Planning a day out with the family in the UAE? There’s absolutely loads to do, from action and adventure to waterparks, soft play, edutainment and more.
Here are 30 top activities and family-friendly days out to try in the UAE.
Action Park
This indoor and outdoor adventure park opened at the end of 2019 bringing with it the city’s second Smash Room and a super cool paintballing arena. This high-octane destination, which can be found at The Last Exit on the way to Abu Dhabi from Dubai, also features a converted, open-top London-style bus that serves up refreshing drinks and snacks.
The Last Exit, Sheikh Zayed Road, www.actionpark.ae (04 235 8893).
Air Maniax
This colourful, bouncy hangout is a huge hit with energetic kids. Spread over 23,000 sq ft, Air Maniax’s biggest zone is an inflatable arena for kids of all ages – and adults too. Older kids will love the challenging obstacle courses, the zip line and laser tag game, while the littlest bouncers have their own dedicated toddler area to go crazy in. The colour-coded, sensor-activated wristbands are an added bonus that allow competitive children to go up against each other to see who can get the highest scores.
Al Quoz 1, Dubai, www.airmaniax.com (04 348 8981).
Aquaventure Waterpark
This huge waterpark is splashing fun for all the family from the tiniest tots up to the biggest kids. There are so many cool rides offering varying levels of terror – we dare you to slide down the transparent tube surrounded by sharks – and there are shady spots to chill out in. The younger kids’ area allows little ones to roam around, as they make their way up, over and through the giant wet pirate ship and try to avoid the enormous bucket that dumps out water periodically.
Atlantis The Palm, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, www.atlantisthepalm.com (04 426 0000).
Aventura Parks
Encourage them to reach for the skies as they hit the tree tops for some fun climbing, balancing, tree-surfing and zip lining action in Mushrif Park. Let them get back to nature as they safely explore the tight-ropes and rope bridges suspended high above the ground in the branches of the lofty trees.
Mushrif Park, Gate 1, Dubai, www.aventuraparks.com (052 178 7616).
BOUNCE
There are heaps of activities on offer at this enormous indoor jumping arena. There is a free-jumping zone, dodgeball pit, stunt bag tramoline zone, slam dunk and a performance zone where you cantry wall-running tricks. X Park is a brilliant way to find your inner Spider Man and jump around its many obstacles and pipes to work up a sweat, from its spider wall to its climbing wall. Kids can unleash all their pent up energy in the parkour zone.
Times vary. Al Quoz, Dubai; Marina Mall, Abu Dhabi, www.bounce.ae.
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.
Various locations including J3 Mall, Dubai, www.cheekymonkeys.com (04 276 0011).
Dig It
A play space that’s based on a real-life construction site, kids can dig, move, tunnel, climb, build and create here. They can also drive a remote controlled truck, pilot a mechanical arm and even try out a full-size digger while building their skills.
The Springs Souk, Dubai, www.digitdubai.com (04 438 4479).
EKart Zabeel
The electric track is on the rooftop of The Dubai Mall Zabeel, and if you’re looking for karting in the open air, this is for you. Challenge your friends and family to see who has the superior driving skills, all with the stunning Dubai skyline in the background. EKart Zabeel is the UAE’s first high-end electric karting experience, providing super-fast fun. It’s also environmentally-friendly as there are no on-site emissions.
The Dubai Mall Zabeel, Downtown Dubai, www.ekartzabeel.ae.
Extreme Fun
This is a popular soft play hotspot not just with the little ones, 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.
Various locations including Motor City, Dubai, www.extremefun.ae (04 452 5543).
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi
Home to the world’s fastest rollercoaster, this huge theme park is a big hit with fans of fast cars, or thrill-seekers in general. The big attraction is Formula Rossa, which d reaches speeds of 240km an hour and heights of 52 metres, so you’ll get a great view of the island while you’re up there too. There are other adrenaline-fuelled rides, but if being twisted upside down and thrown along at high speeds isn’t really your thing, there are also loads of gentler rides, plus big displays showcasing Ferrari cars and explaining the history of the company.
Yas Island, Abu Dhabi (600 511 115).
IMG Worlds of Adventure
One of the biggest indoor theme park on the planet features three zones – The Marvel Zone for diddy superhero fans, The Lost Valley where you can spot a dinosaur or two and The Cartoon Network Zone where all your favourite, colourful characters like the Powerpuff Girls and Ben 10 are hanging out. Each zone houses a host of heart-pumping rides from white-knuckle rollercoasters to tamer rides.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, www.imgworlds.com (600 500 962).
