Abu Dhabi Hosts Outdoor Markets, Exhibitions, Performances This Weekend

Abu Dhabi opens its July weekend with more than a dozen scheduled events that begin on Saturday morning at 10 a.m. across the city.

Summer temperatures push residents toward shaded venues and evening programs rather than daytime outdoor plans, a pattern seen every July when average highs reach 42 degrees Celsius. Organisers have added extra water stations and adjusted start times after last year’s complaints about heat at similar gatherings.

The Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island extends its hours until midnight on both days for the ongoing “Impressionism in Dialogue” show, while the Yas Marina Circuit hosts a night-time classic-car parade organised by the Emirates Motor Sports Federation. The Corniche waterfront also stages a pop-up food market run by the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Entry to the Louvre exhibition costs 63 dirhams for adults and 25 dirhams for children, figures listed on the museum’s site for the July dates. The Yas circuit event is free but requires advance registration through the federation website, with 1,200 spots released on Thursday. Last year’s equivalent market on the Corniche drew 8,400 visitors over two evenings, according to authority figures released in August 2025.

Cultural stops on Saadiyat

Visitors can combine the Louvre visit with a 20-minute walk to the nearby Manarat Al Saadiyat centre, where the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation runs a free printmaking workshop at 4 p.m. on Saturday. The workshop uses the same courtyard space that hosted last month’s calligraphy exhibition attended by 3,100 people.

Practical steps for the weekend

Tickets for the Louvre can be bought online until 8 p.m. Friday to avoid queues at the gate. Drivers heading to Yas should use the E12 highway exit 14, where extra parking opens at 5 p.m. both days. Those planning the Corniche market should carry exact change for vendors, as several stalls do not accept cards.