Celebrated on 2 December each year, UAE National Day marks the union day between the seven emirates and the formal nationalisation of the UAE. While there are fireworks and flags aplenty for all residents to enjoy, we've gathered together some of the fun activities you can do with your little ones all year round to help them appreciate some of the noble culture and traditional values of their home country.
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SAIL ON A DHOW: The legacy of the dhow is integral to UAE culture and the traditional wooden boats have become symbols of the nation’s connection to the sea as well as a means by which its trading economy could flourish and thrive. For centuries dhows were essential for crossing the trade routes between the Gulf and East Africa, India and Pakistan, and it’s said that up until the 1960s their sails were a more common sight than cars in the UAE.
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Family-friendly dhow cruises in the emirates these days can tend towards the touristy, but there’s still plenty of joy to be found in an evening’s meal experienced on the water. The vessels, often strung with glittering lights, also typically offer some family-friendly entertainment in the form of dancing or magic shows, so this is a bonus for any easily bored little ones.
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Something a bit different, but more subject to the seasons, is catching one of the famous dhow races that take place in the UAE. Taking a picnic to the beach and watching the boats riding the waves will be well worth it. Abu Dhabi Sailing and Yacht Club have a couple of Dhow races planned for later this year, including a National Day race on 5 December, and keep an eye out on the Dubai International Marine Club website too for updates to their calendar at the beginning of the race season (September to May).
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GET UP CLOSE WITH CAMELS: While camels have always been important to desert regions because of their unique adaptation to the environment, the popularity of camel racing took off soon after the formation of the UAE where racing was seen as way of uniting the emirates. While in its beginnings the prizes were small, such as a basket of dates for the winner, now camel owners compete for large prizes and the sport has become a favourite pastime of royalty.
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At Al Marmoum race track on Dubai-Al Ain Road the jockeys are all electronic and remote controlled, but this doesn’t diminish the exhilarating excitement that children will have of seeing the ships of the desert thundering along the track. From the shaded grandstand you can comfortably watch swathes of camels take off from the gates as trainers and owners follow their animals in 4x4s.
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For the time being races are on pause, but you can get even closer to these majestic yet gentle creatures at The Camel Farm, which hosts daily tours in which you can learn more about their habits and nature, learn to ride them and even partake in ‘Camel Hugging Therapy’. There’s also a petting zoo with a selection of other animals too. Dh 40 per person, free for under 3s, booking in advance is essential: +971 50 485 7676, info@thecamelfarm.ae.
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VISIT HISTORICAL DUBAI: In Al Fahidi Historical District, restored houses display Dubai architecture popular from the early 1900s to 1970. The buildings, with high air towers and built with traditional building materials such as stone, teak, sandal wood and palm fronds, create a picturesque walk or scoot for little ones among the small alleyways and streets of the area. Due to its proximity to the creek the district once played an important role in managing Dubai and organising its commercial relations overseas and there is even a short section of the old city wall from 1800.
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The area is full of celebrations of UAE history as well as a hub for the arts that are flourishing in the country today. There are several galleries and museums here, including the Coffee Museum and Coin Museum, most of which are free of charge to enjoy.
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In addition to this, the area also boasts the Al Fahidi Fort. The fort was built back in 1787, as a premises for monarchs and a fort of defence. Later on it was repurposed as an arsenal for artillery and as a prison for outlaws. It was renovated during the reign of the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum and opened in 1971 (the year the federation was formed), to be an official museum that displays the history of Dubai and its heritage. Although the museum is well worth a visit, it is temporarily closed to the public.
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VISIT TOLERANCE BRIDGE: While there are plenty of heritage sites to visit across the UAE, an integral part of the UAE is not in its physical buildings or places, but in its forward-thinking values and ambition. While it’s difficult to ‘visit’ these per se, you can use a visit to Tolerance Bridge by the Dubai Water Canal as an opportunity to explain to children what tolerance means and how it is practiced in the diverse melting pot of the UAE.
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Bring scooters to whiz across the water, and while you’re there pop along to the Twisted Bridge just further along the canal, another pedestrian bridge that features a kaleidoscope-like twisting truss that envelopes the bridge path and is said to be representative of the future and the dynamic vision of Dubai as intrinsically tied to the notion of “tomorrow.”
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TRY OUT HANDS-ON HISTORICAL CRAFTS AT KIDZANIA: If you’re not already familiar with KidZania, it’s an impressive play park where children can pick and roleplay jobs in an imitation of a real-world environment without the need for parental supervision. From shops to film sets and hospitals, they have all the typical set-ups that kids like to get involved in, but specific to the UAE is their Heritage Village section. There’s a pearl cultivation farm here where little ones can learn about the pearl diving culture of the UAE, experiencing how to search for pearls inside real oysters (ages 4+), a pottery activity that teaches why pottery making is an integral handicraft in UAE culture (ages 4+) and the opportunity to try their hand at Arabic calligraphy. Open Sunday to Wednesday 10:00am - 8:00pm and Thursday to Saturday 10:00am - 11:00pm on level 2 of Dubai Mall. Cost: Economy child tickets are Dh180 while tickets for toddlers under four are Dh89. Adult tickets cost Dh69 and babies under 2 go free. Contact: 04 448 5222
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LEARN ABOUT UAE FLORA AND FAUNA: While Al Ain zoo itself can be an eye-opening experience for little ones, the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre located within it is a great edutainment venue specifically focused on the geology, flora, fauna and natural history of the Emirates.
