Kidzania!

Whether you call it Kidzania (as in rhyming with Kid-Mania), or with a slight Arabic accent in a pronunciation like Kid-Zanya (rhyming with Danya) or the British style that makes it rhyme with Tanzania; Kidzania is an amazing make believe country where you can take your children at the Dubai Mall. In fact, if they are old enough, they can stay in Kidzania while you shop around the mall. And Kidzania is not just in Dubai.

To enter Kidzania, you actually go to an airport counter and 'check in.' In Dubai, Emirates Airlines sponsors the Kidzania airport. You clear customs, receive your ID bracelet and then enter a new country. The premise is that kids get to try many different jobs in a mini-country that is Disney-esque and after each job, they earn money. The money is called Kidzos and can be spent around town. 

Local businesses sponsor the buildings and activities in a marketing move that targets the next generation, but also educates by having the children at least partially understand what goes into each job. For example, before my girls could perform surgery on an ill mannequin, they went to training at the hospital. There they were given a 20 minute 'course' in how doctors help people, why surgery is sometimes needed and the importance of a sterile environment/equipment during surgery. 

So the kids walk in the shoes of workers from many different jobs. It makes for an entertaining day. I took Rosie and Bella and documented our adventure.