Abu Dhabi launches summer tourism campaign: A 7-day itinerary designed by kids for kids
KHALED AL KHAWALDEH (ABU DHABI)In a unique initiative launched by Abu Dhabi's Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT), thousands of children were polled to help shape their ideal summer holiday. The result? An adventure-packed, seven-day itinerary in the emirate — that is officially kid-approved. The DCT launched the campaign, called 'Summer in Abu Dhabi. Totally Recommended' — during the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, aiming to promote the capital's growing list of family attractions available all year round. Among the main highlights of the tourism drive was the seven-day Abu Dhabi guide for parents, which was made in consultation with 7,000 children from nine countries. It's an itinerary designed by kids for kids, said Nouf Al Bushlaibi, Strategic Marketing & Communications Sector Executive Director at DCT. 'I have a friend who's coming to Abu Dhabi. She's got a 3-year-old boy. What can they do? I said, 'What can they not do?'' Bushlaibi told reporters on the sidelines of the ATM on Tuesday. The survey sought to truly understand what brings children joy, she said, recalling her younger years when holiday destinations and activities used to be decided by the grown-ups instead of being negotiated with the youngsters. Many kids wanted to live out their fantasies with their favourite movie characters, the survey revealed. At the same time, they hoped to spend quality time and connect with their parents. 'We put together a seven-day plan designed by kids, for kids. And as we're speaking, we have six different families experiencing the itinerary. So stay tuned. They will come out as they're competing in all the days,' she said. Abu Dhabi is a destination packed with everything that makes vacations memorable for families and any traveller, Bushlaibi said. 'When you look at the experience, [you'll find that] we curated in a way where it is specifically designed with intention,' she added.The guide includes day trips to many of the year-round indoor attractions on Yas and Saadiyat Islands, including the newly inaugurated teamLab Abu Dhabi as well as staples like Ferrari World, Emirates Park Zoo, Bounce, Clymb, and Yas Waterworld. There are suggestions for dining, beach days, evening activities, and kids' clubs, among other essentials, as the broader campaign also aims to ease the pressure on parents scrambling to book their summer holidays.
This new campaign, Bushlaibi said, comes as part of a wider mission to market Abu Dhabi as a 365 destination. It's a city that delivers unforgettable experiences even in the peak of summer — a reputation built through a magnitude of investment made over the years This has been possible through magnitude of investment made over the years.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
9 hours ago
- The National
Al Maqta'a Museum opens the gate to Abu Dhabi's humble beginnings
Tucked within the conserved heart of the Maqta Conservation Area, Al Maqta'a Museum, housed in the lovingly restored Al Maqta'a Fort, offers a glimpse into Abu Dhabi's early days. It is a reconstruction of the former customs house and police headquarters built in the late 1950s, alongside a causeway linking Abu Dhabi Island to the mainland, where officials monitored entry and traffic. It operated as such until 1971, when the unification of the UAE took place, since goods were then no longer required to be checked at this border. It reopened as a small, but information-packed, interactive museum celebrating its socio-cultural and historic importance in April 2025, as a joint project between Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi Police. Why go there? This museum might be small, but its story is powerful. As part of Al Maqta Conservation Area, alongside the 18th-century Maqta'a Tower – constructed to strengthen the then-settlement's defences – and the original causeway from the 1950s, it tells the story of Abu Dhabi's transformation from a humble fishing settlement into a thriving modern metropolis. The tower still stands in the middle of the naturally formed waterway (the khor), conserved by DCT – Abu Dhabi to protect it from damage caused by repeated exposure to the marine environment. What you'll see The exhibit begins with a tour of Al Maqta'a Tower, which once guarded the shallow waters of the khor, guarding entry to Abu Dhabi Island. You'll also learn about other fortifications for defence, such as Al Hosn Tower. Moving into the 1950s-era customs house and police station, visitors encounter rugged gypsum‑and‑coral‑stone architecture and interactive zones that emphasise the fort's role as the gateway to the emirate. Highlights include vintage police vehicles, period uniforms and archival documentation that chart Abu Dhabi Police's development through time. A 1968 Toyota FJ43 Soft Top also sits in the museum, the same model of car once used for public transport in Abu Dhabi. This