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Across five interactive galleries visitors move on a journey through time as stories and movies take them through the past, present and future of the UAE. The building itself is an impressive feat of architecture, having won awards for its modern and sustainable design. Guests describe the centre as very kid-oriented, with a 15 minute feature film playing on Fridays and Saturdays and guided tours in English available. During the summer the zoo and centre are open Friday and Saturday 5:00pm - 11.00pm. Cost: Free entry for children under three, tickets for children aged three to 12 are Dh10.50 and Dh31.50 for adults and include entry to the zoo. Contact: 800 555
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VISIT A MOSQUE: In Dubai, for slightly older children (5+) the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding offers guided tours of Jumeirah Mosque as part of its ‘Open Doors, Open Minds’ policy, designed to bring different nationalities together. It’s unusual for mosques to be open to non-Muslims so this is a good opportunity to expand little ones’ understanding of Emirati and Islamic culture where they can ask all the questions they want during the Q&A session at the end of the tour. The mosque is one of the most picturesque in the city of Dubai, with snow white minarets and intricate details built in the medieval Fatimid tradition. The tour lasts 1 ½ hours and photography is allowed. Modest clothing is required for both men and women, who should bring their own head scarves.Tours runs daily at 10am and 2pm (registration begins half an hour before) except on Fridays, and prior booking is not required. Cost: Dh35 per person Contact: 04 353 6666
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Meanwhile Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi is one of the world’s largest mosques and is hailed as a stunning work of art and architecture. Tours of the Mosque's passageways and halls with qualified Emirati guides are available. Here kids can learn about its artistic elements, architecture and the history behind its construction. Tours run daily except Fridays and are free to attend but it is crucial to book online in advance: https://visit.szgmc.gov.ae/
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SLEEP UNDER THE STARS IN THE DESERT: Few kids can resist the novelty of camping so teaming it up with the opportunity to experience a slice of Bedouin culture is a way to have fun and expand young minds. The traditions of the Bedouin are one of the founding pillars of UAE society and still play a very important role within the emirates’ national identity and the values and practices of hospitality, music, food and poetry that all originated from the Bedouin way of life.
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While with proper preparation you can take yourselves off for a night among the dunes, there are a huge number of tour packages that include overnight camping and/or a focus on learning more about Bedouin culture, such as Platinum Heritage, who offer a specific Heritage Collection of packages including a Bedouin Life, Falconry and Wildlife Drive and an Overnight Desert Safari.
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EXPERIENCE THE SPORT OF FALCONRY: The history of Arabs and falconry can be traced back to 2000BC and falconry has long been a key part of desert life where birds of prey were trained to hunt so that desert dwellers could supplement their diets. Since then it has developed into a sport enjoyed by all sectors of society and now the upkeep of falcons is a traditional and highly valued custom in the UAE. Due to the popularity of this sport, the UAE's falconers are even famous for having developed specialized techniques and methods for trapping and training falcons in readiness for the hunting season. As with other desert activities here in the UAE there’s a long list of tours and experiences that offer you a live falconry demonstration (see Desert Camping above) and will even allow the family to get involved, such as providing a perch for the birds to land on.
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For a different, more in-depth way for the little ones to learn about the sport you can visit the Dubai Falcon and Heritage Sports Centre. Located a little way out in Al Marqadh near the Meydan Racetrack, the off-beat museum displays stuffed birds and exhibitions on the anatomy of a falcon as well as how to train them. The highlight for many is the falcon souk on site, where you can explore pet shops selling falconry equipment, a veterinary clinic for the birds and sometimes even see falcons for sale themselves. At busy times the centre is often full of people bringing their falcons to be checked up - so keep an eye out! Open from 7.00am to 6.00pm, Sunday to Thursday and 8.00am to 7.00pm during Ramadan. Tour guides are available from 8.00am to 2.00pm. Cost: Free Contact: 04 327 2854
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ROAM AN OASIS FULL OF PALMS: The tranquil Al Ain Oasis sits in the Al-Mutawa'a District in central Al-Ain and is the UAE’s first curated UNESCO World Heritage site visitor experience. Here little ones can stretch their legs among the shaded walkways of the oasis, where the rustling of the palm trees and birdsong fill the air. Covering 3,000 acres, the site is filled with 147,000 date palms with many of the palm plantations still functioning as working farms. The significance of the oasis harks back to the origins of the emirate, which boasts a delicate eco-system shaped by a complex shared water supply based on both wells and ‘aflaj’, the UAE’s traditional irrigation system.
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The oasis has plenty of working examples of the falaj which have been used for centuries to tap into underground wells and also has an Eco-Centre experience at the oasis entrance, which can teach kids about significance of the site to Abu Dhabi’s development and emphasises the invaluable contribution of Al Ain’s oasis farmers through a series of immersive interactive exhibit.
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TASTE EMIRATI CUISINE: Getting an authentic taste of the emirates doesn’t need to be more complicated than tucking into a delicious dinner. While there are plenty of excellent Emirati food options across the UAE, the well-known Al Fanar Restaurant has branches in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Sharjah, RAK and Dubai but it is the latter emirate to which it owes its ambience, focused on conjuring up the city of Dubai as it was in the 1960s.
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A series of tableaus are dotted around the traditionally decorated eatery, from a vintage jeep ready to be unloaded to almost life-size models of camels and their keepers - sure to fascinate little ones. Relics from Dubai’s history line the recessed shelves while in some branches streets signs and bicycles add to the sense that you’ve traveled back in time to when Dubai was a small town on the shore of the Arabian Gulf.The food, of course, is focused on providing a true taste of Emirati cuisine, serving up lamb and beef stews in traditional one-pot recipes, grilled fish and rice, and uses the core Emirati ingredients of saffron, cardamom, turmeric and thyme.Open daily 8.30am-11.30pm. Contact: Specific branch contact details can be found at alfanarrestaurant.com
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