Abu Dhabi nightlife highlights this week - New Year's Eve Special

Visit www.thecapitallist.ae for full event listings.

To view our column in the 7DAYS Abu Dhabi Insider, click here.

EVENTS THIS WEEK

Thursday 27th December

Experience a white Christmas evening at Ray's Bar tonight. Enjoy the Christmas spirit with festive costumes, party hats, crackers and a special beverage menu. House tunes supplied by DJ Paul Hamilton.

Friday 28th December

Ornina Lounge's Full Moon Celebration is on tonight. Guests can enjoy special beverage and tapas packages while listening to the deep house tunes from resident DJ Alex Millan.

Ibiza's favourite brothers, The Martinez Brothers, are giving their first ever UAE performance today at Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE. With support from resident DJs Frederick Stone and Jean B.

Saturday 29th December

Abu Dhabi National Theatre is hosting an exclusive Ballet Gala Evening this Saturday, Tribute to the Nation, in collaboration with the Embassy of Ukraine to the UAE, celebrating Fantasia Ballet's 15th anniversary this month.

Monday 31st December - New Year's Eve!

We can't list everything going on tonight, so here's our pick of the parties with a bit of something extra to help you see in the new year. For a full list of NYE events in Abu Dhabi, click here.

Etoiles has organised a huge circus themed party, NYE Circus Extravaganza, to welcome in 2013. With aerial performers, fire breathers, martini glass dancers, air silk dancers, stilt walkers, sword swallowers, a candy floss machine and an LED curtain smoke machine, there's plenty to keep you visually entertained. Internationally acclaimed DJ Scottie B will be manning the decks.

Sax Club presents Midnight Wonderland, featuring live music by guest star Antonella (from Lebanon), alongside residents Georges Chahid and Dani Haddad on keyboards. DJ MB will be spinning the best Arabic and international hits. The club will also have special decorations, visuals and lighting.

Ocean's Grand Finale NYE celebration will feature music by DJ Roland, spinning RnB and commercial hits, and saxophonist Maher Daou, with special lighting and decorations to enhance the festive atmosphere.

Vertical bar at the Cristal Salam Hotel is hosting Radio 1's DJ Saif, who will be playing all his best urban tunes for the night.

Left Bank are throwing a Glorious New Year Ladies Night with free entry for ladies and three free vodka cocktails or glasses of Moet champagne from 7pm till 11pm. Commercial and RnB tunes by resident DJ Asee.

Turquoiz will be welcoming 2013 with Miami-born house DJ Alex Seda. Seda currently he holds residencies at Nikki Beach (Miami), Ministry of Sound (Spain) and Es Paradis (Ibiza). As the clock approaches midnight dramatic entertainment will thrill all before the spectacular fireworks on the beach mark the start of the new year.

Head to Ornina Lounge for their NYE Masquerade Party. Ornina will be handing out masks on the door (if you haven't managed to track down one of your own beforehand), with house and deep house tunes courtesy of resident DJ Alex Milan.

At Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE, enjoy dinner while being serenaded by the legendary Gipsy Moreno of the Gypsy Kings, and then later, international superstar DJ Sharam (Deep Dish), the Iranian legend, will be on the decks. At midnight, fireworks and fireshows will be lighting up the night sky.

Celebrate NYE at Sea Lounge with international guest DJ from Spain, Kiko Navarro. Kiko is one of the resident DJs of Pacha Ibiza and Pacha Mallorca, and has worked with Pacha recordings, releasing a number of albums. Support from DJ Melchor and Soulfisher.

Club So-HI are going Glow Crazy for NYE. The club will be getting a special glow makeover just for the night, so make sure you wear your most pristine white if you want to stand out from the crowd.

Dress in flapper costumes and fancy suits at the 1920s Black and White Party at Pearls & Caviar. After dinner, dance the night away with the lively music from the jazz band and ring in the new year with a dazzling fireworks display over the canal.

DJ Rabih will be playing at The Yacht Club alongside a secret guest DJ, and will be accompanied by four fabulous dancers and a saxophonist.

Rush is hosting a Shine Like a Diamond NYE party, where special lighting and visuals will transform the club into a shining diamond. Guests will have the chance to take home a real diamond certified by the International Diamond Laboratories. DJs will be playing commercial and RnB hits.

Following the gala dinner at 18° at the Hyatt Capital Gate will be the Winter Wonderland after-party on the hotel's outdoor pool deck of its Rayana Spa. Enjoy unlimited Veuve Clicquot and canapes with mesmerizing city views from 80 metres above the ground.

P.J.'s live band Sweet Chilli Jam will be playing, with music and dancing by the pool outside until late.

For Lebanese music fans, singer and musical arranger Mark Abdelnoor will be performing live alongside Brazillian belly dancer Milla Tenorino at the Beach Rotana.