17 top kids' summer camps in the UAE

Schools in the UAE close for summer break this week. If you are spending your vacations in the UAE, here are some amazing summer camps for children. 

Here are a few tips on how to choose the best summer camp for your kids.

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FitRepublik 

The daily summer camp at FitRepublik for children aged 5 to 14 is going to be a sure hit with your kids this summer. From swimming and gymnastics to hip-hop dance and martial arts, the kids do it all here. All the activities are focused on promoting leadership skills, determination and resilience while celebrating daily achievements of the children. There will also be indoor soccer as this year's camp will be at the Dome in Dubai Sports City. 

Location The Dome, FitRepublik, Dubai Sports City Dates July 2 to August 31 Timings 9am to 12pm (half-day); 9am to 3.30pm (full-day) Cost Dh250 per day (full-day); 1200 per week (full-day) (Book before June 30 for discounts on weekly rates; ask for discounts for multiple children and/or multiple weeks) Contact +971 4 556 1800 Website FitRepublik Summer Camp

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Little Explorers 

Aimed at kids aged 3 to 8 years of age, the summer camp here uses fun games and creative workshops to enhance social skills as well as physical and mental identity. There are various activities, which include arts and crafts sessions, sports competitions, dancing sessions and group games. Each week has a different theme.

Location Little Explorers, Dubai Marina Dates June 18 to September 7 Timings 9am to 2pm (Sunday to Thursday) Cost Dh160 per day Dh650 per week Website Little Explorers 

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Parkour Kids UAE

This is UAE’s second Parkour summer camp. One of the best parts about the camp is the limited number of participants (around 6) per coach, which allows for greater interaction between the coaches and students. This also ensures complete participation, and kids who are shy or quiet don’t lose out the advantages of the camp. There are two groups based on age; Superhero and Ninja Camp (6 to 9 years) and Parkour Master Camp (10 to 14 years).  

Location Al Serkal Avenue, Al Quoz Dates Superhero and Ninja Camp (6 to 9 years) and Parkour Master Camp (10 to 14 years) Until September 7 (Excluding Fridays and Saturdays) Timings 9am to 12pm (Superhero and Ninja Camp); 1pm to 4pm (Parkour Master Camp) Cost Starts at Dh1100 per week (Discounts available for multiple weeks) Contact +971 52 930 8709 Website Parkour Summer Camp 

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Redwood Montessori Nursery

Enrol your little tots at the Redwood Montessori Nursery Summer Camp for a journey around the world completed in 45 days. The theme this year allows your child to learn about and enjoy sights, sounds and tastes of all seven continents throughout summer. Age limit is from 4 months to 8 years.

Location Multiple locations in Abu Dhabi Dates July 2 onwards Website Redwood Montessori Summer Camp 

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Manchester City School of Football

Is your child interested in soccer or football? This might be the best summer camp for you. Each child that signs up at City Football Schools for a full week of summer coaching will be entered into a prize draw to win a trip to Manchester, which includes flights, accommodation and a match ticket to watch a Premier League football game. 

Location Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi Open to Boys and girls aged five to 12 Dates available July 2 to July 6 and July 9 to July 13 Cost Dh950 per week (does not include lunch or kit) Kits available for purchase at Dh150 per kit Contact +971 56 420 5685 Email cfs.abudhabi@cityfootball.com Website 

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Free Apple summer camp

For your mini-techie this might just be the best summer camp ever. Children can join Apple Summer Camp between July 10 and 28, a free program for kids ages 8 to 12 held in Apple stores in Dubai Mall, Mall of Emirates, and Yas Mall.  In three day, 90-minute sessions, your kids will broaden their creative horizons  by making movies, composing musical stories, coding games and robots, and more using Apple products. On the last day campers will share their exciting project with their peers, family and friends.

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Emirates Park Zoo and Resort, Abu Dhabi

Young campers can learn all about various wild animals when they enrol in this month-long camp at the Emirates Park Zoo through interactive activities. “The Emirates Park Zoo and Resort Summer Camp is the perfect first step for children to foray into the world of wildlife. It offers a safe environment for children to meet and closely interact with animals that they otherwise only see on television and in books,” says Waleed Sha’aban, Emirates Park Zoo’s operations manager,

Dates and timings July 2 to August 31, from 9am-2pm daily, except Tuesdays. Tuesday: 9am — 3pm Ages Six to 12 Cost Dh159 for one day; Dh699 per week; Dh2,499 for a month. Meals included.

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The Junction, Dubai

Students can take up singing, dancing, acting and improvising (or focus on one of these performance arts) throughout the Performing Arts Summer Camp. Training programmes are tailored by Camp Director Alex Broun, the founder of theatre festival Short+Sweet Dubai. What’s more — parents can keep an eye on their child’s progress through a weekly performance — every Thursday afternoon — at The Junction. “I’m excited to start up this Summer Camp at The Junction” said Broun. “The Junction has been a wonderful addition to the performing arts scene in Dubai in recent years and it has quickly developed a reputation as one of the most friendly and accessible venues in Dubai.”

