There’s still so much to do, even at home.
There’s still lots of things to do and discover in Abu Dhabi before the kids return to school, so make the most of it with the great Yalla roundup!
And don’t forget to update your Al Hosn app so you have that all important Green Pass showing – there’ll be tears if you don’t!
Go green
Plan a day in the lush Garden City of Al Ain and discover UAE heritage at its best.
Wander the age-old oasis and see first-hand the irrigation system (falaj or qanāt), which brings water from boreholes to water farms and palm trees. The falaj irrigation is an ancient system dating back thousands of years and is a great way to get the kids in learning mode before they head back to the classroom.
There are numerous forts to explore too, and you could even wind your way up to the summit of Jabl Al feet for the stunning view of Al Ain far below. There’s a café at the top too for those much-needed refreshments.
To find out what to do in Al Ain, visit, Garden City
Makers are the future
Start them early and in the not-too-distant future your little ones could be the next big entrepreneur to take the world by storm.
Apart from that, they’ll also have a super time getting messy making their very own colourful geometric vase out of plaster. The class takes place 25 August, 3pm to 5pm at the The Makerspace. Note that a guardian must be present during the entire session.
To book your place and for further information, call 02 558 8624
Bank on this
Now the Abu Dhabi border entry rules have eased, there’s no better time to head to Dubai.
After partaking in some shoppertunities, head to the The World of Banksy – The Immersive Experience at the Mall of the Emirates. The notorious British street artist is exhibiting 120 recreated pieces of the internationally renowned street artist’s most inspirational pieces and it’s just been extended till December, proving how popular it’s been.
To book tickets and for more information, visit Mall of the Emirates
Everybody say YAS
You can’t have missed the incredible KIDS GO FREE offer on Yas island this summer.
And there’s still time to take advantage of it before the kids go back to school. Just want to go to a theme park? No problem; there are some superb special offers when buying family tickets. Try the world’s largest indoor skydiving chamber and tallest indoor climbing wall in the region at CLYMB. Not only will you burn some energy off, the kids will have plenty to talk about when they return to school.
For all the info you’ll need, visit Yas Island
Put your skates on
You don’t need us to tell you how hot it is outside and no doubt you’ll be looking to cool down, so here’s a brilliant way to do just that.
Head to Zayed Sports City where the ice-skating rink promises a cool, fun activity for the kids and grown-ups too. Emirates Skating Club, the first registered and licensed figure skating club in the UAE, has membership bundles to suit all levels and ages, even if you’ve never set a blade on ice ever before. Not only is it fabulous fun, it’s the perfect activity to beat the heat! And who knows, you could become the next Torvill and Dean. Go figure!
That said, Yalla recommends you just enjoy the fun of it all!
To find out more, visit Emirates Skating Club
Here comes the sun
Too hot to go out? Stay indoors and use the time to pen a story.
Get this one right and you could be walking away with a prize from The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature. Use all your imagination might to write a story for the annual Emirates Literature Story Writing Competition that is inspired by Here comes the sun. Themes include hope, optimism, overcoming challenges and how changes in our lives can be viewed through a positive lens. November is the deadline and there’s a chance to win some brilliant prizes too.
To enter and find out more, visit Emirates Literature Festival
K is for Korea
If you are staying home – why wouldn’t you – then the Korean Cultural Centre in Abu Dhabi is airing six films and they’re all online and won’t cost you more than a bag of popcorn.
Running ill 28 August, The Korean Film Festival is back for its fifth year and is part of the Korea-UAE Cultural Dialogue. You can access six feature length films and 18 short independent animations, from documentaries to dramas, all with Arabic and English subtitles. You’ll need to be quick to register, as viewing is limited to 500 viewers at a time.
To find out more, visit Korean Film Festival
