Escape the summer heat of UAE
In the desert nation of the United Arab Emirates, the summer climate can be quite challenging if you’re not used to the heat. However, it shouldn’t discourage you from visiting the UAE because there are plenty of things to do even indoors.
Mana visitors typically stay in Dubai when visiting the UAE and perhaps go on a day trip or two to the nearby Abu Dhabi. So, we have listed down several top indoor activities in Dubai and Abu Dhabi!
Dubai
1. The Green Planet
Just because you’re indoors, it doesn’t mean that you will be missing out the wonders of nature! Located at City Walk, The Green Planet is a brilliant indoor rainforest touted as an engineering and architectural wonder.
Home to more than 3,000 plants and animals, you can witness the incredible beauty of nature right in the heart of this desert city. Separated into four different levels, you can learn about the different varieties of flora and fauna that are thriving within this bio-dome.
The Green Planet
Address: The Green Planet, City Walk, Dubai
Opening Hours: Saturday to Wednesday, 10am to 6pm | Thursday & Friday, 10am to 8pm
P/S: You can also select the Green Planet + Hub Zero combo ticket to get more bang for your buck!
2. Hub Zero
Also located at the City Walk, Hub Zero is home to numerous interactive and immersive virtual reality worlds that will give you an action-packed adventure unlike any other. Whether you’re a gaming enthusiast or new to VR, Hub Zero is not to be missed.
From jumping in a Resident Evil interactive dark ride to attacking your enemies in a VR shooting game, embarking on a 3D adventure, and more, the excitement is plenty in this indoor tech playground.
Hub Zero
Location: Hub Zero, City Walk, Dubai
Opening Hours: Saturday to Wednesday, 2pm to 10pm | Thursday & Friday, 2pm to 12am
P/S: If you’re visiting both Hub Zero & The Green Planet + Hub Zero, make sure to get the combo ticket for a better deal.
3. Ski Dubai
If the scorching heat is really getting to you, would you believe us if we said you can experience a magical winter right in the throes of summer? In comes Ski Dubai, the world’s largest indoor snow park located conveniently in the Mall of Emirates!
Spend a cold winter day in the middle of the desert with activities like bobsledding, tobogganing, and more. There’s even a penguin show that is just too cute to believe. You don’t even have to worry about packing or dressing appropriately because your ticket includes all the necessary winter garb and you’ll even get to keep the gloves and socks!
Ski Dubai
Location: Sheikh Zayed Rd – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Opening Hours: Sunday to Wednesday, 10am to 11pm | Thursday, 10am to 12am | Friday, 9am to 12am | Saturday, 9am to 11pm
4. Reel Cinemas
Photo Credit: U By Emaar
While going to the cinemas might seem quite ordinary or boring when you’re on vacation, it’s a whole other experience at Reel Cinemas in Dubai Mall! Opt for their ScreenX theatre for a movie journey that will make you literally turn your head.
A first in the UAE, the ScreenX is a 270-degree screen in a 170-seater cinema. Giving you an immersive viewing of the films which have been specially adapted to fit the screen, it’s certainly different from your typical day at the movies. For the best experience, opt for a seat at the back!
Reel Cinemas
Location: The Dubai Mall – Financial Center Rd – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
5. NoWayOut Escape Room
Photo Credit: NoWayOut
For the adventure-seeking detectives out there, get your brain juices flowing at the NoWayOut Escape Room in the HDS Business Center. For a step further, you can even opt for the horror and thriller themed ones like The Ring and Maniac – think haunted house meets escape room!
If you’re not a fan of the horror ones, they also have the adventure and mystery escape rooms like Da Vinci and School of Magic.
NoWayOut
Location: JLT, Cluster M, HDS Business Center, Shop-5, -1 – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Opening Hours: Sunday to Wednesday, 12pm to 12am | Thursday to Saturday, 11am to 1am
6. Mattel Play Town
Enter a magical world that kids will love as they live and play in their favourite worlds created by Mattel! Spend a day of family-friendly fun at Mattel Play! Town as your kids dress up in a builder’s outfit and start their lesson on teamwork and creativity with the famous Bob the Builder.
There’s also the Mattel superstar – Barney, the much-loved Dinosaur! We reckon the parents will be just as excited as the kids at the live show, joining in on the singing, dancing, and music. Besides that, there are plenty of Mattel characters within the five themed zones like Angelina Ballerina, Thomas & Friends, and more.
