TOP 5 MEETUP GROUPS IN ABU DHABI

Abu Dhabi is host to a range of different nationalities. Have you ever wondered how different people might come together and interact with one another? The one common way of meeting interesting and fun people from across the globe is to use Meetup groups, hosted by the website www.meetup.com. These groups have topics that range from language learning groups to extreme sports and travel groups, including some of that are reserved only for women.

Once you sign up on the website, you’re greeted with the apt words of William Butler Yeats: “There are no strangers here; only friend’s you haven’t met.” This way of connecting with other people allows you to express your own interests freely and enjoy many creative ways of making long-lasting friendships outside of the NYU Abu Dhabi community in Abu Dhabi and beyond.

Here are our top five Meetup groups for NYUAD students:

Featured in the August issue of Tempo Magazine, Abu Dhabi Adventurers is a fantastic choice if you want to hike, walk, trek, horse ride, jet ski, surf, dive, fish or enjoy migratory bird watching across the UAE and Asia with a group of like-minded people.  One review describes Abu Dhabi Adventures as an excellent, well-organized group with unlimited energy. With more than 1,000 members already and over 30 events in the last six months, the group is more than well-established. It offers a unique opportunity to test yourself and to bond with others living in Abu Dhabi through activities such as the dhow Cruise in Oman and other adventures here. For those staying here during the summer doing your classes or interning, this group is open and has many activities planned for June and July.

Next Meeting Time: April 11, a big desert party.

via escape_travels.com

 

2. Escape Abu Dhabi Group

For those looking for more than just a typical weekend trip, Escape Abu Dhabi offers unique and innovative travel opportunities because it is born out of true love for travel and discovery, according to their newly launched website. This group is one of the rare groups that connects people who live across the GCC region, ranging from Qatar to Oman. The group prides itself in the diversity of its travelers: According to their data, every Escape Abu Dhabi traveling group  has no less than 10 different nationalities, which is very similar to what we have in our student travels. Their website is very useful for tips and traveling advice for any type of travel and the reviews of the places visited can give you a unique insight into a place that you may want to visit with your friends.

Next Travel Time: April 18, Sudan: Khartoum and Beyond in an Easter Weekend Escape 

via meetup.com

If you are a food lover and a lady, check out this Meetup Group focused on food and reserved for women only. This Meetup Group serves two purposes. One is for ladies living in UAE to bond and share their experiences and interests, ranging from high school students to employed women; the other purpose is for them to discover budget restaurants that specialize in offering food from across the world and are not well-known. Having less than 100 members and up to 10 showing up to each event, this Meetup Club offers an intimate atmosphere in which you can chat with women from across the world over delicious Italian spaghetti or a tasty Turkish burek.

Upcoming Meetups: April 12 — Moroccan Cuisine

                                 April 21 — Italian Cuisine

                                 April 26 — Turkish Cuisine

 

via meetup.com

 

This Meetup Group offers meetings for a range of young professionals with special topics for specific fields of interest such as discussing network strategies for small business owners or online and e-commerce business sessions, along with attending business conferences such as the “Global Financial Market Program,” which was hosted in Dubai. With sponsors such as the Market Trade Academy, it can provide you with valuable contacts for your future careers and invites potential collaboration with fellow members.

 

If you still can’t find a Meetup to suit your needs and interests, you can always go to this website and create your own.