Enjoy a family movie night
Reel Cinemas has opened a brand-spanking-new drive-in cinema in Dubai Hills Estate with an emphasis on family-friendly movies. Tickets are priced at Dhs170 per car of up to four people, with one cheese popcorn, one salt popcorn, one regular nachos, two chocolates, two soft drinks and two bottles of water included in the price. As for the current line-up of big family-friendly blockbusters, one screening will take place each night, with each movie starting at 8pm.
Dhs170 per car (up to four people). Daily 8pm onwards. Dubai Hills Estate, www.reelcinemas.ae.
Go wild at Museum of Illusions Dubai
Grab the gang (and your cameras) and head over to the wackiest museum in Dubai that will turn you upside down – or make you look like you will. The Museum of Illusions has cut its prices to celebrate going back to school, with prices for adults at Dhs65 and Dhs60 for kids. Even better, it’s buy one, get one free for all little ones. And, for the little ones below five, they get to boggle their minds completely for free. Now with over 80 attractions and puzzles to check out, take a snap of the little ones, who will look as though they are stuck to the wall, bigger than they actually are or have their head floating on the table, and let them shock their friends with the photo. The mind boggles.
Dhs65 (adults), Dhs60 (kids), free (kids below five). Until Wed Sep 30. Open Sun-Wed 10am-10pm, Thu-Sat noon-10pm. Al Seef, Bur Dubai, www.museumofillusions.ae (04 357 3999).
Have a family daycation at Bab Al Shams
Take a trip to this luxury desert resort for a pool day offer to make the most of the stunning infinity pool. From Dhs175 for adults and Dhs125 for the little ones, you’ll get complete access to the resort’s three temperature-controlled swimming pools, along with a lap pool, relaxation pool to soak up all that sun, along with a pool for the little ones to splash around in. Add on a sundowner package for Dhs175 to enjoy sipping on chilled drinks while you watch that beautiful Dubai desert sunset. Relaxation at its peak.
Dhs175 (adults, Sun-Thu), Dhs125 (kids aged six-12, Sun-Thu), Dhs350 (adults, Fri-Sat), Dhs250 (kids aged six-12, Fri-Sat). Daily 9am-6pm. Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa, Al Qudra, www.babalshams.com (04 809 6167).
Head on an evening desert safari with Arabian Tours Dubai
If you’ve come to Dubai and haven’t taken the family on a desert safari, have you really lived in Dubai? No matter, as Arabian Tours Dubai is making the experience more affordable than ever. Priced at Dhs99 for adults and Dhs85 for kids, expect to drive through the desert (dune bashing, no less) in a 4×4, go sand boarding, ride a camel, see a belly dancing and fire show, drink some traditional Arabic coffee and tuck into a buffet dinner and barbecue. The safari is set in the evening, so don’t forget to get that sunset shot for the photo albums.
Dhs99 (adults), Dhs85 (kids). Call for pick-up destination, www.arabiantoursdubai.ae (05 575 11892).
Kayak and learn at Louvre Abu Dhabi
While Louvre Abu Dhabi is a hot pot of learning and fun for inquisitive little minds, it’s also a spot for the whole family to go kayaking – what better way to explore the whole museum? Families can hop in a kayak for two (or one if you can man your own) and explore Louvre Abu Dhabi’s architecture all from the Arabian Sea. Tours last an hour, and you can paddle through the evening or, for the early birds, at sun rise on Fridays and Saturdays at 6am. Don’t fret, it’s an easy-breezy kind of kayaking tour.
Dhs126 per person (ages six and above). Tue-Sun, 5pm, 6pm and 7pm; Fri-Sat 6.30am. Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, www.louvreabudhabi.ae (600 565 566).
Scale to new heights at CLYMB Abu Dhabi
If you’re ticking off a list of your little one’s accomplishments (and your very own), head to CLYMB Abu Dhabi so you can say you’ve skydived in world’s biggest indoor skydiving flight chamber and climbed the world’s tallest indoor climbing wall. There’s a range of experience levels for both attractions, from first-time flyers to experienced climbers, and if the kids want to try their hand at both, the CLYMB combo package is what you’re after. For Dhs315, get an hour on the three climbing walls, two indoor skydiving experiences along with all the gear and equipment. Get going, high-flyers.
From Dhs120 (climbing), From Dhs235 (skydiving), Dhs315 (combo). Ongoing. Sun-Thu noon-9pm, Fri and Sat noon-11pm. Yas Island www.clymbabudhabi.com (600 511 115).
Splash around at Aquaventure
The waterpark at Atlantis The Palm has 50 percent off entry. Day passes to Aquaventure now start at Dhs149 for adult and Dhs129 for kids. That’s a full day to slip and slide down 30 rides and slides for all ages. Better yet, add an additional Dhs20 to your ticket and explore Dubai’s largest aquarium filled without all kinds of critters from the ocean. You can also get 50 percent off Dolphin Bay, Sea Lion Point, The Lost Chambers Aquarium and dive experiences. That’s another day of fun, sorted.
From Dhs149 (adults), Dhs129 (kids below 1.2m). Open Wed-Mon, 10am-6.3pm. Atlantis The Palm, Palm Jumeirah, www.atlantis.com.
Take on the rides at IMG Worlds of Adventure with pay-as-you-go rates
Dubai’s IMG Worlds of Adventure has reopened, and if you and your little ones already know exactly what rides to go on, the massive entertainment hub is now offering access to its rides on a pay-as-you-go basis. Visitors to one of the world’s largest indoor theme parks will need to pay a Dhs20 entry fee online, but from there on each ride is priced at Dhs25 a go. The new pricing covers all attractions within the park. But if you prefer to pay one price and access everything, the current UAE Resident Offer includes unlimited rides access for Dhs195 per person.
Pay-as-you-go entry Dhs20, and then Dhs25 per ride. UAE residents day pass Dhs199. General day pass Dhs299. Ongoing. IMG Worlds of Adventure, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, imgworlds.com.
Visit the reopened BOUNCE-X
The world’s first freestyle terrain park has reopened its doors in Dubai Festival City, and that means plenty of jumping around that the whole family can enjoy (although, let the little ones burn themselves out first). BOUNCE-X is made up of loads of adventure-challenge obstacles, which are connected across two levels into one giant adrenaline playground and are sure to keep you entertained and active. Plus, buy your tickets online to get a discount. Don’t want to pass up an easy deal like that.
Open daily 10am-10pm. Dubai Festival City, www.bounce.ae.
