Abu Dhabi's weekend lineup for October 9 to 11 packs in an unusual mix: a group sketching session in a café, a dog adoption morning at a five-star hotel, a new breakfast menu, Bavarian beer celebrations, an indoor challenge arena, a symphony orchestra and pasta-making inside Ferrari World. Here's what's actually on offer.
Creative types can join Sketchouts at Bach Café in Al Bateen on Saturday, October 10 from 5pm. The weekly community meetup is open to everyone, and while you're welcome to bring your own supplies, the team provides materials too. Entry is free, with café orders averaging Dhs50 for two.
Animal lovers have a reason to set an early alarm on Sunday, October 11. Microchipped.ae and Flooff Middle East are hosting a fairytale-themed pet adoption event at Rosewood Abu Dhabi, bringing together welfare advocates, volunteers and prospective pet owners. Entry is free.
For breakfast, WatchHouse at The Arcades, Al Khail Square has rolled out new dishes including tiramisu French toast, shakshuka served on a seasoned croissant, and sweetcorn and polenta pancakes. It runs weekends from 9am to midnight, with an average bill of Dhs150 for two.
It's also Oktoberfest season, and the city has a full calendar of Bavarian-themed events running through October — steins, pretzels, live music and family-friendly beer garden setups at venues across the emirate.
If you'd rather break out of a cell than raise a stein, Prison Island at Abu Dhabi Mall offers more than 20 challenge rooms testing physical and mental skills — a group activity rather than a standard escape room, best suited to older kids and adults (ages eight to 11 can join with supervision). Packages start at Dhs125, and wearing a pink ribbon gets you 20% off two- and three-hour passes through October in support of Pinktober. Doors open 10am to midnight on Friday and Saturday, and until 10pm the rest of the week.
Culture fans should note that the Abu Dhabi Festival 2026 opens on October 10 at Etihad Arena on Yas Island, with the UAE National Orchestra conducted by François López-Ferrer and pianist David Khrikuli. Tickets start at Dhs225.
Finally, Ferrari World is running cooking and mixology masterclasses with no theme park entry ticket required. Chef Giuseppe leads a two-hour Italian pasta-making class covering fresh dough, filling, shaping and pesto, while the mixology session covers drink pairings and cocktail technique. Expect to pay Dhs1,500 for the cooking class or Dhs1,300 for mixology, with a minimum booking of four guests — book via Yas Concierge.
Why it matters: October is when Abu Dhabi's social calendar properly restarts after the summer heat, and this weekend alone covers art, animals, food, music and theme-park extras without needing a big budget for most of them. Several events — the sketch club, the adoption morning, the festival opening — suit visitors as much as residents, so if you're in the capital for a short break, it's a handy snapshot of what the city does on a normal weekend.
