11 Awesome half-term activities for kids in Dubai

LEARN AND PLAY AT CLUBHOUSE GATE AVENUE DIFC: The ultimate free half-term hangout for kids? Surprisingly, DIFC! Gate Avenue has launched an exciting new pop-up activation, The Clubhouse, aimed at families with kids aged 3 to 10 years old. Running until 28 October 2020, it features a comprehensive timetable of more than 200 complimentary workshops and kids’ activities, including sensory play, music and dancing, story and circle times, baking, science experiments and much more. There’s also a games zone with Foosball, Table Tennis, Ping Pong, Tic Tac Toe, Air hockey and more. Starting at 11am and on until 5.30pm every day and located in Zone D at Gate Avenue, see Difc.ae/events/clubhouse for the full timetable.

SEE THE MOON AT OLI OLI: Give kids an out-of-this-world day at Oli Oli with its Museum of the Moon exhibit, a fully immersive experience that fuses detailed NASA imagery of the moon’s surface with surround sound for an awesomely atmospheric encounter for your mini astronauts. Once you’ve marveled at this lunar wonder, continue the edutainment with a wander around the rest of Oli Oli’s galleries, which are packed full of experiential play for little ones. The Museum of the Moon is a travelling exhibit that has been presented in over 30 countries and will be in OliOli for six months from October 15. Child tickets for OliOli are Dh126 (one free adult included), or Dh63 for toddlers between 12 and 23 months. Olioli.ae.

BE DAZZLED AT DUBAI GARDEN GLOW: One of the most hotly anticipated reopenings of the new season is Dubai Garden Glow, which comprises a psychedelic concoction of imaginative light displays in the Glow Park, as well as a roarsome and educational walking outdoor exhibit of life-like animatronic dinosaurs in the Dinosaur Park. Opening at 5pm every day, head to the dinos first for some prehistoric play, and then hit the Glow Park comes sunset for a sensory stroll through its luminous loveliness, a visual lullaby for little ones before they enter their own world of dreams. Dh65 for access to both parks, under 3s free, Dubaigardenglow.com.

SLUMBER WITH SLOTHS AT GREEN PLANET: Spend the night in the jungle with indoor rainforest Green Planet’s overnight camping experience. Including exclusive access to the biodome’s wonders from 5pm to 8am the next morning, kids can enjoy a guided scavenger hunt, nocturnal animal tour, nature-themed movie night and marshmallow-roasting, before they settle down to the ultimate sleepover snuggled into a hammock in a spacious, twinkle-light-lit tent, and snooze off to the coos and chatterings of the biodome’s resident monkeys, lemurs, anteater, sloth, and manifold exotic birds, reptiles and insects. Up to 18 people per night (6 tents), Dh700 for a party of 2, or Dh1,200 for a party of 4, Thegreenplanetdubai.com.

SWING IN THE RAIN AT THE POINTE: Children love anything that’s the biggest or the strongest, so they’ll be thrilled to witness an actual Guinness World Record be broken before their eyes when the world’s largest fountain launches at The Pointe on The Palm Jumeirah this Thursday 22 October. The vast, dancing and musical fountain rises 105 metres high and come alive with over 3,000 multicoloured LED lights. Although the launch event is now sold out, if you haven’t already got a ticket then it’s still worth heading down to The Pointe this week anyway to have a go on the temporary Water Swing. Situated with a picture-perfect backdrop of Atlantis in the background, the swing is fitted with technology that rains down water in a constant stream, but stops the second that you swing through it, so you don’t actually get wet. The swing is free and is open to the public between 1pm and 10pm until October 29.

BE IMMERSED IN MONET AT THE THEATRE OF DIGITAL ART: The brand-new Theatre of Digital Art (ToDA) has just launched at Souk Madinat Jumeirah, and features 1,800 sqm of immersive and interactive art, culture and science experiences. Combining advanced technology with traditional storytelling and theatre, the virtual reality and interactive art exhibits aimed at children feature multi-dimensional spaces with secret passages and portals to magical worlds and are a great way to introduce kids to classical arts and culture. The new venue kicks off with an exhibition called From Monet to Kandinsky, Revolutionary Art’, which is a first-of-its-kind presentation of classical art in digital format. Open daily 12pm to 10pm. Dh75 for adults, Dh45 for children, under-3s free, Toda.ae.

GET CREATIVE WITH FATAFEAT’S HALF TERM CUPCAKE DECORATING COMPETITION: Arabic food channel Fatafeat has launched a competition for the mid-term break to encourage kids to get creative in the kitchen. Bake cupcakes together, then let little ones unleash their imaginations with fantastical frosting and decorations, snap a photo and upload it to social media, tagging @fatafeat and using the #Fatafeatcupcakes to be in with a chance to win the ultimate mini-baker’s kit! Entries are open from Monday 12 October and close on Thursday 22 October, the competition is free to enter.

FEED GIRAFFES AT DUBAI SAFARI PARK: Dubai Safari Park is back and bigger than ever with new additions to its menagerie of wild and wonderful creatures, including elephants and giraffes. Serving both as an animal reserve and an educational centre, the new Dubai Safari includes a wide range of new interactive, educational and entertainment experiences for kids, including giraffe feeding, birds show and a dedicated kids’ farm. From gorillas to hyenas, lions and tigers to hippos and lemurs, kids can marvel at the majestic wildlife relaxing on the eco-friendly facility’s specially cooled rocks, while learning about their habitats and conservation. Adults Dh50, children Dh20, under 3s free, Dubaisafari.ae.

SING AND DANCE LIKE A WEST END STAR WITH URDANG INTERNATIONAL: Musical theatre fans can sample a flavour of what it’s like to receive real London’s West-End-standard training at an exciting all-singing and dancing taster day suitable for anyone aged from 8 to 18 years old on Tuesday 20 October. Delivered by the talented Urdang team, who will lead sessions in musical theatre throughout the day, the day will take place at Kent College Dubai from 9am to 3pm, Dh150 per person. To sign up for the taster day visit: https://www.theurdang.international/product/urdang-theatre-arts-dubai-taster-day/

WORK AND PLAY WITH A STAYCAY AT MARJAN ISLAND: The Study Hard, Play Hard offer at the DoubleTree by Hilton gives families a three-night stay, alongside daily breakfast and healthy kids’ snacks in the room, for Dh999 for two adults and two children. Designed for home-learning students and their work-from-home parents, the offer is available from Sunday to Thursday , whether you want to squeeze in some extra study time over the mid-term break, or simply want a change of scenery. The beachfront resort boasts many family-friendly facilities, including a kid’s club with a climbing wall, arcade games and extensive outdoor playground, as well as Pirate Boat Aqua Zone, bouncy castle, water trampoline and inflatable climbing. Offer available until 17 December, 07 203 0000, reservations_dtmarjan@hilton.com, quote Study Hard, Play Hard offer.

SLEEP BESIDE THE SEASIDE AT LA MER: Give kids memories to last a lifetime with a unique camping experience at Laguna Waterpark. Kicking off with refreshments and waterslides at sunset, the fun continues with a BBQ, board games, and campfire singalong, before you snooze beneath the stars in one of Laguna’s comfortable 2- or 4-person tents. Wake up early next morning to watch the sunrise on the La Mer sea and then receive a basket of fresh breakfast goodies to whip up at the live stations. Rounding it all off with another day of Waterpark fun, with unlimited food and drinks included, this is available on Thursday and Friday evenings at Dh700 for two. Lagunawaterpark.com.