Unspecified/General

Inside the substantial Yas Mall complex along the central western coastline of Yas Island just east of central Abu Dhabi, KidZania Abu Dhabi is one of more than 30 individual KidZania edutainment venues now operating worldwide as one of the most successful international children-focused experiential learning brands. The 80,000-square-foot venue opened on 26 September 2010 as the first KidZania facility in the broader Persian Gulf region, joining the international chain that originated in Mexico City in 1999 and has since expanded to cities throughout Latin America, North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. The KidZania concept is built around a recreated miniature city specifically designed for children aged 4 through 14. The city is organised as a carefully scaled-down recreation of a real urban environment, with paved streets, traffic lights, building facades and themed business establishments all configured at approximately one-third adult scale. Children entering the city are issued a small amount of the KidZania-branded currency (the KidZos) and a small bank card, with the city's economy operating as a self-contained simulated economy throughout the operating day. Children visiting the city work in a series of role-play vocational experiences staged at the broader 60-plus themed business establishments throughout the city. Each individual establishment provides a 20-to-40-minute hands-on role-play experience focused on a specific vocation, with the children learning the basic skills of the relevant profession under the guidance of trained KidZania activity supervisors. Completion of each role-play experience earns the participating child a small wage in KidZos. The principal themed establishments include the substantial Etihad Airways flight training centre (where children learn to operate flight simulators and serve as cabin crew), the KidZania Fire Station (where children learn basic firefighting techniques and respond to simulated emergency calls), the KidZania Hospital (where children learn basic medical skills and treat simulated patients), the KidZania Bank (where children learn basic banking transactions), the KidZania Newspaper (where children produce a daily edition of the small in-house newspaper), the KidZania Department Store and dozens of other themed vocational establishments. The venue operates daily with substantial day-pass admission. Reservations are essential for weekend and school-holiday periods.

Type: Activity

Address: Yas Mall, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Telephone: 02-414-3939

Website: abudhabi.kidzania.com

Opening Date: 26/09/2010