Imagine waking up on a Saturday in Dubai, tossing your adult worries aside, and letting yourself rediscover that churning excitement you had way back when an ice-cream truck would roll into your street. Dubai is not just shopping malls and skyscrapers. Underneath the glitz and Instagrammable views are endless family-friendly activities built for real fun—no matter your age. Most folks move to Dubai thinking it’s all brunches and business. But once you scratch the surface, there are so many playful things to do in Dubai that you’ll feel like a big kid in the world’s shiniest playground. And honestly, you won’t even need an excuse—just some curiosity and maybe a little bit of sunblock.
Dive Into Childhood Nostalgia: Waterparks, Indoor Play, and Animal Encounters
If you ask any Dubai local or expat which place makes them grin just thinking about it, Aquaventure at Atlantis always gets a mention. Sure, it’s gigantic (over 105 slides, rides, and attractions!), but it’s more about how you feel: screaming over the Leap of Faith, floating along lazy rivers, or dodging waves with your family. Dubai isn’t short on waterparks—Wild Wadi near Jumeirah is another one people flock to, with its surfable wave pool and a view of the Burj Al Arab thrown in. What’s cool about Dubai’s waterparks is they’re about family, not just kids. They even have dedicated family zones, shaded picnic areas, and private cabanas.
If you’d rather not risk turning into a raisin under Dubai’s summer sun, the city has nailed the art of indoor fun. IMG Worlds of Adventure is massive, with 1.5 million square feet of indoor thrills (think: Marvel superheroes, Cartoon Network characters, and real dinosaur animatronics). Or maybe, you’ve always wondered what it feels like to ski in the desert? Ski Dubai sits smack in the middle of Mall of the Emirates, and once you slip into a parka and watch snowflakes fall indoors, it’s not hard to forget the heat pounding outside. Skiing, snowboarding, meeting penguins—Ski Dubai bridges that childlike line between the impossible and the "let’s try it!"
Animal encounters are huge for unleashing joy—ever had a giraffe nudge your hand for treats? The Dubai Safari Park combines entertainment with just enough education to feel nourishing without being a chore. The Lost Chambers Aquarium at Atlantis lets families wander winding tunnels and spot over 65,000 sea critters, including friendly rays you can pet. Green Planet—Dubai’s indoor tropical rainforest—has sloths, parrots, even a resident anteater. The best tip? Choose experiences that pull you into the action, like feeding sessions or interactive animal talks. That face-to-face moment with a curious lemur will stay with you far longer than any souvenir.
Check out this snapshot showing just how many options you really have in Dubai for reliving childhood adventures:
| Activity | Location | Indoor/Outdoor | Best for Ages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aquaventure Waterpark | Atlantis The Palm | Outdoor | 3-99 |
| Ski Dubai | Mall of the Emirates | Indoor | 4-99 |
| IMG Worlds of Adventure | City of Arabia | Indoor | 5-99 |
| Dubai Safari Park | Al Warqa | Outdoor | 3-99 |
| Green Planet | City Walk | Indoor | 3-99 |
| Wild Wadi Waterpark | Jumeirah | Outdoor | 2-99 |
You don't need an entire day to have a blast here—just a few hours in one of these places, and you’ll remember what it’s like to forget the clock entirely.
Adventure Awaits: Dubai’s Desert, Trampoline Parks, and Playgrounds
The desert isn’t just something you fly over on your way into Dubai. It’s the city’s wild, restless backyard, practically begging you to get your shoes dusty. Morning or sunset desert safaris are always a hit—bashing sand dunes in a 4x4, sandboarding down orange slopes, or bouncing on a camel’s back. What usually catches families by surprise, though, are the extras that come with a desert trip: falconry shows, majlis-style dinners, and hilarious drumming circles under the stars. Many tour companies—like Platinum Heritage—offer tailored family options where even little kids can enjoy falcon petting or gentle wildlife spotting walks that don’t drain their energy.
