This weekend in UAE delivers three openings worth your attention. Abu Dhabi opens its leading museums at no charge. Global Village extends its 30th season through Eid Al Adha. Dubai Restaurant Week runs two weeks longer than scheduled.
Free Entry at Three Abu Dhabi Museums
From Saturday May 16 to Monday May 18, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum, and Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi waive admission for International Museum Day. The three-day programme runs under the global theme Museums Uniting a Divided World.
At Louvre Abu Dhabi, you can see the permanent collection and the Picasso: The Figure exhibition, with free thematic guided tours at 10:30am, 12:30pm, 2:30pm, and 4:30pm across the three days. Zayed National Museum hosts Emirati traditions, storytelling, Sadu bracelet-making, and Living Objects tours led by curators. Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi has announced seven interactive activities and continues its Wildlife Photographer of the Year and The March of Triceratops exhibitions. Saadiyat Cultural District programming runs from 10am to 8pm with free entry. Book your slot in advance through abudhabiculture.ae since timed-entry sessions fill quickly. Free admission across the three-day celebration also covers Qasr Al Hosn, Al Maqta’a Museum, and Delma Museum.
Global Village: Season 30 Extended to May 31
Global Village extended its milestone Season 30 by three weeks until Sunday, May 31, 2026, giving shoppers a chance to enjoy the multicultural destination through the Eid Al Adha holidays. The news came on May 10, the original closing date.
Two offers run through the final weeks. Unlimited access to all Carnaval rides costs AED 99, while the Family Offer gives four entry tickets at AED 30, with any additional entry ticket at AED 7.50 each. The family discount applies Sunday through Thursday only and at ticketing counters at the venue.
Operating hours run from 5pm to 1am on Fridays and Saturdays, and from 5pm to midnight on weekdays. Tuesdays remain reserved for ladies and families.
Dubai Restaurant Week Now Runs Until May 31
Dubai Restaurant Week has been extended until May 31, giving diners additional time to explore more than 100 participating restaurants, including over 50 homegrown concepts across premium and fine dining. Organised by the Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, this edition marks the highest number of participating venues to date. It originally ran between May 1 and 17. 
Diners can access curated set menus priced at AED 125 for a two-course lunch and AED 250 for a three-course dinner. For 2026, bookings run exclusively via Careem DineOut. Among names on the list this year: At.mosphere Burj Khalifa, AURA Skypool, Girl and the Goose, HANU, Chez Wam, Reif Japanese Kushiyaki, Akira Back, Nobu by the Beach, Indya by Vineet, and Gordon Ramsay’s Bread Street Kitchen. The extension covers the Eid Al Adha public holiday window from Monday, May 25 to Friday, May 29.
For the waterfront sittings on the list, Rue Royale Boutique on JBR sits within walking distance and carries occasion-ready resort pieces for the dinner reservation.
Three civic-grade openings give you three reasons to step out this weekend in UAE. Saturday for the museum circuit. Sunday for a long lunch. The remaining weeks for one ride pass and a slow evening at the pavilions.
