Family destinations in Dubai: Head to Nad Al Sheba, Meydan for cycling, picnics, nature and much more

As winter comes to an end, you may have just this weekend left to enjoy the last few days of cool weather outdoors. The perfect outing would be one with your family and friends in tow and we think this versatile destination should be on your list.

With tall trees on their forest trail and a well-developed cycling track, along with other facilities, Nad Al Sheba makes for a great family destination in Dubai.

You’ll not feel like you’re in Dubai when on this forest trail of Nad Al Sheba. The 2.5km long area is shaded with tall trees and makes you feel like you’re in an oasis far removed from the sheen of the city. There is plenty of free parking.

Nad Al Sheba racecourse was the original venue of the Dubai World Cup tournament for 15 years before before making way for the multi-facility Meydan development. The Nad Al Sheba track was laid down in 1986 and hosted the world’s richest horse-racing event until 2009.

If you love diving, then the world’s deepest swimming pool for diving must be on your list. The venue offers scuba diving and freediving, along with a Discover Snorkeling experience. Located near NAS sports Deep Dive Dubai’s pool features a sunken city that divers of all levels can engage with and explore, complete with an abandoned streetscape and featuring a fully furnished apartment, garage, and arcade, amongst other surprises.

NAS Sports Complex here is a major sporting venue for Dubai. The NAS Sports Tournament, held annually during Ramadan, is organised by the Dubai Sports Council. The tournament this year is scheduled for April 13 and includes competitions in padel tennis, running, cycling, volleyball, wheelchair basketball and jiu-jitsu.

The sports complex regularly sees sports celebrities check in for training when visiting Dubai. Popular names who have trained here include global tennis star Novak Djokovic, ironman Joe Skipper, UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov, footballer Virgil van Djik and members of the British Athletics team.

There are no metro stations servicing this area directly but depending on where you’re headed to, you could find stations closest to the destination and take cabs or buses. For example, a cab from either the Business bay or Dubai Mall metro stops would take around. It is 20 minutes from Burj Khalifa.