Nonstop Kids Activities at the Abu Dhabi Mall
Topics Covered: Kids Activities, Abu Dhabi Mall, Family Friendly Activities, Education, Longevity, Malls, Commercial Real Estate, Business Strategy, Skills
The amenities for kids in the malls overseas are surreal!! I had a chance to visit the Abu Dhabi mall and I was mind-blown by the opportunites provided there. Though my daughter is regretfully yet to go, the restaurants, the malls, the streets, they’re often overflowing with entertainment for kids to learn!! All while parents can take a break and/or can engage as well. Some places in the Middle East are SOOO freaking family friendly, I was STUNNED! hahaha. We don’t get that impression from daily television & media in the USA. But, I have noticed this on my recent trips to the Middle East and even felt a bit betrayed/conufsed by my own country and its lack of this awareness for this HUGE gap we have not kept up with: the ability to entertain and teach kids. I thought education was bad… but so is “after school fun/learning”. There are dozens of choices in the malls for ways to entertain your kids, restaurants commonly have incredible play areas attached… I think the Middle East (maybe parts of Turkey, Abu Dhabi, even Armenia in some places, Georgia!) they’d all be fantastic places to bring your kid for a few hours, days, weeks, months, and just enjoy the amenities. At least consider it, and/or be inspired to get more going on here in the USA to improve the lives of kids.
Why Go? It’s one thing to say it, but it’s another to show it (and to see it yourself!) I recently captured many different locations in the Abu Dhabi Mall which were fantastic options for entertaining your kids!! I can’t believe we don’t have a culture like this over in the USA and I’d like to see it change. It’s not just Abu Dhabi, either… I’ve seen this all over the Middle East on my explorations. I was shocked, since I had never seen anything like it throughout my time in the USA (and even China). This is fantastic and exceptional. I hope to gather more evidence to show in the future. It’s so inspiring on so many levels.
Event Ratings: Venue: 5/5, Food: 5/5, Networking: 3/5, Speaker Content: 5/5, Likeliness to Return: 5/5
Photo Collage and Commentary:
Notes from the Event:
I’m just going to rant, cause I’ve been to the Middle East a few time now and gathered info… I want to keep gathering:
The Real Issue: The U.S. is Failing Families, and We Don’t Even Question It
We’ve been sold a lie—that the U.S. is the “gold standard” of life while other countries, especially the Middle East, are framed as dangerous, restrictive, or unappealing. But when you actually go there? You see the opposite.
The Middle East is insanely family-friendly, with entire economies designed around kids and parents—while the U.S. leaves families scrambling for basic accommodations. Why?
Where Are the Play Spaces? Why Do We Accept This?
In Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, and beyond:
Malls have built-in play zones. Not a tiny plastic slide, but full-scale, high-quality entertainment & learning areas.
Restaurants have play spaces. Parents can eat in peace while kids play in safe, engaging environments.
Airports have full-fledged gyms. Kids can run, climb, and play between flights.
Public spaces are built for families. The infrastructure expects children to be present and accommodates them automatically.
Meanwhile, in the U.S.?
Malls are dying retail wastelands—barely any entertainment, let alone something for kids.
Restaurants kick families out early instead of making them feel welcome.
Airports trap families in waiting areas with nothing for kids to do.
Public spaces feel hostile toward families—like kids are an inconvenience rather than part of society.
This is not normal—it’s a systemic failure that we’ve been brainwashed into accepting.
The Economic Blindspot: We’re Not Investing in Families
This isn’t just about convenience—it’s about business, economics, and the future.
Family-friendly infrastructure is a smart investment. It keeps businesses alive, increases foot traffic, and boosts long-term spending.
Commercial real estate in the U.S. is collapsing because it refuses to evolve. The Middle East proves that malls don’t have to die—they just have to be designed with real human needs in mind.
Parents with nowhere to go spend less. If your space is inaccessible or stressful, parents avoid it—and so do future generations who grew up without meaningful experiences there.
Longevity in business means thinking about the next generation. If kids grow up with positive memories in your spaces, they’ll return as adults. The U.S. doesn’t think long-term.
Why Are We Pretending This Is Okay?
The U.S. isn’t “better”—it’s just better at propaganda.
We’ve been taught to fear the Middle East while accepting low standards here—but it’s just not reality.
Why are we okay with restaurants that aren’t designed for families?
