7 free outdoor areas to explore with kids for free in Dubai and Abu Dhabi

Dubai: Spending weekends outdoors with your children doesn’t always have to be a costly affair. In fact there are plenty of free child-friendly places to explore in the UAE. Here’s a round-up a some outdoor activities you and your children can enjoy this weekend.

1. Creek Marina at Dubai Creek Harbour

Head to Dubai’s Creek Marina for a nice morning picnic or a relaxing evening by the gorgeous promenade. There is plenty of space for children to play and various quirky photo-op installations. You can pop in to one of the many restaurants along the marina if you are feeling hungry

Timings: Accessible throughout the day
Cost: Free

2. The Block at Dubai Design District (D3)

Enjoy a family-friendly recreational space where you can relax and unwind. With the ongoing Dubai Design Week (till November 13) being held here, it’s the right time to visit D3. The Block features a skate park, basketball and volleyball court, climbing walls, an urban beach as well as outdoor seating and entertainment area. With a host of cafes and restaurants it is perfect for an outdoorsy day.

Timings: 7am to 11pm
Cost: Free

3. Downtown Slide, Burj Plaza

Head to the Burj Plaza for a nice outdoor evening. Get ready for an adventurous ride on this 19 metre-long tube at the Burj Plaza. It’s free for kids and adults who are 110cm and above and is located right beside the Emaar Sales Center at the Burj Plaza.

Riders will travel along the 19m long tube, mounted at a 30 degree angle, eventually meeting a soft landing on the two square metre floor mat at the bottom. The plaza has many restaurants to dine at.

Timings: 4pm to 1am
Cost: Free

4. Dubai Marina Walk Dancing Fountains

Dubai Marina is another perfect place for a family outing in Dubai. Children seem to love splashing around in the dancing fountains at the Marina Walk. You can also grab lunch in one of the restaurants in Dubai Marina.

Timings: Accessible throughout the day
Cost: Free

5. Al Fay Park, Abu Dhabi

The Al Fay Park is a natural haven in the city of Abu Dhabi. With over 2,000 trees and shrubs the green space creates a micro-climate that reduces traffic noise and temperature and maintains a forest-like environment. The downward slope from the road leads to the central park and funnels the cooler southern breeze down into the park while local grasses and bushes reduce sand infiltration and movement.

There are also activities for children and adults. The park has spaces for mini golf and courts for table tennis, badminton, football, basketball, volleyball and a lot more. It also has a children’s play area, a fitness area and forest paths to explore. Located in Al Reem Islands, the park has food trucks and outdoor seating areas as well.

Timings: 7am to 11pm
Cost: Free

6. Al Rafisah Dam, Khorfakkan

Heading toward Khorfakkan on the Sharjah – Khorfakkan highway opens up a vista of the beautiful Al Rafisah Dam. Originally built in the 1980s, the dam has had an upgrade with a new visitor centre and rest area. It also has a mosque, outdoor play areas for children, a parking lot, a supermarket, and a popular restaurant with a lake view. Part of the redevelopment has restored the nearby Wadi Shea Fortress and the surrounding old plantations. A kilometer-long walkway, fringed with palm trees, circumventing the dam, wends its way along the mountain’s edge, through the plantations up to the fort.

Timings: Accessible throughout the day
Cost: Free

7. Dolphin Park, Mangrove Waterfront, Abu Dhabi

A quiet park, perfect for families, the Dolphin park has spaces designated for playing, barbecue, and walking. It also has a fountain with dolphin sculptures. The park faces the water and you can see mangroves across the other side. It also features a walking and a cycling track.

Timings: Accessible throughout the day
Cost: Free