Play is how little people make sense of the world and it brings them joy (and parents too when they get some peace and quiet).
Luckily, there are loads of play areas in the UAE to take the kiddos to let loose, from inside spots to outdoor, soft play and edutainment.
Wondering where to take the little ones to fill their free time with fun? Keep reading as these kid zones are sure to put a smile on your kids’ faces.
Play areas in the UAE to visit now
Jump to:
- Best kids’ play areas
- Best playgrounds in parks
- Best playgrounds in family restaurants
- Best restaurants with indoor play areas
Best kids’ play areas in the UAE
Caboodle, Abu Dhabi
Caboodle is a multi-purpose spot where the environment is both educational and stimulating. The play area features a kids’ salon, healthy café, crafts and role-play areas, as well as Droplets, a water-inspired play area for babies and young children. Plus, it also hosts musical-themed mum-and-tot classes filled with activities, crafts, games, stories and sing-alongs
Dhs59 (one hour play), Dhs35 (every additional hour). Open Sun-Thurs 10am-10pm, Fri-Sun 10am-midnight. The Galleria, Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi, www.caboodle.ae (02 679 8019).
Cheeky Monkeys, Abu Dhabi and Dubai
Cheeky Monkeys soft play centres are great places for the kids to let off some steam. Neon-lit slides, mini zip lines, dressing-up areas and ball pits provide endless entertainment. Plus, there’s a café serving hot kid-friendly meals and coffee for mums and dads – a must for play areas in the UAE.
Dhs60 (one hour play) Dhs33 (every additional hour). Times vary. JBR, Downtown, Palm Jumeirah, Mirdif, Al Ain, Arabian Ranches, J3 Mall, Abu Dhabi. (04 276 0011).
Kids HQ, Dubai
The incredible soft play area is huge and sits over three floors. High-energy kiddos will love running, climbing and jumping as they play on the various slides, in the ball pit and on the trampolines. There is also a dedicated area for the tiniest of fun-seekers complete with a sensory pit. Kids HQ also hosts a programme of educational classes and activities designed to make learning fun, as well as mummy and toddler music classes for tiny tots from three months to four years, every Thursday.
Dhs125 (per child) Mon-Thu 9am-9pm, Fri-Sun10am-9pm, Umm Suqeim Road, Dubai, kidshq.ae (04 379 4233).
Leo&Loona
After a fresh new soft play for family fun? Leo&Loona at Dubai Festival City Mall opened in late 2023 and sprawls over 2,200 sq m. There’s heaps to get involved in with more than 20 attractions for kids aged two to ten. Think trampolines, ball pools, climbing walls, pedal go-karts and more. There’s also a café, while Leo&Loona hosts kids’ masterclasses in bath bombs, slime, cooking and more.
From Dhs129 (two hours). Open Mon-Thu 10am-11pm, Fri-Sat 10am-midnight. Dubai Festival City Mall, leoloona.ae (04 894 7117).
Oli Oli, Dubai
This play-and-learn edutainment centre is all about feeding inquisitive little minds. Built around hands-on activities that nurture curiosity, imagination and exploration, OliOli has eight galleries and over 40 interactive exhibits spread over two floors. Each space features artistic, innovative concepts that create a one-of-its-kind educative play experience.
From Dhs139 (standard visit, 1 child aged 2-16 and 1 adult), Dhs69 (standard visit, 1 toddler aged 12 months – 23 months and 1 adult). Two-hour slots are available to book from 9am-4pm. Bookings must be made online in advance. Al Quoz 1, Dubai, olioli.ae(04 702 7300).
Orange Wheels, Abu Dhabi and Dubai
Little adventurers between the ages of six months to eight years have free rein to run, jump and explore this soft play destination where they can burn off energy in a safe environment. Parents who want to keep an eye on their tots can stick around and kick back in the café with a coffee.
Dhs90(90-minute session), Dhs50 (additional hour), 1 adult free per household, additional adult Dhs25. Mon-Sun, timings vary at each location. Dubai Silicon Oasis, Town Centre, Nakheel Mall, Reem Mall, Al Wahda Mall, Al Raha Mall. orangewheels.com (02 556 2229).
The Green Planet, Dubai
The Green Planet in Dubai’s City Walk is a biodome designed to educate kiddos 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 creatures. More than 3,000 exotic animals and plants (including two resident sloths) are housed in the indoor four-storey tropical rainforest.
From Dhs140 (online ticket purchase). Kids under three go free. Mon-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun noon=6pm. City Walk, Al Safa Street. thegreenplanetdubai.com.
Woo-hoo, Dubai
This edutainment destination aimed at kids up to 12 promises a fun blend of education, discovery, development and play across 10 themed galleries. Each gallery hosts cool interactive exhibits designed to spark children’s curiosity, imagination and innovation whilst delivering clear learning objectives (just don’t tell the little ones).
