KidZania Dubai

KidZania provides children and their parents a safe, unique and very realistic educational environment that allows kids between the ages of four to sixteen to do what comes naturally to them; role-playing by mimicking activities done by adults in real life. As in the real world, children perform "jobs" and are either paid for their work (as a fireman, doctor, police officer, journalist, beautician, etc.) or pay to shop or to be entertained. The indoor edutainment centre is a city built to scale for children, complete with buildings, paved streets, vehicles, a functioning economy, and recognizable destinations in the form of "establishments" sponsored and branded by leading multi-national and local brands.

Personal experience is a powerful learning tool. By blending reality with entertainment, KidZania provides an authentic and powerful developmental experience, preparing kids to understand and manage their world philosophy. Activities are completely hands-on so that kids acquire real-life skills, learn about working and having a career and are introduced to the fundamentals of financial literacy and how society functions.

While children are having fun at KidZania, they are also learning socialization skills, mutual co-operation, teamwork, self-esteem and respect. Their creativity shines, they learn independence, develop decision-making skills and participate with their community – all skills that they will need to succeed as adults.

Children can explore their creative talents as designers at the Jewellery Shop, learn how to write their names using Arabic Calligraphy and discover the UAE cultures of Pottery and Pearl Hunting, including how to search for pearls in real oysters. In the KidZania National Archives, they’ll learn the importance of preserving old historical documents and information, developing values of patience, responsibility and diligence.

The University prepares children for higher education, giving them a chance to get a degree in their chosen field and earn more kidZos in the related professions within KidZania. For more specialist training, the Acting Academy gives children an introduction to different roles, building their communication and confidence skills as they produce a talent show and street dance at the city clock.

Kids take centre stage at the Metropolitan Theatre of KidZania, which hosts various shows throughout the day, while the Flik Flak City Clock also gives children the chance to perform a dance every hour to celebrates their experience at KidZania. Little James Bond fans can become spies themselves with VR Secret Agent Training. Children can also make friends quickly in the Games Room, which is filled with football and billiard tables.

Just like a real city, there are lots of places to eat and drink in KidZania. But unlike the outside world, children can get involved in the cooking, from flipping burgers at McDonald’s to creating their own pizzas at Pizza Express. There’s popcorn, hotdogs and fried potato swirls at Chipstix, shakes galore at Bubble Bar, mountains of candy at Sweet Land, and delicious frozen favourites.

Al Jalila Hospital introduces kids to every element of healthcare, with lessons in anatomy, empathy, bed-side care, surgery and the nursery room, where they learn about the gentle care of newborn babies. Brushing, flossing and oral examinations are the main focus at the Dental Clinic, as children develop communication skills, build confidence and learn how to look for cavities, just like a real dentist.

Teamwork is crucial with industrial jobs, and kids will learn this, among other skills as they create sweet delights at the Tiffany Cookie Station, and become mini Willy Wonkas at the Kinder Chocolate Factory. The Lacnor Milk Factory gives kids a fun insight into the dairy industry, and they can try two different roles at the Aquafina Bottling Plant. Little broadcasters are born at Star FM Radio Station, where children work together, learning how to produce radio shows and report news bulletins which are played on the airwaves throughout the city for everyone to hear. They can sample life in front or behind the camera at Sony Television Studio as they make a nightly news broadcast for the city.

Budding builders find out what it’s like to work as construction engineers at KidZania Construction Site, where they work as a team to build a house. They can also do the weekly shopping at the Supermarket, or take on cashier roles to learn about customer service and handling money. Money management continues at the Department Store, with cashier and stock manager roles giving children confidence in financial literacy, while visitors to the store can spend their kidZos just like money in the real world.

The service industry is the beating heart of society. The KidZania Hotel gives children a glimpse of the hospitality industry, from reservation and checking in to serving food and housekeeping. Little ones can keep the city safe too, with roles at the Dubai Police Station and NAFFCO Fire Station, as well as the exciting VR Fire Training to improve their alertness and awareness. Kids can test their sports skills at table foosball and billiards in the Games Room, where children can hang out with new friends they’ve made during their day at KidZania.

Every child arriving at KidZania must check in and get their city map at the flydubai check-in desks, and they can also go back and discover how a real Airport and Aircraft work. The RTA City Bus Tour gives children a layout of the city and teaches little ones how to ride safely on a bus alone, while kids feeling a little more independent can get a driving licence at Emirates Driving Institute and take to their city streets themselves at KidZania’s Driving Streets.