site sits within a broader heritage precinct along the old Maqta'a crossing, where you'll also find buildings and structures of the pre-oil and post-oil periods. Consider pairing your visit with a walk around the tower and nearby conservation structures. Replicas of the bridge and tower make for picturesque photo stops. Children's programming and live police shows, as well as seasonal activations, are also planned for the museum in coming months. Star attraction Right now, a temporary exhibition on Umm an-Nar sits beyond the lovely little gift shop, with an interactive screen that allows you to learn all about the archaeological site and what has been uncovered there in recent years. There's a map of a cemetery and you can click on each grave to learn more about the people buried there. It's fascinating. There's also a medieval Byzantine coin, the first to be found in Eastern Arabia, that was discovered during the tower's restoration by DCT Abu Dhabi – a significant find. What to know before you go This is a great spot for families, with a playground outside and the interactive exhibits are sure to keep older children from getting bored. Visitors are also handed a 'passport' to take around the exhibits, so you can stop at five stations to stamp the document as you go around. It's not an overly flashy space, but rich in narrative, and allows visitors to skim through the exhibits or dive deeper for further information if they want. You'll need at least an hour if you'd like to leisurely wander through and read everything. It's also worth grabbing a coffee and pastry or bite to eat at the restaurant, La Petite, which boasts floor-to-ceiling windows and lovely views of the khor beyond.
Al Etihad
a day ago
- Al Etihad
Manar 2.0 light art exhibition to illuminate Abu Dhabi's waterfronts this November
25 July 2025 00:35 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)Abu Dhabi's waterfront will be lit again this year when Manar, the capital's large-scale light art exhibition, returns in launched in 2023 by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), Manar Abu Dhabi transforms the city's coastline into a mesmerising gallery of light sculptures, projections and interactive installations and year's edition, Manar 2.0, will feature the work of 35 artists hailing from across the globe, including the UAE, Japan, France, Mexico, assembling an extraordinary mix of perspectives and the names announced are teamLab, Carsten Höller, Shezad Dawood, Ahmed Al Areef Al Dhaheri and Nujoom meaning 'lighthouse' in Arabic, is not a typical art exhibition. The installations will appear across several sites in the city, including Saadiyat, Jubail and Fahid Island, as well as along the Corniche and the Eastern event is designed to be experienced from multiple perspectives, whether you're walking along the beachfront, riding in a dhow, or watching from the year's programme will explore themes of nature, light, and creative connection. The full programme details are yet to be announced. Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi
Time Out Abu Dhabi
3 days ago
- Time Out Abu Dhabi
Manar is making its way back to Abu Dhabi and it's going to be beautiful
The capital's coasts, islands and skyline are about to glow once again. Manar Abu Dhabi, the city's stunning light art exhibition, is making its much-anticipated return this November and it's bringing even more magic to the waterfront. Launched by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) as part of the Public Art Abu Dhabi programme, Manar (which means 'lighthouse' in Arabic) is anything but your typical art show. Think massive light sculptures, ethereal projections, interactive installations and thought-provoking performances – all set against the natural beauty of the capital's shores. Rise 2023 © Alaa Edris Following its dazzling debut in 2023, Manar 2.0 is upping the ante with over 35 artworks from global artists, including powerhouses like teamLab, Carsten Höller and Shezad Dawood, plus homegrown talents like Ahmed Al Areef Al Dhaheri and Nujoom Alghanem. From Japan to Mexico and everywhere in between, it's a lineup that promises to transform Abu Dhabi into a living, glowing canvas. Expect to see light installations ripple across iconic locations like Saadiyat, Jubail and Fahid Island, as well as along the Corniche and Eastern Mangroves. Whether you're walking the coastline, cruising past in a dhow, or snapping pics from dry land, the experience is designed to stop you in your tracks and get you thinking – about nature, about connection and about creativity in all its forms. Stay tuned for the full programme reveal, but for now, mark your calendar. November is going to shine. Summer in Abu Dhabi The 27 best things to do indoors this summer in Abu Dhabi It's time for some air-conditioned bliss Psst: This is when summer officially ends in Abu Dhabi No complaints here 25 brilliant beach and pool day passes in Abu Dhabi Grab your SPF – a lush day by the water awaits
