Your go-to guide for family fun in the UAE
For kids, school holidays are peak living – essential respites from the relentless attempts of educators to stuff little brains full of life-sustaining, future-brightening knowledge. For parents, however, it’s more often a time of anxiety. Of peer pressure to be present, panic playdate scheduling, and chronic screen time guilt. Thankfully, the UAE has been very deliberate in curating its family-friendly activities. So much so that we’ve been able to run through the full alphabet of entertainment enticements for children, with precisely no mention of Robux, Brain Rot, or those infuriating *does hand gesture* two numbers. Giving the little ones a school holiday to remember this spring break? It’s as easy as A, B, C…
Here’s your A–Z guide to family fun in the UAE this spring break.
A is for… Aventura
Found amongst the emblematic ghaf trees of Mushrif Park, Aventura is a 35,000 sqm activity park that treats gravity with the high-handed contempt it deserves. Composed of circuit-style obstacles, elevated assault courses, a discovery playground with animal encounters, forest escape games and more than 24 ziplines, it’s a great way to get kids out in the fresh air, actively engaged and consequently nap-ready for the car journey home.
Activities from Dhs80. aventuraparks.com
B is for… Building confidence
One location that’s always found amongst our top picks for sneaking some covert STEM learning into the school break is OliOli. Inside the Al Quoz FunderDrome, you’ll find eight experiential galleries, each offering its own uniquely enthralling hands-on edutainment challenges. From building pneumatic rockets to diving into the fun side of fluid dynamics (sounds unlikely, we know, but true) and conducting an orchestra of holographic sea creatures – it’s a day of play that’s best suited to kids aged between two and six years old (though toddlers over 12 months have their own zone, and children up to 16 can enter the main galleries). Tickets from Dhs169. OliOli.ae
C is for… Camping in the desert
Core memories don’t have to be built out of extravagant gestures. Sometimes it’s as easy as loading up the car and heading for the dunes. For camping first-timers, and those without access to off-road vehicles, it makes sense to head for established, easily accessible sites. If you’re based in Dubai, the Al Qudra Lakes Campground ticks a lot of boxes. Wildlife (ducks and flamingos), scenic lakeside space for tent pitching, barbecue friendly sites, and it’s far enough away from city lights to do a spot of s’mores-fuelled cosmos gazing.
D is for… Dinosaurs
We’ve got yabbadabba-two dinosaur-themed adventures for you here. The first, fair trigger warning, does involve screens. Dinosaurs: The Immersive Odyssey at Dubai Festival City Mall, claims to reimagine Jurassic Park (though for its own sake, we presume sans the open-cage policy and resultant litigation) through a VR tour, an interactive science lab, and an invite to ‘meet life-sized’ dinos (Dhs59). There’s more raptor-charged rapture at Dubai Parks and Resorts, where T-Rex Glamping is now available. Safari-style tented accommodation is supplemented by visits from Triassic Megapoda and entry to the adjoining theme park of your choice (from Dhs959 per night). dinosaursodyssey.com, dubaiparksandresorts.com
Also read
51 fun indoor activities to keep the whole family entertained at home
E is for… Emirates Bio Farm
The real aura farming happens at Emirates Bio Farm. Just over an hour’s drive from Dubai, this Al Ain agri-entertainment centre manages to effortlessly thresh together children’s play zones, into-the-maize-field treks, mini train tours, insights into the operations of a modern organic farm, and the Farmer’s Table restaurant. Over Ramadan, they also hold daily iftars from sundown (adults Dhs180; children between three and 12, Dhs80). Your Instagram-ready checklist should include: kids sitting in the tractor, the famous hammock swing x sunflower field shot, and picking up fresh eggs from the farm store.
Dhs50, @emiratesbiofarm
F is for… Fossil Rock
If ancient geological structures that are free to visit and furnish the soul with a simultaneous sense of awe and significance are on your spring break bingo card, boy, do we have news for you. Fossil Rock is found in the Mleiha region of Sharjah (about an hour from Dubai) and contains stirring relics from a world 80 million years ago. There are hiking trails nearby for the compass-curious, and guided tours are available from the adjacent Mleiha Archaeological Centre.
G is for… Golf
We’ve got two well-above-par family-friendly golf options for you. First up, TopGolf at Emirates Golf Club is a driving range with a huge gamified difference. Here, mini McIlroys can hit, chip, whack and wallop a continuous stream of balls into neon-lit targets across a round of engaging game types. The next course is 3D Blacklight Minigolf on the JBR, basically the hole-y matrimony of crazy golf and 90s rave aesthetic. Putt your way through challenging obstacles and unforgiving tee-offs, all against the luminal hum of UV strip lighting. From Dhs160 per hour, per bay, topgolfdubai.ae.