Maybe you want action, but with air conditioning and plush flooring. Bounce (in Al Quoz) and Trampo Extreme (with branches all over Dubai) are trampoline parks that turn any grown-up into a flip-happy kid. Better yet, you can challenge your kids to dodgeball, slam-dunk off springboards, or just flop into foam pits and not care who’s watching. Both places host family hours and parent-child classes, ditching the competitive edge for sheer silliness. There’s always someone trying a goofy new trick—often failing—which ends up being the best kind of memory.
Playgrounds get a serious upgrade in Dubai. Kite Beach pops up if you ask locals where to grab a beachside swing with the Burj Al Arab in the distance. Here, the playground isn’t just sand and swings—it’s climbing walls, ziplines, and a skatepark. Mushrif Park, set in real forest, has rope bridges and a miniature train. If you live for shade (who doesn’t in July?), go indoors. OliOli in Al Quoz is billed as a ‘play museum’ where families can build, splash, and get hands-on with science-y stuff. A great hack: many Dubai parks and beaches offer rentable cabanas or shaded picnic spots, so bring snacks and make a real day of it.
Still feeling shy? Take baby steps—join a Dubai Creek boat ride on an old-school abra, or try bike rentals at Al Qudra cycling track. Even window-shopping at Dubai Mall can feel like play, especially if you pitstop at the indoor waterfalls or the ice skating rink (yes, actual ice). The point: shake up your routine and you’ll find the hidden playgrounds stitched into every inch of the city.
Crafting, Cooking, and Cultural Discovery: Creative Ways to Play in Dubai
Rewinding to childhood doesn’t have to mean rides or slides. Sometimes it’s about getting messy, losing track of time, and letting pure creativity take over. Dubai’s got you covered if you gravitate to crafts, food, or new skills. For hands-on fun, Mattar Bin Lahej Gallery puts on art workshops for families—painting, clay, mixed media—where no one cares if you color outside the lines. Kids HQ and Canvas Artistry in JLT host regular parent-kid art jams, complete with easels, snacks, and music. The trick? Let yourself mess up. Most of these workshops encourage families to try something new every time, and you take the results home as fridge-worthy trophies.
Dubai loves good food, and plenty of places let families roll up their sleeves and get creative. Book a family cooking class at Mamalu Kitchen, where kids and adults crack, chop, and plate fuss-free meals (local favorites are chicken machboos or homemade luqaimat). SugarMoo puts on cupcake decorating sessions that are happily chaotic, and often end with sugar highs and lots of giggles. If you’re brave, try a chocolate-crafting masterclass at Mirzam Chocolate Makers—everyone goes home sticky, grinning, and with a box of surprisingly good chocolates to share (or not).
Cultural experiences add a different flavor to family play. Al Seef and Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood invite families to discover old Dubai—winding alleys, wind-tower houses, and museums where you can stamp your own replica coins or try on UAE national dress. The Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding hosts regular family brunches, during which Emirati hosts answer every curious question, serve traditional dishes, and spoil you with stories about Dubai’s real roots. Never tried Arabic calligraphy? Check out teen-friendly classes at Tashkeel or Jameel Arts Centre, where mistakes are part of the process.
Want your play to mean something? Volunteer together at Dubai Cares or take part in a family beach clean-up through Goumbook. It’s fun to break a sweat with your crew for a good cause, and you connect with the city in a whole new way. A favorite among Dubai families: buy a heap of seeds from Mercato Mall’s annual green fair, then plant them at home. It’s equal parts play and learning—and gives you something lovely to remember the day by.
Dubai isn’t short on brands or events that jump on the family-fun bandwagon. Every winter, Global Village (open October to April) becomes an open-air global fairground. For something cool year-round, Motiongate keeps everyone’s inner movie nerd buzzing with themed rides from Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, and The Hunger Games. There’s even a Legoland for kiddos and grown-ups with a soft spot for their childhood brick masterpieces. If you want a wild card, VR Park in Dubai Mall drops you into a world where you can freefall off the Burj Khalifa (virtually, of course) or float through space with your family right next to you.
No matter your age, family status, or background, living or holidaying in Dubai means never running out of reasons to play. Just pick any of these activities and you’re guaranteed to relive that magic of being a kid again. Why not give it a shot next weekend?
