Okay, let’s be honest: if someone says “Four Seasons,” most of us instantly imagine luxe brunches we can’t pronounce, chandeliers worth more than our cars, and the kind of fresh flowers that make your living-room bouquet look like it’s gasping for water. But this August, Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island is flipping the script. Forget just posh vibes—this time it’s about celebrating the brilliance, creativity, and achievements of Emirati women. And honestly? It’s the perfect excuse to put on your “I’m cultured” shoes and strut.
Step One: Get Inspired (a.k.a. the Panel Discussion)
Mark your calendars for August 28th at 4 pm, because this is where things get powerful. The hotel is hosting a panel on “Women Building the Nation”—and it’s not your typical polite golf-clap conversation.
Picture this:
- Asma Bukhammas, architect and educator, dropping truth bombs about how women have been building not just homes but legacies (and no, not the Pinterest DIY kind—actual cultural foundations).
- Ruqaya Al Hashmi, a multidisciplinary artist who’s basically living proof that creativity knows no boundaries. Paintings? Check. Ceramics? Check. Photography? Double check. (Meanwhile, some of us are still struggling to keep a cactus alive.)
Together, they’ll talk about memory, space, heritage, and how women are shaping the UAE’s creative future. Translation: it’s brain food with a side of empowerment.
Step Two: Wander Through Art That Talks Back
After the panel, don’t just dash off for selfies in the lobby—stick around. Why? Because Ruqaya Al Hashmi is unveiling her month-long art exhibition right there at the Four Seasons. Think of it as a visual love letter to Emirati women and their influence, running until September 28th.
Her work dives into how landscapes and bodies connect, which sounds super deep because, well, it is. Each piece practically begs you to tilt your head, squint a little, and say, “Hmm… fascinating.” Perfect for when you want to look like an art connoisseur while secretly just wondering if the colours would match your living room.
After the panel, don’t just dash off for selfies in the lobby—stick around. Why? Because Ruqaya Al Hashmi is unveiling her month-long art exhibition right there at the Four Seasons. Think of it as a visual love letter to Emirati women and their influence, running until September 28th.
Her work dives into how landscapes and bodies connect, which sounds super deep because, well, it is. Each piece practically begs you to tilt your head, squint a little, and say, “Hmm… fascinating.” Perfect for when you want to look like an art connoisseur while secretly just wondering if the colours would match your living room.
Step Three: DIY but Make It Couture
Now, if you’ve ever thought, “Wow, I wish I could design something chic enough to wear,” this is your moment. Enter Lila Kora’s Canvas-to-Scarf experience. You’ll get to splash some paint around (legally, unlike the time you “accidentally” redecorated your white sneakers) and then—plot twist—it becomes a silk scarf.
Yes, you heard that right. Your doodle gets the glow-up treatment and transforms into a bespoke accessory. It’s the ultimate keepsake: part fashion statement, part bragging rights .
Step Four: Tea, But Make It Emirati
Of course, no Four Seasons celebration is complete without a little indulgence, and that’s where the Emirati Women’s Day Afternoon Tea comes in. Available daily from August 28th to September 28th at the Al Meylas Lounge, it’s basically a love letter to your taste buds.
We’re talking:
- Savouries like creamy goat cheese kunafa nests (your cheese platter could never).
- Lobster man’oushe so fancy it might just wink at you.
- Pistachio and raspberry financiers—aka the kind of dessert you can’t pronounce but will 100% devour.
- And let’s not forget the sea salt caramel tart that might just ruin regular caramel for you forever.
All this for AED 260 per person. Which, let’s be real, is basically the same price as that “quick online order” you made at 2 am last week. But this comes with way fewer regrets.
Final Sip
So, if you’re in Abu Dhabi and looking for a way to celebrate Emirati Women’s Day that’s equal parts cultural, creative, and downright delicious, Four Seasons at Al Maryah Island has you covered.
Attend the conversation. Stay for the art. Leave with a scarf. And definitely don’t skip the tart.
Contact & Location:
Phone – +971 (2) 333 2222
