Arab culture is known for its love for children and celebrates their existence on every occasion possible. Therefore, it's no surprise to know that the UAE has a lot to offer children of all ages when it comes to entertainment and fun.
If you're wondering about where to take your kids this summer and how to keep them busy through the long break, choose from these useful and entertaining options that are sure to suit everyone's budget.
Children-friendly restaurants
Rainforest Café at Dubai Mall is a place where you'll be amused by the interior design even as an adult. Anyone passing by can't help but stop to observe the jungle theme decor at the restaurant entrance. The restaurant is next to the famous Dubai Mall Aquarium and most seats have a view of it. To add to the lovely atmosphere, food prices are on a medium range and, therefore, one should be prepared to pay for the fun!
TGIF is a restaurant your kids will surely love. It has a movie and music-artistes theme, with vibrant colours. The friendly restaurant staff are dressed in amusing outfits, with funky hats and multiple badges on their uniforms. The restaurant has multiple locations across Dubai and Abu Dhabi. You can find them on www.americana-group.net
An American diner that kids love eating at is Planet Hollywood Dubai. The restaurant has a Hollywood theme with movie memorabilia on display. The restaurant arranges parties for kids and entertainment such as magic shows, clowns, games and face painting. The International restaurant is in Wafi City.
Kids' clubs
Jumeirah Beach Hotel has Sinbad's Kids Club. The club offers a wide range of activities for children of all ages. These include water activities, face painting, movie screenings and craft-making. The club offers complimentary entry for hotel guests' kids and is open from 8am-8pm daily. For more information, call 4 4068761 or e-mail jbhsinbads.kidsclub@jumeirah.com.
The Kids Club at Atlantis offers programmes designed for children aged between 4 and 12. Kids can choose to play at one of four areas that offer different activities. Command Centre for console and classic games, Underwater Theatre for an underwater experience and game or movie screening, Play Zone, where kids can climb walls and go down slides, and Creation Zone, which is about arts and crafts, or even baking. Contact the club at 04 426 1387.
Water and snow parks
Take your kids for a splash at Wild Wadi Waterpark. It has 30 rides to keep your children entertained the whole day. Moreover, from June through August, 6-8pm every day, you can enjoy a discounted entrance fee of Dh165 for general admission and Dh145 for children below 1.1 metres. Contact the Waterpark at 04 348 4444 or visit www.wildwadi.com
Another way to cool down this summer is by visiting Ski Dubai, the world's largest indoor snow park. The Alps-like park is in the Mall of the Emirates, Dubai. Kids can roll down the snow in big, bouncy balls or slide down the slopes on sledges. The park is open daily from 9am-midnight; a one-day ski-slope pass costs Dh300 for adults and Dh240 for children. Visit www.skidxb.com
One of the largest water parks in the region is Dreamland Aqua Park in Umm Al Quwain. It can accommodate 7,000 visitors per day and has several rides and recreational attractions. From June through August, the park is open from 10am-7pm on weekdays. It is open until 8pm on weekends and public holidays. Admission fee is Dh115 for adults, Dh75 for children below 1.2 metres and free for infants aged 2 and below. Visit www.dreamlanduae.com
Amusement and theme parks
For an education-filled activity, you can take children aged between 2 and 15 to Children's City at Dubai Creek Park on Bur Dubai. The amusement park takes the kids on a trip through the human body, nature, international cultures, science and space. The park is open all week from 9am-8.30pm, except Fridays, when it opens after 3pm. Tickets cost Dh10 for kids and Dh15 for adults. Visit www.childrencity.ae
Wonderland theme park at Al Gharhoud on Bur Dubai houses a theme park and a water park, in a Caribbean-theme setting. The complex includes six restaurants and cafés, and can accommodate up to 8,000 visitors. Check their website (www.wonderlanduae.com) for opening hours, as they keep changing. Parents can book online and get a 20 per cent discount on entry fees.
Art, music and sports camps
A fun-filled summer camp will be held in July and August at Peekaboo, for children above 3.5 years. Peekaboo has a colourful, cosy setting and has branches at the Mall of the Emirates, The Village Mall on Jumeirah Beach Road and Ibn Battuta Mall. The programme costs Dh450 per child per week and runs five days a week. Activities include arts and craft, cooking, dancing, yoga, origami, play dough and fun games. E-mail info@peekaboo.ae
If you wish to develop your child's musical talents, Jumeirah Music Centre will hold Music Summer Camps for kids between 3 and 7 and Kindermusik Camps for kids up to 3 years of age. The camp schedule focuses on a different composer each week. For bookings and more details, call 04-349-2662.
A camp revolving around arts will be held at The Farjam Collection at Dubai International Financial Centre. Children aged 6-12 can enjoy worksheets, games and hands-on craft activities around the fascinating world of art. The Art Camp will run from July 18-August 12. A fee of Dh500 per child per week covers all craft materials and activities. E-mail: rebecca@farjamcollection.com
Dubai Community Theatre & Arts Centre offers a variety of creative activities in its Art Summer Camp. Children from 6-12 can develop their artistic skills through pottery, painting on canvas, glass and fabric and craftwork. The camp will run from July 4-August 12 at Manu Chhabria Arts Centre. Costs range from Dh900 for one-week camps to Dh1500 for two-week camps. Call 04 341 4777 for more information.
Sharjah residents can take their children to Aladdin Kids Club at Coral Beach Resort. The club will hold a camp for children aged 5-12. It will run from June-August and will include activities such as table tennis, swimming, ball games, badminton, dinosaur-modelling and cooking. Museum trips will be organised on a weekly basis. Call 06 522 9999 or e-mail: info@coral-beachresortsharjah.com.
Core Direction's camp includes dance, swimming, sports and contests. Kids aged 4-15 can join for Dh50 per day or Dh550 per week. Transport will be provided free to Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa, where the camp will be held from June 27 through August 26. Call 04-362 6385 or visit www.coredirection.com
Other educational activities
Magrudy's fans can take their children aged 3-11 to one of the bookstore's Dubai branches this July. On every Friday and Saturday, three activities, such as storytelling, face painting, bookmark-making, book-cover making and puppet shows will take place in one of the store's branches. Visit www.magrudy.com or call 04344 4009.
Dubai Summer Surprises 2010
II June 18-June 29: World of Stories events will be held at Mercato Mall in Dubai. Children will get to meet their favourite characters — from the classic to the traditional fairytales. Events will be held in both English and Arabic.
II August 1-August 7: Kids Fashion Week at Deira City Centre will host global-brand catwalk shows, presented by local children. The shows can provide inspiration for your kids' summer wardrobe.
II July 5-July 21: One of the highlights of DSS this year is Dora The Explorer. Set in an interactive environment, children can explore the world with Dora and learn to communicate with her friends in both English and Spanish. Dora's events will take place at Mirdiff City Centre.
II July 22-August 7: SpongeBob SquarePants fans can head to Dubai Festival City, where Patchy the Pirate will share his favourite stories under the sea, about his absorbent friend SpongeBob SquarePants. The event will attract both children and families.
II Modhesh World: One of the main attractions of DSS, Modhesh World will have more than 40 themed zones, set under a massive air-conditioned venue. The 37,000-square-metre site at the Airport Expo Dubai offers fun and entertainment for children and families. All DSS events will be free for all, except for Modhesh World, which will have an admission fee of Dh10 for adults and Dh15 for children. Extra fees will be charged for some of the zones inside.
For more information, visit www.mydsf.ae
