Close encounter

The launch of four new aquariums has signalled an emerging trend for the region's attractions industry. Leisure Manager delves deep to reveal the rise of the edutainment era.

This summer has seen the launch of a spate of marine-inspired attractions, from standalone facilities such as Dubai Dolphinarium and Sharjah Aquarium to major marine habitats within Dubai's most eagerly-anticipated resort and mall, which are set to open in the next few weeks.

As well as demonstrating a new trend for entertainment in the region and shifting the focus from the more publicised theme parks, these facilities also herald the onset of a new era for the attractions industry.

With a common desire to provide education alongside entertainment, these projects have lead experts such as Abdul Rehman Falkanaz, president of International Expo Consults (IEC) - which organises the Dubai Entertainment, Amusement & Leisure Show (DEAL) - to assert that these sorts of facilities are a huge step forward in the evolution of Dubai as an edutainment hub.

Defined as "an experience that provides, as its primary objective, a means to enable people to learn about something in a hands-on and enjoyable way," by Gerry Robinson of Trade Shows International, who is consulting on the DEAL show, edutainment experiences in essence are an extension of the original family entertainment concept.

"These type of experiences have now permeated all types of other facilities, from museums to amusement and theme parks," says Robinson, who is impressed by the variety of projects coming up in Dubai.

First to open was Dubai Dolphinarium in May, which offers a Marine Mammal Education Centre and multimedia library alongside its water circus show. The quiet launch of Sharjah Aquarium took place in June, attracting 70,000 visitors in its first three weeks. It is expected to make its name at the end of the year when it holds a grand launch alongside its sister attraction, the forthcoming Sharjah Maritime Museum.

The more glitzy of the new aquariums are yet to open, but the hype surrounding them is huge. Dubai Aquarium at The Dubai Mall - which reportedly has the world's largest viewing panel - will be a launch-day attraction on August 28, while radio competitions for The Lost Chambers at Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai, have been running for weeks, with the public eager to be the first to see the 65,000 fish marine animals on show.

Leisure Manager has already distinguished its corals from its anemones following a visit to the mystical Lost Chambers, so here we take a deeper look at the new aquatic attractions, exploring their different approaches to edutainment.

Edutaining elements

For Sharjah Aquarium, the main focus is education and a desire to connect people with the sea that surrounds them.

Curator and manager for Sharjah Aquarium Kerwin Porter says: "We're an educational aquarium. We're not just about ‘wow', and then walk away, we're ‘wow - this is your world as well'.

"We're part of the Sharjah Museums Department, so we can draw on museum experts in education, interpretation and displays, which gives us another dimension. It's a self-lead, linear journey; you descend into the ocean," says Porter.

Although education takes a higher priority than entertainment at Sharjah Aquarium at the moment, with formal and informal education programmes for school groups already underway, Porter says that they are developing guide-lead programmes and are even looking at exciting initiatives such as under-water talks.

Edutainment increasingly comes to the fore at Dubai Aquarium, meanwhile, which offers visitors three options: viewing the aquarium's 33,000 aquatic animals through its 32.8-metre by 8.3-metre viewing panel free of charge, experiencing the 270-degree walkthrough tunnel for a nominal fee, or entering the ticketed Discovery Centre for a more hands-on experience.

Although free to view, the aquarium will still be manned by professionals, who will give in-depth information on the various species - which include as a highlight 30 Sand Tiger sharks.

The 10-million litre capacity aquarium will be operated by Oceanis Australia Group, which also designed the facility.

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