Enter The Upside Down - Stranger Things: The Experience Yas Island Is Now Open In Abu Dhabi

What Can We Expect from Stranger Things: The Experience Yas Island?

Get ready, folks: you’re about to be admitted to the Hawkins National Laboratory. And did you know you’ve got some special abilities that are about to be uncovered? Join Eleven, Will, Mike, Dustin, Lucas and Max in a race against time to escape Dr Brenner’s clutches, battle the demogorgon and avoid those demodogs. It’s an immersive experience, with fab set design and plenty of photo ops along the way. Go ready to lean into the experience for the best time. 

If you make it through the lab in one piece, you’ll be rewarded with a trip back to the 80s: snap a pic in the Byers’ living room - complete with the iconic Christmas lights - and battle it out on the arcade games for a proper Hawkins experience. Hungry? Grab a bite to eat at Stranger Things’ most memorable dining spots: Scoops Ahoy (the ice cream shop where Robin and Steve strike up their friendship!) and Surfer Boy Pizza - served straight from the van, this pizza is seriously good! The merch store is excellent, too - more on that later - and if you’re a mega fan, we’re almost certain you’ll be taking a piece of Hawkins home with you. 

There’s also a super cool setup at the entrance - a retro video store backdrop with 80s snacks and new releases like Ghostbusters (IYKYK) advertised on the walls. The attention to detail for Stranger Things: The Experience is admirable. 

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‍How Much are Tickets to Stranger Things: The Experience? 

Tickets start from AED85 for under 18s and AED135 for adults. VIP tickets will set you back AED205 for adults and AED175 for under 18s - and score you some merch, including a lanyard, laminate, tote bag, Bluetooth speaker and a souvenir cup with a free non-alcoholic drink - not bad at all. Person of Determination tickets are AED85, and include a companion ticket as well. 

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When is it Open? And How Long is Stranger Things: The Experience Staying in Abu Dhabi? 

Head in every week from Thursday to Sunday - 4PM - 9.40PM - starting November 14th and running until February 15th 2026. Our advice? Allow around 2 hours for your visit - you might be quicker if you don’t hang around for a bite to eat or check out the merch, but 2 hours will have you covered. 

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Who should go? Are there age restrictions? 

Stranger Things mega fans, this one is right up your alley! But if you’ve watched the show and are keen for some spooky vibes, you’ll probably have a good time - especially if you want to snap some pics and enjoy the merch shop and a bite to eat at the end! 

There aren’t any age restrictions - but as Stranger Things is rated 14+, it’s a little more geared towards teens and adults, and could maybe be a little scary for younger kids. There’s also a couple of (mild) swear words if you’re feeling extra cautious - and if you haven’t seen the show you’re not going to get as much out of the visit. 

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Is Stranger Things: The Experience scary? Anything else we need to know? 

Not terrifying, but it depends on what you class as scary! If you’ve seen the show, you’ll be fine with the ‘fear’ level. There are some flashing and flickering lights - so keep that in mind if you have sensory issues - as well as a section with 3D glasses if you need a heads up!

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FAQs

What’s the parking situation at Stranger Things: The Experience? 

There’s a tonne of parking! And it’s really easy to find - just type ‘Stranger Things’ into Google maps and it’ll lead you right to the door. You can’t miss it - the giant black and red signage stands out a mile away. 

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What merch is available at Stranger Things: The Experience? 

The merch selection is pretty epic! From hoodies, hats and shirts - so cool - to drink bottles, key rings, patches, magnets and even roller skates - how retro is that? Proclaim your membership of the Hellfire Club, side with Max’s opinion that ‘There’s more to life than stupid boys’ or go home with a box of Eggos like the true ride-or-die Eleven fan that you are - this merch is genuinely cool! 

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What food is available at Stranger Things: The Experience?

Grab a pizza from Surfer Boy Pizza, sip on a themed drink at the (dry) Upside Bar and finish off with a scoop of ice cream at Scoops Ahoy. Everything is served up on authentic packaging - a cute touch - and the pizza is delish! 

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