Since opening on June 21, more than 56,250 visitors have descended on the festival’s four jam-packed ‎halls. Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), the festival organiser, anticipates the ‎figure will reach 100,000 before the mega family event closes on July 19. ‎

Spanning nearly 19,000m², the festival features a bigger-than-ever summer playground, fun fair rides, ‎games and dozens of family-friendly activations. Additionally, an amazing Sea Lion show has proven ‎hugely popular with children of all ages. Running three-times daily, the jaw-dropping act sees a trio of ‎hilarious aquatic mammals perform a host of side-splitting stunts, such as break-dancing moves, ball-‎juggling tricks and one flipper hand-stands.‎

 

‎“I work in Abu Dhabi and decided to bring my family over for the festival,” said Ali Saeed, from Muscat, ‎who accompanied his wife and four- and two-year-old daughters to ADNEC. “The event is very diverse ‎and has a wide range of activities for kids - my daughters’ loved the sea lions. Personally, I like that my ‎whole family was asked questions when we arrived and again when we left; this shows the organisers ‎want to keep improving the event every year.”‎

 

Another attraction pulling in the crowds is a mammoth Ice Age Village featuring stars from the hit movie ‎series. With multiple activities inspired by the characters’ silver-screen exploits, highlights include crazy ‎slides, inflatable igloos, a wintery snow machine and snowball play pits. ‎

 

‎“We saw the advertising on television and came to Abu Dhabi just for the festival,” said Jasem ‎Mohammed Al Mannai, from Doha, who is visiting the emirate with his 17-year-old son and two ‎daughters, nine and three. “My girls loved playing with snowballs in the Ice Age Village – it is like a small ‎winter world. It’s great that they got to meet characters they know from the movies. We would definitely ‎come again.”‎

 

Elsewhere, the Show World theatre continues to wow visitors of all ages with its ever-changing line-up of ‎musicals and ‘On Ice’ stage shows. This week’s shows, which end on July 12, include Peter Pan on Ice ‎and a 20-minute Louna musical performed in English and Arabic. Performance timings are listed on the ‎festival’s official website: www.summerinabudhabi.ae ‎

 

‎“The regional audience is a key catchment demographic for us, so it’s great that the festival’s dynamic ‎line-up of shows and bigger-and-better attractions have provided additional incentives – along with our ‎hotel and flight promotions - for GCC travellers to visit Abu Dhabi this summer,” said Faisal Al Sheikh, ‎Events Manager, TCA Abu Dhabi. ‎

 

Underpinned by the kid-friendly festival at ADNEC, TCA Abu Dhabi’s seasonal destination campaign ‎also encompasses more than 50 of the emirate’s leading hotels, attractions and tour operators, which are ‎offering a compelling catalogue of two-for-one and other discount deals to woo international visitors and ‎UAE residents.‎

 

Etihad Airways, the UAE’s national airline, is also backing the destination’s summer push with an ‎exclusive family offer on inbound services to Abu Dhabi from several Middle East and Africa gateways. ‎The carrier’s bonanza deal lets kids under 11 years old fly for free when accompanied by a full fare-‎paying adult passenger, while youngsters aged 12-16 can fly for half price when accompanied by a full ‎fare-paying adult.*‎

 

The Summer in Abu Dhabi festival at ADNEC is open from 3pm – 9pm Sunday through Thursday and ‎‎2pm - 10pm Friday through Saturday. Entry is just AED 40 (US $11) for adults and AED 30 (US $8.5) for ‎children under 12 years of age. Tickets can be bought at the door. ‎