We’ve already brought you our British Mums lists of camps and staycations for over the summer, but if you’re still looking for inspiration for things to do with the kids as the weather heats up, then look no further. If you’re staying in the UAE for the holidays, then check out our comprehensive list of some tried and tested indoor activities to keep the little ones (and the teenagers) entertained.
Motiongate Theme Park
For the coolest family day out this summer, head to MOTIONGATE™ Dubai where you can discover the magic of Hollywood through 4 exciting studio zones packed with rides and attractions for all ages! MOTIONGATE™ Dubai combines three of the most successful motion picture studios, Dreamworks Animation, Columbia Pictures and Lionsgate to provide a great range of rides based on some of our best loved family movies including The Hunger Games, Shrek, How to Train Your Dragon, Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda, to name but a few.
There really is something for everyone to enjoy so whether it be exploring the Smurf Village, experiencing the horror of Hotel Transylvania’s hotel for monsters, cooling off on the ‘Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs’ river expedition or meeting your favourite movie characters at the meet and greet sessions, each different studio zone offers something new and exciting to discover.
As part of the Coolest Summer Offer (Starts at AED 195), MOTIONGATE™ Dubai is giving away a trendy mist fan complimentary and a bottomless quencher to all those who buy this offer. The bottomless quencher can be refilled with handpicked soft drinks and ice tea throughout the day, at no extra cost, while the cool breeze from the mist fan is guaranteed to make the day as comfortable as possible for the guests as they enjoy the rides in the indoor zones.Throughout summer, MOTIONGATE™ Dubai will also be running an in-park hop-on/hop-off buggy service for only AED 20 per person for the entire day.
Age: Suitable for children aged 3+ years.
Location: Dubai Parks & Resorts.
How to book: Please call 800 AMAZING (2629464), visit the website or email AmazingService@DubaiParksandResorts.com. The Coolest Summer Offer is valid until 31st August 2021, with blackout dates from 16th-24th July. Please check all the t’s and c’s here before booking!
Street Maniax
Street Maniax A great space featuring apparatus and experiences to encourage children to let off a bit of steam. Where Parkour meets trampolines and assault courses, guaranteed to tire out even the most energetic of children. There are several different zones to try including a jump tower, zip line and even trampoline dodgeball for a true test of agility.
Age: Suitable for children aged 4-13 years, or anyone over 95cm.
Location: Al Quoz 3.
How to book: Please call 04 328 3522 to book your session.
Air Maniax
If your little ones have an abundance of energy, then Air Maniax offers the perfect solution. Set inside an impressive 15,000 square foot indoor arena, there are several zones for the kids to experience, from huge inflatables to warrior assault courses where their balance, strength, speed and agility will all be put to the test. This place really is one of a kind and offers some amazing apparatus and features never before seen in Dubai.
Age: Suitable for children aged 4-13 years, or anyone over 95cm.
Location: Al Quoz Industrial 1.
How to book: Please call 04 348 8981 to book your session.
NoWayOut Escape Games
For those with older children to occupy, escape rooms provides great solution. Get the old grey matter working and give NoWayOut Escape Games a try. With four different games to choose from; there’s The Ring, The Da Vinci, School of Magic and Maniac, each offer a completely different immersive experience where you’ll need to use your wits to find clues and solve riddles to escape.
Age: The Ring is recommended for 18+ years whilst The DaVinci, School of Magic and Maniac are for 13+ years. Under 12 years can play accompanied by an adult.
Location: Cluster M, JLT.
How to book: Bookings can be made online or by calling 055 929 6750.
Sweeties Culinary School for Kids at Mondoux
If you’ve got a budding little chef at home book them in to one of Mondoux’s culinary workshops where throughout the summer they can try their hand at making a different snack each week including cake pops, banana bread, snack bars or cinnamon rolls. In addition to a 1.5 hour chef supervised workshop each child will receive a Sweeties branded t-shirt and a kid’s meal, parents and carers will also receive 20% off their meal.
Age: Suitable for children aged 6-12 years.
Location: Mondoux, Dubai Creek Harbour.
How to book: Please call 050 142 0319.
The Green Planet
We absolutely love The Green Planet, as soon as you step through the door, you’re transported to a lush tropical rainforest complete with exotic flora and fauna and of course the most amazing animals. Wander around inside the huge bio dome underneath the forest canopy buzzing with wildlife, come face to face with some rather friendly birdlife, check out the Tamarin monkeys, Boa snakes and a real crowd pleaser – the resident sloth.
Age: Suitable for all ages.
Location: City Walk.
