Dubai is a certified playground for adults with trendy restaurants, fun nightlife, epic music festivals and fabulous shopping. But what about things to do in Dubai with kids? Thanks to an array of family-friendly attractions, the fun and games extend to little ones too. Whether you’re a lifelong Dubai resident dreading restless children bored every weekend by our endless summer, So much so that it’s been difficult limiting this list to a tight 10 kid-friendly activities ranging from museums to theme parks and immersive worlds. Get ready to bond with the brood!
1. Kidzania
This Dubai Mall attraction is a scaled-down indoor city built for all the big little people who can’t wait to grow up and go to work. This real-world replica takes pretend-play to a whole new level with functioning hospitals, fire stations, a TV studio, and more where kids can roleplay different careers, learn about how the economy works, and manage money all while developing their creativity and problem-solving skills. Edutainment at its best. Get tickets here
2. Wild Wadi Waterpark
What little kid doesn’t like splashing around in water? Situated conveniently next to the Burj Al Arab and Jumeirah Beach Hotel, this themed outdoor waterpark is inspired by Arabic folklore character Juha and his adventures. Thrillingly steep 32-metre-long slides, winding lazy rivers and the Middle East’s largest wave pool are just a handful of the attractions here. What really gives this destination a family-friendly stamp of approval is the fact that even babies and toddlers can get into the temperature-controlled waters here. Snap up tickets here
3. The Green Planet
‘Babe in the Woods’ gets literal at this feat of engineering in City Walk – four layers of tropical rainforests recreated inside a biodome, in a desert city. Populated by 3,000 plants, birds and animal species – including sloths and anacondas – exotic macaws will fly over your heads as you walk through tree canopies on rope bridges and a verdant forest floor where waterfalls gush and critters roam freely. Overnight camping, feeding sessions and guided tours let kids (and you) learn about nature, climate change and sustainability in an interactive hands-on manner that no encyclopedias can match. Infants and kids under two enter for free.
4. AYA Universe
This digital entertainment park inside Wafi Mall is a visually spectacular, immersive experience that’s perfect for kids, and grown-ups who are a kid at heart. Or love a good photo-op. Themed around the story of an undiscovered ‘beautiful new universe’ in outer space, 12 rooms are designed with LED lights, infinite lights motion-detecting sensors, and other cutting-edge tech that create gravity-defying waterfalls, bioluminescent gardens and responds to the presence of people. Find more details here.
5. OliOli
Al Quoz’s industrial warehouses are deceptive delights of hidden bakeries, cute galleries, indoor scuba diving, courtyard spaces and more. Hidden amidst them is this innovative award-winning children’s play museum. Interactive exhibits created by artists and developmental psychologists to boost the imagination and curiosity of kids aged 2-11 years line eight themed galleries. Highlights include Toshi Nets – a colourful woven trampoline, a Water Gallery to explode cannon balls, building hovercrafts in the Air Gallery to understand the physics of flight and more.
6. Neon Galaxy
After giving us the world’s largest bouncy castle in 2023, Riverland has hit out of the park again with this space-themed play world full of flashing lights and fluorescent colours. The multilevel play area features ninja courses, rope climbing, LED strip-lit slides that feel like you’re zooming through hyperspace, and a wipe-out challenge to help both kids and young teens burn off excess energy. While the kids zoom around like rockets, parents can drop anchors at the indoor cafe and relax.
7. Aventura Parks
Rising from the centre of Mushrif Park’s ghaf tree forest is this outdoor adventure park’s rope courses, spider nets, wobble bridges, zip lines part of 80 obstacles divided into 5 circuit-style courses. Not just the cheeky monkey in the family, but the entire family can unleash their inner Tarzan and tree surf. While thrill-seeking teens and parents skim tree tops, younger tots can stay firmly on the ground at a dedicated kids’ play area with a petting zoo, splash zone and treehouse.
8. Museum of Illusions
Al Seef’s quaint heritage-style alleys always dazzle and mesmerize little kids. However, nothing compares to the mind-boggling tricks and optical illusions here that are guaranteed to elicit squeals of laughter and wonder. Easy to cover in an hour, the small space is jam-packed with 60 exhibits and installations such as tilted rooms that make you appear upside-down, vortex tunnels that trick your mind into feeling the ground is moving, immersive infinity mirror rooms that question perception, etc. Plus, the friendly staff assist with snapping surreal pics of illusions. Get tickets here
9. Bounce Trampoline Park
Even a small step turns into a giant leap at Dubai’s largest freestyle trampoline park in Al Quoz. Adults and kids – big and small – can jump, summersault, flip and bounce around the 3,000 sq metres of interconnected trampolines. Padded surfaces, inflatable airbags and floor mats ensure injury-free soft landings. While teens perfect stunts and flips at The Wall and toddlers go wild at MiniBounce, grownups can sign up for Bounce Fit classes. The Slam Dunk and dodgeball courts are great for high-octane family games.
10. Tr88house
This indoor entertainment and dining hub in Bluewaters promises a tree-mendous good time for the whole family. Designed to resemble an imaginary forest, the nature-themed complex features a trampoline park, a soft play area with ball pits and mazes for little ones called Munchkin Monster, a jungle-themed neon laser tag area and glow-in-the-dark mini golf. A food hall packs in an array of restaurants and cafes such as Burger8 and Coffeelicious to fuel up at after all that excitement turns the brood hungry.