As summer vacations begin, no one wants to hear the most dreaded phrase “I am bored, mamaa” or even worse, do not want to go under house arrest with children at home. We have collected a list of the fun places to take children. On our list we have water parks, theme p arks, museums, indoor fun activities that your kids will love and not only that, all these things will also keep them away from the biggest devil-the iPad.
Aquaventure At Atlantis The Palm
Aquaventure is one of the largest water parks in Dubai and features some iconic water rides and attractions. The major attraction is the ‘Leap of Faith’ with the highest fear factor radar, a 27.5-metre drop that carries you through a clear tube surrounded by sharks. Other attractions include private beaches, marine sports, a ton of other water slides and children’s play areas for all ages. www.atlantisthepalm.com
Summer Stories Camp At British Orchard Nursery
This summer little campers at British Orchard Nurseries will get fun characters through award-winning author Julia Donaldson's nine popular rhyming stories. Besides non-stop fun, inspiring storytelling, and imaginative and creative activities, the 9-week camp will focus on integrating the award winning curricular concepts of the nursery chain with a story each week discovering its central theme though various activities as the children meet interesting characters. The summer camp for children aged between one and four starts from 30 June and runs until 29 August. Fees start from Dhs 650 and vary across branches. The camp timings are Sunday to Thursday from 8am to 2pm (half day camp) or from 8am to 6pm (full day camp). www.britishorchardnursery.com
Bounce Trampoline Park
Bounce is the biggest trampoline and entertainment park in the Middle East. With more than 80 interconnected trampolines, you can literally fly through the air and bounce off the walls. Featuring a Free Running Arena, Flight Academy, Big Bag and the Wall, the trampoline activities are suitable for all ages and abilities. Entry starts from Dhs 85 for jumpers over 110cm in height and Dhs 75 for jumpers under 110cm in height. www.bounce.ae
Dreamland Aqua Park
Located in Umm Al Quwain, Dreamland Aqua Park is one of the largest family water parks in the region with 250,000sqm of landscaped gardens, over 30 thrilling rides, crazy slides, mini zoo, overnight camping, a tennis court, group and birthday packages available at your favourite restaurants. It is the perfect retreat for the entire family. Entry starts from Dhs 160 for adults and Dhs 100 for children, prices are VAT excluded.
www.dreamlanduae.com
Dubai Ice Rink At The Dubai Mall
The Dubai Ice Rink is the perfect place for ice skating enthusiasts as well as aspiring ones. The Olympic sized ice rink is famous among residents and visitors alike as it offers so many options from disco ice skating to a family dj party, snowfall skating, basic skating lessons to ice hockey lessons. www.dubaiicerink.com
Fabyland
Fabyland is in Dubai Festival City with an array of amusement rides, attractions and games to play on with friends and family. Offering the latest technology across 75,000 sq ft, the entertainment centre has 15 major rides, a MyTown area for kids to play and learn and more than 100 game machines, making it one of the largest family entertainment centre in UAE for children aged three and up. Special packages are offered for birthday parties. www.fabyland.ae
Hub Zero
Located in the heart of City Walk, Hub Zero is a bit of dream zone for gaming lovers. In a moment, it transports you to a world that combines the virtual world with attractive rides. There are a total of 18 exhilarating attractions and rides split into various zones. From the basics like Pac-Man and old-school pinball machines, to virtual reality games using innovative technology, it has everything an amateur to growing gamer can wish for. 4D cinemas with special effects such as leg tickles, water spritzers and seat vibrations make any movie just extra special. Aimed at visitors aged ten and up, it’s great for everyone whether or not you’re a seasoned gamer. Entry starts from Dhs 100. www.hubzerodubai.com
IMG Worlds Of Adventure
IMG Worlds of Adventure promises guests a remarkable immersive indoor theme park experience, bringing together the best international and local interactive entertainment and globally recognised characters and Super Heroes. At the park there are four unique worlds all under one roof, Cartoon Network and Marvel as well as the IMG Group’s original concept the Lost Valley-Dinosaur Adventure joined together by IMG Boulevard. The multi-billion dollar project is fully indoors and comprises four zones including 25 original retail concept stores, 28 immersive f and b outlets, and the largest IMAX screen. Tickets are currently available for online purchase on the website. www.IMGworlds.com
Kidzania
At Kidzania, located in The Dubai Mall children work, play, and conquer the world like bosses as they enter into a world run only by kids Made-up of more than 80 role-playing activities and over 60 city establishments, kids are able to build essential real-life skills. Kidzania has its own airport and kids need to show their boarding pass (entry ticket) to enter, they have their own currency- the kidzania. As they go further, they can see buildings, banks, cities where they can become anyone-doctors, firemen, police officers and can change their careers anytime. In all, it’s a great role-play concept and kids have a gala time while there. Entry starts from Dhs 185. dubai.kidzania.com
LEGOLAND Water Park
