If you are staying in Dubai for even part of the summer it can be hard to find things to do with the kids that don’t involve you being outside…melting! Here’s our top 12 indoor activities to keep your little ones busy!
Bounce
Attention adrenaline hunters! Bounce has launched its X-Park Adventure Challenge Course. The ultimate adrenaline-packed experience is suitable for all ages and abilities. X-Park Adventure Challenge Course is a free-style playground incorporating 20 different elements giving you the most addictive adrenaline rush around. With the addition of parkour, that has been designed to provide challenge and diversity, hardcore free-running masters can push their physical limits, whilst first-timers can master the basics with a choice of wacky obstacles.
www.bounce.ae
The Green Planet
Check out the Amazon rainforest in the middle of Dubai at City Walk. The Green Planet will introduce your little ones to over 3,000 species of plants, birds, snakes and spiders as well as their much-loved resident sloth. There’s a giant treehouse in the middle with rope bridges to cross, a snake that likes to be stroked, and the tons of informed animal experts happy to share their knowledge.
www.thegreenplanetdubai.com
Orbi
Try Dubai’s latest wildlife attraction at Magic Planet, Mirdif City Centre. Although there’s no actual greenery here, the kiddiwinks will get closer to the wild as this indoor nature experience fuses BBC Earth’s world-leading nature content with SEGA’s cutting edge technology. The result is the most awe-inspiring experience for the whole family. Featuring a custom-built theatre which tackles all the senses (complete with smells and wind effects), Orbi transforms you to places around the world that you may never otherwise get the chance to see. From gorillas in Uganda to elephants in South Africa plus rainforests, deserts, mountains and oceans - Orbi is all about uncovering some of the mysteries of nature by seeing the planet in a whole new way. www.orbidubai.com
Adventure HQ
This indoor climbing centre will stop you climbing the walls, and the kids climbing the furniture! It’s suitable for all ages - toddlers right up to the big ones, so if you have multiple age groups and abilities to consider this one is for you. There’s even a ground-level rope track for children who aren’t quite big enough or brave enough to hit the heights. www.adventurehq.ae
Little Explorers
The perfect mix of fun and education from the ages of two to seven. This little sanctuary is where fun, safety and learning are the motto, Little Explorers delivers an environment where your children can acquire knowledge through playing and understanding through exploration. There’s five different learning zones for them to discover. Located in Midriff City Centre and Dubai Marina Mall.
www.theplaymania.com/little-explorers
The Butterfly Garden
Offering a fantastical and colourful respite from the city’s summer heat is The Butterfly Garden. Entering the lush, jungle-like interior of the Dubai Butterfly Garden is like stepping into another world. Butterflies of all sizes daintily float by, while other, even more brightly coloured specimens gently come to rest on your head, shoulders and hands. Protected from the heat the world’s largest indoor collection of butterflies is enclosed in the cool of nine space-like greenhouse domes, with each colourful beauty fluttering freely. www.dubaibutterflygarden.com
Flip Out
Tire them out at Flip Out! The world’s largest trampoline centre is running summer camps from ages 5 to 15 on a drop in or pre-booked basis. With structured activities planned for each individual age group. Located in Al Quoz. www.flipout.ae
Ski Dubai
This one will keep them cool! At Ski Dubai they can ski, snowboard, toboggan and Dubai’s most well-known residents; the Snow Penguins. Located in Mall of the Emirates. www.theplaymania.com/skidubai
Cloud 7
This Level Kids concession offers children one of four creative activities (cake decorating, candle making, soap making and ceramic painting) as well as access to their wall puzzle, building bricks and vieo simulation games afterwards. Parents can either stay or go so you have the time for a spot of shopping. Located at City Walk. www.citywalk.ae/en/Play/Cloud
Turtle feeding
Every Wednesday at 11am during the summer, the little ones can feed the turtles being rehabilitated at the Jumeirah Al Naseem Hotel. The turtle enclosure is open to the public every day of the week, but Wednesdays are the only day your kids can get a hands-on experience. www.jumeirah.com
Children’s cinema
For cinema experiences designed especially for the little one’s head to the coloured, comfy seats of the children’s cinema at the Mall of the Emirates. www.voxcinemas.com
Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo
Don’t forget about the 10-million litre Dubai Aquarium tank, located on the Ground Level of Dubai Mall, and the largest suspended aquariums in the world. It houses thousands of aquatic animals, comprising over 140 species. Over 300 sharks and rays live in this tank, including the largest collection of Sand Tiger sharks in the world. There lots ways for kids the experience the main tank and zoo this summer. www.thedubaiaquarium.com