How to book: Bookings can be made through QiDZ for a great discount using code BMUMS or by calling 800 7699.
Roxy Cinemas
For an indoor treat the whole family will enjoy there’s nothing better than going to the movies together. Roxy Cinemas offer a real luxury experience with a choice of different packages to suit, including reclining leather armchairs and even gourmet meal options. There are several locations around Dubai to choose from so grab your popcorn and check out the latest blockbuster in style.
Age: Suitable for all ages.
Location: The Beach opposite JBR, City Walk, Box Park and La Mer.
How to book: Bookings can be made online.
woo-hoo!
It doesn’t matter how many times you visit woo-hoo! you’ll always discover something new. There are over 10 galleries filled with 50 interactive exhibits all of which give kids the opportunity to exercise their fundamental skills in critical thinking, problem solving and gross motor development among others. Dig for dinosaur bones or lose yourself in the maze you can even grab a bite to eat at their lovely café and make a full day of it.
Age: Suitable for children aged 0-12 years.
Location: Al Quoz 1.
How to book: Please call 800 966 466 or visit the website.
Switch Bowling
This Italian designed bowling alley is so cool, and we don’t just mean from the AC. The industrial design and state of the art technology offer the perfect venue for a day out of the heat. As well as bowling lanes, Switch Bowling has 6 billiards tables and karaoke rooms too and if you’re feeling peckish after all of that they’ve a great restaurant serving a range of freshly made dishes.
Age: Suitable for ages 3+
Location: Ibn Battuta Mall.
How to book: Please call 04 440 5961 or visit the website.
The Rain Room
If you’re missing the drizzle or odd rain shower that the UK usually offers over the summer, then get yourself down to The Rain Room at Sharjah Art Foundation. This incredible installation allows you to walk through a continuous torrential downpour but don’t worry you don’t have to wear your wellies as the responsive environment detects your movement preventing you from getting wet.
Age: Suitable for all ages.
Location: Sharjah Art Foundation, Sharjah.
How to book: Please call 06 561 0095 or visit the website.
TEP Factor
For an exciting team adventure experience head to TEP factor. Set in the caves of JBR there are 21 challenges designed to test your patience, fitness, logic and skill. Work together in teams of 2-6 players and choose your difficulty level for each challenge as you go. Expect rushes of adrenaline, hours of laughter and memories to last you a lifetime.
Age: Suitable for children aged 8+ years.
Location: Bahar Plaza, JBR.
How to book: Please call 056 404 0802 or visit the website.
OliOli
A firm favourite with adults and children alike, OliOli children’s museum was designed for families to come together to discover hands-on activities to inspire positive play. There are 8 interactive areas to explore with the water gallery and future park being our top picks. You can construct your own vehicle and put it to the test on ramps and jumps, make your own fort or den and climb and swing through the giant Toshi’s net.
Age: Suitable for all ages.
Location: Al Quoz 1.
How to book: Please call 04 702 7300 or visit the website.
KidZania
This is such a great and unique experience for the children to enjoy. A perfectly scaled down replica of a real city, KidZania is packed with over 40 role-playing activities where they can learn about jobs, money and the real world whilst developing life skills as they go. There’s everything from a hospital, bank and department store to a McDonalds and Pizza Express where they can don their chefs hats and flip their own burger or create their own pizza.
Age: Suitable for all ages.
Location: Level 2, Dubai Mall.
How to book: Please call 8003 8224 6255 or visit the website.
The Lost Chambers at Atlantis
An underwater wonderland, The Lost Chambers Aquarium based inside The Atlantis resort is the UAE’s largest aquarium and boasts over 65,000 marine animals who swim in the Ambassador Lagoon, including sharks, rays and colourful fish of all varieties. There are 21 exhibits to explore and mysteries of the deep to discover.
Age: Suitable for all ages.
Location: Atlantis The Palm.
How to book: Please call 04 426 2000 or visit the website.
3D Blacklight Minigolf
This is minigolf with a twist. 3D Blacklight Minigolf transports you to a unique indoor minigolf setting where the floor, walls and ceilings of the entire course are decorated with bright and colourful images hand painted by the world’s best 3D artists. Pop on your 3D specs and be completely immersed as you play through several different themed rooms.
Age: Suitable for all ages.
Location: Bahar Plaza, JBR.
How to book: Please call 04 565 7621 or visit the website.
Little Explorers
With three different zones designed to encourage hands-on play Little Explorers is a great place to escape the sun. Blast off on an adventure into the cosmos in the space zone, develop hand-eye co-ordination, balance and reactions in the play zone and splash around in the water zone. What’s more is that they have the option to leave your little ones there as part of their Drop & Play package.
Age: Suitable for children aged 3+ years.
Location: City Centre Mirdif.
How to book: Please call 04 231 6285 or visit the website.
Bricobilandia
Do you have a big Lego fan at home? If so, Bricobilandia is such a great way to enjoy creating and playing without the expense of buying all sets yourself. They have a fantastic range of different themed sets to play with including Lego City and Lego Friends plus there’s even Duplo for younger fans. There’s the option to create a Lego picture, participate in quests and attend Lego making masterclasses too.
Age: Suitable for children aged 3+ years.
Location: Nakheel Mall, Palm Jumeirah.
How to book: Please call 056 231 1551 or visit the website.
Ski Dubai
Did you know it’s possible to find snow in the desert? Well at Ski Dubai you can enjoy a winter wonderland in the middle of summer. Play in the snow, meet the penguins, learn to ski or watch a movie at the snow cinema the choice is up to you. We love the snow park rides and the zorb ball for some frosty fun.
Age: Suitable for children aged 2+ years.
Location: Mall of the Emirates.
How to book: Please call 04 800 386 or visit the website.
Dreamscape
This is an experience like no other. Step into a virtual reality world where anything is possible and you are part of the story. For an incredible immersive experience head to Dreamscape and choose from a variety of adventures including an alien zoo encounter, a deep- sea mission or the curse of the lost pearl.
Age: Suitable for children aged 10+ years or 48 inches tall, under 13 year olds can be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Location: Mall of the Emirates.
How to book: Please call 04 220 0995 or visit the website.
iFly Dubai
Ever dreamt of being able to fly? With iFly Dubai you can experience the thrill of skydiving, indoors. There are different packages to choose from so whether you’re a complete beginner and would like to learn the basics or more experienced and want to work on your flying technique simply choose the one for you and enjoy the free-fall thrill.
Age: Suitable for children aged 3+ years.
Location: City Centre Mirdif.
How to book: Please call 04 231 6292 or visit the website.
Dubai Butterfly Garden
Home to more than 15,000 beautiful butterflies, Dubai Butterfly Garden is a true hidden gem. There are ten custom built domes to explore filled with 50 varieties of butterfly. They’re such friendly little things and will happily settle on you as you wander around the indoor gardens. There is the opportunity to see how butterflies evolve through each stage which is absolutely fascinating to see.
Age: Suitable for all ages.
Location: Al Barsha South 3, next to Dubai Miracle Garden.
How to book: Please call 04 422 8902 or visit the website.
Jumeirah Mosque Tour
As part of their ‘open doors, open minds’ programme, Jumeirah Mosque is one of just two mosques in Dubai to have opened their doors to non-Muslims to educate and answer any questions you might have about Muslim culture and religion. This is a great activity to do with the whole family plus in addition to a tour and presentation there’s also the opportunity to enjoy light Emirati refreshments at the Majlis.
Age: Suitable for all ages.
Location: Jumeirah Beach Road.
How to book: Please call 04 353 6666 or visit the website.
Arabia’s Wildlife Centre
If you want to get up close and personal with some of the UAE’s indigenous animals and birds then take a trip to Arabia’s Wildlife Centre with its reptile and insect house, aviary, nocturnal house and section devoted to carnivores and primates including Arabian Leopards, Cheetahs and Baboons. It’s lovely and refreshing to see all of the animals within their natural environment and learn more about conserving the environment for the survival of these animals and more.
Age: Suitable for all ages.
Location: Sharjah Desert Park, Sharjah.
How to book: Please call 06 531 1999 or visit the website.
IMG Worlds of Adventure
Dubbed as Dubai’s largest indoor theme park, IMG Worlds of Adventure has several different areas to explore and enjoy. Be transformed into Iron Man in the Marvel area, spot roaming dinosaurs in the Lost Valley and catch up with your favourite Cartoon Network characters. There’s even a Novo cinema if you wanted to catch the latest blockbuster.
Age: Suitable for all ages but height restrictions apply for some rides.
Location: Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311) – next to Global Village.
How to book: Please call 60 050 0962 or visit the website.
The Jam Jar
This amazing community arts space is the perfect antidote to screens and offers a calm environment to explore arts and crafts. During the summer break, The Jam Jar are offering a great programme of activities for the kids, working with various art techniques and mediums they will have the opportunity to try lots of different projects based on some of our best loved artists.
Age: Suitable for children aged 4-10 years.
Location: Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz 1.
How to book: Please call 04 341 7303 or visit the website.
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