According to UAE’s National Centre of Meteorology, the UAE should be seeing a shift in weather patterns with temperatures potentially reaching the 40-degree Celsius mark.
This means that if you’re living here in Dubai, we are technically transitioning from spring to summer.
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But if the temperatures are already getting too much for you, you needn’t worry. There are loads of exciting indoor activities dotted all over the city to plan an unforgettable summer.
Whether you are looking to test your athletic abilities or want to impress the family with a cool outing, these are the most brilliant indoor activities to try in Dubai.
Air Maniax
Instead of bouncing off the walls at home, bounce off the walls at Dubai’s multi-activity indoor play arena, Air Maniax. Spread over 23,000 square feet, Air Maniax’s biggest zone is an inflatable arena for all ages. Fitness fans will love the challenging obstacle courses, the zip line and laser tag game, while the colour-coded, sensor-activated wristbands are an added bonus that allow those with a competitive streak to go up against their mates to get the highest scores.
From Dhs85, Al Quoz, airmaniax.com (04 348 8981).
Bounce
Test out your trampoline skills at Bounce, an indoor trampolining park devoted to the art of defying gravity. With locations in both Al Quoz and Al Ain, Bounce fuses trampolining with parkour, where people can “free jump” any way they want and the indoor trampoline park has heaps of activities for little kids and big kids alike. Whether you want to do a flip or two in the air on the performance trampolines, run vertically up a wall or simply bounce around on the massive free jumping area, the sky’s the limit (or the roof of its building, at the very least).
From Dhs55, Al Quoz and Al Ain, bounce.ae (04 321 1400).
Café Céramique
If you love art as much as you love food, this spot offers the best of both worlds. Diners get the chance to paint and craft whatever they choose, from ceramic small animals to a traditional mug. Your painted products are then sent to the kiln for firing, and can be collected in a week. A pretty good excuse to return.
Jumeirah Town Centre, Jumeirah, cafeceramique.ae (04 344 7331).
Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo
Experience the real thrill of the wild while getting close to some of nature’s most beautiful creatures at Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo in Downtown Dubai. Take on a shark encounter, where you’ll be plunged into the depths of the aquarium tank (inside a cage) as 300 of the remarkable creatures swarm around you for feeding time. You can also meet the aquarium’s resident crocodile, regarded as one of nature’s rarest phenomenons and one of the largest reptiles in the world at more than five metres long and 750kg in weight.
From Dhs199, The Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai (800 3822 46255).
Dubai Bowling Center
The Dubai Bowling Center is one of the most recognisable buildings in Al Quoz and in 2019 it underwent an entire makeover harking back to bowling’s glory days: the 1980s. There are 16 professional-grade lanes inside to keep good times bowling rolling in every day and night of the week. And, if you get bored watching your friends and family (AKA competitors) during their turn, you can turn your attention to the classic films being beamed out on projectors instead.
The attraction features spaces for free-jumping, dodgeball, aerobics and basketball, as well as an e-gaming zone and old school favourites like billiards and ping pong.
Al Quoz, bowlingdubai.com (04 339 1010).
Dubai Frame
This cool vantage point allows visitors to see Dubai’s past, present and future in a one-hour tour with unique views of ‘old’ and ‘new’ Dubai from a 150-metre-high sky glass bridge which is fully air-conditioned and indoors. The Dubai Frame comprises two towers measuring 150 metres in height and connected by the 93-metre long bridge at the top.
Dhs20 (kids), Dhs50 (adults), Zabeel Park, dubaiframe.ae.
Dubai Ice Rink
When the temperature outside gets a bit too much, there’s only one way to make sure things cool down, right down. Head to Downtown Dubai and check out The Dubai Mall’s Olympic-sized skating rink. Kids and adults alike will be able to move around, have fun and sharpen their skating skills on Dubai’s most popular ice rink. It’s also a great excuse to shake the dust off your winter woollies. The flurries of fake snow falling from the sky (AKA the rooftop of the mall) will make your cold dreams come true.
