13 Fun things to do in Dubai with kids this weekend

HAVE A KID-FRIENDLY BEACH BBQ AT RIVA: Rock up to Riva Beach Club on The Palm this Friday for a tasty, kid-friendly BBQ lunch by the pool and beach. Enjoy a full day of access to Riva’s pristine private beach and picturesque pool, plus unlimited freshly grilled BBQ platters and free-flowing beverages. DETAILS: Family BBQ every Friday in April, 1-4pm, Dh325pp, Dh75 for kids age 4-12 years, including all-day beach and pool access.

GO POTTY AT WORLD ART DUBAI: The globe’s most accessible and affordable art fair, World Art Dubai, is also a great day out for the entire family. Kids can go potty at Al Jalila Children’s Centre’s creative pottery classes, while Nikon will be holding kid-friendly photography workshops to help little ones work on their snapping skills. There’s also plenty to inspire and engage children while parents browse for some affordable masterpieces, including an extended area dedicated to street art, Urban Art DXB, which will also host a live ‘street art jam’ competition, plus Inkopia will be on hand to provide customisable pieces of digital art with their VR printing service that prints magnets with a choice of photo. The Theatre of Digital Art is also hosting a pop-up of its exhibitions ‘Monet to Kandinsky’ and ‘The impressionists’, which takes viewers on a breath-taking digital journey that combines high-end technologies with classical art and visual effects. DETAILS: World Art Dubai is at the Dubai World Trade Centre from 7-10 April 2021 in Exhibition Halls 1 and 2, 1-9pm, Dh10 per entry ticket. www.worldartdubai.com.

PICNIC ON THE LAWN BY THE GOLF LINKS: Ranches Restaurant, located inside Arabian Ranches Golf Club, is hosting a sweet Saturday Afternoon picnic, which features plenty to keep the family entertained, as well as a picnic basket with snacks and juices, sandwiches, crisps, fruits, cookies, bread and jams with BBQ and dessert section. DETAILS: Every Saturday from 9am onwards, Dh 150 per adult, Dh75 per child, for more information call, 04 360 7935 or email us at info@arabianranchesgolf.ae.

INSPIRE YOUNG ARTISTS AT ‘THE WORLD OF BANKSY’: The intriguing mystery surrounding enigmatic, anonymous street artist Banksy is a great way to spark children’s interest in art and the immersive “The World of Banksy” experience at Mall of the Emirates is the largest Banksy exhibition in the world, revealing 120 recreated pieces of Banksy’s most inspirational works to art connoisseurs and cultural explorers alike. All Banksy's worldwide exhibitions are unauthorised, with the artist proclaiming that he encourages anyone to 'copy and borrow' his art. The exhibition will showcase some of Banksy’s most iconic frames and murals such as: Girl with a Balloon, the Flower Thrower, the Mobile Lovers, and many other famed works. DETAILS: From 5 April – June 30, the exhibition is open daily between noon and midnight at Level 2 through the Theatre accessed straight from the car park under Ski Dubai.Book in advance, Dh45 per kid, Dh75 per adult, www.malloftheemirates.com/events/worldofbanksy.

STAY SILLY WITH MAGIC PHIL’S SEA-THEMED SHOW: Join the UAE’s Favourite Children’s Magician, Magic Phil as he brings a barrel load of laughs, a plank load of silliness, a cabin full of chuckles and a bucket full of tricks to the QE2 this month with his rescheduled magic, comedy and audience participation show. DETAILS: Two shows at 10am and 1.30pm on Friday 9 and Saturday 10 April at Theatre by QE2, show is 1hour 10 minutes without interval, from Dh100, 3+ yrs require a ticket. Magicphil.ae.

PLAY THE NEW ANGRY BIRDS GAME AT TOPGOLF: Topgolf Dubai has just launched two family friendly games for kids of all ages – mini golf and Angry Birds. The Bunker Mini Golf & Café challenges children to a fun 9-hole putt-putt experience. Each hole in The Bunker represents a popular sport in the UAE, from falconry and football to horse riding and cycling, plus many more. Meanwhile the Angry Birds game, which uses Topgolf's Toptracer ball-tracing technology, uses Angry Birds characters as golf balls to smash down structures, defeat pigs, and earn as many points and stars as possible. Once you hit your golf ball, which will be the Angry Birds character Red or Bomb, they will take flight in hopes of causing mayhem. The player with the most points at the end of the game wins! DETAILS: From Dh130 per hour per bay weekdays, from Dh180 per hour per bay weekends, open from 10am to 1am, Topgolfdubai.ae.

