Fun Indoor Activities for Kids in Dubai

Dubai is a family-friendly city that offers countless opportunities for fun and adventure.

Even during the summer months, when the temperatures soar, there are lots of different ways to keep kids active, engaged, and entertained indoors. 

In this guide we dive into fun indoor activities for kids in Dubai, ideal for creating unforgettable family memories while on holiday. 

Dubai's indoor adventure playgrounds are ideal for families looking for fun, active entertainment in a safe, climate-controlled environment. These interactive playgrounds, combine play with learning and physical activity and offer kids engaging challenges and new experiences.

The Adventure Zone at Adventure HQ is located in various malls across Dubai including an exciting indoor adventure zone at Galleria Mall in Al Basha, next to the Barsha Pond Park. 

Activities include a climbing wall with themed fun walls like a dinosaur skeleton, a giraffe, fireman’s walls, and many more. Climbing walls improve kids’ balance and even help to develop their problem-solving skills.

There is also a skate park with five different sections including a large area with bowls and half-pipes. And your kids will love the low and high ropes, trampoline park, and various obstacle courses including a stealth ninja course.

Adventure Zone Operating Hours:

Monday to Thursday from 10am to 10pm

Thursday and Friday from 10am to midnight

Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 10pm

Age Restrictions:  

Suitable for all ages but certain activities may have age or height requirements.

Costs:

Prices vary depending on the activity.

KidZania, located in Dubai Mall, offers unique, interactive activities made just for kids. Designed to ignite imagination and curiosity, kids are given over one hundred different role-playing activities to choose from.

They can explore different careers in a safe, scaled-down city from being a doctor or firefighter to a chef or pilot. They earn  ‘KidZos' (KidZania’s currency) for their efforts and learn the value of money management by saving or spending it on fun activities.

With realistic settings, engaging challengers and a focus on life skills, KidZania provides fun with hands on learning.

KidZania Operating Hours: (tickets available up to an hour before closing)

Sunday to Wednesday 10am to 10pm

Thursday to Sunday 10am to 11pm

Age Restrictions:

Designed for children between the ages of two and 16. Children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult while kids 8 and older can play independently.

Costs:

Ticket prices vary depending on the child’s age

•          Toddlers two to three years of age AED 110
•           Kids from 16 years (economy ticket) AED 195
•           Adults 17+ years AED 80

Dubai is home to some of the best indoor theme parks in the world, offering thrilling rollercoasters and family-friendly attractions. 

IMG Worlds of Adventure, located on Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road near Global Village, is the largest indoor theme park in the world.

Featuring Marvel and Cartoon Network themed zones, plus the adrenaline pumping Velociraptor rollercoaster, families can enjoy an interactive all day adventure.

Experiences include encountering dinosaurs in The Lost Valley, dining at Iron Man’s ten-storey sky deck restaurant, going on adventures with Spider-Man and conquering evil with The Avengers.  

IMG Worlds of Adventure Operating Hours:

Sunday to Thursday from 12 noon to 10pm

Friday and Saturday from 12 noon to 11pm on weekends

Age Restrictions:

There are no specific age restrictions but some rides have height requirements for safety.

Costs:

Ticket prices start at AED 365, with discounted rates available for children under 105 centimetres tall.

Motiongate Dubai, located in Dubai Parks and Resorts, is a Hollywood inspired theme park featuring amazing rides and live entertainment. Attractions are based on popular movies like Shrek, The Hunger Games and Ghostbusters.

Explore themed zones dedicated to DreamWorks Animation, Columbia Pictures, Lionsgate, and the Smurfs Village.

From adrenaline pumping rollercoasters to interactive attractions, Motiongate delivers unforgettable entertainment for movie loving families.

Motiongate Dubai Operating hours:

Sunday to Thursday  from 11am to 8pm

Friday and Saturday from 11am to 9pm

(Hours may vary so check their website for updates)

Age Restrictions:

Suitable for all ages but some rides have height and age requirements for safety.

Costs:

Single day tickets start at about AED 330 per person, with discounts for children and annual passes available.

VR Park in Dubai Mall is a cutting-edge virtual reality experience with immersive games and VR rides that take you into entirely new universes.

From multi-player virtual reality rides and games to interactive simulations. It’s a fantasy park for families who love gaming.

From conquering your fears in the haunted house, exploring futuristic worlds, to free-falling from the top of the Burj Khalifa – the moment you put on a headset, you are drawn into an experience that feels real.

