As a Valentine’s Day like no other looms before us, we’ve gathered some date ideas at The Gazelle for you to try in this socially-distanced, stipend-less world. Whether you are looking for a calm night on campus or an exciting, sporty date, we are here to help and give you tips to surprise your crush or with your group of friends.

The ultimate budget friendly date and perfect for introverts who like to spend time inside is to build a blanket fort, following Ikea’s fort-building instructions. You can borrow a projector and watch a movie or show from inside your new fort.

Pack a basket with goods from the convenience store and head on a picnic to the grassy area above West Dining Hall (D1). Bring a book for a quiet afternoon or speakers to enjoy the sunset. Beware of the sprinklers going off at 6 p.m. — or don’t, and end the night on a sparkling note.

Ditch the convenience store roses and head to Mina Port to walk around the plant souq and pick up a low-maintenance plant buddy, like a snake plant, or buy some mint to make your own tea. The stall owners will give you guidance on how to take care of your plants and often let you walk away with a free flowering one.

After shopping for plants around the wonderfully green souq, walk to the Fish Market and pick your favorite seafood for the restaurants to cook for you. The lively environment will give plenty to talk about as you enjoy your fresh food and tea outside; the weather is on your side too.

For a more romantic adventure, borrow a bike from the Bikeshare program and ride or walk to the Louvre. There, you can enjoy the sunset at the pier and walk underneath the dome — for free on Wednesdays.

You can also take a cab or public bus into the city and — head to the Corniche for a pretty sunset stroll or to rent a bike. From Coldstone Creamery and Churros to multiple bubble tea options and The Third Place Cafe right off of the Corniche, you can appease your sweet tooth with limitless options along the busy stretch.

If you’re looking for something more adventurous and outdoorsy, call a family cab for two people and head to Zayed Sports City for a fun ice skating date. For 55 AED per person, you and your date can break the ice over falls and slips at the ice rink. You can find the timings here.

For more outdoor fun, and to make use of Abu Dhabi’s soon to be spring evenings, use this groupon for a discounted double kayak session around the Eastern Mangroves. The two hour session will take you through the middle of the mangroves, and afterward, you can visit the Eastern Mangroves Promenade for a bite to eat.

Take advantage of Umm Al Emarat Park, a five minute cab ride away from Al Wahda Mall, and its many activities and attractions. You can go to the cinema in the park during the weekend, or to the Shade House and Botanic Garden for a romantic walk. Take a camera and conduct your own little photo shoot during golden hour for some Instagrammable memories. If you want more than just a walk, pick up painting supplies from the bookstore with your new Falcon Dirhams for some artistic inspiration on the Great Lawn.

For couples looking to further explore the arts, Manarat Al Saadiyat offers various art workshops and exhibitions. After you have practiced your pottery or textile making skills, you can pop on over to Larte for a nice meal.

To make Valentine’s Day their own, the eternal foodies can visit downtown and follow their own dessert trail, visiting places like Al Dar Sweets, Al Ulya Bakery or Egyptian Bakery. Al Ulya Portuguese Cafe is on the pricier side, while Al Dar Sweets, Egyptian Bakery and Panaderia Bakery will offer you sweets for less than five dirhams.

Whatever your relationship status might be, the city is full of fun activities to enjoy with others and ideal places to spark new connections.