MAMMA MIA! brings romance, comedy and iconic ABBA music to Abu Dhabi's Etihad Arena this week
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)Book your tickets and pack your bags. You're heading off to an idyllic Greek island wedding, where you'll be treated to romance and comedy - all to the iconic music of 70s supergroup ABBA. That's right, the hit musical MAMMA MIA! is being staged right here at Etihad Arena, Yas Island, in Abu Dhabi from June 11 to 22.Presented by Proactiv Entertainment in collaboration with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and Miral, MAMMA MIA! follows the story of a young woman, Sophie Sheridan, on the verge of marriage, as she tries to uncover the identity of her father. The plot unfolds through a series of interactions between Sophie, her mother Donna, and three men from Donna's past-told through a soundtrack of ABBA's popular music.The cast features Steph Parry as Donna Sheridan and Ellie Kingdon as Sophie. They are joined by Richard Standing (Sam Carmichael), Stuart Reid (Harry Bright) and William Hazell (Father Alexander). The show is directed by Phyllida Lloyd and produced by Judy Craymer, Richard East and Björn Ulvaeus.More than 30 cast and crew members will bring the story to life, with music including well-known ABBA songs such as Dancing Queen, Super Trouper, Voulez-Vous, and Thank You for the Music.Since its debut in London's West End in 1999, MAMMA MIA! has celebrated 25 years of success, captivating more than 65 million people across the globe.In 2008, MAMMA MIA! was made into a feature film. The cast included Amanda Seyfried, Dominic Cooper, Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan.
In 2018, the sequel MAMMA MIA! Here We Go Again! was released. The cast included Cher, Lily James, Jeremy Irvine and Hugh Skinner.
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The National
a day ago
- The National
Founding Flavours: Inside Fishmarket, the 37-year-old Abu Dhabi restaurant where Muhammad Ali dined
Founding Flavours is a new series from The National celebrating the UAE's culinary pioneers and the restaurants that helped shape the country's cultural identity The sea bream lies on the board as Fishmarket's chef Sawai Jampakaew slices it open lengthways with the skill that comes from decades of repetition. The knife glides beneath the spine, then the belly, until the fish lies butterflied. 'He wanted the fish to be served elegantly, but without too much fuss,' the Thai national recalls. 'So it was seasoned lightly. And because he knew we specialised in Thai food, he ordered a green curry, not too spicy, to be served on the side. He was a very elegant man. His team said he liked things very organised.' Jampakaew is referring to then French president Jacques Chirac, who dined at the restaurant at InterContinental Abu Dhabi in 1997 during a state visit to the UAE. Instead of using the private room upstairs, reserved for guests of his stature, Chirac and entourage chose to sit among weekday diners at one of the tables along the restaurant's circular wall. The sea bream remains on the menu to this day. The moment lives on in more than memory. A photograph of Chirac with Jampakaew and hotel staff hangs on one of the restaurant's curved walls, part of a gallery documenting decades of distinguished visitors. There's also Muhammad Ali who visited the restaurant in the early 1990s, according to Jampakaew, with former staff recalling how tall he was and that he indulged in a seafood platter. Fishmarket opened in 1989 on the InterContinental's beachfront promenade, nine years after the hotel itself. The restaurant became one of Abu Dhabi's early ventures into luxury hospitality, offering a fresh concept for the capital: a Thai-run seafood spot where diners chose their own fish and the menu is on ice rather than the page. Guests would walk to the chilled display counter showcasing the freshest catch, select what they wanted, and instruct the chef on the cooking style and accompanying sauce – usually Thai green or red curry, sometimes Chinese-style with ginger and soy. Fried rice and noodles are offered on the side. The growing buzz reached the ears of Jampakaew, who had worked in small seafood restaurants in Bangkok before moving to Saudi Arabia in 1989 to work in industrial kitchens in Riyadh. He was ready to return to restaurant work – this time leading a team and cooking dishes he knew intimately. 