Ten excellent family-friendly things to do in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi is a really easy place to keep the kids entertained as there are loads of things to do with the kids in the UAE capital.

And with so many family-friendly things to do in Abu Dhabi, there’s no reason for any child to ever be bored.

From theme parks and water slides to family-friendly staycations,  Abu Dhabi kids are incredibly lucky indeed when it comes to child-friendly activities in the emirate.

So keep this trusty list of ten family-friendly things to do in Abu Dhabi to hand and the next time your kid utters those shiver-inducing words, “I’m bored” your armed and ready to go.

Here they are… ten of the best, most brilliant, most boredom-busting things to do with the kids in Abu Dhabi. Enjoy.

Burn off energy at Action Zone

Looking for a fun day out that the whole gang will enjoy? As one of Abu Dhabi’s most fun-filled indoor play centres, with plenty of zones hosting different activities to suit different tastes, Action Zone should definitely be on your list of top family-friendly things to do in Abu Dhabi. 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. Bring on the weekend fun!
Daily 10am-11pm. Various locations in Abu Dhabi including Capital Mall and Boutik Mall, actionzoneuae.com (02 419 9000).

Enjoy some animal magic at Al Ain Zoo

Kids love animals? There are a few places in the capital where they can get up close to nature, but as far as animal-focused family-friendly things to do in Abu Dhabi go, Al Ain Zoo is a winner. This 52-year-old spacious animal park is the granddaddy of all animal attractions in the UAE. More than 4,300 animals call it home, including leopards, wolves, monkeys, lions, tigers, hippos, crocodiles, rhinos, gorillas and giraffes. Education and conservation programmes are central to the facility’s core beliefs and a high standard of care is apparent with animals having large spaces to themselves. As well as roaming around on foot, you can also head out on a safari drive (at the world’s largest man-made safari park), sit down for a talk (the new expansion includes the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre) and enjoy bespoke experiences such as giraffe feeding and birds of prey demonstrations.
From Dhs30 (per adult), Dhs10 (per child aged three to 12). Open daily 9am-8pm. Nahyan The First St, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, www.alainzoo.ae (800 966).

Fulfill your need for speed at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi

This massive attraction is a fantastic white-knuckle ride all-round and a perfect thing to do with the whole family in Abu Dhabi. The theme park boasts more than 20 rides and activities, but the one you will want to strap yourself into is the record-smashing Formula Rossa. It’s not for the fainthearted, however. There are heaps of less terrifying rides suitable for mini thrill-seekers such as the car carousel, driving school and an awesome super car museum – we can but dream as we gaze on the gorgeous motors – and the Family Zone is the perfect spot for the littlest thrill-seekers.
From Dhs230 (kids), Dhs295 (adults). Open daily 11am-8pm. Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, www.ferrariworldabudhabi.com (02 496 8000). Prices vary. Open Tue-Sat noon-8pm. Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, ferrariworldabudhabi.com (600 511115).

Immerse yourself in culture at Louvre Abu Dhabi

From super cool exhibitions to awesome holiday camps, the Louvre Abu Dhabi is a hot pot of learning and fun for inquisitive little minds. With its own museum dedicated to the youngest members of the family, there is always plenty going on to keep even the smallest of visitors entertained. The Children’s Museum hosts family-friendly experiences and workshops in both Arabic and English throughout the year, and the latest one to take residency is “A Costume Adventure” that is running until July 2020 – so catch it before it’s gone.
From Dhs30. Open Sat, Sun, Tue, Wed 10am-8pm; Thu-Fri 10am-10pm. Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, www.louvreabudhabi.ae (600 565 566).

Jump around at BOUNCE Abu Dhabi

Looking for fun things do with the kids this weekend? Kids who happen to have seemingly inexhaustible levels of energy even after a full week at school? There are heaps of activities on offer at BOUNCE Abu Dhabi 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. Kiddos can also 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. Marina Mall, Al Marina, Abu Dhabi, bounce.ae.

