With the new school year just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to pack in a little more family fun. Many attractions are still running summer specials, and the city is packed with activities to keep the kids entertained before they head back to class.
From adrenaline-filled waterparks to hands-on experiences and all-weather activities, here are some of the best ways to give your kids an adventure to remember before the school bell rings.
The Messi Experience
As one of the greatest footballers of all time, Lionel Messi has plenty to celebrate in his illustrious career. Now, you can step into his world at this limited-time attraction. Nine themed zones combine interactive games, stories, and displays, each taking you deeper into the moments that shaped the sporting icon’s career. Kids can enjoy special fan zones, Messi-themed food, and exclusive merchandise available only here.
Dubai Festival City Mall.
House of Hype
This family-friendly hotspot offers an immersive experience, with each room filled with striking light displays and projections that span from floor-to-ceiling, providing guests with the perfect backdrop for Instagram-worthy snaps. There are 100 experiences to discover, making House of Hype a dream for content creators. Split into 18 themed worlds and 50 gaming zones, visitors can explore hidden rooms and secret doors to enjoy live shows and performances that will keep smiles going until next summer.
House of Hype, Level One, Chinatown, The Dubai Mall.
OliOli
The kids still have energy to burn off before the new school term begins, and OliOli, Dubai’s experiential play museum, is the ultimate spot to do it. With interactive zones like the Air Gallery, Water Gallery, and Future Park, children can build paper planes, launch rockets, shoot objects from wind cannons and much more. Designed for ages two to eleven, it’s a colourful, safe, and stimulating space where science meets play, sparking curiosity and creativity like nowhere else in Dubai.
OliOli, 64 A St, next to Oasis Mall, Al Quoz 1.
Aquaventure World
The new school year is almost here, making it the perfect time for one big adventure for the kids. No weekend in Dubai is complete without a trip to the world’s most famous waterpark. Aquaventure World is one of Dubai’s must-visit attractions, with over 105 slides and rides for the whole family to enjoy, including some of the highest and fastest in the world. When it’s time to slow the pace, you and the kids can relax on the iconic River Rapids and float the day away.
Atlantis The Palm, Crescent Road, Palm Jumeirah.
The Green Planet Dubai
This lush indoor rainforest is home to more than 3,000 species of animals, insects, and plants. From echidnas and armadillos to adorable sloths, every corner of the biodome is alive with wonder. Visitors can also spot the endangered doe-eyed slow loris, which rests in the trees. With so much to discover, it’s an experience that delights both adults and children.
City Walk, Al Wasl, Dubai.
Ready Set Go!
Soft play has never been this much fun, and with the new school term looming, now is the time to bring your kids to Ready Set Go, Dubai’s indoor jungle-themed playground. Bursting with things to do for kids of all ages, the wild climbing frames, foam cannons, rope bridges, and a variety of slides will have your little ones buzzing with excitement. There’s even a dedicated space for toddlers to enjoy while the older kids run wild!
Al Quoz 3, Al Ghurair Warehouse Complex.
Madame Tussauds
Everyone loves meeting a celebrity, and Dubai is home to over 60 international superstars that the whole family can snap a selfie with. Madame Tussauds rolls out the red carpet for visitors with its iconic waxworks, meticulously crafted to resemble some of the world’s most high-profile celebrities. It’s the ideal place to get a photo with Taylor Swift, Dwayne Johnson, George Clooney, Shah Rukh Khan, and many more. It’s also a great chance for your kids to meet their heroes and then tell all their classmates about it at school.
Bluewaters Mall, Bluewaters Island.
Wild Wadi Waterpark
There is still time to give your kids a day to remember before the school term kicks off, and Wild Wadi Waterpark is the ultimate choice for a splash-filled adventure. Alongside a lazy river and family-friendly attractions, there is a giant playground complete with a tipping bucket at Juha’s Dhow and Lagoon. Thrill-seekers can take on rides such as the gravity-defying Master Blaster, the adrenaline-pumping Tantrum Alley, and the Burj Surj giant rubber ring ride. Adults can also enjoy high-energy attractions including the Flood River Flyer and the towering Jumeirah Sceirah.
Jumeirah, opposite Burj Al Arab.