VR Park Operating Hours:

Monday to Thursday from 10am to 10pm

Friday and Saturday from 10am to midnight 

Age Restrictions:

Suitable for all ages although some attractions may have specific age or height requirements.

Costs:

Ticket prices vary depending on the activities, with passes  starting around AED 192. Check their website for the latest details.

Dubai has a wide range of indoor game centres and arcades, offering exciting activities for the whole family.

From classic arcade games to immersive experiences, exciting rides to skill-based challenges - there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Step into the world of retro and modern gaming at Dubai's various arcades.

Magic Planet is a popular family entertainment centre located in various malls across the city, including City Centre Mirdif. Enjoy arcade games, simulated rides, and virtual reality experiences.

Magic Planet Operating Hours:

Opening hours vary by allocation, but most venues are open from 10am to 10pm on weekdays. Hours may extend to midnight on weekends.

Age Restrictions:

Suitable for all ages but some rides and attractions have height or age limitations for safety reasons.

Costs:

Prices are determined by the games you play. Ticket packages start from AED 155. 

Thrill Zone, located in the Oasis Centre Mall on Sheikh Zayad Road, is ideal for families looking for an action-packed laser tag adventure.

This indoor laser adventure game offers players a chance to compete in a themed, futuristic arena.

Equipped with laser tag gear, you’ll navigate through a maze-like setting filled with neon lights, fog and immersive sound effects. Laser tag combines strategy, teamwork and fun for families.

 Thrill Zone Operating Hours:

Open daily from 10am to 10pm

Age Restrictions:

Suitable for players aged 7 and above.

Costs:

Children packages start at about AED 135.

Dubai provides a variety of educational and interactive experiences ideal for families. From museums to immersive science labs and innovation hubs, there's no shortage of engaging activities for curious minds.

Families can explore the Aquarium and Underwater Zoo at Dubai Mall where they can learn about marine life through immersive exhibits and up close encounters with penguins, king crocodiles, otters, rays, and sharks.

Scuba diving experiences include shark dives, cage snorkelling, speciality dives, and discover scuba diving.

Aquarium and Underwater Zoo Operating Hours:

Weekdays  from 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM

Weekends from 10:00 AM to midnight

(timings may vary over the holidays)

Age Restrictions:

Suitable for all ages. Adult supervision is required for minors.

Costs:

Ticket prices vary depending on the experience you choose. General admission starts at around AED 199 weekdays and AED 209 on the weekends. There are additional costs for upgrades like snorkelling or diving experiences. 

OliOli Children's Museum provides a playful environment encouraging kids to solve problems and interact with the displays and exhibitions. The engaging exhibits and activities are tailored to kids developmental needs. Where in the world can you play with water, build a car, and even climb on giant nets in a Museum? You can at OliOli.

OliOli Operating Hours:

Open daily from 9am to 6pm with extended hours on Thursday and Friday until 9pm.

Age restrictions:

Designed for children aged 3 to 12

Costs:

Standard tickets for a two hour experience are AED 139 per child.

Join an arts and crafts workshop while holidaying in Dubai. It is a wonderful way for kids to express themselves and learn different skills.

Family art workshops allow you to explore new ways to be creative. Escape your screens and discover the quiet wonder of creating something with your hands.

Visit Alserkal in the industrial zone of Al Quoz. The district is an arts and culture hub filled with warehouses hosting designers, artists, crafters and ceramists.

Craft Land in Town Centre Mall in Jumeirah, offers knitting, sewing, quilting and embroidery workshops. From kids’ art and craft sessions to advanced classes for teens and adults there is something for everyone to enjoy and learn.

Craft Land Operating Hours:

Monday to Sunday from 10am to 8pm

Age Restrictions:

Sessions available for children aged five and above.

Costs:

Prices vary depending on activity.

Yadawei Ceramic Studio in Alserkal, Al Quoz offers families a chance to work with clay in a variety of classes.

Ranging from wheel throwing, hand building, ceramic painting to Nerikomi – a Japanese pottery technique where you layer assorted colours to get a variety of patterns. You will feel a sense of accomplishment.

Yadawei Operating Hours:

Open Monday to Friday 10am to 9pm

Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 8pm

Age Restrictions:

Available for families with children aged six and above.

Costs:

Prices vary depending on the class. 

