the Burjeel Games. The entire event was arranged within 48 hours following a call by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to raise the national flag. For the new record, a 200 kg UAE flag was used. The participants carried it for 100 meters....

Living in the UAE comes with a strong healthcare system, and the latest rankings confirm it. Based on 2025 data, three major global reports place different areas of the country's healthcare in first place worldwide. The results come from Sustainable Development Goals Report, Prosperity Index, and Global Gender Gap Report. Some of the areas where the UAE ranks first include: Wide coverage of prenatal care High measles immunisation rates Full birth registration for young children Access to healthcare services National early detection programs Low levels of household air pollution Each report looks at a different part of the system, from...

Abu Dhabi is walking together this week, and you’re invited to be part of it. Yas Marina Circuit is hosting a special event where people come together for an evening walk. It’s a celebration of unity and pride, where people show up as one community. The walk takes place on Wednesday, 15 April, from 6 PM to 10 PM. Show up and be there with people who also call the UAE home. Participation in this event at Yas Marina Circuit is free. If you want to join the Wednesday community walk, register through @ymcofficial. If you’re looking for more ways...

If you’ve been worried about what your teen sees on Instagram, this update brings some relief. The popular platform has started introducing new Teen Account settings in the UAE, with stricter content limits turned on by default. All eligible accounts should have it within the next few months. Users under 18 will be automatically placed into a more restricted setup, and they can’t switch it off without a parent’s approval. They will now see content filtered to match a 13+ rating system. Here’s what gets filtered: Posts with strong language Risky stunts Content that could encourage harmful behaviour Anything linked...