Exploring Abu Dhabi with A Toddler: A Memorable 24-Hours

When it comes to planning family-friendly activities in the United Arab Emirates, there is always something exciting to discover, even during off-season. In this article, I will dive into Abu-Dhabi Cultural Foundation, an extraordinary venue that offers a wide range of indoor cultural activities suitable for children.

a section from the foundation

As a mother, I aim to expose D. to diverse experiences that nurture her curiosity and stimulate all her senses. So far, from indoor to outdoor play, she has been enjoying various activities. I feel, as she grows and understands the world around her more and more each day, it is now time to introduce her to cultural experiences like visiting museums and attending age-appropriate concerts. It starts today with our Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation visit.

To make the most out of our Abu Dhabi visit with a toddler, we decided to turn it into a day staycation. Arriving at our hotel in the afternoon, we went down to take a short walk around the hotel and enjoyed the water at the beach briefly to avoid the September heat. Then we came back to our room, got dressed and went to grab a quick bite before heading to Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation for a youth orchestra.

Although she had read about orchestras in books, she had never seen a live performance so far. We stumbled upon a concert in Abu Dhabi featuring young musicians, which would be a perfect introduction to the world of orchestras for her.

A Remarkable Orchestra Performance

The young musicians in the orchestra impressed us greatly. With a variety of instruments, including violins, violas, cellos, trumpets, trombones, and many more, they delivered an excellent performance. The repertoire featured songs from “The Flintstones”, “The Lion King”, “Superman”, and other children’s favorites. To top it off, they surprised the much younger audience with a brief version of “Baby Shark” during the encore. Music to my ears, after listening a number of very loud versions of Baby Shark.

D. was AMAZED. In the beginning, she felt a bit uneasy as the lights dimmed, but her unease turned into wonder as the orchestra began to play. As the audience applauded after each song, she puzzled over the reason behind the clapping. She asked and I explained. From then on, she enthusiastically joined in and started clapping the hell out after every song. Although she did not recognize the songs, I can tell she was very impressed by the musical instruments and the singing.

As we left the auditorium, she was asking if we could return for the concert the next day😊

We came back the next day, not for another orchestra performance but to explore the exhibitions on display.

Exploring Exhibitions

We carefully selected two exhibitions to ensure it wouldn’t overwhelm our little one.

1- Our first exhibition was “BOBO-LAND”. It offered an interactive and engaging experience tailored for children’s active involvement. I won’t reveal too much but I believe it was a perfect first museum visit, appealing to her age range.

2- Next, we explored LOBI LOBI, created by the same artist, which delved into a deeper message while remaining visually appealing to the children. The artist utilized childhood materials like pencils, and chalks, among others to highlight the irony between consumerism and material culture. Personally, I particularly enjoyed this one as it reminded me of my childhood.

The Kids’ Paradise Upstairs

Upstairs, the Cultural Foundation had a few special spots for kids.

Indoor Playground: A well-arranged indoor playground with swings, soft balls, willow rack and interactive activities provided a plenty source of entertainment. This thoughtful addition allowed kids to enjoy their playtime in between exhibitions.

Comic Craze Exhibition: Featuring captivating pieces that reflected observations on very well-known cartoons, I felt this exhibition catered to both adult and kids. You would find it particularly appealing if you have an interest in comics.

Kids Library: A dedicated library for kids aged between 0-14 offers a diverse collection of books for kids. This gem inside the foundation provides kids with an opportunity to get familiar with library activities while enjoying. From the moment you enter until you leave, it is a beautifully decorated space that has been carefully designed with great consideration. You will discover cozy nooks and spots where little readers can sit and explore books. There is even a soft play area for toddlers to enjoy. They reserved a spacious room for quiet studying and working on art projects.

Inside, you will find dunes inside for children to walk over and in-between and camel shaped seats where they can sit and read. Additionally, they host interactive reading sessions in a designated area. There is much more to discover, which you can find on the foundation’s website. Even better, I highly recommended paying a visit in person.

Notably, the library at the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation has no entry fee. They organize different programs for kids on different dates, making it a perfect addition to your Abu Dhabi Visit. If I were a resident of Abu Dhabi, I would definitely make weekly visits to this delightful library.

Our Cozy Stay

For our overnight stay, we chose Shangri-la Qaryat primarily for its fantastic rates in September. This cozy hotel offers top-notch service, boasts a beautiful beach and infinity pool for adults, as well as a kids’ pool with shade. We thoroughly enjoyed our short stay and loved their surprisingly diverse breakfast very much. The hotel's small harp concert in the reception was just a cherry on top, which went great with our overall theme of our Abu Dhabi trip.

Abu Dhabi: Short Get Away

Abu Dhabi offers a variety of family-friendly activities and Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation certainly ranks high among indoor attractions. With its diverse exhibitions, play areas, unique kids’ library and year-round concerts, it continues to impress. Until next time Abu Dhabi…