Fun things to do with the kids in summer in Abu Dhabi

It’s no secret that summers in Abu Dhabi get pretty sweaty – and we’re not just talking about trying to find everyone’s shoes before leaving the house in the morning.

Finding fun things to do with the kids in Abu Dhabi can be tricky at the best of times – but what about when it gets to warm outside to hit the parks and beaches? That’s what we’re here for. To save you time, money and temper tantrums, we’ve rounded up the best indoor things to do with the kids all over Abu Dhabi this summer.

And, breathe.

Action Zone

This is one of Abu Dhabi’s most fun-filled indoor play centres, with plenty of zones hosting different activities to suit different tastes, and fun things to do with kids of all ages. Kids can try out any of the zones, including Kidzone, which houses ball pools, obstacle courses and climbing areas, while tots will enjoy the Little Stars zone, fully equipped with a motion sand table, dress up area, reading corner, VR colouring games, and more. There’s also a trampoline zone for kids aged three and up, and a VR zone for older kids with the latest in gaming. So kids of all ages can burn energy without burning up.
Daily 10am-11pm. Various locations in Abu Dhabi including Capital Mall and Boutik Mall, actionzoneuae.com (02 419 9000).

Adventure Zone

For some indoor sporty action in the comfort of an air-conditioned environment, get down to Adventure Zone in Galleria Mall Al Wasl where you can complete their cable climb high ropes course and have a go on their climbing wall.
Open daily noon-9pm. Galleria Mall Jumeirah, Al Wasl, Dubai adventurezone.ae.

BOUNCE UAE

Looking for fun things do with the kids who happen to have seemingly inexhaustible levels of energy? There are heaps of activities on offer in both the Abu Dhabi and Dubai branches, including the capital’s “super tramp”. This beast is four times the size of a standard trampoline and can generate a force of over 14Gs, which is what a fighter pilot feels. X Park is a brilliant way for tiny tots a to find their inner Spider-Man while older kiddos can unleash all their pent-up energy in the parkour zone. Whether they want to do a flip or two in the air on the performance trampolines, run vertically up a wall or simply bounce around on the massive free jumping area, the sky’s the limit (or the roof of its building, at the very least).
Times vary. Al Quoz, Dubai and Marina Mall, Al Marina, Abu Dhabi, bounce.ae.

Caboodle

There are heaps of fun things for little kids to do at this edutainment centre in the luxurious mall, including a soft play zone, dressing up area for role play, a mini city, climbing pit and jungle gym, plus themed arts and crafts. As an added bonus, everything they get stuck into is aimed at promoting physical, social and cognitive development. Best of all, it’s a fab family day out because there’s something to keep all members of the gang entertained from the tiniest of tots (as young as six months, right up to the tweens of 12.
Open Sat-Wed 10am-10pm, Thu & Fri 10am-midnight. The Galleria Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi, caboodle.ae (02 679 8019).

Cheeky Monkeys

A world of colour and fun awaits little explorers at the Cheeky Monkeys soft play centres. Innovative neon-lit slides, mini zip lines, brilliant dressing up area and an enormous ball pit provide endless entertainment that energetic tots love. Plus there’s a café serving hot kid-friendly meals and Starbucks coffee for the mums and dads.
Times vary. Various locations including J3 Mall and Arabian Ranches 2 in Dubai and Al Forsan Village, Abu Dhabi, cheekymonkeys.com.

Extreme Fun

This is a popular soft play hotspot not just with the little kids, who can play safely in the separate toddler area, but with older balls of energy up to ten years old who love the climbing, exploring and sliding. The arts and crafts zone is always a huge hit too, with everyone.
Times vary Various locations including Dubai Festival City Mall, Dubai and Deerfields Mall, Abu Dhabi, extremefun.ae.

Fun City

A fun play area for kids aged one to 12 years old, Fun City is known to provide hours and hours of fun for energy-filled kids in a safe, happy environment. The Play Zone consists of a soft play structure with a variety of colourful and attractive elements to engage children. It’s a safe and clean environment for each and every one of them to engage in constructive play, developing their physical, social, mental and emotional skills. Attractions for older kids are also available.
Times vary. Various locations including Mercato Mall, Dubai, Dalma Mall, Abu Dhabi and Safeer Mall, Sharjah, funcity.ae (02 644 2588).

KidZania

There’s just something fun for kids about pretending to be a doctor, a fireman, a chef or a builder. KidZania is a magical world of make believe where children can role play more than 40 professions and earn their own KidZania money, which they can then spend on their way out in the on-site shop.
Times vary. The Dubai Mall, Dubai and Yas Mall, Abu Dhabi, kidzania.ae (800 3822 46255).

Magic Planet

Magic Planet houses rides, activities and fun things to do for kids all ages. There’s a soft-play for the little ones, and pool tables for the not-so-little ones (hello, Mum and Dad). Fancy some bowling? There are 12 ten-pin lanes for that, too, plus plenty of food outlets to refuel in, after some arcade games. Gravity, a trampolining area, is ideal for budding acrobats, plus there’s a merry-go-round, bumper cars and more. Phew.
Times vary. Various locations including Mall of the Emirates, Dubai and Marina Mall, Abu Dhabi, magicplanetmena.com (04 341 4444).

