If we have one motto about truly relishing the UAE’s flawless winter weather, it’s ‘stay out as much as you can’. Except for when it’s raining, of course. While it’s tempting to snuggle up with the next binge-able TV series, blankets and hot cocoa in hand, don’t. Do better. Take that blanket and go out into the manicured wilderness of Umm Al Emarat Park to enjoy their free outdoor ‘Cinema In The Park’. The annual movie night screenings are back for 2026 and the best part? The screenings are absolutely free!
What to expect on the free cinema nights – timings, schedule and more
All the free movie screenings at Umm Al Emarat Park start around 6PM and are open to locals and visitors alike. On some weekends, two movies will be screened back-to-back. Pick your favourite and head on to the open-air movie screenings.
Here’s the schedule for the all the movies showing at the free outdoor cinema in Abu Dhabi.
October 16
Smallfoot screens on October 16 from 8:50PM to 10:25PM. Tag along as Migo, a friendly yeti, faces banishment from his home after he claims that humans exist. However, he embarks on a mission to prove himself and earn the respect of the villagers.
October 17
The Saturday starts with a bang with A Minecraft Movie running at Umm Al Emarat Park from 5:20PM to 7PM. October 17 will take you through a mysterious portal that pulls four misfits into the Overworld, a cubic wonderland that thrives on imagination. To get back, they have to master the terrain with a crafter named Steve.
Over The Hedge runs right after on October 17 from 7PM to 8:20PM. This movie is about a raccoon comes to live in a little forest on the boundary of a town. It decides to stay as close to the town as possible in order to take advantage of the free food available in the town.
Another classic, the movie Mr. Peabody & Sherman will screen right after from 8:20PM to 9:50PM. Sherman, a young boy, misuses a time machine made by his scientist father Mr. Peabody and causes the world history to go haywire. It is now up to Mr. Peabody to rescue his son and the world.
October 18
The movie Storks comes live on screen on October 18 from 5:35PM to 7PM. Storks leave behind the baby-delivering days and deliver packages instead. A baby shows up for delivery and leaves all the storks in a frenzy to correct the mistake.
So, grab your blanket, chair and whatever you need before snuggling up to watch the movies in peace. The spaces are first come, first served, so arrive early if you want a good patch.
Key information
- Location: Umm Al Emarat Park, Abu Dhabi
- Date: October 2, 2026 onwards
- Timings: 6PM onwards
- Price: Free (with the AED 10 entry ticket for adults, AED 5 for children)
- Movie screenings change every weekend so make sure you check beforehand!