From Dhs85, The Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai, dubaiicerink.com (04 448 5111)
Chaos Karts
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If the love for Mario Kart runs in your family, Chaos Karts is the perfect place to take the family. Guests can get behind the wheel of karts, and enjoy several races– which lasts about 20 minutes – all varying in design, complete with music and kart powers to help racers battle it to the finish line. The Dubai branch in Al Quoz will be the second in the world, with the original based in Manchester, England.
Riders will need to be aged nine and above or be at least 1.30m tall to get stuck in.
From Dhs140. Open from Sun Apr 7, 10am-10pm (Sun–Thurs); 10am-midnight (Fri and Sat). 6A St – Al Quoz.@chaoskartsuae. chaoskarts.ae
IMG World of Adventure
Dubai’s 1.5-million-square-foot IMG Worlds of Adventure is the biggest indoor theme park on the planet, and it’s home to some pretty epic rides. The goal here is definitely fun for all, with exhilarating rides, movies, brilliant dining options and shopping attractions in a sprawling space separated into four adventure zones. The Marvel Zone features a stellar cast of superheroes, including Spider-Man, The Hulk, Iron Man, Thor and The Avengers, over a host of heart-pumping rides. The thrills spill over into Lost Valley, where prehistoric creatures roar back into life for an awesome day out. A whole world of adventure awaits…
Dhs365 (general park admission), Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, Dubai, imgworlds.com (04 403 8888).
iFly Dubai
Once you have accepted that jumping out of a plane in Dubai is too terrifying, but that you really want the feeling of weightlessness, then iFly is your only option. Strap on a special suit and enter a 10m indoor glass tunnel and jets of wind will shoot you in to the air to (try and) perform aerial stunts.
From Dhs145, Mirdif City Centre, Mirdif, iflyme.com (04 231 6292).
Museum of Illusions
We’d like to think we could never be duped by any sort of smoke and mirrors. That is until we entered Dubai’s Museum of Illusions. Boggle your mind by the perception-distorting puzzles, optical trickery and bizarre sensory experiences at this indoor Al Seef Museum. From anti-gravity rooms to an infinity tunnel or clone table the indoor Museum of Illusions is best enjoyed with a group of mates. Prepare for a full day’s worth of being fooled. For a quick guide to Al Seef, click here.
Dhs90 (adults) Dhs65 (children aged 3-15) Mon-Thurs, 10am-10pm, Fri-Sun, 10am-11pm, Al Seef, Bur Dubai, museumofillusions.ae (04 357 3999)
OliOli museum
One for the tots, OliOli is an experiential children’s play museum full of quirky and cool installations to thrill kiddies. The hand-knit macramé play park for children to climb and wriggle across is a firm favourite and with 40 hands-on exhibits and several interactive galleries it is a go-to spot to keep youngsters entertained.
Dhs69 (toddler), Dhs139 (children aged 2-16), Dhs42 (adult), Mon-Thurs, 9am-6pm, Fri, 9am-7pm, Sat, 11.30am-8pm, Sun, 9am-7pm, Al Quoz, olioli.ae
Parkour DXB
Heard of Parkour? Best described as free-running merged with military obstacle-course training. This is for those who like a challenge. Try it out at one of three locations in the city that mean you can test your limits on padded mats and a safe environment instead of scaling building and hopping off roofs (which could get you in some serious trouble). There are also classes for kids, so why not take the whole brood?
Locations in Al Quoz, Port Rashid and JVC, Dubai, parkour.ae (800 7275687).
Ski Dubai
That’s right – take skiing and snowboarding lessons indoors in the desert. Snow is in rich supply at Ski Dubai, the first indoor ski resort in the Middle East, based at Mall of the Emirates. This is a winter wonderland no matter how hot it is outside. Set foot in an incredible 3,000 square metres of real snow, featuring twin-tracked bobsled runs, tobogganing hills, a snow cavern filled with interactive experiences, and a chairlift from which you can take in a bird’s-eye view of the entire park. You can even make friends with the resident penguins if that’s your kind of thing.