Dates and times July 2-August 31. 9am-2.30pm, Sunday to Thursday Ages Seven-12 Cost Dh850 per week per student (Discounts for those students wishing to attend more than one week)

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Warehouse421

One for all ages, this four-week plan offers interactive workshops — more than 50 — and events in the fields of art, design, music, dance, lifestyle, board games and film. Every day there will be 19 activities for children in the morning. Shamma Al Mheiri, of Warehouse421 said: “Throughout the year we are delighted to welcome members of the public to take part in our public programmes. The launch of Summer Camp at Warehouse421 offers a vibrant, culturally rich and creative platform for the community to engage via a variety of creative and lifestyle driven activities. We want to provide an outlet that allows for residents to connect in a fun and different way throughout the summer months. With four weeks of dedicated activities for children, teens and adults, this programme is designed to be accessible to all and we welcome everyone to join us, whether you’re a regular at Warehouse421 or a newcomer.”

Dates July 16 to August 10, daily except for Mondays and Fridays Age based timings 5-12 years old, from 10am-12pm; 13+, 3-6pm; 16+, 7-10pm Ages Five to 16+ Cost Afternoon session: Dh50; film screenings free. Children’s packages: one week: Dh550; individual session: Dh125

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Ductac

Dubai Community Theatre and Arts Centre has launched a series of camps for this summer to engage and teach your child new skills. Divided up by age, these courses offer kids the chance to learn through fun activities.

The programmes include:

Art: where children use different mediums to create works of art, including photo transfer, painting with natural dyes, sculpture, and more. They are also taught about master painter, and the concepts of up-cycling and sustainable art.

Fashion: Young girls get schooled on the art of fashion, and leave with a lovely fairy-tale dress that they’ve created. This plan teaches the girls basic fashion design skills and techniques, such as drawing and sketching, creating mood boards, stitching and sewing (both by hand and machine). Their tutor will be Lynn Nolan, who has extensive experience and qualifications in the fashion industry both in UK and the Middle East.

Pottery camp: includes lessons on throwing, centering, and trimming, firing and glazing.

Art July 2-27, Sunday-Thursday. Morning session: 9.30am-11am; Afternoon session 11.30am-1pm Fashion: July 2-20. 9am-12.30pm Pottery camp: July 2-13, Sunday to Tuesday and Thursday. 9.30am — 12pm Ages Various Cost Art Dh1,200/week (both sessions); Dh750/week (single session). Fashion Dh1,000/week. Pottery Dh1,400.

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Jump Boxx Summer Camp

Get up and get moving! Children can jump on trampolines, try arts and crafts or experience team building activities at this eight-week summer camp.

Dates and timings July 3-August 25; Monday-Friday Ages Five to 15 Cost Start at Dh499 per week

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Summer Explorers at Atlantis, The Palm

Get your kids’ creative juices flowing with challenges to test your children’s strength, courage and imagination. They can explore Aquaventure, meet fitness challenges and learn how to be a better swimmer.

Dates and times July 9-13, July 23-27, August 1-10, August 20-24 and September 3-7. 9am-5pm Ages Three to seven and eight to 12 Cost Dh1,800. Inclusive of lunch and snacks. A 10 per cent discount for repeat guests or minimum of two camps booked per family (excluding Aquamania) Time: 9am to 5pm

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Al Nasr Leisureland Summer Camp 2017

A number of fun activities are available at this summer camp, including skating, cooking, henna, dance and arts and crafts classes.

Dates and times Until August 24, Sunday-Thursday, 9am-1.30pm Ages Seven-13 Cost Dh1,000 (Comes with 12 skating coupons and two complementary T-shirts)

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Malhaar Centre for Performing Arts

Now this is real edutainment. Malhaar’s creative summer camp offers a safe space for your children to unleash their inner creativity, with activities such as contemporary music, dance, theatre as well as art and crafts.

“The summer vacation also provides the perfect window to the kids to pick up these extra skills since they are not weighed down with homework, exams and after-school activities,” adds Malhaar’s founder-director Jogiraj Sikidar.

Dates and times July 2 — August 31, Monday-Thursday, 9.30am-1.30pm Ages Six-15 Cost Dh550 for one week; Dh1,000 for two weeks; Dh1,350, three weeks; Dh1,600, for four weeks.

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Superheroes Kids Camp Abu Dhabi

The Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel and Resort has a treat in store for parents this year. When you enrol your child for fun activities that keep him/her engaged, you can lounge by the pool and take some ‘me-time’ as you get free resort access.

Date and times July 2-September7, weekdays. 9am-2pm Ages Four-9 and 10-14 Cost Dh180 daily

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Interior Design Camp

This beginner’s course, held at Ductac, promises a fun, interactive and practical time to students interested in interior design.

Dates and times July 9-13; August 6-10th. 10am- 1pm Ages 10-17 years Cost Dh1,200

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Fit Inc. Summer Camp

Located at Fit Inc. City Tower 2 on Sheikh Zayed Road, Fit Inc. is hosting a fitness summer camp. Rather than sitting at home and beating the heat with the TV, have your young one’s spring into some indoor action and have a blast with a variety of different activities. Available throughout July, Fit Inc’s thrilling Summer Camp is the full package with gymnastics, parkour, yoga and a dance class.

Dates and times Weekdays - 2nd to 31st July – 9am till 12pm Ages for kids between five to 10 Cost Dh3,000 for the whole month. 

We have some more for you - by Sara Waqar, an intern working with Xpress.