This July, the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi transforms into a dynamic space for learning, play, and environmental awareness with its Summer of Discovery programme.
Anchored around World Nature Conservation Day on 28 July, the month-long calendar blends storytelling, science, wellness, and hands-on exploration to help visitors of all ages build a deeper connection with nature. From immersive children’s workshops to weekend family challenges and mindful movement sessions beneath dinosaur skeletons, the programme reflects the museum’s growing role as a centre for environmental education in the UAE.
At the heart of the initiative is a simple idea: understanding nature is the first step toward protecting it.
Storytelling Meets Sustainability: “Our Green Journey” with Tadweer
A key highlight of the month is Our Green Journey, a new bilingual storytelling series developed in collaboration with Tadweer, featuring environmental stories designed for young audiences.
Each session combines narrative storytelling with interactive activities, introducing children to themes of recycling, conservation, and sustainable living through relatable characters and UAE-based settings.
Noura the Smart Truck
5 July 2026 | Ages 2–4+
Children follow Noura, an intelligent electric truck that travels across the UAE using smart systems to identify and sort waste. The session introduces early ideas around technology-driven sustainability and responsible waste management.
The Green Mission: Ghafan, Sidra & Rimal
9 July 2026 | Ages 2–4+
A playful recycling adventure where children learn how to separate waste and understand why recycling matters, building early environmental habits through storytelling and activity-based learning.
Zayed and the Green Pearl
12 July 2026 | Ages 8–12+
This session follows a young protagonist on a journey inspired by UAE heritage, leadership, and perseverance, linking conservation values with national identity and long-term sustainability thinking.
Laila and the Little Bottle
23 July 2026 | Ages 9–11+
A discovery-based story exploring the “3Rs”—reduce, reuse, recycle—encouraging children to understand how small everyday actions can create meaningful environmental impact.
Weekend Programmes: Learning Through Exploration
Throughout July, the museum’s galleries become interactive learning environments through a series of weekend programmes designed to encourage observation, curiosity, and ecological awareness.
Nature’s Families: Families of UAE
Weekends, 1–31 July | Grade 4+
Celebrating the UAE’s Year of the Family, this interactive game invites visitors to explore biodiversity across the museum’s collection. Participants match species cards, discover biological families, and explore how different forms of life are connected across ecosystems.
With 53 species across 26 biological families, every visit offers a different experience of the UAE’s natural heritage.
Zoom In / Zoom Out: Decoding Nature
Weekends, 1–31 July | Ages 6+
This activity encourages visitors to think like scientists by observing small natural details and linking them to larger ecological systems. Participants explore how animals communicate and survive through colour, pattern, and adaptation.
Explorer’s Field Journal
Weekends, 1–31 July | Ages 7+
Visitors create their own field journals inspired by scientific research methods, recording observations from the galleries and learning how documentation supports conservation efforts.
Survive the Desert
Weekends, 1–31 July | Ages 12+
An interactive challenge where participants explore desert survival strategies, from nocturnal behaviour to water conservation techniques, while learning how species adapt to extreme environments.
Mindful Museum: Wellness Beneath the Dinosaurs
The Mindful Museum series continues in July with wellness sessions held beneath the museum’s iconic sauropod skeletons, offering a unique blend of movement, mindfulness, and history.
All sessions are facilitated by Form Studio and are open to participants aged 15+.
Microformer Lagree (Ladies Only – Semi Private)
6, 7, 13 July | 8:30–9:30 AM
A high-intensity, low-impact workout focused on core strength and mental clarity, set in the museum atrium.
Yoga (Mixed Sessions)
21 & 27 July | 7:00–8:00 PM
A restorative yoga experience designed to help participants reset and reflect in a space that spans 13.8 billion years of natural history.
Microformer (Mixed Session)
28 July | 7:00–8:00 PM
A closing wellness session combining movement, strength, and mindfulness in a unique architectural setting.
A Month Dedicated to Curiosity and Conservation
The Summer of Discovery programme reflects the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi’s broader mission: to make science and conservation accessible, engaging, and relevant to everyday life.
By combining storytelling, interactive learning, and wellness experiences, the museum invites visitors to explore a simple but powerful idea—our relationship with nature is shaped by what we notice, understand, and choose to protect.