From Dhs90 @3d_blacklight_minigolf_dubai
H is for… House of Hype
This Dubai Mall-based immersive wonder hub consists of 28 unique worlds, secret portals, dance performances, games, fever dream digital projections, ingenious puzzles and physical challenges. It’s like an architectural rendering of an ADHD brain with all the tabs open. Definitely worthy of the Hype.
Dhs149, house-of-hype.com
I is for… Indoor climbing
The traditional school syllabus is focused on getting the youth of today ready for the corporate world of tomorrow. It’s the job of parents to make sure they’re ready for all other eventualities. Like the Zombie Apocalypse. Obviously that’s not going to happen, but just in case you want to be extra-curricularly diligent – climbing is the number one zombie avoidance skill. You can practise (the most important form of) scaling at Adventure Zone by Adventure HQ (Times Square Centre and The Galleria Mall). There are options for caving, fun wall spider monkeying, rope routes, ninja courses and a pinnacle climb.
From Dhs79, @adventurehq
J is for… Jubail Mangrove Boardwalk
Sandwiched between two of Abu Dhabi’s most famous island idylls, Yas and Saadiyat, Jubail Island is a yawning stretch of verdant calm. Jubail Mangrove Park features a meandering 2.3km boardwalk that quite literally draws you right into nature. And there are plenty of ways to explore the capital’s serene green Everglades, including boardwalk yoga sessions (Dhs105) ranger-led guided tours (from Dhs40), kayaking (from Dhs110), and e-dragon boat excursions (from Dhs110).
Dhs10, jubailisland.ae
K is for… Khorfakkan
Khorfakkan, found along the picturesque eastern coast of the emirate, offers up a collection of attractions that blend culture and nature, alongside a dusting of artisanal farm-to-mouth grandeur. Like many of the UAE’s outdoorsy hot spots, trail-treading (along with biking and horse galloping) is chief amongst the recommended activities (check out Shees Park, and the Rabi Trail), but if little feet get too tired you could always head to the beach; make a trip to the ominous-sounding Shark Island. Too sharky? Attractive trip pivots are available at Al Rabi Tower, Al Rafisah Dam and the iconic amphitheatre for entertainment under the stars.
visitsharjah.com
L is for… LEGO
It may be celebrating its 96th birthday this year – but the fandom for the world’s least comfortable underfoot flooring shows no sign of waning. There are a few places in the UAE that offer opportunities to get your mitts on multi-coloured bricks with –addressing the huge block-built elephant in the room – Legoland probably being the most obvious and emphatically on-brand choice (from Dhs230). But if you fancy something a bit more low-key with a focus on DIY builds (and almost unlimited materials), Like Bricks has locations in malls across the UAE (from Dhs120). It’s an open call to Dubai’s skyscrapers-smiths of the future.
@legolanddubai, likebricks.com
M is for… Majlis story time
Pillow forts, but make them regionally appropriate. The majlis is a Middle Eastern institution, a safe space for sitting, hosting and entertaining, for doing business and holding court. You can build your homage to it, in your own home with nothing more than blankets and sofa cushions. Apologies if that slid into a spat of expat-splaining, but the core message is this: bedtime stories are always better in cosy nooks and illuminated by torchlight, so build your majlis, clamber in, and travel to worlds beyond the ordinary.
N is for… National Aquarium
Abu Dhabi’s The National Aquarium is the largest aquatic vivarium in the Middle East. It’s home to 46,000 creatures spread across ten experiential zones. It provides live encounters, aims to educate visitors on ecology and performs noble ‘rehabilitation and release’ conservation work for local wildlife. Interior highlights include the region’s longest underwater tunnel experience, tank-top glass-bottom boat tours, a National Geographic exhibit, and sharks, lots of sharks.
From Dhs110, @thenationalaq
O is for… ‘Owzat
Located within Megaplex Dubai, next to the Grand Hyatt Dubai, Tiger Strikes is a pay-per-play entertainment destination from Dubai Golf. Inside, a rich tapestry of competitive challenges and twinkling LEDs call for your attention. Earn your stripes and rack up strikes across six lanes of neon-lit bowling; or swing for slips-hit sixes with WIKIT, an impressive augmented reality cricket simulator featuring real-time immersive graphics feedback.
Activities priced separately from Dhs30. @tigerstrikes.dxb
P is for… Pew pew pew
Adventure has a new name in the UAE, or a new surname at least… Adventure Island at Bahar Plaza on the JBR has phasers set to stun, with its signature Laser Island experience. This is a rootin’, tootin’, pew pew-shootin’ version of laser tag, cast across an intersecting network of nooks and camping-friendly crannies. Groups of up to 24 can lock and load for a battle royale – running and gunning in just-for-fun free-for-alls or team-based firefights.
Priced from Dhs59. @adventure.island.ae
Q is for… Questions
If you’re a fan of the TV quiz show format, The Quiz Room located (almost too perfectly), in Al Quoz (Al Quiz?), might be the answer you’ve been looking for. Teams of one-to-18 players (aged eight and up) will be able to go head-to-head, and buzzer-to-buzzer in tests of trivia and musical knowledge. It’s been set up to simulate the quiz show experience, emphasising fun and the spirit of friendly competition. Not the spirit of flipping over the Trivial Pursuit board because “your questions were easier”. You know who you are.