Mattel Play Town
Location: Mattel Play! Town, City Walk, Dubai
Opening Hours: Saturday to Wednesday, 9am to 8pm | Thursday, 10am to 10pm | Friday, 11am to 10pm
7. IMG Worlds of Adventure
When it comes to Dubai indoor activities, IMG Worlds of Adventure reigns supreme! Covering over 1.5 million square feet with 4 themed areas, it’s the largest indoor theme park in the world. The 4 different ‘Epic Zones’ include themes from Marvel, Cartoon Network, IMG Boulevard and The Lost Valley.
Hop on the thrill rides from the different themed areas, brace yourself for jump scares at the theme park’s famous haunted hotel, and dine at the themed restaurants for a break. With so much to do and fit into a day, you can skip the queues with the IMG Worlds of Adventure Express Pass.
To get between your hotel and the theme park easily, book one of these convenient & affordable transport options:
Shared Transfers between Dubai Hotel and Dubai Attractions
Shared Van Transfers to Dubai and Abu Dhabi Attractions from Dubai (Round Trip)
Private Car Transfer to/from Dubai Attractions
IMG Worlds of Adventure
Location: E311, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road
Opening Hours: Daily, 3pm to 9pm
8. Tee & Putt Mini Golf
Photo Credit: Tee & Putt Mini Golf
If you want to put your mini-golf skills to the test, you’ve come to the right place at Tee & Putt Mini Golf in WAFI Mall! With a miniature golf course set in the dark and illuminated by neon backlighting, it’s certainly a welcoming twist from the regular course you’re used to.
Each of the 18 glow-in-the-dark holes is different and miniature golfers of all ages and abilities are bound to find it challenging yet fun to play. Get ready to aim for your hole in one!
Tee & Putt Mini Golf
Location: WAFI Mall, Level 1, Oud Metha Road, Dubai, UAE 26th Street – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Opening Hours: Saturday to Wednesday, 10am to 10pm | Thursday & Friday, 10am to 12am
9. iFly Dubai
Take the first step of skydiving in a safe and controlled environment of indoor skydiving. At iFly Dubai, you can experience the thrill of skydiving, base-jumping and bungee jumping in this unique and state-of-the-art facility!
If you’re new to this, no fret. You’ll be guided every step of the way from the experts and professional instructors.
iFly Dubai
Location: WAFI Mall, Level 1, Oud Metha Road, Dubai, UAE 26th Street – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Opening Hours: Saturday to Wednesday, 10am to 10pm | Thursday & Friday, 10am to 12am
Where to stay:
Abu Dhabi
10. Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi
Welcome to the vibrant, action-packed worlds from the Warner Bros in this indoor theme park, located at Yas Island, Abu Dhabi! In this world of action and adventure, you’ll come across animated worlds you’re familiar with like Tom & Jerry, the Flintstones, Looney Tunes, and more!
Immerse yourself in the different themed areas like Warner Bros. Plaza, Gotham City, Metropoli, Dynamite Gulch, and more. When you get your all-day access Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi ticket from Klook, you’ll also get a complimentary meal voucher! You can get to the theme park from Dubai hassle-free via a shared transfer from Klook.
Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi
Location: Warner Bros. World, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
Opening Hours: Daily, 11am to 8pm
11. Ferrari World
In this world’s first and only Ferrari-branded amusement park spreading across the size of 7 football fields, you can escape the heat and enjoy a day in the climate-controlled park. F1 fans will love the motion-based simulator to experience the thrill of F1 racing and the interactive game show with Fast Lane.
Ferrari World is also home to the world’s fastest roller coaster, the Formula Rossa, which starts from the indoor theme park, through the dome and outside the park, then back again inside the building. Aside from these, there is plenty of other exciting rides and activities in this theme park! You can enter directly with your open-dated Ferrari World e-ticket from Klook inclusive of a free meal voucher.
To get between your hotel and the theme park easily, book one of these convenient & affordable transport options:
Shared Transfers between Dubai and Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi
Private Transfers to Yas Island Abu Dhabi Attractions
Ferrari World
Location: Abu Dhabi – United Arab Emirates
Opening Hours: Daily, 11am to 8pm
12. Bounce Abu Dhabi
Photo Credit: Bounce
Located inside Marina Mall in Abu Dhabi, BOUNCE is one of the biggest indoor trampoline parks in the region. While they’re famous for their variety of different trampolines, you can also find other activities like the big bag, speed slide, X-Park, zipline, dodgeball and more.
This family-friendly park is suitable for young kids to adults, with plenty of activities suited for different skills and difficulty level.
BOUNCE Abu Dhabi
Location: G Floor, Marina Mall, Al Marina – Abu Dhabi
Opening Hours: Saturday to Wednesday, 10am to 10pm | Thursday & Friday, 10am to 12am
Where to stay:
