Every time we look at our news feeds it seems another action-packed venue is opening in Dubai and with the cooler weather now upon us (hurrah!), what better opportunity to get the family out around town and have some new “only in Dubai” experiences.

Here’s some of the best British Mums have found to add to your agenda this winter:

The Green Planet 

Part of the new City Walk phase II, take a walk through this amazing bio-dome based on a South American tropical forest.  It is home to over 3,000 plants and animals as well as the world’s largest indoor, man-made tree (because we it must have the world’s biggest something to stand out in Dubai, right?!).  Designed to be an educational experience there’s something in it for all age groups (recommended for 3 – 14 year olds) with hands-on experiences to draw your little ones closer to nature and understanding how an ecosystem works. The dome is best explored following the spiral staircase up four floors from underwater to the tree top canopy, or your adventurous ones can try the rope bridges and explore the treehouse.

Getting there & cost: Junction Al Wasl & Al Safa Rd – accessible from E11 Sheikh Zayed Rd Exit D71. Open Sat-Wed 10am-10pm; Thu-Fri 10am-12am. Adults 95dhs; Children 2-12 years 70dhs; under 2 free. Allow 1-2 hours.

IMG Worlds of Adventure 

The world’s largest indoor theme park (another record, there we go again!) opened its doors to the public in August this year. Made up of four zones: Marvel, Cartoon Network, Lost Valley and their very own IMG Boulevard you can expect thrill rides, interactive attractions and stage shows – all in air-conditioned comfort of course! A 12-screen Novo Cinema will also be part of the complex including shopping opportunities a plenty and restaurants. Be warned though, there aren’t many rides for the junior crowd, however, those over 120cm can expect plenty of thrills.

Getting there & cost: On the E311 just beyond Global Village. Open Sun-Wed 11am-9pm; Thu-Sat 11am-10pm. Adults 300dhs, children’s tickets based on height – under 120cm 250dhs; under 1.05cm free.  Plan a full day to take in all the rides. Please bear in mind that there is nothing for children under 1.05cm so it might be worth going with a group so you can take it in turns to do the rides and look after the little ones.

Legoland Dubai

The first of the new Dubai Parks & Resorts theme parks is finally open! This one is targeted very specifically at the younger audience 2-12 years.  Be captivated by the incredibly detailed scale model city of Dubai and many Middle Eastern landmarks in Miniland before splitting into 4 zones: Lego City (driving schools, airport, rescue academy), Kingdoms (the Dragon Coaster is a must for moderate thrill seekers), Imagination (Duplo Valley, then let your little builders go crazy), finishing with Adventure (take on the Lost Kingdom, or a Submarine Adventure).  In due course the Legoland Water Park will open right next door to guarantee a full day’s entertainment in all weather conditions (many of the attractions and rides, including 4D movies and Ninjago stage show are indoors).

Getting there & cost: On the E11 half way to Abu Dhabi, take the newly sign posted exit for Dubai Parks & Resorts / Dubai Outlet Village. Open 10am-6pm daily. Entry 295dhs over 12’s; 2-12 years 250dhs; under 2’s free. Allow a good 4-6 hours, plus time to explore Riverland entertainment and restaurants connecting the parks.

Still to come this winter 2016-2017

We await further news of the exact opening dates of the MotionGate and Bollywood theme parks, as well as the Lego Water Park at Dubai Parks & Resorts – the shops, restaurants and entertainment in Riverland are progressively opening.

The Dubai Safari Zoo in Al Warqa (opposite Dragon Mart) has an end 2016 target opening date, along with the much anticipated 11km long Palm Jumeriah Boardwalk entertainment district – stayed tuned for promising news on these family-friendly venues.

And some old favourites that return for winter, bigger and better every year:

Global Village

Celebrating its 21st season, this outdoor international extravaganza showcases food, shopping and cultural experiences from over 75 countries.  A combination of pavilions, stage & street shows and a fun fair zone make this a great family outing – though be warned weekends can be extremely busy! New pavilions this year include Algeria, the Far East (Philippines, Indonesia, Japan & South Korea) and Eastern Europe (Serbia, Romania and Ukraine).  A great way to experience different cultures without leaving the comfort of Dubai!

Getting there & cost: Exit 37, E311 (Opposite Arabian Ranches). Open daily until 8 April 2017. Sat-Wed 4pm-12am; Thu-Fri 4pm-1am; Mondays ladies’ day. Entry tickets 15dhs at the door (2 and under fee).

Ripe Market

Far more than just fresh fruit and veg, Ripe Markets have become a family event in themselves with live entertainment and show casting local artists and home grown businesses.  There are three regular fixtures now across Dubai plus frequent pop up events – choose from Zabeel Park Gate 2 (Fridays 9am – 3pm), Al Barsha Pond Park (Saturdays 3pm – 9pm) and Le Meridien Mina Seyahi (Wednesdays 2pm – 9pm).

I guess the only question is do you have enough free weekends now to fit it all in? Have you discovered any great new family days out in Dubai?

If you’d like to blog for British Mums please email blog@britishmums.com – We’d love to hear from you!