• The inspiring initiative brings together SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, Aldar Education and Louvre Abu Dhabi to enhance children’s marine life knowledge.
  • Children’s before and after drawings will be on display in a dedicated exhibition at SeaWorld Abu Dhabi’s One Ocean realm until the end of October.

Abu Dhabi, UAE – SeaWorld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, the World’s Largest Indoor Marine Life Theme Park, announces its ‘Draw Me the Sea,’ initiative that is designed to broaden children’s knowledge of the ocean as they explore the park’s eight immersive realms. Children aged seven to 12, from Aldar Education participated in this unique initiative, using what they learned from their journey to illustrate drawings of the sea.

Prior to visiting SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, school children from Aldar Education were asked to draw the sea from their perspective. The drawings typically included elements like the surface, waves, a sandy beach and a couple of palm trees.

Upon completing their first drawing, the children went on to visit SeaWorld Abu Dhabi where they encountered a variety of marine life, including dolphins, sea turtles, walruses and penguins. SeaWorld Abu Dhabi’s Educators, who are present within each realm of the Marine Life Theme Park, further enriched the children’s experience by providing fascinating insights about the different species of marine animals they encountered.

Toward the end of the visit, the children were asked to draw the sea again and the results were remarkable. The drawings transformed to depict marine life such as dolphins leaping from the water, rays gliding, sharks surrounded by swarms of tiny fish, small orange starfish at the bottom of the ocean and more.

The unique illustrations demonstrated the profound impact a visit to SeaWorld Abu Dhabi has on enhancing a child’s cognitive development and deepening their understanding of the marine world as the park allows them to see parts of nature that they have not seen before.

To gain further valuable insights into the efforts of the social initiative, Dr Rama Kanj, a licensed Educational Psychologist, collaborated with SeaWorld Abu Dhabi to observe the educational impact and developmental progress an experience at SeaWorld Abu Dhabi had on young minds.

Dr Rama Kanj said: “The development of young minds can be greatly enhanced by educational environments that include emotional engagement and sensory experiences. This approach stimulates multiple pathways in the brain, making learning more impactful and memorable for children. SeaWorld Abu Dhabi exemplifies this through its multisensory experiences, which offer a dynamic platform for meaningful learning beyond mere entertainment. Such initiatives set a strong example of how education should be conducted in both formal and informal settings.”

SeaWorld Abu Dhabi General Curator, Rob Yordi, said: “At SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, our mission is to inspire and educate guests about the wonders of the ocean and its inhabitants, with a particular focus on nurturing the curiosity of young minds, fostering a deeper connection and care for the ocean. Having been involved in the design process from the very beginning, our objective was to create exciting and immersive experiences that can help inspire our guests to care about animals, their habitats and their future.”

Stephen Sharples – Chief Education Officer from Aldar Education said: “The first edition of ‘Draw Me the Sea’ has proven extremely successful and we are delighted to be part of such an inspiring initiative that drives conservation and marine life education. Exploring new and engaging learning methods is something we really value. We look forward to continuing our thriving partnership with SeaWorld Abu Dhabi and constantly bring innovative educational experiences for our students.”

On September 28, a select number of children will be going to the Louvre Abu Dhabi where they will explore marine life-themed artworks accompanied by SeaWorld Abu Dhabi Educators who will offer deeper insights into marine ecosystems and Louvre Abu Dhabi educators who will provide insights about the artwork. The children will first draw their perception of the ocean before visiting SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, and will create another drawing afterward, reflecting the impact of their experience.

From September 19 until the end of October, guests visiting SeaWorld Abu Dhabi can view the unique collection of drawings in a spectacular art exhibition in the Marine Life Theme Park’s One Ocean realm.

SeaWorld Abu Dhabi boasts a team of over 45 educators stationed across the park’s eight immersive realms, eager to engage with guests and share their knowledge of marine life. For young marine life enthusiasts, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi also houses two state-of-the-art classrooms, which have hosted over 20 school visits since last year.

For more information on SeaWorld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, please visit the website at www.seaworldabudhabi.com.

About SeaWorld® Yas Island, Abu Dhabi

SeaWorld® Yas Island, Abu Dhabi operated by Miral Experiences is the World’s Largest Indoor Marine Life Theme Park which tells a captivating 'One Ocean' story that uncovers the interconnectivity between life on earth and our ocean, inspiring a deep commitment to conserving our planet. SeaWorld Abu Dhabi delivers fun, engaging, and immersive family-friendly experiences through eight uniquely themed realms, featuring up-close animal encounters, exciting rides, inspiring entertainment, as well as unmatched dining and shopping experiences.

SeaWorld Abu Dhabi is committed to providing the highest standard of animal welfare based on best practices and standards set by internationally recognized animal welfare organizations. SeaWorld Abu Dhabi is the region’s first facility to be certified by Global Humane, the world’s largest certifier of animal welfare. Representing the next generation of zoological care, the animal habitats at SeaWorld Abu Dhabi have been custom designed using state-of-the art technology and a welfare-focused approach. Every day, the SeaWorld Abu Dhabi team of highly experienced and passionate veterinarians, scientists, animal care specialists, and educators devote their lives to caring for animals while also inspiring the next generation to protect and advocate for the ocean.

SeaWorld Abu Dhabi is also home to the Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue Center Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, the first-of-its-kind dedicated marine research, rescue, rehabilitation and return Center in the region serving as an advanced marine science knowledge hub and a key contributor to marine life conservation. Building on United Parks & Resorts’ legacy of being one of the largest marine animal rescue organizations in the world, the Center aims to bring SeaWorld’s over 60 years of experience and knowledge in animal care, rescue, rehabilitation and conservation to the UAE and wider region.

SeaWorld Abu Dhabi was developed by Miral, Abu Dhabi’s leading creator of magnetic experiences in partnership with United Parks & Resorts and is the first new SeaWorld Park in 30 years and the first outside the US. Now operational, this first-of-its-kind indoor Marine Life Theme Park is managed and operated by Miral Experiences, a subsidiary of Miral and a leading operator of world-class theme parks, entertainment experiences and cultural attractions.

For more information, please visit: www.seaworldabudhabi.com

For media inquiries:
SeaWorld Abu Dhabi
Farah Sarieddine
Head of PR
fsarieddine@miral.ae