Dhs110 (1 child and 1 adult), Dhs60 (1 toddler aged 12 months- 24 months), Dhs30 (1 infant aged 0-11 months and 1 adult). Open Mon-Tues, 2pm-7pm, Wed, noon-7pm, Thurs, 2pm-7pm, Fri-Sun, 10am-7pm. Al Quoz. woo-hoo.ae (800 966 466).
Best playgrounds in parks
Al Barari Playground
As playground areas go, this one knocks it out of the park. A set-in-nature wonderland for little (and big) adventurers, there are floating bridges to cross, treehouses to explore, cargo nets and giant slides to climb, pirate ships to conquer and water-filled coves to splash around in here.
Dhs45 (two hours, Mon-Thu), Dhs65 (two hours, Fri-Sun), free (under twos).Open Tue-Sun 8am-8pm, Mon 2pm-8pm. Al Barari. albarariplayground.com/ (056 686 7439).
Al Khazzan Park
Al Khazzan Park might be small but it’s got a decent-sized play area for children, this place is a low-key, urban sanctuary There are also picnic benches making it a great place to pack up a lunch box for when hunger strikes.
Free. Open Sat-Wed 8am-10pm, Thu-Fri 8am-11pm. Al Safa Street, Satwa.
Al Sufouh Park
This park is well-maintained and family-friendly with swings and slides plus areas for football and basketball. Grassy spaces for chilling are also available and Burj Khalifa views.
Free. Sun-Wed 8am-10pm, Thu-Sat 8am-11pm. Al Sufouh 1, Al Sufouh.
Dubai Hills Park
Dubai Hills Park boasts swings, slides, monkey bars and cargo net-filled playgrounds which are open to both residents and non-residents and free to use. A sheltered-from-the-sun splash park and wave pool, skate park and ice rink all add to the fun and mean that this park appeals to tweens and teens as well as smaller children.
Dhs85 (full-day pass for non-residents), Dhs55 (full-day pass for residents). Open 24 hours. Dubai Hills, dubaihillsestate.ae (04 567 2030).
JLT Park
Whether you’re a JLT-dweller or live a little further afield, should you and the clan be seeking some thrifty, post-school al fresco entertainment, the play areas in JLT Park are well worth a visit. Little ones can enjoy toddler-safe rides, swings and slides, while their older pals burn off energy hurtling along zip lines and scurrying up the large black spider’s web climbing frame.
Free. Open 24 hours. Cluster P, Jumeirah Lake Towers.
Mushrif Park
Mushrif Park is a lush forest teaming with wildlife. Kiddos can explore an equestrian centre, running tracks, a swimming pool, sports courts, play areas, a mini global village with traditional houses and more.
Dhs10 per car, Dhs3 per person. Sun-Wed, 8am-10pm, Thu-Sat, 8am-11pm. Al Khawaneej St.
Sustainable City Park
Expect all the farm feels at Sustainable City Park. Visitors can feed the ducks, say hello to the donkeys and goats and admire the peacocks strutting about in their enclosed area. After that, challenge the kids to navigate their way through the mini maze and climb to the top of the lookout tower, swing high into the sky on the upcycled tyre swings and have a pretend tea party in the wooden tree house that overlooks the equestrian centre.
Free. Open 24 hours. Al Qudra Rd, thesustainablecity.ae (04 347 5955).
Town Square Park
The large grassy expanse (ideal for impromptu sports days and football games), water fountains, super-fun splash zone and good-sized play park with apparatus for different ages mean that you can easily spend a good few hours at Town Square Park.
Free. Daily 10am-9pm. Al Quadra Road, nshama.ae/town-square-park.
Umm Sequim Park
Umm Sequim Park (or Burj Park Beach) has a set-in-the-sand playground area. Pack up a picnic and head here for a play, then make your way across the road for ice cream and sandcastle building. Note that the park is only open to women and children during the week. All family members are welcome at the weekend.
Free. Daily 8am-10pm. Jumeriah 3.
Best playgrounds in restaurants
caya
Neighbourhood eatery caya in Town Square Park is a great spot to enjoy a relaxed meal en famille. The European-style restaurant has a sweet children’s corner, a dedicated kid’s menu and perhaps most appealingly of all during the winter months, an outdoor terrace that spills out onto Town Square’s grassy main park area. If your children are slightly older (i.e they can climb slides unsupervised), they’ll be able to spirit themselves off to the playground while you linger over dessert.
Sun-Wed 8am-10pm, Thu-Sat 8am-11pm. Town Square Dubai, Al Qudra Road (056 484 2836).
Maison Mathis
Dubailand family favourite Maison Mathis has a small enclosed outdoor play area that certainly offers up enough excitement to keep little people entertained while you enjoy your coffee. The added bonus here is that if you snag yourself an indoor table close to the floor-to-ceiling windows or at just the right spot on the outdoor terrace, you can watch them play from the comfort of your chair.