Make a splash at Yas Waterworld

Just like everything on Yas Island, Yas Waterworld makes families very happy indeed. From family-friendly theme parks to water parks the whole gang can enjoy. But we’re here to talk about slides rather than rides. Themed around an old Emirati legend, the park is divided into four thrill levels: Adrenaline Rush, Exciting Adventure, Moving and Grooving and, finally, Young Fun. Each zone caters to different age groups and with 40 slides there literally is something for everyone. The Tot’s Playground is ideal for parents of younger children as they can let them splash around safely in the shade. Best of all, a water park will keep boredom at bay year round so Yas Waterworld tops the list of family-friendly things to do in Abu Dhabi.
From Dhs250. Open daily 10am-5pm. Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, yaswaterworld.com (600 511 51).

Meet your favourite characters at Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi

The fun-filled indoor theme pack is probably one of Yas Island’s most popular attractions. The fun is split into six distinct zones – Bedrock, Warner Bros. Plaza, Metropolis, Gotham City, Cartoon Junction and Dynamite Gulch. You can’t help but be impressed by the grand scale of the 1.65 million-square-foot facility, the amazing theatrics, and the blockbuster rides which are set to make it a hit. But for us, the beauty is in the detail – you can tell that a lot of thought and effort has gone into bringing childhood favourites such as Bugs Bunny, Fred Flintstone and Batman to life.
Dhs295 (adults), Dhs230 (kids under 1.1m). Open daily noon-8pm. Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, wbworldabudhabi.com (600 511115).

Play at being a grown-up at KidZania

There’s just something fun 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 in the on-site shop. When it comes to family-friendly things to do in Abu Dhabi, you’ll find KidZania comes up trumps no matter how many times you visit.
Yas Mall, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, www.kidzania.ae (800 3822 46255).

Reach for the sky at CLYMB Abu Dhabi

Ready to reach some dizzy new heights? Kids can sign up to courses in both skydiving and climbing at CLYMB Abu Dhabi. If vertical excitement is their thing – and let’s face it most kids are known to climb on the furniture and throw themselves off kitchen counters – they can sign up to the UAE’s indoor adventure hub’s dedicated skydiving and climbing lessons, which we think is a pretty cool family-friendly thing to do in Abu Dhabi. Kids aged 14 and under can join the Kids the Junior Flying Club where they will learn some master skills in indoor skydiving. Little daredevils will be taught all the crucial skills needed to throw themselves out of a plane including techniques, positions and hand signals, from the basics to the more advanced moves, used to communicate while skydiving. Hearts in your throats much mums and dads? Each pass is valid for three months and offers 20 flights in total, with five flights per session. Aspiring climbers aged 14 and above can embark on their climbing journey by signing up for the hands-on bouldering and auto-belaying group courses.
For more information, visit www.clymbabudhabi.com.

Wander along the Corniche

Ask anyone in Abu Dhabi what the most beautiful corniche in the Middle East is and they will tell you it’s the one on their doorstep. There are lots of family-friendly things to do along the corniche. Opt for one of the lovely green parks dotted along the waterfront. Starting from the east side, near Sofitel Abu Dhabi, is Recreation Park. The biggest attraction is a large sun dial – always popular with curious little minds. Next along the road is Formal Park, which is actually a lot more fun than its name suggests. It has barbecue pits, badminton courts, a concrete maze (maybe ensure the kids have a GPS device before you send them in… Or not) and plenty of room to relax on the grass. At the end of the first stretch is Lake Park – with a 15m fountain and wooden bridges and walkways for little adventurers to explore. Further along towards A’l Bahar you’ll find even more grassy spaces, each with plenty to offer, including skate parks and splash facilities. So, even with little people who have short attention spans and get bored easily, you can make a day of trying out all the park options along the Corniche, winner.
Free. Off Corniche Road.

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