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.
The Dubai Mall, Dubai; Yas Mall, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, www.kidzania.ae (800 3822 46255).
Laguna Waterpark
With four distinct zones, half a dozen standalone rides, flumes and slides, a lazy river, an infinity pool and the region’s first 180-degree surf park, Laguna has something for everyone.
La Mer, Jumeirah 1, Dubai, www.lagunawaterpark.com (800 637227).
LEGOLAND
The Legoland extravaganza at the city’s Dubai Parks and Resorts has successfully brought Lego to life with more than 40 rides, shows and attractions on six themed lands crammed with 15,000 Lego models and more than 60,000 Lego bricks. Start off at the factory where you’ll get a guided tour and find out how Lego bricks are made, before moving onto Lego City where you can learn to drive an electric car and fly a Lego plane. Plus there’s a Legoland hotel due to open soon for when you want to extend the fun.
Dubai Parks And Resorts, Jebel Ali, Dubai, www.legoland.com/dubai (04 820 0000).
LEGOLAND Water Park Dubai
Aqua fun for the whole family at this water park where the rides are great, the water is cold and the sun always shines. The Joker Soaker kids’ area has the perfect amount of tumbling buckets of water, water shooters and slides, the lazy river is a great way to chill out and stay cool and with 20 water slides throughout the park to enjoy, there is no excuse not to get wet.
Dubai Parks And Resorts, Jebel Ali, Dubai, www.legoland.com/dubai (04 820 3123).
Mattel Play! Town
A fun and colourful edutainment centre where loveable dinosaur Barney is a permanent fixture. Kids can meet Barney, go on an adventure with Thomas & Friends, be a hero with Fireman Sam, build their dream home with Bob the Builder and dance their little hearts out with Angelina Ballerina – and generally just have heaps of fun.
City Walk, Al Safa Street, Dubai, playtowndubai.com.
Motiongate
With two of the fastest rides in Dubai – The Madagascar Mad Pursuit and The Bullet Train – as well as plenty of less thrilling rides for younger theme parkgoers and an entire indoor area housing four themed zones – Kung Fu Panda, How to Train your Dragon, Shrek and Madagascar – there is something for everyone year round at this cool theme park. Plus there are two new rides coming in 2021, based on John Wick and Now You See Me, so sit tight and get ready for some exciting new adventures.
Dubai Parks and Resorts, Jebel Ali, Dubai, www.motiongatedubai.com (800 2629464).
Oli Oli
Passionate about positive play and the power of imagination, there are eight galleries and more than 40 exhibits inspired by the work of leading educators, artists and development psychologists. It’s an interactive adventure that stimulates a child’s body and mind.
Al Quoz 1, Dubai, www.olioli.ae (04 702 7300.)
Ripe Market
This seasonal, family-friendly al fresco market pops Is a top place for a day out, with loads crafts, food stands and more.
Academy Park, Umm Suqeim, www.ripeme.com (04 315 7000). Umm Al Emarat Park, Al Mushrif, www.ripeme.com.
Sky Zone
Sky Zone is an indoor trampoline park where little adrenaline junkies can work their way around the various areas that include a foam zone, dodgeball arena and zip line.
Ibn Battuta Mall, Dubai, www.skyzone.ae (800 759 9663).
The Arcade by Hub Zero
This fully immersive, virtual reality gaming park is located at Al Khawaneej. It offers more than 50 cool video games including artificial intelligence, virtual reality and motion capture options, all housed in a funky space where graffiti adorns the brick walls. Footy fans can show-off their skills on the Soccer star game, little superheroes can team up and battle against villains in Justice League, defending Gotham City as Batman and boy (and girl) racers can take the wheel in the popular Mario Kart. The hub also offers a trip down memory lane for mums and dads with retro games like Pacman and Space Invaders to bring on a sense of nostalgia.
Al Khawaneej Walk, Dubai, www.dxbvenues.com.
The Green Planet
Imagine a rainforest right in the heart of Dubai, with colourful flora and exotic birds, animals and insects all existing in an ecosystem expertly put together by botanists, zoologists and scientists – and you’ve got The Green Planet. The indoor bio-dome houses over 3,000 plants and animals including sloths, bats and snakes. Plus you can now even experience a tropical rainstorm, indoors, so prepare
to get wet.
City Walk, Al Safa Street, Dubai, www.thegreenplanetdubai.com.