Groups of three to six players Dhs120, @quiz_room_ae
R is for… Rain Room
Rain Room Sharjah is a permanent art installation that makes the enticing promise of allowing you to walk through the eye of a dimly lit storm, without the use of an umbrella, and yet somehow staying dry. Mostly. We experienced dribble quantities approximating an overstimulated Labrador on our visit. It’s not an all-day activity – but does provide a fun half-hour or so, and the cleverly curated staging is just perfect for snagging artsy profile snaps.
Dhs25 per ticket, rainroom.sharjahart.org
S is for… Sharjah Planetarium
The stars have aligned in Sharjah to offer a fascinating focus on the local and distant ends of our cosmic manor. Serving up educational exhibits, a collection of meteorites, laser shows, and dome-projected theatrics covering topics such as black holes and the birth of planet Earth – there’s more than enough awe to inspire any knee-high deGrasse-Tysons.
Adults from Dhs50, kids from Dhs25, saasst.ae
T is for… The Castle
Growing up in the 90s, getting locked in a room over the school break was a punishment. Today, escape rooms have turned it into a top tier leisure activity. And few places put together their extra-scholastic cerebral-gymnastic spaces quite as well as No Way Out. They’ve got locations across Dubai, and whilst – as with most escape rooms – a lot of their themed challenges are geared towards adults, the City Walk branch offers a special room that’s open to kids over 10 years old. The Castle feels loosely based around a sort of Game of Thrones saga, which charges players with tracking down a dragon egg and saving a kingdom from a despotic tyrant.
From Dhs160 per person, nowayout.ae
U is for… Umm Al Emarat Park
Manicured to perfection and full of thoroughly interesting attractions, Umm Al Emarat Park in Abu Dhabi is a wonderful space to roam, including a poignant memorial to the words of Sheikh Zayed, an animal barn with camels, goats, donkeys, a botanical garden, weekend market, falcon show and a seasonal outdoor cinema.
Dhs10, ummalemaratepark.ae
V is for… VR Park
There are some incredibly well-curated VR experiences in Abu Dhabi (our top pick is Pixoul) and Dubai, but if you’ve got a chronically online Fortnite fan in your family unit, or a relentless Roblox user, we have the perfect recommendation for you. Battleworld in Al Quoz lets gamers play out their FPS bouts in real-world three-dimensional space. So whilst it might still be screen-based, it’s social and it gets the litt’uns active. The VR Arena (available from Dhs99 per person) offers a virtual, team-centric, pain-free alternative to paintball. Winner winner, chicken dinner.
battleworld.ae
W is for… Waterpark
We really are spoiled for waterpark choice in the UAE. Yas Waterworld, Aquaventure, Wild Wadi, Jungle Bay and the new Grand Hyatt Dubai Waterpark are well worth the admission prices and each have their own unique ways of finesse flooding your nasal cavities, but don’t ever sleep on the OG. Umm Al Quwain’s Dreamland Aqua Park (adults from Dhs99, kids from Dhs49) comes touting an H2Over-indulgence of hydraulic frolics and retro rides. You can even camp next to the park. What it might lack in polish compared to its more modern regional counterparts, it makes up for in good old-fashioned, nod-and-go-down-the-slide, authentic adrenaline and lazy river fun.
dreamlanduae.com
X is for… XPark Jr
It’s our firm belief that young children should be encouraged to dabble in the occasional spot of outdoor ‘feral time’. Supervised feral time of course, which is largely (in the best possible way) the ethos behind XPark Jr – a place where kids truly can be kids. This little sister to the neighbouring adrenaline-spiking XPark, the Jr family member is all about muddy knees, leafy trees, dammed streams, wood forts, animal encounters and living free.
From Dhs80, xdubai.com
Y is for… Yalla Bowling
If bowling is right up your alley, get the fun times rolling at one of the two, audaciously wallet-friendly Yalla funtropolises. In the Mirdif City Centre location, players can strike it lucky in a game of traditional 10-pin bowling for just Dhs40 per frame. If you don’t fancy staying in your lane, it’s worth noting that both sites are attached to the enduringly popular arcade pull of Magic Planet.
magicplanetmena.com
Z is for… Zabeel Park picnic
If you go down to Zabeel Park today, you should probably bring supplies. If you go down to the park today you should be aware of its size (because at the equivalent area of 45 football fields, it’s massive). And every sport that ever there was, from jogging to mini-golf, cricket to lacrosse, is catered therein because this is the way residents like to enjoy their picnics. Ahem. You’ll also find barbecue facilities, live music, boat rides, food kiosks, and seasonal flea markets.
Dhs5, visitdubai.com
