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EventsAbu DhabiFestivalsFashionArt

by Dara Morgan

Ed Sheeran, Shopping, Art: 3 Reasons To Visit Abu Dhabi This Weekend

23 Apr 2025

Instagram: @teddysphotos

It is getting hotter by the day, but that is hardly the only reason the UAE is currently on fire. New cultural launches, mega-events, and artistic happenings are cropping up faster than you can say “culture.” Yes, Art Dubai is already behind us. Alserkal Art Week, too. Time to relax? A quiet spell? Peace, finally?
You wish.
This week, Abu Dhabi is dialling things up with three very good reasons to hop on a ride — or at the very least, feel a bit cooler-than-everyone if you are already there. Whether you are searching for events in Abu Dhabi today or just planning your calendar, these picks are for you.

No.1: OFFLIMITS Music Festival

We could just say Ed Sheeran in Abu Dhabi and leave it there. That would be enough, truly. But it would be rude to ignore the rest of the line-up, which reads like your Spotify Wrapped went on a world tour.
OneRepublic. Kaiser Chiefs. Sevdaliza (my personal fave, honestly). Faithless. Ben & Ben. Zeyne. Yes, the gang is all here. Spread across four stages at Etihad Park, this is no regular weekend gig. It is a one-day live event promising 12 glorious hours of music, from 3 pm till 3 am. Hydration and comfy shoes are advised.
Also, it is giving Crowd Test 2019 energy, if you remember that fever dream. (If you do not, good for you.)
Ticket prices:
  • General admission: AED 495
  • Premium standing: AED 895
If you were waiting for a sign to make spontaneous plans — this is it. The OFFLIMITS Festival is exactly the kind of Abu Dhabi event that turns a weekend into a story worth telling.

No.2: The Frankie Shop Pop-Up

Who would have thought the next must-visit destination for chic minimalist tailoring would be... Mina Zayed Port? The Frankie Shop — a Paris-meets-New-York label beloved by stylists, fashion editors, and the type of person who owns a clothes steamer — has set up a two-week pop-up in Abu Dhabi. It is not just about shopping (although you will be doing that). It is about experiencing a curated fashion event, wrapped in culture, caffeine, and collagen.
Yes, collagen. There is a café on-site. Because why not.
Expect exclusive ready-to-wear looks, interactive art, styling sessions, and design collaborations to dream about. Don't miss Tulip Hazbar’s illustrations or Cheb Moha’s palm tree carpets — yes, really.
Whether you are a tourist or a local event planner scouting inspiration, this is a can’t-miss. The pop-up runs from April 18 to May 1, in the MiZa district — Abu Dhabi’s emerging creative playground.

No.3: teamLab Phenomena

Is it an art exhibition? A full-body sensory trip? A philosophical exercise disguised as Instagram content? Trick question — it is all three. teamLab Phenomena has officially landed in Abu Dhabi, and it isn't your average immersive exhibition with overpriced merch at the exit. This is a living, breathing, shape-shifting art event that dissolves the line between viewer and artwork — quite literally. What that means in practice: you will walk through glowing worlds, shifting lights, and swirling projections that respond to your presence. No two visits are the same, and if that sounds suspiciously like a metaphor for life — it is. This is your answer to “what event is today in Abu Dhabi?” One that stimulates the senses and your existential curiosity all at once.