The Jamjar at Alserkal Avenue is a community art space that offers a variety of creative workshops for different age groups, ranging from painting and pottery to DIY crafts and sculpture.

Jamjar Operating Hours:

Sunday to Thursday from 10am to 7pm

Friday from 10am to 8pm

(Check website for updates regarding public holiday times)

Age Restrictions:

Workshops are available for kids aged 5 to 12, teens aged 13 to 17 and adults 18+

Costs:

Prices vary depending on the type of workshop 

There are quite a few indoor sports facilities in Dubai, perfect for staying active regardless of the weather. Trampoline parks are ideal for high energy fun and you can bring along the whole family to practice their soccer skills at one of Dubai’s indoor soccer fields.

Bounce is an indoor trampoline park in the Al Quoz District, featuring interconnected trampolines, dodgeball zones and foam pits. It's the perfect spot for high energy activities and entertainment.

There is also a miniBOUNCE Zone specifically designed for younger children (from walking age to six years of age) to enjoy soft play in a safe environment.

Bounce Operating Hours:

Monday to Saturday from 10am - 9pm

Sunday from 10am - 8pm 

Trick night (Every Friday) from 6pm - 9pm

Age Restrictions:

Suitable for all ages.

Costs:

One hour pass starts at  AED 90 and AED 75 for children under 110 centimetres. 

Dubai Sports World is an indoor sports facility located at the Dubai World Trade Centre on Sheikh Zayed Rd. The centre opens every summer usually from July to end September, and offers a variety of sports and activities including football, basketball, padel, badminton and more.

Dubai Sports World Operating Hours:

Typically open daily during the summer season from 8am to 10pm - check the website to confirm opening hours.

Age Restrictions:

Open to all ages although some activities may have specific age or safety requirements.

Costs:

Costs apply when booking courts or participating in specific activities. Prices vary depending on the sport and duration.

Koora Dome is an indoor football facility located at the Al Wasl Sports Club, perfect for five-a-side soccer games. Five-a-side is a great way for families to build teamwork, get exercise and have fun. And the smaller field makes it a less physical version of the sport.

Koora Dome Operating Hours:

Open Monday to Sunday 9am to midnight.

Age Restrictions:

Open to all ages but children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

Costs: 

Rates vary depending on the time and field / court 

Dubai has plenty of family friendly cinemas and theatres, perfect for a fun day out with the kids. Many cinemas, such as Vox and Reel cinemas, found in city wide malls, host special kid-friendly screenings and feature animated movies and family blockbusters. 

The Dubai Opera, located in downtown Dubai near the Burj Khalifa, hosts family-friendly shows including musicals and concerts designed to entertain kids and adults alike. These shows, like the “Little Prince”, entrance with singing, dancing and acrobatics.

Dubai Opera Operating Hours:

Typically open from 10am to 9pm although timings may vary depending on the event schedule.

Age Restrictions:

Children under two are not permitted unless attending a specific family show.

Costs:

Ticket prices vary according to the show.

The Theatre of Digital Art (ToDA) is a fantastic family-friendly destination that combines art and entertainment. Located in Souk Madinat Jumeirah, ToDA offers interactive experiences through digital projections, exhibitions families can enjoy a mix of classical art displays, storytelling and workshops suitable for all ages.

ToDA Operating Hours:

10am to 11pm

Age Restrictions:

Suitable for all ages.

Costs:

Ticket prices typically start at AED 150 but may vary depending on the exhibition or event.

For a unique experience check out Theatre by QE2 located on the Queen Elizabeth II ship which is docked at Port Rashid. The theatre often features live performances and interactive shows tailored especially for children.

Theatre by QE2 Operating Hours:

Show times vary based on performances. Typically shows start in the evening but it's best to check their schedule online for specific timings.

Age Restrictions:

Most shows are family friendly although some performances may have a 16+ age restriction.

Costs:

Ticket prices vary depending on the show.

Novotel hotels in Dubai are ideal for families, offering spacious, comfortable rooms and kid friendly amenities like dedicated play areas, kids menus, and swimming pools.

Novotel World Trade Centre, located just 5 minutes away from the Dubai Metro, makes it easy and stress-free to explore Dubai with kids.

At Novotel Bur Dubai families can enjoy interconnected rooms, a dedicated kids play area and a pool and gym.

Novotel Dubai Al Barsha offers spacious family accommodation, a temperature controlled pool, all day dining and a café - making it a great choice for a relaxing family getaway.