Wands At The Ready, Abu Dhabi - Harry Potter™: The Exhibition Is Here!

The Nuts and Bolts

When? From July 31st, 2025 until September 14th, 2025. Open Monday to Sunday (but closed on Tuesday each week)

Where? Manarat Al Saadiyat - Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi

How much? Ticket prices start at AED115 for adult and AED75 for kids

Who can attend? All ages are welcome! Kids under three years old enter for free

How long? The estimated visit time is around 60 to 90 minutes - but you can draw it out if you want to pose for lots of pictures or dawdle in the gift shop (like us!). We were there for around two hours all up - but we were pretty slow! 

Tickets

Get those galleons ready! Ticket prices vary according to the date and type of ticket you want to snap up. Some dates have standard adult tickets for as low as AED115, and kids for just AED75, but for most days you’ll find adults in the AED135-155 range. If you’re going with your family, or a friend and their kids, your best value is a family bundle: tickets are just AED80 each on select dates, minimum 4 tickets/maximum two adults. You can see the pricing for different dates and book your tickets here. 

VIP and Flex tickets cost significantly more - AED245-295+ - and they come with some extras. VIP includes fast track, an audio guide, flexible entry and a gift - but we had a great time without VIP and spent the difference in ticket prices at the gift shop at the end - but more on that later. 

The whole experience is accessible for wheelchair users and people of determination - no stairs - and it’s very family friends.

Choose your Hogwarts House

On entry, you’re given a wristband, then head straight for the check-in area and tap your band to register your Hogwarts house, choose your patronus and pick your want - all very important decisions! If you've already been sorted - there are plenty of quizzes online! - great, but otherwise go with your heart: are you a brave Gryffindor, a cunning Slytherin, a clever Ravenclaw or a friendly Hufflepuff? You can earn points for your house throughout the experience - so it’s a fun way to get into the mood straight off the bat. Look for the house points counter at the very end to see who is in the lead.

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Attend Lessons and Practice your Quidditch Skills

After an introduction to The Exhibition, you’re set free to start exploring! Rooms and displays are themed around lessons - Herbology, Defence Against the Dark Arts and Potions are all on your timetable - and you can have a crack at Quidditch (getting a quaffle through a hoop? Looks easier than it is!).

Costumes, Sets and Props

Our favourite part? Seeing costumes and props from the movies in real life! Super nostalgic for older Potterheads and extra fun for younger fans who are newer to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, don’t miss the champions’ outfits from the Triwizard Tournament (and a Hungarian Horntail to boot!), Hermione's red dress from Bill & Fleur’s wedding - and Harry and Ron’s fits too, Luna’s quirky threads alongside The Quibbler, and of course iconic robes from the professors and other key characters. This really brought it to life for us - so take the time to have a closer look!

Don’t Forget The Gift Shop!

Look, we didn’t intend to do any shopping - but the gift shop is pretty hard to escape without being tempted! The merch range is huge: from robes, bags, jumpers and shirts, to posters, keyrings, lunch boxes, plushies and cards - there is a LOT to choose from. We snapped up some cards (AED20), a badge (AED15), a magnet (AED25) and a jumper (AED220) - not the most rational choice when we stepped outside and remembered it was summer, but the prices are pretty reasonable as far as Harry Potter merchandise goes.

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Was it worth it? 

Yes! Having done the wonderful Harry Potter Studio Experience in London, I was weary of being disappointed - but Harry Potter™: The Exhibition is a fun adventure into the Wizarding World without leaving Abu Dhabi. It’s not on the same scale as the London experience, but it doesn’t pretend to be. The props and costumes were great to see, the sets and photo ops are fun and immersive, the interactive elements are great for younger fans and the whole thing makes for a really fun couple of hours. 

Everyone around us was having a great time - the kids were especially loving it - and it’s a perfect escape from the heat. It may get a little chaotic if the crowds are big - our visit was pretty relaxed and numbers were really manageable - so hopefully ticket sales are capped to ensure it stays fun and accessible. 

Our recommendation? It’s on Saadiyat Island, so make a day of it: grab lunch on Mamsha Beach or a drink and a pizza at Taparelle right next door, relax and take your time. Prepare for it to be a little busy - and lean into the magic.