Daily 8am-1am. Arabian Ranches (04 450 1313).
Phileas Fogg’s
The large, air-conditioned indoor-outdoor play area at Phileas Fogg’s is one of the top playgrounds attached to a restaurant in Dubai. This one is probably best suited to the over-3s and in addition to the swings, slides and climbing apparatus, there’s also a cute retro-style carousel. Kids tend to be fascinated by the quirky travel trinkets and ornamental hot air balloons dotted around the place too.
Open Sun-Thurs, 8am-1.30am, Fri-Sat, 8am-2.30am. Address Montgomerie, Emirates Living (04 572 4477).
Reform Social & Grill
When the weather is good, we struggle to think of a better place for families to kick back and chill al fresco than at Reform. You can’t go wrong with their classic pub grub, the roasts are great and the kids menu has plenty to offer. In addition to the outdoor playground area, there are also masses of green space for running about.
Daily 8am-12am. The Lakes, reformsocialgrill.ae (04 454 2638).
The Farm
Lots of tropical greenery, swoon-worthy views, a sun-dappled terrace, a tranquil vibe and a health-focused menu – a trip to The Farm for an outdoorsy brekkie or lunch is always likely to please. The grassy lawn to the left of the main building and the kid’s climbing frames and swings means that it’s not only the adults who will relish their time here.
Daily 7.30am-10.30pm. Nad Al Sheba, opposite The Villa development on Emirates Road (exit 44) (04 392 5660).
Best restaurants with indoor play areas
Baker’s Kitchen
Baker’s Kitchen brings us a winning duo, by way of selling some of the finest sourdough in the city and also housing a brilliant kids’ playroom complete with soft play area, climbing frames, toy kitchen and playhouse. The tasty yet wholesome children’s menu will please both adults and kids, the space is light and airy and they even host children’s baking classes here.
Daily 7.30am-11pm. Dusti Princess Residences, Dubai Marina, bakerskitchenuae.org.
Café Confetti
As cute and cosy as the name suggests, this pretty little spot in JLT has plenty to keep toddlers and little kids entertained with tepees, a wooden kitchen, toy cars and more.
Daily 8am-9pm. Cluster U, JLT, cafeconfettidubai.com (04 554 6206).
Common Grounds
This cool spot in Nakheel Mall serves brilliant coffee and comes from the team behind Tom&Serg and The Sum of Us. The best thing about this branch, however, is the fact there’s an enclosed kids’ play area with toys, books, puzzles, games and a doll’s house that will keep little ones entertained while you drink your cuppa.
Open Sun-Thu 8am-9.30pm, Fri-Sat 8am-11.30pm. Nakheel Mall, Palm Jumeirah, @_common.grounds_ (050 900 1699).
Luigia
Kids will love the playroom at family-friendly Italian, Luigia. The dedicated space for little ones has soft play toys, a video game machine, arts and crafts options and books, as well as a cosy cinema room.
Mon-Fri 5.30pm-midnight, Sat-Sun 12.30pm-midnight. Rixos Premium Dubai, JBR (04 349 6950).
Osteria Mario and Shvili
This restaurant in Dubai Hills Mall has an indoor play area in the centre of the space, boasting a tree house-style hideaway, soft toys, games and more to entertain the kids while you wait for your meal. There are two menus – one Italian and one Georgian, so there’s plenty of choice when it comes to food, too.
Open daily, 9am-1am, Dubai Hills Mall (052 929 2088).
Sanderson’s
Sanderson’s looks out over Sustainable City’s pretty plaza and is a great place for a wholesome breakfast or lunch. A compact but well-equipped indoor play section complete with a mini kitchen (always a winner for toddlers), wooden toys and games are perfect for smaller children.
Daily 7am-9pm. Block E, Diamond Plaza, Sustainable City, wearesandersons.com.
The Scene
You might have to drag yourself away from the outdoor terrace with its stellar Marina views so that your little one can enjoy the designated play corner at The Scene, but the various toys, activities and games should keep them amused long enough for you to devour your gastro pub-inspired meal without interruption. What more could you ask for?
Mon-Thurs noon-12am, Fri, noon-1am, Sat 10am-1am, Sun 10am-midnight, Pier 7, Dubai Marina (04 422 2328).
Tom & Serg
There’s no need to worry about rushing your flat white or powering through that plate of smashed avo on toast at speed for fear that the kids will soon be causing an uproar at Tom & Serg. Instead, let them pick their meal from the better-than-average children’s menu and then amuse themselves in the kids’ zone.
Mon-Fri 8am-4pm, Sat-Sun 8am-6pm. Al Quoz (056 474 6812).
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