Orange Wheels

Little adventurers between the ages of six months to eight years have free rein to run, jump and explore the mega soft play destination where they can burn off energy in a safe environment. Billed as a learning destination, they will be garnering new skills, without even realising. Little princes and princesses can book themselves in for a quick trim – or something more drastic if they are feeling daring – in the on-site hair salon, or get that all-important Abu Dhabi mani-pedi in the spa where a rainbow of nail varnish colours are at their fingertips. Pampered expat kids, much?
Times vary. Locations include Al Raha Mall and Al Wahda Mall in Abu Dhabi and Town Centre Jumeirah in Dubai, orangewheels.com (02 556 2229).

Trampo Extreme

With spots at The Dubai Mall, Al Ain Mall and Nakheel Mall on Palm Jumeirah, this high-octane park is almost 4,000 square feet of bouncing fun with 16 different jump activities ideal for tots of three up to teens of 13. Older kids will love the combative elements of Extreme Dodgeball and the challenge of the warrior obstacle course, while breaking their PB times on the interactive climbing wall will keep them occupied for hours. A huge foam pit and free jumping areas are great fun for all the tribe to enjoy together, while the internationally themed Kids Zone takes little adventurers through a series of 12 cool activities across three levels of multi-fun for different ages. A Western-themed shooting arena, electric-car race track, role play arena and toddlers only area are all waiting to be discovered. Plus, little ones can now release their inner Indiana Jones at The Palm’s Nakheel Mall location where they will discover the UAE’s biggest indoor adventure caves.
Times vary. Locations include Nakheel Mall and Dubai Mall, Dubai and Al Ain Mall, trampo-uae.com.

5 top fun things to do with the kids in Dubai

Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo

One of the best fun things to do with the kids in Dubai. Experience the real thrill of the wild while getting close to some of nature’s most beautiful creatures at Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo. Take on a shark encounter, where you’ll be plunged into the depths of the aquarium tank (inside a cage) as 300 of the remarkable creatures swarm around you for feeding time. You can also meet the aquarium’s resident crocodile, regarded as one of nature’s rarest phenomenon and one of the largest reptiles in the world at more than five metres long and 750kg in weight. If that’s a bit too big for you, you can marvel at the piranhas, crabs, water rats and the swarms of fish that inhabit the huge tank inside The Dubai Mall. The Underwater Zoo is also home to regular exhibitions including UAE’s Night Creatures, presenting the experience of nightfall in the desert and the animals that come to life under cover of darkness.
Open Sun-Wed 10am-10pm, Thu-Sat 10am-midnight. The Dubai Mall, thedubaiaquarium.com (800 38224).

Ski Dubai

That’s right – families can sign up to skiing and snowboarding lessons indoors in the desert. And while it’s unbearably hot outside, snow is in rich supply at the Middle East’s first indoor ski resort in the Middle East. This is a winter wonderland no matter how hot it is outside. Set foot in an incredible 3,000 square metres of real snow, featuring twin-tracked bobsled runs, tobogganing hills, a snow cavern filled with interactive experiences, and a chairlift from which you can take in a bird’s-eye view of the entire park. Little ones can even make friends with the resident penguins, if that’s their kind of thing.
Open daily 10am-1am. Mall of the Emirates, Al Barsha, skidxb.com (800 386).

The Green Planet

The indoor ecosystem offers guests opportunity to get up close and personal with over 3,000 exotic plants and animals. From witnessing a live feeding frenzy of more than 1,000 piranhas, snapping a picture with the sleepy sloths or holding the creepy crawlies to taking a journey down under at The Australian Walkabout there is something that will wow every member of the fam. Plus, there are loads of cool experiences you can sign up to including being a zookeeper for day. Kiddos can also experience an indoor thunderstorm or spend the night at the indoor biodome to experience what a jungle is like after dark.
Open Mon-Sat 10am-6pm. City Walk, Al Safa Street, thegreenplanetdubai.com (04 317 3999).

VR Park Dubai

This indoor virtual reality theme park in The Dubai Mall has loads of attractions some of which have multiple games inside, taking you to distant planets, the distant future and the not-so-distant world of a fully virtualised Dubai. It’s a place to go with friends and family, especially if you decide to take on The Walking Dead game that sees you having to shoot your way out of the show’s famous hospital to safety. Rides include the Burj Drop and Dubai Drone: full-size roller coasters sitting proudly within this 7,000 square metre arcade. There is also a soft play area for tiny tots and a brand-new trampoline park to try as well. Set aside a good few hours for this one, as you’ll want to savour it.
Open daily 1pm-10pm. The Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai, vrparkdubai.com (800 38224 6255).

Wavehouse

This one-stop fun factory in Palm Jumeirah’s Atlantis The Palm caters to kids, teens and adults and has been making a splash, ahem, ever since opening for business. With a licensed bowling alley, dozens of arcade games, air hockey, VR simulators, soft play zone, regular live music and a wave rider, Wavehouse blends grown-up time with family activities so that you can spend the day with the kiddies without jumping into a ball pit and is one of the city’s coolest indoor hangouts in the city. Plus, Wavehouse Restaurant serves up delicious eats for all-day dining (rainbow sliders, here we come), and it has a kids’ menu for hungry tots too. Little ones can tuck into the usual favourites, including margarita pizza and burger and chips.
Open daily noon-1am. The Avenues, Atlantis The Palm, Palm Jumeirah (04 426 1166).