Cool things to do with kids in Dubai over summer: 9 Places where you'll find ice, rain and snow in the UAE

From braving thunder and lightning, to eating pancakes with snow penguins, escape the heat outside with these fun and frosty, family-friendly experiences...

GET DRENCHED IN A RAINSTORM: Rumbling thunder cracks, lightning flashes, blasts of wind and lashings of steamy, tropical rain are yours to experience at the new thunderstorm activation at indoor rainforest Green Planet in Citywalk, Dubai. Happening at 1pm and 5pm every day for a period of around 5 minutes, kids will love splashing in puddles and feeling at one with the elements in this immersive experience, which also teaches children about the importance of thunderstorms to the biodome’s tropical flora and fauna. A specialised rain system combines with high tech audio and visual effects to mimic authentic tropical-storm conditions – but don’t worry, there are also parts of the indoor rainforest where you can watch the storm without having to get wet yourself! DETAILS: Daily Thunderstorms, every day at 1pm and 5pm, at The Green Planet Citywalk, Dh120 adults (Dh100 onine) and Dh99 children (Dh80 online), www.thegreenplanet.com.

COSY UP AT THE SNOW CINEMA: From Monday May 10 Snow Cinema is back at Ski Dubai for the summer season, so you and the brood can enjoy the magic of movies surrounded by real snow on the slopes of the World’s Best Indoor Ski Resort. Hosting several screenings a day, including family films such as Raya and the Last Dragon, Tom & Jerry, Maya the Bee, kids will love snuggling down on the lounge-style seating while watching their favourite movies on the big screen. There’s no need to worry about getting too cold as each seat has an individual heater, plus all guests receive rental clothing (jacket and pants), fleece gloves, socks, boots, beanie hat, blanket, stereo wireless headphones and a dedicated locker. DETAILS: Ticket prices for Snow Cinema start at Dh100 per person and include admission as well as an F&B package consisting of a signature hot chocolate and popcorn. There’s also the option to upgrade your ticket to: Snow Cinema & Penguin Encounter (Dh280), Snow Cinema & Snow Park (Dh235) and Snow Cinema & Chairlift (Dh130 and available from September 1), book at voxcinemas.com or skidxb.com.

HOWL THROUGH A HURRICANE: Feel what it’s like to stand in blasts of up to 110kph in the Hurricane Booth inside the Air Gallery at experiential children’s play museum Oli Oli, in Al Quoz, Dubai. Kids will love shrieking against the howling sound of the powerful gusts, and watching their hair stand on end and their cheeks wobble in the wind in the mirror opposite during the exhilarating experience. But that’s not all the weather-related fun to be had here – head over to the Water Gallery and don a plastic mackintosh to dance in the rain shower, and experiment with physics, gravity, aerodynamics and more at the many science-led play stations dotted around this vast, two-floored, edutainment-packed warehouse. DETAILS: Dh126 for one child and one accompanying adult, Dh63 for toddlers (12-23 months), Olioli.ae.

DRINK HOT CHOCOLATE IN THE ICE: Brace yourselves for a spine-tinglingly chilly café experience at the sub-zero Chillout Lounge in Times Square Center on Sheikh Zayed Road. Warm up frosty fingers and toes with a steaming cup of sweet, hot cocoa as you snuggle into the cosy, provided snowsuits and admire the stunning array of glittering ice sculptures, which are all dramatically lit with coloured lights for added impact. DETAILS: Chillout is open Saturday to Wednesday from 10 am to 10 pm, and till midnight on weekends. Admission fee is Dh80 for adults and Dh40 for children between 5 and 12. Children under 4 enter for free. The lounge advises parents not to bring infants under one year old. www.chilloutindubai.com

SKATE UNDER SNOWFLAKES: Feel flurries of snowflakes fall softly on your cheeks, and watch the snow spiralling in frozen fractals all around a la Frozen in Dubai Ice Rink’s magical Snowfall experience. Little ones from the age of three are welcome to try their hand at learning to ice skate; smaller kids can rent a seal skate support, which functions as a ride for them to sit on while you glide them around the rink. Meanwhile older kids who are just getting use to their ice skates can use a snowman or penguin support to lean on as they find their feet. With regular sessions at set times per day, this is likely to be the first experience of live snowfall that most expat kids will ever have. DETAILS: Dh40 per child under 100cm; Dh75 per adult, additional supplement for the Snowfall experience, check when you book your session online at www.Dubaiicerink.com

EAT PANCAKES WITH SNOW PENGUINS: The new Breakfast with Penguins package at Ski Dubai sees you and your kids being able to tuck into a hot drink and your favourite brekkie at North 28, the Alpine-themed café that’s adjacent to Ski Dubai, while watching the penguins through the window as they wake up and start wobbling around the snow park. Then it’s off to Ski Dubai to get snow-suited-up, after which you can then take a (very slow) walk with the penguins, before sitting down to learn more about these adorable and fascinating creatures from one of the resident experts. DETAILS: Ski Dubai, Mall of the Emirates, Al Barsha, Tuesdays and Thursdays until March 2021, 8.30am to 10am, Dhs65 breakfast, Dhs150 breakfast and walk. skidxb.com

DANCE IN THE RAIN: Kids can sing in the rain without getting wet at this inspiring, immersive art installation in Sharjah, which sees you walking through an atmospherically lit, continuous indoor downpour that switches off as you walk so you don’t get drenched. The venue has reopened with strict health and safety measures, which mean a maximum of 5 people may enter at a time and each visit lasts 15 minutes. Tickets should be booked in advance. DETAILS: Free for five years and under, Dh25 per adult, Dh15 for students under 22. www.Sharjahart.org

FLOAT ON THE WIND: What little girl or boy hasn’t dreamt of being able to fly before? Well dreams can come true at iFly Dubai, the indoor skydiving experience, which sees you suspended four metres above the ground in a high-powered wind tunnel. Swept up by the powerful, gravity-defying gusts like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, kids can enjoy showing off their skills as they float in the air, before being gently released back down in a controlled way. Children aged 3 years old and above are welcome to try this experience. DETAILS: From Dh149 for a first-time flyers experience, including training session, two flights, flight gear and flying certificate. www.Iflyme.com.

GET SOAKED IN ‘STEAM’: Little ones can don a rain jacket and get wet under the rain installation in the Splash Lab at new edutainment museum Woo-hoo! in Al Quoz Dubai, as they play, experiment and soak up all of the learning on offer at the many ‘STEAM’-inspired (science, technology, engineering, arts, maths) interactive installations dotted around the venue’s 10 galleries. Prices start at Dh110 for a child and adult; Dh30 for every additional adult; Dh40 for every additional hour per child; and Dh30 for a child under the age of one and an adult. Open daily; Sunday to Wednesday, 11am-7pm; Thursday, 11am-9pm; Friday 9am-9pm; Saturday 9am-7pm. For more information, visit www.woo-hoo.ae or call 800-966466.