'I didn't really hesitate, as this was the opportunity I'd been looking for,' he says. 'I arrived in Abu Dhabi and I remember we only had a total of six staff, so basically we were doing everything. Prepping, cooking, advising customers on which seafood to try and share, serving and cleaning. 'And you know what? This is what I loved about it immediately. For such a luxury hotel, this had the soul of a family restaurant, where everyone worked together without complaints. This was something the visitors maybe hadn't seen before in these kinds of big hotels.' Three decades on, Jampakaew is the longest-serving member of staff – greeting regular guests by name, remembering their favourite orders, and rarely changing the menu or its cooking methods. One exception is his version of the popular dynamite shrimp, made with a red Thai curry–based sauce instead of the usual mayonnaise-heavy mix. 'In the 1990s there were not many Thai chefs like there are now,' he says. 'For many, I was a point of contact, and I would advise them that Abu Dhabi was a great place to really show what you can do – because people here are good and provide good work environments.' Jampakaew didn't foresee the wider Thai hospitality footprint in the UAE, with hotel brands such as Anantara and Dusit Thani opening popular properties, and Thai chefs now working across the country. But a certain VIP guest did. Jampakaew says cooking for former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in 2009 – also seated in the general dining area – was not memorable for what he ordered (a stir-fried noodle dish with mussels and squid), but for what he said. 'He comes in, sees me, and says, 'You see? I see nearly 100 Thai people working in the UAE now,'' Jampakaew recalls. 'Then he looked at me and, in a very nice way, said 'thank you' for what I was doing to represent Thai culture in the UAE. That just made me feel so proud.' The famous visitors made headlines, but the real draw was consistency. 'You know why people come back?' asks Jampakaew. 'Because we don't change. Same fish, same way of cooking. I make butterfly fish the same way I learnt in Thailand. If the fish is good, don't touch too much. Make it clean. Let the flavour come out.' The restaurant itself has received only minor updates during broader hotel renovations over the decades. The original brown chairs were replaced with indigo-cushioned seating, and the gravel path leading to the restaurant became a wooden walkway. 'The rest is the same, and they didn't touch my kitchen. The food counter is the same,' Jampakaew says. 'I remember we were thinking 'why change something when it's working so good'?' That loyalty runs both ways. When he retired in 2018 after 26 years of service, former staff and long-time customers gathered to bid Jampakaew farewell in a tearful send-off. After a few months at home in Bangkok, he was surprised by how much he missed the kitchen, the regulars and the routine. So when he was asked to return to help galvanise Fishmarket as it emerged from pandemic-induced closure, Jampakaew didn't think twice. He rejoined in 2021. 'I wanted to come back because this restaurant deserves to get back to where it was,' he says. 'I knew I made the right choice because the customers were so happy I was back, and they made me feel like this is my home.' Now, he no longer knows when he will leave – and it doesn't matter. 'As you get older in this job, what you remember really is not how much money you made or what you did with it,' he says. 'It's about how you make people feel happy with your skills. I learnt that, like life, every customer is different. Some like spice, others don't. Some want extra lime, others prefer less herbs. Everyone is different – but if you remember what they like, they feel special.' After our conversation, Jampakaew returns to where we found him – at his cutting board, blade in hand, fresh fish waiting on ice. Fishmarket stands as a reminder that some things are worth keeping exactly as they are.