LEGOLAND Water Park has been uniquely designed specifically for kids aged 2 to 12 and their families. At this LEGO themed water park, children can take on the Joker Soaker, build their very own LEGO raft and float around the lazy river, go on a splash safari or slip and slide down one of the many attractions. With 20 water slides and attractions, it is an awesome family experience. Entry starts at Dhs 295. www.legoland.com
Modhesh World
Modhesh World, at Halls 3 to 7 of the Dubai World Trade Centre is the free-to-enter family-centric hub and home of Dubai’s summer mascot Modhesh. Activities include a wide array of games, thrilling rides, shows, adventure-oriented activities, interactive workshops, various themed zones such as The Wheels Zone with bungee trampoline, ice rink and Drift Bike; Little Adventure Zone with carousel, teacups, bumper cars and mirror house; and much more. It is the ideal place for kids to get curious and creative in a fun way, allowing them to play and meet new friends all summer long. The festival ends on 17 August. www.ModheshWorld.com
Motiongate Dubai
Located at Dubai Parks and Resorts, Motiongate Dubai is the biggest Hollywood-inspired theme park that brings together the major motion picture studios: DreamWorks Animation, Sony Pictures Studios, Columbia and Lionsgate for the first time in a theme park environment. You will find a total of 27 rides and attractions that will walk you into the reel life of famous Hollywood characters. Some of the themes include Ghostbusters, Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, Smurfs and The Hunger Games, including a dance performance by Step Up. Entry starts at Dhs 245. www.motiongatedubai.com
Museum Of Illusion
Located near the iconic Dubai Creek, the Museum of Illusions boasts the largest collection of optical illusions in the Museum of Illusions’ worldwide portfolio. Housing 80 exhibits of all shapes and sizes, the Dubai museum surprises visitors in a unique visual and sensory experience. The venue features a Vortex Tunnel, a rotating cylinder that tricks the brain into thinking the ground under their feet is shifting, as well as the Ames Room, where guests shrink or grow depending on their position in the exhibit and a lot. In brief, it is a great place where you can have and teach your kids some important science lessons without making them hate science. Entry starts from Dhs 70 for adults and Dhs 50 for children. www.museumofillusions.ae
OliOli
OliOli is one of the most fun and educational activity centres in Dubai. With eight galleries featuring more than 40 ingeniously interactive exhibits, the centre strongly backs up its reputation. Each installation is designed to maximise fun, whilst nurturing a child’s natural curiosity, and putting joy into learning. The galleries of OliOli each have their own experiential themes, from the pneumatically-propelled rockets of the Air Gallery to the giant vortexes and plastic ball-firing cannons of The Water Gallery. For under two's, there’s a toddler gallery where they can play safe. Standard prices for OliOli are Dhs 126 per child (ages 2 to 18), Dhs 63 per child under 2, and Dhs 42 per adult. www.olioli.ae
Ski Dubai
Ski Dubai is a winter wonderland boasting a 400m ski run with five multi-directional slopes, purpose built jumps and a snowboarding park. If you're looking to hit the piste, improve your skills, tobogganing or just rolling around in the snow, Ski Dubai has it all. Off the slopes why not check out the mind blowing snow park or meet and play with Ski Dubai's resident Snow Penguins! For an added thrill try the new Snow Bullet, a state of the art 150m zip line that propels you over the mountain-themed slopes below. Tickets start from
Dhs 190 for adults and Dhs 170 for children. www.skidxb.com
Splash 'n' Party
The venue’s spacious outdoors splash pad area, complete with pools, water slides, water guns and bouncy castle , all under the shade, have been designed to keep thrill seekers as cool as possible during the hotter months. Splash ‘n’ Party also boasts a superb array of onsite, indoors-based kids’ activities, from arts and crafts, pizza and cupcake making classes, face painting, to live entertainment, music and fancy dress-up. What’s more, the juice bar serves a healthy and delicious range of zesty beverages guaranteed to quench the thirst and refresh the mood ready for more fun. The fun children place has two outlets one in Jumeriah and the brand new one on Kite Beach. Entry starts from Dhs 100. www.splashnparty.ae
The Green Planet
The Green Planet is the region’s only standalone educational and recreational bio-dome, featuring over 3,000 stunning plants and animals. Visitors are greeted at the ‘Flooded Forest’ for a first look of the extraordinary forest floor, complete with a giant aquarium filled with species such as arapaima, arowana and graceful stingrays. From majestic South American toucans and crocodile lizards to pre-hensile tailed porcupines. The Green Planet is a must visit experience for nature lovers and those looking to escape the hustle and
bustle of city life for a short while. Tickets start from Dhs 99. www.thegreenplanetdubai.com
Wild Wadi
Situated in front of the stunning Burj Al Arab and themed around the tale of Juha, a well-known character from Arabian folklore, Wild Wadi is one of Dubai's foremost tourist locations. Discover your inner child on the master blaster - an exhilarating water roller-coaster ride, while Tantrum Alley and Burj Surj will push thrill seekers' to the limit. Those brave enough to conquer the Jumeirah Sceirah, will climb to a height of 32 metres and be released through a trap door, rapidly descending down the 120 metre slide at an astonishing speed of over 80 km/h! Open from 10am to 8pm, admission is Dhs 299 for adults and Dhs 249 for children below 1.1 metres in height. www.wildwadi.com