Cats will run at Etihad Arena, Yas Bay, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, from Thursday, 14 May 2026 to Sunday, 24 May 2026. For venue help, guests can call 600 511 115 or (+971) 2 496 8000, and WhatsApp support is available on (+971) 56 351 5381. The official venue address is Etihad Arena, Yas Bay, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE, which helps if you are arranging a taxi or planning your route early. Ticket prices currently start at approximately AED 90 on weekdays and AED 160 on weekends, while the highest listed categories reach approximately AED 840 on weekdays and AED 910 on weekends. The current listing also shows a running time of 2 hours and 45 minutes, so this is a full theatre outing rather than a short family show. (suitable for couples, suitable for solo visitors, family-friendly for children aged 6+ with supervision)
A classic musical that still fills large rooms
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats remains one of the most recognisable titles in musical theatre, and that matters because audiences often book it for both nostalgia and first-time discovery. The Abu Dhabi run brings that legacy into an arena setting, so the scale should feel larger and more visually charged than a smaller proscenium production. At the centre of the show sits Memory, yet the wider appeal comes from the ensemble movement, the shifting character work, and the way the music keeps the evening flowing. The musical first opened in London in 1981, and it later became one of the defining successes of both the West End and Broadway. If you want a major stage title with broad name recognition and proven crowd appeal, this is one of the safest bookings on the Abu Dhabi calendar in May.
Seating choices and age planning before you book
The ticket structure gives audiences several ways to plan the evening, which is useful because prices change clearly between weekdays and weekends. On Sunday to Thursday performances, Bronze starts at approximately AED 90, Silver at AED 190, Gold at AED 300, Diamond at AED 420, Platinum at AED 550, VIP at AED 690, and Royal at AED 840. On Friday and Saturday performances, Bronze rises to approximately AED 160, Silver to AED 260, Gold to AED 370, Diamond to AED 490, Platinum to AED 620, VIP to AED 760, and Royal to AED 910. The venue also lists wheelchair-accessible seating through its concierge team, so guests who need that support should contact the arena before purchase. CATS is recommended for ages six and above, children under six will not be admitted, and anyone under 16 must attend with an adult aged 21 or above.
Reaching Yas Island from nearby Emirates
Etihad Arena’s own visitor information makes the trip relatively straightforward, especially if you plan around the weekend crowd. The arena sits about 7 minutes from Abu Dhabi International Airport, around 25 minutes from downtown Abu Dhabi, and roughly 45 minutes from Dubai, so same-day return travel is realistic for many visitors. Parking is available in the venue area, and the arena’s directions page specifically identifies Waterfront Parking P1 A and Public Parking C37. Meanwhile, taxis remain an easy option on busy nights, and the listed Abu Dhabi taxi booking line is 600 535353. If you are coming from Dubai or another nearby emirate, arriving 60 to 75 minutes before your chosen performance is the smarter move, because security lines, parking flow and post-work traffic on Yas Island can all slow the last stretch.
Mid-May conditions and practical theatre-night timing
A precise show-day forecast for each performance between Thursday, 14 May 2026 and Sunday, 24 May 2026 is still too early to trust fully, yet the current monthly outlook for Abu Dhabi points to hot and mostly dry weather, with daytime highs broadly ranging from 34.6°C to 41°C and overnight lows from 23.7°C to 28.1°C. So, light clothing, comfortable shoes and water before entry make more sense than extra layers, although indoor air-conditioning can feel cool once you are seated. Rain and mud do not look like the main concern at this stage; instead, heat, queue timing and parking exit delays are the practical issues to plan around. Ticket and door prices may still change and should be treated as approximately AED figures, and the most dependable places to buy are ETIHAD ARENA and PLATINUMLIST. Book the date you actually want early, especially if you prefer a weekend seat or need a smoother family schedule. As the event desks followed closely by www.few.ae often note, Yas Island nights usually feel easier when the parking and entry strategy is decided before you leave home.