Grab the kids and celebrate UAE National Day in style with these fun family things to do.
Create some sweet treats at White and the Bear
Little bakers can have fun decorating their own National Day deserts. Head to White and the Bear where tiny tots can use the four colours of the UAE flag to decorate cookies and to bake a cake. The National Day Design Your Own Cookie Kit will be available from Thursday November 28 to Mon December 2, for Dhs38, while the 60-minute cake building workshop will available during the same time period for Dhs240.
Dhs38 (cookie decorating), Dhs240 (cake building). Thu Nov 28-MonDec 2. Jumeirah, www.whiteandthebear.com (04 339 5911).
Enjoy a special offer at Dubai Parks & Resorts
Listen up little thrill-seekers because Dubai Parks & Resorts is commemorating the 48th UAE National Day with a superb offer. For every ticket bought for either MOTIONGATE Dubai, LEGOLAND Water Park or LEGOLAND Dubai, you’ll get up to three tickets for Dhs48.
Madagascar Mad Pursuit here we come.
Dhs275 (full price ticket), Dhs48 (each additional ticket up to a total of three tickets). Dubai Parks & Resorts, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, www.dubaiparksandresorts.com (800 262 9464).
Get arty at OliOli
Edutainment centre OliOli is celebrating the spirit of tolerance and togetherness this UAE National Day by inviting families to the play museum between Friday December 29 and Tuesday December 3, where they can contribute to an interactive art exhibition, that will be made using pieces of string.
Parents and their children will be asked a series of questions about where they are from and their favourite things about the UAE. The answers will then be matched with a piece of string on the installation. As more pieces of string, and more information, are added, the UAE flag will gradually be revealed.
A special family pass is available throughout the National Day celebrations that means 25 percent off the usual rates.
How ready are you for an art attack? How long is a piece of string?
From Dhs299 (family of four). Fri Dec 29- Tue Dec 3, daily 9am-9pm. Al Quoz 1, www.olioli.ae/nationalday (04 702 7300).
Get wet at Yas Waterworld
Let the little ones have a splashtastic time this National Day at Yas Waterworld, which is hosting the emirates biggest water battle on Monday December 2 by challenging everyone in the capital to a massive water fight. On the day water pistols will be handed out to people in the park on a first come first served basis.
If you’re one of the lucky ones you can take aim, soak everyone in your path and have a great time. The event starts at 11.48am (which is a very specific time) in the Awaji Wave Pool at the centre of the attraction.
Dhs250 (adults), Dhs210 (children). Mon Dec 2, 10am-6pm (opening hours), 11.48am (start time). Yas Waterworld, Yas Island www.yaswaterworld.com
Have a wild day out at Emirates Park Zoo
Animal lovers can go meet the giraffes, birds and sea lions – amongst other cute and fluffies – at Emirates Park Zoo for less over the National Day weekend. A special Animaltastic pass is 20 percent off the usual price between Sat Nov 30 and Thu Dec 5, and gives you full day access to the zoo, plus grass bundles to feed the residents. You’ll also get to take part in five activities – Sea Lion Sensation, Trunk Time, Brilliant Birds, Zoo Zip & Climb and Formula Z. The family pass is also discounted, giving a family of up to five people 28 percent off the same activities.
Dhs99 (usual price of the Animaltastic pass), Dhs450 (usual price of the Animaltastic family pass). www.emiratesparkzooandresort.com (02 501 0000).
Immerse yourself in the Emirati Culture at JBR The Walk
JBR is going all out for National Day with a series of themed cultural events for all the family to enjoy. Expect traditional Ayala dance performances and opportunities to have a selfie with a falcon. Plus, get the little ones names penned on a scroll by the expert hand of a traditional calligrapher and sample some Arabic coffee in one of the various Majilis areas dotted along the promenade – and all surrounded by the red, white, green and black of the 1,000 UAE flags and other Arabic decorations.
Free. Mon Dec 2, from 6.30pm. The Walk, JBR, Dubai.
Indulge in a sweet treat at Scoopi Café
Kick off your National Day celebrations with ice cream at the Dubai-born Scoopi Café where kids under 12 will be treated to mini scoops of their favourite frozen desert for just Dhs5. The offer is on at both the Dubai and the Ras Al Khaimah joints on Monday December 2.
But that’s not all. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, try the special National Day ice creams, which represent all four colours of the UAE flag. You’ve got strawberry sorbet for red, classic Madagascar vanilla for white, pistachio for green and lemon and blueberry charcoal for black, plus you can throw them all in together to create a special National Day sundae for Dhs40.
I scream, you scream, we all scream for National Day ice cream.
From Dhs5 (kids mini scoops for kids 12 and under). Jumeirah 3 and Minsk Street, RAK, www.scoopicafe.com.
Kids eat free at Freddy’s
From Friday November 29 until Tuesday December 3, kids can eat absolutely free at fifties-style diner, Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers.
To celebrate National Day little ones eat on the house when mum or dad orders a tasty combo meal.
Enjoy a fun family meal out, while keeping the cost down as you choose from a burger, hot dog, chick-en tender or grilled cheese sandwich, all accompanied by fries and a soft drink.
Wallet-friendly savings to make the whole fam happy.
Fri Dec 29- Tue Dec 3. Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai and Mall of the Emirates.
Make the Burj Khalifa out of LEGO
Just in time for UAE National Day, the Burj Khalifa LEGO set is making a return. To commemorate the 48th National Day, little ones over the age of 12 will be able to build the iconic tower out of bricks.
There are a whopping 333 LEGO elements needed to pull the tallest tower in the world together in all its 3D glory. The return of the set is also timely given the Burj Khalifa is a decade old in January 2020.
Unleash your inner masterbuilder on Dubai’s most famous landmark.
Dhs175. Available at all LEGO stores across the UAE including Mall of the Emirates, Dubai and Yas Mall, Abu Dhabi, www.lego.com.
Treat yourself at Brownie Point
Between Friday November 29 and Tuesday December 3 pick up a super cute, UAE flag-themed cupcake at Brownie Point. Little ones with a sweet tooth (that’ll be most of them then) will love the red, black, white and green iced baked goods, which starts from Dhs14. Alternatively, keep the kids mess-free with a cute cake in a jar – with layers the colours of the UAE flag.
Dhs14 (cupcakes), Dhs21 (jar cakes). Fri Nov 29-Tue Dec 3. Various locations across Dubai including Deira and Al Barsha, www.browniepointuae.com (04 379 6213).
Watch the fireworks at Yas Marina
Grab the gang and head to Yas Marina where a huge fireworks display and a classic car parade are taking place on Monday December 2.
The free event will also include a number of attractions and plenty of entertainment including live music, UAE car displays, roaming entertainers, ayalla dancers and a host of food and beverage stalls.
Artwork created by students from across Abu Dhabi will also be on display on the day at Abu Dhabi Hill with the Heritage Village to celebrate inspired by National Day. A host of traditional games and and activities will also be available alongside the art to celebrate the culture and heritage of the UAE.
Fireworks will then light up the sky at 9pm on the day.
Time for some ‘ooohing’ and ‘aaahing’. We can’t wait.
Free. Mon Dec 2, from 3pm. Yas Marina Circuit, Yas Island.
