Dubai’s Best Theme Parks for Family

Dubai’s top theme parks are world-class. They include the IMG Worlds of Adventure, Motion Gate Dubai, Global Village, Aqua Venture Water Park, Wild Wadi Water Park, etc.

Beyond the hype, to experience the actual joy at the family-friendly theme parks, do visit one of the best family theme parks in Dubai even if you are visiting Dubai on a vacation package.

So, a “theme park-only” break in Dubai also makes sense, even if it means skirting beaches and the deserts. Dubai theme parks are more integrated into the cityscape and will not stand out like islands of attraction as in Disney or Universal in the US.

Dubai theme parks are darlings of kids as their favourite characters live there and appear in shows, give them thrilling rides, and offer hassle-free access without tiring queues.

Legoland Dubai: Both Legoland Dubai and Motiongate Dubai are in the Dubai Parks & Resorts complex (DPR) in Jebel Ali. It is some 50 km southwest of Dubai Downtown, and from Abu Dhabi it will take an hour’s drive.

The DPR site houses three theme parks. It may be four if you count Legoland's water park as a separate one. Neon Galaxy is a space-themed indoor play area featuring a variety of activities, including ninja courses for all ages. The other theme park on the DPT site is Real Madrid World, popular among football fans. But it is a fringe player compared to the other two parks.

The target audience of Legoland is juniors from 02 to 12 years old seeking moderate thrills. The indoor Miniland is the compass of Legoland, where a vast dome houses a full-size replica of Dubai along with many famous Middle Eastern landmarks. The park is split into four lands—City, Kingdoms, Imagination, and Adventure.

Legoland Dubai is customized for families and kids. It offers more than 40 interactive rides, performances, and building experiences. Children participate in interactive games, drive electric cars, and go on treasure hunts in themed zones such as Lego City, Adventure, Kingdoms, and Mini land. With wave pools and slides, the park’s water park adds more mirth and enjoyment as a one-stop shop for family amusement.

The opportunities to build, dine, and shop are plenty. Most rides are outdoors, while shows and building areas are indoors with air-conditioned spaces. Outdoor areas are well-shaded, but when temperatures cross 40°C, it is good to avoid summer visits for young children. However, if little ones are stubborn, then pair up the Legoland trip with a detour to the adjacent Legoland Water Park too.

Motiongate Dubai: This concept park is modelled on a bunch of favourite Hollywood movies and characters. The park offers 29 attractions and maximum fun choices for families. Kids will love the Zombie-land Blast Off and Smurf-berry Factory. The DreamWorks area indoors is a cool place packed with favorite characters where fun meets adventure for kids. This Hollywood-themed park is a complete entertainment destination with interactive play zones. There are thrilling rides for families based on well-known films, including Ghostbusters, Madagascar, The Hunger Games, and Shrek.

The theme park has five sections: Columbia Pictures, Smurfs Village, Lionsgate, DreamWorks, and Studio Central. The rides range from slow to rapid with 4D simulators.

The IMG Theme Park: It is the biggest indoor theme park in the world, providing a great variety of fun activities for guests of all ages. This indoor park in Dubai immerses visitors into the world's most loved fictional characters through thrilling rides, themed areas, and interactive experiences. IMG Theme Park Dubai promises an amazing experience for all thrill-seekers and families.
The IMG is divided into four amazing zones: IMG Boulevard, Marvel, Cartoon Network, and Lost Valley—Dinosaur Adventure. The thrill rides with the Velociraptor roller coaster are out of this world.

VR Park: It is the world’s largest indoor virtual reality theme park, housed within The Dubai Mall. Offering a variety of VR and AR experiences, the theme park takes you to thrilling rides, adventures, instructive simulations, and games. In VR Park you will fly a spaceship and fight zombies and also do simulated skydiving. The park is a fun location for families seeking modern entertainment because all the attractions are tailor-made to suit all ages.

Ski Dubai: Ski Dubai is an indoor ski resort and a winter wonderland housed in the Mall of the Emirates. The facility has a chairlift, with five different difficulty levels of ski runs, a freestyle area, and a snow park. Snowball fights, skiing, snowboarding, and tobogganing are very enjoyable for families. During the daily March of the Penguins show, you can get close and personal with penguins. It is thrilling for those who have never experienced snowfall.

Aqua venture at The Palm: Although its primary function is that of a water park, Aqua Venture is family-friendly with plenty of indoor attractions. It gives a good peep into oceanic environments and the opportunity to watch thousands of aquatic critters at the aquarium. For children, kids’ play areas are all fun. Aqua Venture is a balanced mix of entertainment and knowledge, providing exhilarating water rides and educational exhibitions.

Kidzania Dubai: Located in The Dubai Mall, this interactive miniature city allows kids to role-play over 80 different professions like pilots, doctors, or firefighters. Then they experience real-life events related to becoming such professionals in an instructive setting. Kidzania is both educational and entertaining, kicking in creativity and team spirit. For both kids and the elderly, it will be an absorbing experience.

Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo: This mega indoor aquarium, hailed as the best in the world, is within The Dubai Mall. The 10-million-liter tank displays numerous marine creatures, including rays and sharks. Above the tank, there is an underwater zoo with interactive exhibits on marine life. The tank is made accessible via a 48-meter tunnel offering a 270-degree view, paving the way for an amazing experience for visitors of all ages.

The Green Planet: It is an artificial indoor tropical rainforest in City Walk showcasing more than 3,000 plants and creatures. The biodome apes the environment of a rainforest dotted with waterfalls, wildlife, and a huge indoor tree. It teaches the importance of biodiversity and conservation while exploring the rain forest's many layers, from the canopy to the forest floor.

The Green Planet gives an immersive experience because of the interactive exhibits, animal interactions, and educational messages.

Bounce Dubai: This is a family spot for energetic families to burn off energy with its basketball hoops, obstacle courses, dodgeball courts, and trampolines. The park also got a separate section for kids. Bounce Dubai is number one for family trips as it kicks in teamwork and love or physical activity via games and exciting challenges.

Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi: It is not very far from Dubai, as a one-hour drive will take you to the theme park conceptualized around Italian luxury brand carmaker Ferrari’s legacy. Visitors will partake in Formula Rossa, the world’s fastest roller coaster, at speeds up to 240 kilometers per hour in five seconds. Other attractions include experiencing the real Ferrari drive on Yas Island.

If you are visiting Legoland try it early in the day, and the opening time is 10 a.m.; there is no need to queue for anything. On weekdays, the crowds are limited unless there is a school holiday.

There are day passes available for Legoland Dubai and Water Park and accessible online. To visit both parks, same-day tickets can be bought in advance online or at the gate on the day of the visit. Children above three years will have to pay the standard ticket rates.

For both Legoland and the Legoland Water Park, annual passes are available for unlimited visits for up to 12 months. The passes categorized as Silver, Gold, and Bronze come with benefits like discounts on food, beverages, and merchandise.

Legoland is also noted for great customer care; it has exclusive family bathrooms with changing facilities. They also have a dedicated mothers’ lounge to privately feed babies. The room includes a kitchenette for warming bottles and baby food and a play area to keep little ones entertained while mom feeds the baby. This feature is a boon for young families, especially in the Dubai heat.

Now you have to take the call on choosing the best Dubai theme park to visit and take-home fond memories.