From Dhs220, Mall of the Emirates, Al Barsha, www.skidxb.com (800 386).
Storm Coaster
“The Storm” is a record-breaking rollercoaster located inside Dubai Hills Mall. This unique experience is likely to bring thrill-seekers from around the UAE to the mall to try this one-of-a-kind ride. Will you be queuing up for a ride on The Storm? Reaching speeds of up to 77kmh, riders can expect twists, turns, and sharp stomach wrenching drops.
From Dhs55. Dubai Hills Mall, Dubai Hills. Open Sunday to Thursday from 10am-10pm, Open Friday and Saturday from 10am-midnight.
Street Maniax
Street Maniax, operated by the same people behind successful inflatable park, Air Maniax, opened at the beginning of 2020. And while Air Maniax is suitable for everyone from toddlers to adults, Street Maniax is aimed at older children and adults. There are over ten activities to try including some new-to-Dubai experiences such as quick flight VR where a mixture of reality and virtual reality promises a unique, fully-immersive experience. Fun-seekers can also learn parkour and hone their trampolining skills with the on-site trainers, all with the end goal of increasing their fitness levels.
From Dhs85, Mon-Thurs, noon-8pm, Fri, noon-10pm, Sat,9am-10pm, Sun, 9am-9pm, Al Quoz, Dubai, streetmaniax.com (04 348 8981).
The Green Planet
Missing wildlife? Fancy a trip to the jungle? Look no further than Dubai’s The Green Planet. The Green Planet in City Walk is an indoor bio-dome designed to educate guests on the dangers facing the world’s rainforests. It is an immersive experience, designed to allow its inhabitants to live as they would in the wild, with a broadly diverse ecosystem of creatures and jungle critters. You can see squirrel monkeys or get up close with an adorable sugar glider at this interactive and educational exhibit and you can make a friend for life at this indoor Dubai rainforest.
From Dhs110 (if purchased online),City Walk, Al Safa Street, thegreenplanetdubai.com (04 317 3999).
The Smash Room
Sometimes talking about our problems just isn’t good enough and only a mallet will do. If you’re looking to smash away any stress (without wounding, regret – or arrest) Dubai has just the place. With two branches across Dubai (Al Quoz and Last Exit Mad X) The Smash Room is a place to physically smash out all of your frustrations with a choice of catastrophic weapons including sledgehammers, crowbars and baseball bats. You can scream, cry, yell, or hysterically laugh as you demolish an entire room full of TVs, laptops, printers and plates and nobody will bat an eyelid.
From Dhs99, Mon-Thurs, 12.30pm-10pm, Fri-Sat 12.30pm-11pm, Sun, 12.30pm-10.30pm, Al Quoz, thesmashroom.ae (058 198 2323).
Kokoro Handroll Bar
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Dubai diners are always looking out for the newest foodie experience and the latest one is in the heart of Alserkal Avenue. Kokoro Handroll Bar is Dubai’s first hand roll bar promising sushi lovers something different. The restaurant, which is currently in soft opening stages, already has the attention of the city’s foodie community, particularly those with a penchant for sushi. The concept was brought to Dubai by the team behind Pinza, FIYA and Bake My Day, so you know you’re getting something great.
Wed-Sun from noon until sushi is sold out. Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz @kokoro.dxb
VR Park Dubai
This indoor virtual reality theme park in The Dubai Mall has loads of attractions, some of which have multiple games inside, taking you to distant planets, the distant future and the not-so-distant world of a fully virtualised Dubai. It’s a place to go with friends and family, especially if you decide to take on The Walking Dead game that sees you having to shoot your way out of the show’s famous hospital to safety. Rides include the Burj Drop and Dubai Drone: full-size roller coasters sitting proudly within this 7,000 sq m arcade. Set aside a good few hours for this one, as you’ll want to savour it.
From Dhs200, Sun-Thurs, 10am-midnight, Fri-Sat,10am-midnight, The Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai, vrparkdubai.com (800 38224 6255).
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