Dubai: Amazing kid-friendly fun and discounts to enjoy before summer ends

3D INTERACTIVE ART FOR FREE: World famous Mexican street artist Juandres Vera has created some of his amazing 3D and 2D art murals across the floor at City Walk’s courtyard as part of the Dubai Canvas activation. Following the theme of ‘Travelling Through Art’, the Instagram-worthy pieces are all designed for families to explore and take pictures against, and will be on show from 10am to midnight this weekend, before they’re taken down on 31 August.

MAGIC PHIL’S STORY TIME FOR DH65: The UAE’s much-loved children’s entertainer and magician Magic Phil is running two storytelling sessions at a socially distanced and safe performance at The Theatre at Mall of the Emirates this Friday. Aimed at kids aged 4-8 years old, expect the unexpected, with a sprinkle of conjuring magic thrown in! Friday August 28, 11am and 2pm, Dh65 per person, performances last 45 mins. Tickets are still available via Virgin Megastore, or email info@artforall.ae/ call 050-8805074 for more information.

LA PERLE FOR JUST DH70: Kids can catch this spectacular and unique theatrical experience for just Dh70, including free popcorn and soda, at the family-friendly times of 6pm this Friday 28 August or 4pm this Saturday (there are also shows at 9pm Friday and 7pm Saturday if your little ones are night owls). Guaranteed to amaze, thrill and delight in equal measure as they marvel at the incredible acrobatics, special effects and daredevil stunts on stage, see the summer holidays off in style with this one-off treat. La Perle by Dragone, Al Habtoor City, 6pm Friday 28 August or 4pm Saturday 29 August, child tickets Dh70 including popcorn and drink, accompanying adult tickets from Dh169, available from Platinumlist.

FREE CREATIVE WORKSHOPS AND SHOWS: As part of Dubai Canvas festival at Citywalk, catch live pendulum painting - where open tins of paint swing over canvases to create colourful artworks - at 4.30pm and 7pm on Friday and Saturday, or jump into a calligraphy workshop at 5.30pm on either day. Kids will also love watching the mime and music shows, which will be performing between 4pm-9pm this Friday and Saturday. City Walk Dubai, until 31 August.

IMG WORLD FROM JUST DH20: For just Dh20 you can get access to the awe-inspiring indoor theme park IMG Worlds of Adventure, where you can then pick and choose the rides you and the kiddies want to go on for Dh25 per ride (or there’s a UAE residents offer for all-rides access for Dh195). This works out well for children who may not be tall enough/ brave enough for all of the rides, and mini superheroes, dino lovers and fans of the Power Puff Girl series will be bowled over by the activations on offer across the Cartoon Network, Lost Valley and Marvel zones. Top tip: if you have littler ones then head over to Lazy Town in the Cartoon Network zone for a huge soft play and climbing area that’ll keep them busy for hours. IMG Worlds of Adventure, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, imgworlds.com.

JOIN THE GAMING CHALLENGE AT MOE: Mall of the Emirates will host the ultimate football match for online and real-life players with the OPPO Gaming Challenge, presented by DSS as part of the mall’s back to school promotions. Until 29 August, gamers who register via MAF Share app or who spend Dh200 in the mall can first test their virtual football skills on four PS4 consoles loaded with FIFA 20. The winners of each gameplay match takes part in a physical one-on-one game of soccer on a specially built football cage pitch. The first player to score three goals will be named the victor and have their name entered into a draw to take on a famous international gamer in a virtual game of FIFA 20. Players in the OPPO Gaming Challenge can also win one of four OPPO mobile phones plus 10,000 MAF Share points.

UAE RESIDENTS DISCOUNT FOR THE LOST CHAMBERS AQUARIUM: Sharks, stingray, seahorses and piranhas are some of the amazing underwater creatures that children can see at The Lost Chambers Aquarium, which is designed around the theme of the Lost City of Atlantis. Children under 2 are free, while those between 2-12 years can get half-price entry for Dh45, and adults enter for Dh75 (reduced from Dh115).

GRAFFITI ART AND MEGA SALE AT IBN BATTUTA: The DSS Final Sale weekend will see Ibn Battuta Mall host some of the region’s best graffiti artists as they put the finishing touches to a huge, colourful mural in the mall’s Egypt Court. The piece, which has been taking shape during DSS, is the culmination of weeks of work by artists from ZeeArts with different people adding their own unique finishing touches each day of DSS. The mall will also host a 3 Day MEGA WEEKEND SALE featuring brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Nautica and much more from 27 August until 29 August in the Tunisia Court.

FREE FAMILY SHOWS AT DUBAI FESTIVAL CITY: Fans of live entertainment can flock to Dubai Festival City Mall for the Clockwork Dolls from 20 to 23 August and the Sequins LED Robots show from 27 until 29 August.

LAGUNA WATER PARK FROM DH89: From Tuesday to Sunday (Laguna is closed on Mondays) families can splash and feast to their heart’s content at this kid-friendly water park in La Mer. For Dh99 per person, you get access to all of the waterslides, pools and activities in the park, as well as unlimited food and drink until 5pm. Or head over there from 3pm (when it’s cooler anyway) until 6pm and get Sundowner Pass access for the cut-price of Dh89 (must be bought online before 11.30am on the day you want to go). Infants under 2 are free, towels are included. Lagunawaterpark.com

NAKHEEL MALL FUN AND RIPE MARKET: The DSS Final Sale weekend is a chance to explore the in-mall marketplace at Nakheel Mall, which offers unique retail items from independent UAE-based companies from 10am to 7pm each weekend until October. The mall is also hosting an art exhibit curated by the DREAMS by Alserkal Cultural Foundation, with great artworks on show

UAE RESIDENTS DISCOUNT AT AQUAVENTURE: Get pulses racing on 30 water slides and attractions at this kid-friendly water park in Atlantis, featuring Dubai’s longest lazy river and 500m of pristine private beach. Book in advance to get cut-price entry for Dh119 for adults (reduced from Dh269) and Dh99 for children aged 3 and up who are shorter than 1.2m. Under-threes are free.