DUBAI — Whether it’s hiking through a forest, riding the fastest roller coaster or building sand castles on a beach, vacations offer amazing opportunities for families to spend time together. Parents in Saudi Arabia learn more about what their kids like and don’t like while kids learn that their parents are cool after all!

A growing number of parents in Saudi Arabia are prioritizing family vacations and taking their kids on different adventures, driven by the desire to spend a greater amount of time with their children, all whilst discovering new countries and cultures.

A new survey from Yas Island Abu Dhabi offers absolutely essential advice for the 84% of Saudi parents who say their children are the biggest influencing factor whilst planning the perfect holiday.

Kids just want to get out and about, it seems, with the top three activities for kids in Saudi Arabia listed as going to theme parks (86%) and going to water parks (86%), followed by going to the beach (82%), with the same number saying they like traveling (82%).

And as the preferred travel companion, Mum was the most popular amongst Saudi children (64%), followed by siblings (43%) and best friends (34%).

The top concerns when choosing a family holiday destination for parents in Saudi Arabia are finding a family-friendly destination (54%), keeping the children entertained (35%) and finding somewhere easy to travel with children (27%).

So, with 88% of parents shared their children’s interest in waterparks and theme parks respectively, Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island could provide fun for all the family.

And with their ‘Kids Go Free’ offer running until Sept. 30, the UAE hotspot is absolutely perfect for parents this summer.

Featuring two thrilling theme parks, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi and Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, and the famous Yas Waterworld waterpark, families will be wondering how to fit it all in.

The survey also revealed:

• Parents in KSA rated their families’ interest in different leisure activities, listing theme parks and nature parks/gardens top (84%), followed by water parks (78%)

• Kids had the most influence over the choice of what to do during the summer holidays (84%), closely followed by mum or dad (82%)

• Thinking about what they’d like their kids to do during the summer holidays, parents is KSA rated their top activities as sports/fitness activities (72%), experience something new (68%) and go to museums/galleries (60%)

• The top concerns for Saudi parents when planning their summer holidays are finding a family-friendly destination (54%), keeping the children entertained (35%) and finding somewhere easy to travel with children (27%)

• The top things Saudi kids like about summer holidays are going to exciting places (33%), hanging out more with their friends (33%), with a quarter saying they like to go abroad (26%)

• The activities that they most like to do during summer are going to theme parks (86%), going to water parks (84%) and going to the beach (82%), with the same number saying they like traveling (82%)

• Thinking about where they’d like to go on summer holiday, a quarter say they’d like to go somewhere cold (26%), while 24% say they’d like to go somewhere close to nature and 13% want to go somewhere by the sea

• Mum was the most popular travel companion, with 64% of kids saying they would take her on their ultimate summer holiday, followed by siblings (43%), and best friends (34%). — SG