When Chris Hemsworth is not on film sets, on the road, or being blinded by flashes at the red carpet, he’s a family man. One look at his Instagram will tell you that.
So naturally, when he plans a trip, it’s not just about the hotel stars for him, but the real review is whether the kids try to extend the trip. Chris’s simplest argument for Abu Dhabi was an obvious one: “the kids didn’t want to leave,” he said.
It’s also why his partnership with Experience Abu Dhabi makes sense. Chris and his wife, Spanish actress Elsa Pataky, were announced as Global Brand Ambassadors last year, and this year, they’re back.
“Everything we love all in one place”
Chris’s pull towards Abu Dhabi simply comes down to the breadth of experiences one can find in the UAE capital, with something for every member of the family to see, do, and discover. He describes it as having “everything we love all in one place,” a truth that means that you don’t have to choose between culture and entertainment, between a beach day and exploring the city, or between parents’ plans and kids’ demands.
If you’re organising a day out, in practical terms, those cultural experiences can look like an afternoon under the dome at Louvre Abu Dhabi, or a walk through Zayed National Museum, which tells the story of the UAE and its people. Meanwhile, the kids are sure to go wild for the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, full of some of the world’s rarest fossils and dynamic displays of dinosaur skeletons.
But what stands out isn’t just the landmarks, it’s the pace of the place. The way conversations aren’t rushed, the way you’re greeted properly and the way local recommendations come with genuine pride. There’s an openness to the emirate – one rooted in tradition – that makes visitors feel less like tourists and more like welcomed guests.
Meanwhile, Yas Island is built for the adrenaline chasers, with Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi, Warner Bros. World™ Abu Dhabi, and SeaWorld Abu Dhabi all just minutes apart.
The ease of having a variety of things to do matters even more when you’re travelling with children. Chris points to the simplest, most telling indicator of a successful trip, “the kids didn’t want to leave”, he said, and if you’ve ever travelled as a family, you know that’s basically the highest rating you can get.
Elsa also observed that appeal. She said, “Whether it is for us as a couple or a family, every day here is a new adventure, there is something for each one of us to enjoy and discover. My kids have fallen in love with Abu Dhabi, as it gives them a playground for all the things they want to do. Whether it’s theme parks with exciting roller coasters, dune bashing and horse riding in the desert to catching the best wave, Abu Dhabi has it all and is now our must-visit yearly holiday spot.”
Rather than selling Abu Dhabi as a destination defined purely by high-energy experiences, Chris highlights another side to it, one with a different kind of appeal. What he keeps returning to is the ability to properly switch off once you arrive. He speaks about being able to “unwind, and relax, with the feeling of being at home”, which is the kind of luxury that matters when you travel often.
That is also how the campaign showcases Abu Dhabi, not as a one-off vacation spot but as the sort of place you’re inclined to keep returning to.
Why the next chapter matters
This second phase is a continuation that explores how Abu Dhabi aligns with lifestyle and family values, and why the partnership still resonates for Chris and Elsa as they return for this year’s shoot.
Abu Dhabi suits Chris because it matches the way he actually travels now, simply wanting days that feel exciting without being hectic, and a place that can cater to a family’s ever-changing moods without all the fuss that you expect to come with it.
Want to explore the emirate through the eyes of Chris and Elsa? Watch the brand film here and visit visitabudhabi.ae for more information.