GET GREAT GROUP DISCOUNTS AT BOLLYWOOD PARKS DUBAI: Bollywood Parks theme park at Dubai Parks and Resorts is running a discounted ticket offer for Spring Break. Take the whole family along to enjoy the world's tallest swing ride, as well as many family-friendly and thrilling attractions and spectacular performances, and enjoy the amazing promotional prices. DETAILS: Bollywood Parks Spring offer of Dh300 for 2 guests; Dh400 for 4 guests; Dh495 for 6 guests. https://www.dubaiparksandresorts.com/.

SNAP UP FREE KIDS’ MEALS AT DUBAI MALL: Children can eat for free at participating venues at Dubai Mall for the Dubai Food Festival, running from 25 March until 17 April 2021. From delicious pizza and pasta at Carluccio’s, to nutritious noodles at Wagamama, head to the world’s largest retail and entertainment destination for a good-value meal with the family, before watching the Dubai Fountains dance and taking some snaps by the Burj Khalifa. Download the Dubai Mall App to find out about the latest offers and all the participating venues. DETAILS: Kids Eat Free during Dubai Food Festival at participating venues at The Dubai Mall from 25 March to 17 April. For more information, visit www.thedubaimall.com or call 800 DUBAI MALL (800 38224 6255).

PLAY THE WORLD'S LARGEST BOARD GAME AT GLOBAL VILLAGE'S KIDS FEST: Running from March 25 to April 10, Kids Fest 2021 is bringing several new attractions, activities, and games for the little ones at international-themed activity park, shopping and food market and carnival Global Village. Play the world-record breakingly large game of Snakes and Ladders, or similarly super-sized versions of Four-in-a-row and Battleships (pirate version), or watch special versions of the character shows, including Octonautes, PJ Masks, Care Bears, Chotta Bheem, Peter Rabbit and the unmissable Don’t Do The Dodo show. It’s also Ice Cream Fest running at Global Village at the same time; simply pick up the Ice Cream booklet and earn raffle tickets by tasting your way around the world through creamy, frozen flavour sensations, for the chance to win big prizes such as an iPhone 12. DETAILS: Running until April 10, Kids Fest and Ice Cream Fest are free with Global Village entry, Dh15 per person, www.globalvillage.ae.

COMPETE FOR PRIZES AT OLI OLI’S GAME ACTIVATION: It’s the final weekend of children’s play museum Oli Oli’s Game ON! Activation, which is celebrating all games through the years in a museum takeover, with activities that will include physical and mental challenges, strategic planning and sometimes just a stroke of luck. From the floor is lava, to skee-ball and dance revolution, there is a play - collect - win theme, so every child is a guaranteed winner. With more than 20 games spread across each gallery, there’s also the chance to win big prizes, like a 3-month all-week membership valued at Dh895. DETAILS: Running from 24 March to 10 April, Game ON! Is free with your general admission ticket (Dh126 1 Child + 1 Adult) when booked online @ olioli.ae one day in advance; Dh30 at the door. For more information visit www.olioli.ae.

VISIT THE NEWLY REOPENED LEGOLAND WATER PARK: The long-awaited re-opening of the gates to Legoland Waterpark has finally happened this April, with the park now welcoming families with kids aged 2-12 to splash, swim and play in its extensive water-play facilities. Open only from Thursday to Saturdays for the foreseeable future, the water park will also include an awesome limited time bonus of free access to Legoland Dubai theme park after 5pm for Water Park ticket holders. Key attractions include Build-A-Raft River, where families customise their own raft using LEGO® soft bricks, before floating down a lazy river; Twin Chasers, where friends and family can race each other on double body slides; and Red Rush, where you ride together in a family-sized raft down a 312-foot-long curving track on an 11-foot in diameter half pipe. DETAILS: Dh220 booked online in advance, Legoland Water Park will be open from 10am – 6pm Thursday to Saturday from 1 April 2021, with guests welcome to exit via Legoland Dubai theme park from 5pm and make use of its family friendly attractions at no extra charge. For an extra Dh99 you can book a cabana in advance. www.legoland.ae.

LAST CHANCE TO GET A FREE MEAL ON YOUR KIDS AT ROVE HOTELS: From 25 March until 10 April, parents dine free from The Big Kids’ Menu with every paying child at The Daily restaurants in Rove Trade Centre, Rove Healthcare City, Rove Dubai Marina, Rove City Centre, Rove At The Park, and Rove La Mer Beach.

WIN PRIZES AT A LEGO EGG HUNT: It’s your last chance to explore the Easter-themed celebration at Legoland Dubai, running from 1-10 April 2021, featuring an amazing Lego egg hunt – find 10 eggs hidden around the park and win fantastic prizes – as well as Lego flower creation, cupcake decorating, a Lego Friends dance workshop. https://www.legoland.com/dubai/.