Top things to do in Abu Dhabi — week of 20 April

Late April is the last properly comfortable week in the capital before the heat takes over until October. The calendar reflects that — most of what is worth doing this week is indoor, climate-controlled, and built for slower conversation. Here are the ten things I would book.

I keep a running shortlist on Rifio so the rest of the calendar is one click away — the Abu Dhabi this-week page refreshes daily.

Monday: Slow start

Most of the capital takes Monday as a recovery day from the weekend. The exception is the NYU Abu Dhabi Institute lecture series, which runs Monday evenings at 6:30 — free RSVP, English-language, the speaker this week is on the political economy of the Gulf.

The talks are properly produced and the audience is half academic, half corporate, which makes the wine reception afterwards more useful than the lecture.

Tuesday: Hub71 Founders Programme

This is the headline event of the week and, frankly, the headline event of every week in the capital. Hub71 runs its founders programme on Tuesday mornings — 9am start, free RSVP, about 60 founders and a rotating cast of operators and investors.

The format is consistent: 30 minutes of programming, 90 minutes of structured introductions, coffee and pastries throughout. By 11am you have had three real conversations and you are out for the rest of the day.

If you are visiting from Dubai, this is the meeting that justifies the drive.

Wednesday: Manarat Al Saadiyat opening

A new mid-career retrospective opens on Wednesday at the Manarat — drinks at 7, the artist talk at 7:45, exhibition open until 10. Free entry, RSVP recommended for the talk.

The Saadiyat opening crowd is one of the most interesting rooms in the country. Curators, collectors, gallerists, a steady stream of Hub71 founders who have figured out that the cultural calendar is half the social infrastructure of this city.

Thursday: Louvre Abu Dhabi late

The Thursday late at the Louvre is, simply, the most civilised Thursday in the UAE. AED 65 entry, the museum stays open until 10:30, there is a live oud set in the central courtyard from 8 and a small bar in the dome.

You walk the galleries with maybe 80 other people, you have a drink under the dome, you are home by 11. After three years in this city I have not found a better Thursday.

Friday: Quiet by choice

Friday in Abu Dhabi is intentionally quieter than Dubai. The corporate calendar is mostly off and the social calendar leans toward long dinners. BOCA Abu Dhabi at 8pm is the consistent Friday choice — Spanish small plates, calm room, AED 350 a head with two drinks.

Skip the F1 circuit nightlife at Yas unless that is your thing. Most of the people I know in the capital actively avoid it.

Saturday: Beach, then a long dinner

Saadiyat Beach Club for the day, AED 200 entry, the food is reasonable, the sea is warm but not yet the soup it becomes in June. Then a long dinner at Cipriani Yas Marina — booking essential, the terrace is closed by April but the indoor room is properly comfortable.

Sunday: Recovery, lecture optional

Long brunch at Café Milano at the Four Seasons — AED 290, civilised, no DJ. Or Time Out Market on Yas if you want the cheap option (AED 150 a head, three counters, communal table).

The NYU Sunday afternoon talk usually runs at 4pm, free RSVP, finishes at 5:30.

Ten picks for the week. I will be at Hub71 Tuesday and the Louvre Thursday — both, frankly, are the reasons I live in this city rather than the other one.

Save the ones you fancy on Rifio. The Abu Dhabi events page covers the full calendar in one place.