The National
2 days ago
- The National
Seven places in Abu Dhabi and Dubai where children can eat for free
Looking for family-friendly dining options this summer? Luckily, restaurants across the UAE are offering kids-eat-free deals, making it easier and more affordable to dine out with the little ones. From pizza and pasta to mini burgers and waffles, here are some spots where children can enjoy a free meal when accompanied by a paying adult. Positano Children can eat for free, with a three-course menu designed just for them, at this Italian restaurant. The offer includes starters such as calamari fritti, bruschetta and arancini ai funghi, followed by main courses of bufalina pizza, ricotta & spinach ravioli, or lasagna al forno – all rounded off with a scoop (or two) of gelato for dessert. Until August 31; JW Marriott Marquis Hotel, Dubai; 04 414 3000 Hunter and Barrel Every Sunday, children under 12 can choose a complimentary dish from the restaurant's Young Hunger menu when accompanied by a full-paying adult. The menu features items such as mini beef cheeseburgers, chargrilled chicken tenders, penne pomodoro, and mac and cheese. Until August 31; Yas Bay Waterfront, Abu Dhabi; 02 886 8299 Sole The Italian restaurant has an offer for children when accompanied by a paying adult. Little ones can pick from the kids' menu, which includes mains such as vegetable and pasta soup, spaghetti or grilled chicken. Dessert options include chocolate cake and vanilla ice cream, gelato, or fried strips of pizza dough coated in cinnamon and topped with Nutella. Until August 31; Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers, Abu Dhabi; 02 811 5666 Revo Cafe Under-12s can eat free when accompanied by a paying adult who orders a main dish at the cafe, known for its international dishes with a contemporary, healthy twist. The Junior's Breakfast portion of the menu includes a choice of eggs, waffles or seasonal fruits. The deal is valid Monday to Friday for lunch and dinner only. An added bonus: the cafe even has a menu for pets. Ongoing; NH Collection Dubai The Palm; Palm Jumeirah, Dubai; 04 549 7942 The Noodle House Children up to 12 can eat free with a paying adult with a minimum spend of Dh80. This includes one dish, such as shrimpy twirly noodles, crunch katsu bites, or yum yum fried rice, and one drink of fresh juice or water. The offer is available throughout the day, every day Ongoing; multiple locations around Dubai; 800 666353 Jones the Grocer The Australian cafe has a kids-eat-free deal at several of its branches in the UAE. Adults who order a main course can get a free meal for children up to 12. The offer is available every Friday from noon onwards. Ongoing; multiple locations in the UAE; 02 443 8762 Jamie Oliver's Pizzeria The little ones can enjoy a free meal every Tuesday with a special deal at the star chef's eponymous pizzeria. Children can enjoy a dish from the kids' menu, such as mini pizza, breaded chicken, lasagna or cauliflower mac and cheese, along with a sweet treat of ice cream or fresh fruit.
The National
3 days ago
- The National
Abu Dhabi signs deal to build Sphere venues across the Middle East and North Africa
Abu Dhabi's Department of Culture and Tourism has signed a deal for the exclusive rights to build Sphere venues across the Middle East and North Africa over 10 years, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing by US-based Sphere Entertainment. The first Sphere, which opened in Las Vegas in 2023, is 115 metres tall and 157 metres wide, and is considered to be the world's biggest spherical structure. The 20,000-capacity entertainment venue is famed for its 16K resolution wraparound screens, and has hosted immersive concerts by the likes of U2, the Eagles and most recently Backstreet Boys. The DCT Abu Dhabi deal with Sphere Entertainment follows the announcement of Sphere Abu Dhabi in October last year. The filing was made on July 28, 2025. 'Subject to the terms of the Franchise Agreement, DCT also has the exclusive right to build and operate additional Sphere venues in the geographic region spanning the Middle East and North Africa for a period of at least 10 years after the opening date of Sphere Abu Dhabi, on terms and conditions to be negotiated in good faith and mutually agreed by Sphere Entertainment Group and DCT,' the document reads. Sphere sits just off Vegas's famed Strip, near the Venetian resort. It reportedly cost $2.3 billion to build, making it the city's most expensive venue. While an opening date or location for Sphere Abu Dhabi is yet to be revealed, Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, the chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, said during the announcement that the attraction will 'seamlessly integrate advanced technology with captivating storytelling, creating unforgettable memories for everyone who visits'. 'By embracing cutting-edge entertainment like Sphere, we're not only elevating our global profile but also setting new standards in immersive experiences and cultural offerings,' he added. Sphere Entertainment chief executive James L Dolan described the group's first international expansion as a 'milestone'. He said: 'The vision for Sphere has always included a global network of venues. Sphere is redefining live entertainment and extending the reach of its transformative impact. We are proud to collaborate with DCT Abu Dhabi.'
