dubai“>Dodo Pizza UAE opened the Kids Pizza Academy, Dubai’s first and largest purpose-built culinary edutainment facility for children aged 3-12, located in JLT, Cluster T.
The launch positions the brand within the UAE’s 2026 Year of the Family agenda, offering a structured, screen-free alternative to passive family entertainment formats. Ivan Pyadyshev, CEO of Dodo Pizza MENA, cut the ribbon at the opening, attended by families, media, and members of the JLT community.
The masterclasses
The Academy’s hands-on “Masters of Pizza” masterclasses are the heart of the concept. Since its soft opening, Dodo Kids Pizza Academy has already hosted 15 masterclasses, with plans to run 25 sessions per week, spanning daily drop-in classes, school field trips, all-inclusive birthday parties, and community events, all tailored by age group. Each one-hour session is led by trained “friendstructors” who guide children through dough-rolling, topping, and baking from start to finish, before they tuck into their creations fresh from the oven.
At the grand opening, two masterclasses were held across the afternoon and evening, with kids split into two age groups (3-7 and 8-12) so each session matched their skills and needs. Every young chef wore a personalized apron, shaped their own pizza, and left with a diploma and sticker pack to mark the occasion.
The same format is available year-round through the Academy’s birthday packages, which scale across three tiers. The Junior Chef experience (130 AED/kid weekdays, 150 AED/kid weekends; 2 hours) includes the masterclass, greeting games, signature tableware, food and beverages, a personal host, photo booth, and diploma pack with e-invites. Master Chef (150/170 AED/kid; 2 hours) adds a greeting quest, a choice of themed tableware, face painting or temporary tattoos, and a birthday gift. Culinary Maestro (300/330 AED/kid; 3 hours) is the full celebration, with guest prizes, the Dodo bird mascot and disco time, themed balloon decor, a piñata, and a 2kg themed cake.
The science behind the fun
Recent research confirms that structured cooking programmes improve children’s confidence, problem-solving skills, and culinary self-efficacy – benefits that compound alongside the fine motor and sensory development that hands-on kitchen activities naturally support.
For parents, structured activities that hold a child’s attention don’t just make for a better outing, they actively reduce the mental load of parenting in public, giving children something real to do and parents space to actually be present. This is what separates purposeful family programming from entertainment that merely keeps children occupied.
The full experience
Beyond the masterclasses, the grand opening delivered face painting, dance battles, a wheel of fortune, live entertainment, games, and ice cream vouchers between sessions.
The grand opening included an emcee, face painting, dance battles, a wheel of fortune, and ice cream vouchers between sessions. Once the masterclasses wrapped, children gathered at communal tables to share the pizzas they had made.
The opening marks the start of an ongoing programme. With weekly masterclasses planned and formats designed to scale with a child’s age, the Academy is building a recurring curriculum rather than a single experience.
The brand has signalled plans for regional growth, with Qatar identified as a likely next market and early-stage discussions underway for Iraq and Abu Dhabi. For Dodo Pizza UAE, the Academy represents a long-term investment in the local family community, one the brand intends to replicate across the GCC.
About company
Dodo Pizza is part of the international franchising company Dodo Brands
Founded in 2011, Dodo Brands has been operating for more than 15 years and has grown into a global foodservice platform with over 1,650 restaurants across 26 countries. Dodo Pizza ranks 6th among the world’s top 10 largest international pizza chains by number of stores. Bloomberg has also named Dodo Pizza among the fastest-growing restaurant chains globally.
The holding develops a portfolio of QSR brands on the basis of its proprietary tech platform. In 2025, the company reported revenue of more than $1.8 billion, achieving 22% year-on-year growth.
Dodo Pizza UAE opened in January 2023, followed by the first franchised store in June 2024. Today, the chain operates 13+ locations in the UAE, with more openings planned for 2026. Bring the little ones down to Dodo Kids Pizza Academy – where Dubai’s youngest chefs are made. Book a masterclass, plan a birthday, or simply walk in and explore. Visit dodoacademy.ae or contact +971 54 247 6417