Where Curiosity Lives - Inside OliOli®, Dubai’s Museum of Joy

Winner of the Tripadvisor Traveller’s Choice Awards For 6 Consecutive Years Since 2019!

In a world where childhood can be dominated by screens and one-size-fits-all play spaces, OliOli® offers something refreshingly different – a place where imagination takes centre stage, curiosity is celebrated, and families reconnect through play.

Founded by young parents who saw the need for enriching, hands-on experiences, OliOli® (meaning joy in Hawaiian) has grown into one of Dubai’s most inspiring destinations for children aged 1–11. Across six vibrant galleries and more than 40 interactive exhibits – from climbing through the gravity-defying Toshi’s Nets to experimenting in the Air Gallery – every corner invites exploration, learning, and laughter.

In this exclusive interview for Education UAE, Co-Founder Asha Ramchandani shares the inspiration behind OliOli®, the guiding philosophies that shape its design, and how the museum is redefining play, learning, and family connection in the UAE.

6 interactive galleries over 2 floors!

The Story Behind OliOli Dubai Children’s Museum

Education UAE: What inspired the creation of this children’s museum, and what is its mission?
Asha: As young parents ourselves, we saw our children stuck between screens/gadgets on the one hand and antiquated playgrounds on another. We felt a lack of spaces which provided families with an opportunity to bond together through play – and connect with each other, and spaces which encouraged hands-on non-judgmental play that give kids engaging, creative, and enriching alternatives to ‘passive play’. So, we started OliOli® (which means joy in the Hawaiian language) to bring the joy of curiosity, imagination and discovery (through play) to families. Our vision was to create a venue that resonated with the community who we seek to serve – including children, parents, educators, etc and add value to their lives through our efforts.

Education UAE: Can you tell me about the different exhibits and interactive displays designed to engage children’s curiosity and learning?
Asha: OliOli® has six permanent galleries comprising of over 40 interactive and hands-on exhibits. These spaces have been curated to achieve the developmental and pedagogical objectives of the museum. The Air Gallery for example has 10 exhibits that allow kids to play with, experiment, and learn about the variety of scientific phenomenon. Toshi’s Nets is another popular gallery that seeks to encourage kids to undertake risky play and learn about the consequences of their decisions in a low stakes environment. Cars & Ramps is focused on giving kids the chance to preserve through failure – but without losing the joy in the process! Future Park is a seminal gallery – which allows children to experience art in a collaborative and highly interactive manner.

How OliOli® Supports Every Age Group

Education UAE: How do you ensure that the exhibits cater to a wide range of age groups?
Asha: OliOli® caters to kids aged 1-11 years old – and each gallery has different exhibits that cater to the needs of the different age groups. The OliOli® experience is an open-ended exploration of different activities and exhibits – and kids of different ages and backgrounds can engage with these exhibits at their own level. In addition, we have a dedicated space for our little guests aged 0-23 months.

Education UAE: What educational philosophies or principles guide the design of the museum’s activities and displays?
Asha: We were inspired by a number of different institutions, individuals and learning philosophies. Our research phase included evaluating 60 informal learning environments including science centres and museums around the world. We spoke with developmental psychologists to improve the learning outcomes of our choices. Most of all, we were deeply inspired by research on the impact of play on development and the works of Dr. Stuart Brown, and the constructivist learning philosophy.

40 hands on exhibits designed with specific learning objectives!

Family Feedback and Continuous Improvement

Education UAE: How do you incorporate feedback from parents, educators, and visitors to improve and evolve the museum experience?
Asha: At OliOli® our hands on guest engagement team is always around to take any feedback from our guests and assure them of a joyful OliOli® experience. ce. On top of that, guest reviews across different platforms like Google and TripAdvisor are constantly monitored to gauge and improve our visitor experience.

Education UAE: Can you share any upcoming special events, workshops, or programmes that enhance the educational aspect of the museum?
Asha: Throughout the year, we have a robust events calendar curated by our in-house creative team in collaborations with external institutions like Brand Dubai, Lego, Museum of The Moon to name a few. Through these activations, we aim to bring joyful new experience of our repeat visitors. We also have our camps during the school holidays and special events to celebrate the holidays and other festivities like Eid, Diwali, Halloween and during Winter holidays.

Inclusivity at OliOli Dubai

Education UAE: How does the museum promote inclusivity and accommodate children with different abilities or special needs?
Asha: OliOli® has been created to welcome children of all abilities. On top of all our galleries being wheelchair accessible, some of them like Future Park and Water Gallery were designed to provide a safe sensory environment for our visitors on spectrum. Lot of our team members are certified to accommodate the needs of our neurodiverse guests.

Education UAE: What safety measures and protocols are in place to ensure a secure and enjoyable environment for children and their families?
Asha: Our whole space is designed with keeping our littlest guests’ safety in mind along with following the guidelines required by DM. And apart from having a full-time paramedic on site, most of our team is trained in First Aid and CPR protocols. Most reviews and feedback by our guests mentioning that OliOli® feels a safe space for their little ones is a testament to our efforts on providing a safe, joyful and stress-free environment for families.

Education UAE: How has technology been integrated into the museum’s exhibits, and what role does it play in enhancing the learning experience?
Asha: Technology in OliOli® has been integrated thoughtfully to enhance our vison of hands on non-judgemental play without making the experience passive. Our Future Park Gallery, established in partnership with Tokyo based teamLab, is perfect example of culmination of Art and Science. In this gallery, technology has been used to create immersive exhibits to promote creativity and innate curiosity of our young guests and adults alike.

Technology That Sparks Curiosity

Education UAE: How can parents and caregivers get involved in supporting the museum’s mission or contribute to its continued success?
Asha: At OliOli®, adults are welcomed and encouraged to be a part of experience. We started OliOli® to allow families to bond together through play as a result most of our activities are age-agnostic and will be enjoyed by a playful parent as much as the child. We also have plans to start community programs and talks for parents to overall enhance the holistic upbringing of their little ones.
With a mission to make play meaningful, OliOli® blends science, art, and imagination into a safe, inclusive environment where every child can engage at their own pace. It’s not just a museum – it’s a movement to bring joy, creativity, and connection back into everyday family life.

Plan your visit and rediscover the joy of play at OliOli® – because the best childhood memories are made together.