Why do we accept airports that ignore kids’ needs?
Why do we let public spaces feel unwelcoming to parents?
Why is America so behind, and why aren’t we furious about it?
This isn’t about luxuries—it’s about the quality of daily life. And it turns out, the places we’re told to fear? They’re getting it right.
We’re Not Just Behind—We’re Stunting an Entire Generation
It’s not just that the Middle East has better spaces for kids—it’s that these spaces actively teach life skills in ways the U.S. completely ignores.
At the Abu Dhabi Mall, I saw an insane range of classes for kids:
STEM & Robotics: Kids are building, coding, and experimenting.
Cooking & Nutrition: Hands-on food prep classes—teaching real, usable skills.
Finance & Business: Miniature economies where kids learn how money works.
Survival & Problem-Solving Skills: Obstacle courses, team-building exercises—actual resilience training.
It’s not just entertainment—it’s preparation. These aren’t daycare distractions—they’re high-quality, structured experiences that give kids real-world knowledge before they even hit their teens.
Compare That to the U.S.:
What do we have?
Overpriced indoor playgrounds where kids climb plastic structures.
Themed “play zones” that teach nothing practical.
A handful of expensive extracurriculars for those who can afford it.
School systems that cut critical life skills like financial literacy and home economics.
Kids in the U.S. aren’t set up for success. They’re not exposed to practical skills early enough, and by the time they’re adults, they’re thrown into a system that expects them to just “figure it out.”
Meanwhile, kids in the Middle East?
They’re learning these things in the same place their parents run errands. They absorb skills through their environment—not through artificial, rigid school structures.
The U.S. Is Failing Its Future, and We’re Just Letting It Happen
We could be investing in spaces that do this. We could be rethinking malls, restaurants, airports, and public spaces.But instead, we’re stuck in a loop where:
Parents are isolated with no places to take their kids.
Kids aren’t exposed to practical learning until it’s too late.
Businesses fail to adapt and wonder why foot traffic disappears.
The U.S. sells the illusion of being “advanced” while ignoring basic family needs.
This Isn’t a Luxury—It’s an Economic & Social Imperative
What I saw in Abu Dhabi should be the baseline for every city—especially a country that claims to be a leader in opportunity.
The Middle East isn’t “catching up”—they’re already ahead.
And we’re too distracted to see how much we’re falling behind.
No Wonder People Feel Stressed—The U.S. Doesn’t Support Kids OR Parents
It’s not a coincidence that people here feel like they don’t have time, don’t want kids, and struggle with burnout.
In places like Abu Dhabi, Turkey, and Georgia, life is built with kids in mind.
Kids have amazing places to go.
Parents have real support.
Families aren’t treated as a burden—they’re expected, welcomed, and accommodated.
Meanwhile, in the U.S.?
We’ve convinced ourselves that this is just how life is—that parenting is supposed to be exhausting, that families should just “figure it out,” and that kids are an inconvenience to work around.
But guess what? It doesn’t have to be this way.
We Could Be Investing in a Future That Makes Life Easier
✅ Malls should be full of learning centers & play zones. → More foot traffic, more engaged customers, stronger local economies.
✅ Restaurants should have attached play areas. → Parents relax, kids get to move, everyone enjoys themselves.
✅ Airports should have play gymnasiums. → Traveling with kids goes from nightmare to adventure.
✅ Public spaces should EXPECT kids. → Parks, plazas, and shopping centers should invite families in, not make them feel like an afterthought.
And here’s the thing—this isn’t charity, it’s good business.
The places that invest in families today will be thriving in 10, 20, 30 years. The ones that ignore this? They’ll be wondering why their spaces are empty.
It’s Time to Rethink How We Build for the Future
The Middle East isn’t “catching up”—they’re already ahead.
They see the value in making life easier for parents and kids. They understand that investing in families isn’t just nice—it’s necessary.
And if the U.S. doesn’t start paying attention?
We’re just going to keep wondering why people are too tired, too stressed, and too over it to even consider having kids.
There’s a better way forward. Let’s start building it.
Until next time, I wish you the motivation and success to search for opportunities around your area. Search and explore: Who is out there giving talks? There are new things happening all of the time.
Find relatable or interesting topics you like and check them out! Maybe even something hosted at a cool venue, if there’s no other reason to go. Let’s see what you can learn and discover not too far from home. 😊
