Put down the iPads, cancel the cartoons—today’s children aren’t dreaming of lounging with a screen on holiday. No, sir. According to fresh research hot off the clipboard, what kids aged 5 to 12 want is connection, imagination, and the kind of holiday that lets them be superheroes, zookeepers, or—if you’re in the mood for something truly cosmic—an astronaut hurtling through the stars.

Commissioned by Experience Abu Dhabi (yes, that sun-kissed emirate with more theme parks than you can shake a popsicle stick at), the survey polled over 7,000 children across nine nations—from the curry-fuelled chaos of India to the orderly queues of the UK. The verdict? Kids are craving mates, make-believe, and quality time with their parents.

And it’s all a bit heartening. In an era where even toddlers know how to skip YouTube ads, it turns out what they’re after is a splash of the real, a touch of the tangible, and just maybe, a face-to-face conversation with someone who isn’t a pixelated dog.

Friendship, Fantasy, and the Freedom to Be a Flamingo Keeper

First, the stats: 90% of kids surveyed want to make new friends on holiday. Not followers. Not likes. Actual friends. The sort you build sandcastles with and swap soggy chips over lunch.

And 89%—a staggering majority—long to leap into the worlds of their favourite video games or films. Forget theme parks that look like concrete jungles. These kids want real-life Minecraft, actual Mario Kart, and Hogwarts without the health and safety waiver.

Then there’s the 85% who want make-believe jobs for a day. Race car driver, astronaut, or zookeeper? Done. Abu Dhabi has all three, and probably a few extras—like a falconer or an underwater archaeologist.

Nouf Mohamed Al-Bushlaibi, Executive Director of Strategic Marketing at DCT Abu Dhabi (and, crucially, a parent herself), put it best: “We listened to the kids—and what they told us was inspiring. They want connection, adventure, and the freedom to live the stories they love.”

I imagine her leaning forward as she said it, eyes twinkling with the knowledge that, for once, the marketing team isn’t making it up as they go along.

The Mini Globetrotter Wish List: A World of Wonder

As with any good travel yarn, the devil’s in the details—and each nation brought its pint-sized peculiarities:

• UAE kids (98%) want big, bold adventures. Think dune buggies before breakfast.
• Indian children (75 %+) want to visit a museum. Culture vulture vibes at age seven—bless ’em.
• UK youngsters (94%) prioritise telling their mates what they did. Bragging rights are sacred.
• German kids (84%) fancy a food market: sausages and sensory overload.
• Chinese children (89%) crave downtime. A chill day by the pool, please.
• Italian bambini (95%) want to try something they’ve never done. The curiosity is real.
• French enfants (97%) need water activities. Splashing is très chic.
• Saudi Arabian kids (82%) love variety. A smorgasbord of fun, thank you.
• US youngsters (85%) are ready for fantasy play. Zookeeper for a day? Yes, please.

Despite cultural quirks, one golden thread ties them all together: family.

An overwhelming 97% of all respondents said that spending time with the family is a must. No AI pet, no TikTok trend, no overpriced souvenir shop can match mum, dad, and siblings in full holiday mode. Well, maybe a gelato helps.

Abu Dhabi: The Sandcastle of Dreams

So where’s a parent to find all this joy in one spot? Abu Dhabi, naturally. The capital of the UAE has quietly positioned itself as a child’s fantasy wrapped in an adult’s itinerary. It’s a place where museums aren’t boring, the desert is your playground, and superheroes come in life-size.

Start with Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi—a dome of pure fantasy where kids can ride with Batman, lunch with Scooby-Doo, and possibly out-sprint the Road Runner (good luck).

Ferrari World? More horsepower than a farmyard, with roller coasters so fast you’ll question your breakfast choices.

Then there’s Yas Waterworld—a place that would have had my generation in hysterics. Water slides, splash zones, and a culturally themed aquatic narrative that’s more compelling than half the shows on Netflix.

For budding Attenboroughs, Emirates Park Zoo and SeaWorld Abu Dhabi offer encounters with critters of the feathered and finned kind. Ever wanted to high-five a sea lion? Here’s your moment.

And soon, cultural powerhouses like the Zayed National Museum and the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi will open their doors, promising science, storytelling and the odd dinosaur skeleton.

Designed by the Bosses Themselves: Kids Take the Reins

Experience Abu Dhabi didn’t just stop at surveying kids—they let them plan the whole thing. The result? A seven-day itinerary created by children, for children. No jargon. No rushed 6 am starts. Just joy.

It includes:

• Big splash days at Yas Waterworld
• Lazy afternoons on Saadiyat Beach
• Wildlife encounters at the zoo
• Imaginative play zones that double as art experiences
• Evenings of cultural wonder—yes, with snacks

In other words: no more negotiating over whose turn it is. No more tantrums in the lobby. Just happy kids, happy parents, and memories that don’t involve anyone saying, “I’m bored.”

A Final Word from the Sandpit

Let’s not sugar-coat it. Planning family holidays can be a circus. But if we’re willing to hand over the reins (or at least pretend we are), the kids might surprise us. They don’t want to be pacified. They want to be inspired.

Abu Dhabi has built a world where children feel heard, seen, and downright celebrated. It’s a city that dares to dream—and invites your little ones to do the same.

As we edge closer to another holiday season, one thing’s clear: this isn’t just about sun, sea, and soft-serve anymore. It’s about giving kids the kind of experiences they’ll one day share with their kids. And in that glorious, full-circle moment, we’ll know it was worth every last suitcase zipper battle.

So here’s to holidays made of magic, mates, and maybe even a monkey or two.

Watch the whole experience film from Experience Abu Dhabi. Because sometimes, the kids are right.

 

 

 

By Jason Smith, Reporting from Arabian Travel Market, Dubai

 

 

 

 

 

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