Best Summer Activities for Kids, Sharjah, Dubai
It’s hot, the kids are bored and there’s a long summer still ahead of us. What to do? Now that many of the Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted, the answer is – quite a lot! Below we have listed our favourite family days out across Sharjah and Dubai. We’ve tried to include options to suit every pocket!
Before heading off on a day out, it’s worth noting the general safety precautions that should be in place, pretty much wherever you visit this summer:
• Social distancing – 2m between individuals, 2m between groups
• Cleaning – facilities should be kept clean and equipment sanitised frequently
• Hand sanitiser must be available in common areas
• Temperature screening – on entry
• Masks are mandatory
With that in mind, here are our top tips for some happy summer activities:
Cruise Dubai Creek on The Black Pearl
Ahoy there! One for Pirates of the Caribbean fans, this incredibly realistic looking pirate ship offers Dubai Creek tours hourly from 10am – 6pm each day. Tickets are a very reasonable 30dhs per person, with the boat setting sail from the Emaar Pavilion at Dubai Creek. We recommend the 5pm slot to avoid the heat and to catch a beautiful Dubai sunset.
Call 0529024506 or visit www.tour-dubai.com for more information (note: price is subject to change).
Air Maniax, Al Quoz
Billed as the “UAE's Largest ever Indoor Inflatable Park”, Air Maniax is a huge facility filled with giant bouncy slides, play areas and obstacle courses. The park has a separate toddler play area and a great café where parents can sit and watch their children while enjoying a coffee. There’s also a zip wire for older kids and adults who are brave enough to take the challenge and a fantastic laser tag arena!
Full Day pass is 249 AED, check the website for promotions and deals. www.airmaniax.com
Café Ceramique, Jumeirah
A place for a quiet activity! Café Ceramique is situated in Jumeirah 1 and can be described as part café, part artists studio. Budding artists will enjoy the chance to paint their own crockery item and have it fired in the kiln as a lasting memory of the day.
Visit www.cafeceramique.ae to make a reservation.
Bounce-X at Festival City
Kids love to bounce so we had to include a trampoline park in this list! New to Dubai Festival City mall is the latest branch of Bounce (other branches in Al Quoz, Al Ain and Abu Dhabi). Bounce-X is the flagship branch for the brand and includes a freestyle terrain park, parkour elements, ninja courses as well as freestyle trampolining. A fantastic place for kids with tons of energy to burn!
A one hour pass starts from 80 AED, visit www.bounce.ae for more information.
The Green Planet, City Walk, Al Wasl
A perfect antidote to the heat of summer in the city, The Green Planet is a giant indoor ‘vertical rainforest’. Highlights include meeting a sloth or a lizard as well as watching piranhas swim by. Passionate eco-warriors will enjoy the chance to be a ‘zookeeper’ for the day.
Tickets start from 110 AED, visit www.thegreenplanetdubai.com for more information.
The Dubai Mall Ice Rink
The perfect place to cool off this summer, the Dubai Mall Ice Rink is an ideal opportunity for parents to combine some retail therapy with a day out for the kids! Little skaters can hold steady using a 'penguin' to lean on, while the more adventurous can learn to skate with experienced coaches.
Prices from 70 AED, visit www.dubaiicerink.com for more information.
Play Point Dubai
A cosy play space for younger children, Play Point Dubai is situated in The Sustainable City making it a great spot to team with a visit to one of the fantastic local coffee shops. Park amusement park, part soft play centre, Play Point also offers arts and crafts activities.
Tickets are often on offer via Groupon.ae or Cobone.com - visit www.facebook.com/playpointme for more information.
Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark
Voted Dubai’s No 1 water park, Atlantis has a huge amount to see and do for children and adults alike. UAE Residents can avail of a bargain summer pass at just 399 AED for adults and 299 AED for children for an amazing 90 day period. Recommended!
For more information on the Atlantis Season pass, click here www.atlantis.com
Sharjah Aquarium
Many UAE residents won’t yet know that there is a fantastic aquarium in Sharjah, offering tickets at a fraction of the costs of the the other UAE options. This 6500 sqm facility has a good variety of things to see and a great café to relax in afterwards. The aquarium sits nexts to Sharjah Martime Museum, which will interest adults and older children alike.
Tickets 15 AED per child, 25 AED per adult, visit www.sharjahmuseums.ae
Sharjah Classic Car Museum
One for little petrol heads! Sharjah Classic Cars Museum displays a collection of vintage classic cars of different brands dating back to the early 20th century, in addition to classic motorcycles and bicycles. Tha oldest car in the museum dates back to 1915.
Tickets are a bargain at 5 AED for children over 2, and 10 AED for adults www.sharjahmuseums.ae
Arabia's Wildlife Center
Situated on the Al Dhaid Road, just a 45 minute drive from Dubai, is this hidden gem of a wildlife centre. With indoor viewing throughout, this is one animal park that is suitable for a family visit in the heat of a Dubai summer. With a diverse range of animals, from the Arabian Leopard to Oryx and local bird life, there is plenty to see for all age groups.
Children under 12 – free, 12-adult – 5aed, adults 10 AED, www.epaasjh.ae
Ski Dubai
A stalwart on the Dubai fun-days-out scene, Ski Dubai is a brilliant place to forget that it's 45c outside. Whether it's playing in the snow park, meeting the penguins or learning to ski, kids of all ages and abilities will find something (chilly!) to do.
Snow Park tickets start from 190 AED, www.skidxb.com
What are your favourite days out with kids? Email [email protected] to share your ideas...