VR Park
VR Park is home to a host of virtual reality games for kids of all ages, where they can challenge reality and learn at the same time. Among the 18 separate attractions (within which there can be multiple games) found inside VR Park, you’ll be taken to distant planets, the distant future and the not-so-distant world of a fully virtualised Dubai, in a series of games that have been specially designed with some of the world’s top VR production houses.
The Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai, www.vrparkdubai.com.
Wadi Adventure
Get ready to have a totally “oar-some” time at the UAE’s first-ever manmade whitewater rafting, kayaking, wakeboarding and surfing attraction – Wadi Adventure. The levels of fun will be turned up rapidly once you start navigating your way through crashing waves on an adrenaline-charged whitewater rafting experience at the base of Al Ain’s Jebel Hafeet, the second highest mountain in the UAE. All raft trips include a professional guide, a short briefing on the essentials, and all the safety equipment you could need. With that taken care of, all that’s left is to make an almighty splash.
Jebel Hafeet, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, www.wadiadventure.ae (03 781 8422).
Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi
This immersive indoor theme park has 29 rides all based around the most popular Warner Bros. stories. Kids will be in their element, and they’ll even be able to meet some of their favourite characters as you wander around the six different lands. This theme park is 1.53 million square feet of sheer pleasure, and some of the highlights include getting to chomp down on a Bronto burger in Fred Flintstone’s favourite diner, and exploring Gotham City with Batman in the Knight Flight ride.
Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, www.wbworldabudhabi.com.
Wavehouse
Wavehouse brings together live music, gaming, bowling, dining and a wave machine all in one place, giving you more options for those day-to-night outings with the brood. Located in The Avenues and overlooking Aquaventure Waterpark, it blends grown-up time with family activities so that you can spend the day with the kiddies without jumping into a ball pit. For youngsters and adults seeking a good strike, a four-lane, ten-pin bowling alley awaits complete with visual 3D mapping projections (and super plush couches).
The Avenues, Atlantis The Palm, Dubai, atlantisthepalm.com (04 426 2000).
We Rock The Spectrum
Providing safe sensory experiences, this kids’ gym is a real favourite for all the tribe. While it encourages open play, We Rock the Spectrum Kids’ Gym also offers arts and crafts classes for little creative kiddos to enjoy, as well as fitness and lab lessons for high-energy tots and inquisitive little minds.
Jumeirah Beach Road, Dubai, www.werockthespectrumdubai.com (04 343 2442).
Wild Wadi
With more than 30 rides, a wave simulator and lazy river, Dubai’s original waterpark has a lot going for it. The Wipeout and Riptide Flowriders offer the ultimate surfing experience, with the Wipeout shooting out more than seven tonnes of water per second in a thin sheet across a moulded foam structure, producing a realistic wave effect ideal for body-boarding and knee-boarding. It is also worth queuing up for the Burj Surj – two super-fast slides that casade down into a “bowl” – and Tantrum Alley – which contains three hair-raising “tornado” slides. But the park’s main attraction is the Jumeirah Sceirah, which has two 32 metre-high tandem slides and whizzes you downwards a speed of 80kph. Want to see the rides before you have a go? Visit youtube.com/timeoutgcc to see the Time Out team hurtling down the flumes.
Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Umm Suqeim, Dubai, www.jumeirah.com (04 348 4444).
Woo-hoo
This opened in late 2020 and is an edutainment museum aimed at kids up to the age of 12 and is a blend of education, discover, development and play across 10 themed galleries. Each gallery hosts cool interactive exhibits designed to spark children’s curiosity, imagination and innovation whilst delivering clear learning objec-tives (just don’t tell the little ones). Mums and dads haven’t been over-looked either and can get their caffeine fix courtesy of an on-site café called The Nest, while parents with tiny tots in tow will find nursing and changing rooms. In addition, there will be various extra activities laid for little ones includ-ing classes and camps, while there will be programnmes for parents to sign up to
as well.
Al Quoz www.woo-hoo.ae (800 966 466).
Yas Waterworld
Yas Waterworld boasts more than 40 slides, rides and attractions. A day here will have you sliding through a giant snake, plunging from the top of a mountain and screaming yourself hoarse on the Bandit Bomber rollercoaster. You can recover afterwards on one of the poolside sun loungers, and even have a go at surfing on the world’s largest sheet wave and watching a film in a 5D cinema. The only question you’ll have to ask is how much fun can you possible handle in one day?
Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, www.yaswaterworld.com (02 414 2000).
