These boredom-busting activities are fun, inspiring and educational.
School’s finally out but there’s no reason to let the boredom set in, not when you live in Abu Dhabi, which has so many brilliant things to do for kids all summer long. So, Team Yalla has been hard at work to round up just some of the many offerings for kids this summer in the capital.
The ultimate playground
It’s no secret that Yas Island with its 100s of rides and attractions is the UAE’s ultimate playground for little and big kids alike! And with the incredible KIDS GO FREE on Yas Island Abu Dhabi happening all summer long, it’s the perfect place for a staycay for all the family to enjoy. Book a Parks Hopper & Kids Go Free Package and your kids will access the UAE’s ultimate best playground for absolutely FREE. Imagine the priceless moment as their little faces – and yours – light up when they enter three world-class theme parks – Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld and Warner Bros. World™ Abu Dhabi… and for FREE! There are plenty of brilliant hotels to stay in too, many of which have some great offers going on for the summer vaycay too.
Explore the different packages, superb hotels and find additional information on the KIDS GO FREE offer and the booking process by visiting yasisland.ae.
Terms and Conditions apply.
Keep ‘em cool!
Helping to cool things down a bit, yet turning up the fun factor, is the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) with the annual Summer #inAbuDhabi season. The initiative promises fun-packed thrilling activities, including staycays, entertainment, promotions and prizes – yes, you could win something too!
Running until 31 August. There are loads of thrilling activities to keep you and your family entertained during the warmest months of the year.
For more information, visit summer.visitabudhabi.ae
Silver screen buffs (3 July only)
Inspired by Louvre Abu Dhabi’s new Children’s Museum exhibition Emotions! The new art adventure, a series of enchanting films at Louvre Abu Dhabi’s auditorium are being screened on 3 July at 4pm. Five short films will be screened on a loop followed by a different feature film. Complementing the exhibition, each film shows how, young or old, a deeper connection to your feelings can help us to navigate the world. The title of this weekend’s film is The Secret World of Arrietty, which tells a story of a family of tiny people live hidden in the floorboards of a house. Their adventures start when Arrietty is discovered by the humans.
For more information, visit the Louvre Abu Dhabi website.
Paddle and pause (3 July only)
Love kayaking and watching movies? You’re in luck, as now you can do both at Louvre Abu Dhabi. On 3 July at 6 pm, 7 pm and 8 pm, you can take to the waters around Louvre Abu Dhabi and be part of the Kayak Cinema Show.
Paddle then pause for moment and watch a short film projected onto the exhibition wall. It’s a fun and unusual way to see a film while gently floating on the water.
You’ll get to see Hair Love, a short film about a young girl trying to style her unruly hair. The film is mainly about love, confidence and family and it embodies a mix of emotions from happiness to fear and from hesitation to pride. The theme ties in with the new Children’s Museum exhibition: Emotions! The new art adventure.
To book and for more information, call 600 56 5566.
Get emotional!
With everybody’s emotions running high since the onset of the pandemic, it seems apt that a fantastic new exhibition that marks the reopening of the Children’s Museum is called Emotions! The New Art Adventure, at the reopened Children’s Museum. And as the name suggests, the exhibition aims to help children identify and explore four main emotions: joy/serenity, sadness, fear and anger. Combining entertainment and education for children aged four to 10, Emotions! The New Art Adventure features ten artworks and four interactive stations too.
More information about the film screenings is available on the museum’s website, as well as the option to pre-book a place. Louvre Abu Dhabi is open Tuesday-Sunday from 10 am – 6.30 pm; closed on Mondays. Pre-purchased tickets are required to visit the museum. E-tickets can be reserved via the museum’s website.
Energy busters
If you’re kids have more energy than you can handle (whose don’t?), then direct it to their better good at Etizan Fitness over at Erth. This family-centric recreation facility in Abu Dhabi is perfect for the entire family regardless of your or your little one’s fitness levels. There is something for everyone – mum, dad, the little ones and singles. The little ones can easily be dropped off at any number of sporting academies and classes while you, parents, get to attend your own fitness and wellbeing programme.
For more information on facilities and memberships, visit etizan.ae
Rule the Louvre
Meet an artist, print your ideas, recite spoken word, create your own artistic interpretations, experiment and have fun! If you’re aged between 13 and 25, you can indulge in all of these fun activities and much more at ARTLAB, the latest event at Louvre Abu Dhabi, every Wednesdays to Saturdays from 10.30am to 1.30pm or 3.30pm to 6.30pm, until 31 July. ARTLAB is your chance to truly experiment creatively through different art-making practices and series of workshops to create art inspired by Louvre Abu Dhabi. And if you have an ARTLAB loyalty card, your fourth workshop is free!!
For more details visit louvreabudhabi.ae
Be a media buff
Creative Lab is kicking off the sixth season of their virtual Summer Camp. The two-week camp, from 5- 15 July, is open to teens aged 13 to 15 years across the UAE and the world. Kids get to explore the workings of the media sector around the world through workshops and engaging fun activities.They’ll have the chance to polish their public speaking and video editing skills, create their own jingles from scratch with Berklee College of Music Abu Dhabi, become expert content creators on social media, learn the basics of Photoshop, develop their own news broadcast, brainstorm ideas to create their very own board game and so much more!
Don’t worry, it’s not all work – Yoga classes are also part of the camp too!
For more details visit summercamp.twofour54.com
Dubai bound
If you’re heading to Dubai this summer, this is a great one for the little ones. Running until 4 September in the heart of Dubai at Al Habtoor City, La Perle by Dragone takes place in a tailor-made aqua theatre where the stage floods with water and drains in a matter of seconds. The show, a fusion of immersive artistic performances, imagery and technology is brought to life by spectacular aqua and aerial stunts and feats and special effects influenced by Dubai’s rich culture and aspirational future.
For more details and tickets, visit laperle.com
