‘Summer in Abu Dhabi’ – the six-week family carnival that promises a packed programme of activities and entertainment for all ages, kicks off today (Wednesday) in the UAE capital.

This annual carnival – now in its second year – is evolving into one of the biggest family attractions on the GCC event calendar.

Some 150 event management professionals, technicians, university students, and volunteers are ready to keep 'Summer in Abu Dhabi' up and running for its 46 days run, said tourism officials.

'It’s been months in planning and design and has taken 22 event management specialists 7,000 man hours collaborating with 200 carpenters, technicians and artists from Singapore, Malaysia, China and the UAE working long hours for 11 consecutive days to get Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre’s (ADNEC) atrium and seven, fully air-conditioned halls ready.'

The mega-production, which will be open weekdays from 2pm until 10pm and on Fridays and Saturdays from 2pm until 12am, features a multi-national star-studded cast of over 200 performers from 12 countries - the US, UK, France, Czech Republic, Poland, Russia, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Africa and the UAE.

This year, 'Summer in Abu Dhabi' is bigger and much wider in scope and offering than last year’s inaugural event, which quickly went on to win regional honours.'

“This will be a phenomenal experience for visitors and residents alike,” explained Ahmed Hussein, deputy director general, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), which is presenting 'Summer in Abu Dhabi.'

“Whether people are looking for culture, action, adventure or sporting adrenalin, this event has it all, and for all ages. It is a production that we envisage visitors returning to time and again.”

The bulk of the Summer in Abu Dhabi activities centre around Adnec where seven halls have been transformed into a unique island-hopping experience.

Once through the giant ‘Summer’ sign entrance which stretches 28m along Adnec’s entrance and stands eight metres high, visitors will enter the garden atrium complete with grass hedges resplendent with blossoming flowers and a 10m high trapeze sprouting from the ground.

World-class artists from the acclaimed Flying Trapeze Australia show will perform twice-nightly during the week and three times nightly during weekends.

Following their show, members of the audience will be invited up to participate in carefully guided and safe trapeze lessons mentored by stars of the show.

Visitors will leave the atrium to enter the Science & Technology Island to be intrigued by the science of illusion – for instance, how they can serve their own heads on a platter!

On this island, visitors will explore technology in music and technology at play, including interactive Lego Mindstorms sessions. Over in Sports Island adrenalin seekers can tackle challenges such as Gladiator, Zorbowl, Splat, Wakeboard, Euro Bungee and archery.

Entertainment Island is jampacked with shows beginning every hour with the UK’s UV Groovy Puppet Theatre, a high impact, extremely visual performance by ‘glow in the dark’ puppetry.

In the interactive cinema there’ll be 10 shows every hour and six, short films in Summer in Abu Dhabi’s 4D cinema where visitors will feel they’re part of the action!

Summer in Abu Dhabi’s Culture & Heritage Island is a vibrant celebration bringing together cultures from the far ends of the earth.

Visitors will get up close to the traditions of our own Emirati culture and those of Native Americans, Australian Aborigines and South Africa Zulus through dance and music performances from the very best troupes indigenous of the individual nations.

Adventure Island is not for the feint-hearted. Activities, workshops, games and competitions will test visitors through rope course obstacles, the thrills of the<