Best Affordable Indoor Family Activities in Dubai 2024: Complete Guide

With the summer heat fast approaching, we've put together the ultimate guide to indoor adventures in Dubai that won't break the bank. Whether you're a resident or just visiting, dive into this treasure trove of activities that promise endless fun for the whole family without stretching your budget!

Free Activities

• Jumeirah Mosque: Immerse yourself in the beauty of Islamic architecture with a free guided tour of the iconic Jumeirah Mosque. Discover the rich traditions and stunning details of this spiritual site. Tours are available daily except Fridays from 10:00 AM. Booking is available on the mosque’s official website, and the tours are suitable for all ages.

• Souk Madinat Jumeirah: Experience the charm of an Arabian marketplace at Souk Madinat Jumeirah. Wander through its winding alleys, admire the traditional crafts, and enjoy the ambient music—all under one roof! Remember, parking fees may apply, so consider public transport.
  At Souk Madinat Jumeirah, parking is free for the first two hours. If you park longer, from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm, each additional hour costs AED 15. However, parking is completely free from 6:00 pm until 2:00 am. Be aware that there's no parking available from 2:00 am to 7:00 am

• ART Fix at Alserkal Avenue: Dive into the creative chaos of Alserkal Avenue where local artists display their work in a series of freely accessible galleries. It's a perfect spot for those who love street art and quirky installations.

• The Antique Museum in Dubai is a large warehouse and showroom that sells a variety of antiques, souvenirs, and handicrafts from around the world. It is not a traditional museum with an entry fee. Visitors can enter for free and browse the extensive collection of items available for purchase.

• Cinema Akil: Catch a free film at Cinema Akil, where indie and art films light up the screen. Check their schedule online for free screenings and special film festivals on their Instagram.

• Underwater Zoo at Dubai Aquarium: Peek into the aquatic world with a visit to the Dubai Aquarium. While the main part has an entry fee, a huge part can be seen from the outside at no cost.

• Chinatown in Dubai Mall: Step into Chinatown within Dubai Mall for an immersive cultural experience. Enjoy the vibrant decorations and occasional cultural shows that bring the spirit of China to Dubai.

• Creative Hub at Jameel Arts Centre: Unleash your creativity at Jameel Arts Centre's Creative Hub. Participate in workshops, browse exhibitions, here, and explore art installations.A perfect spot for budding artists and art enthusiasts.

• Museum of the Poet Al Oqaili: Celebrate the poetic heritage of Dubai at the Museum of the Poet Al Oqaili. This museum, located in the Al Ras area, offers insights into the life and works of one of Dubai’s most famous poets.

• Souk Al Marfa’s Waterfront Market: Splash around at Souk Al Marfa’s waterfront market where you can enjoy lively markets and water-themed activities. Great for a fun family day out!

• The Old Library: Book lovers, rejoice! The Old Library offers a cozy nook full of books on a wide range of subjects. It's a quiet spot to escape the bustling city.

• Mohammed bin Rashid Library: Explore a world of knowledge at one of the largest and most modern libraries in the world. With various themed sections and reading areas, it’s a haven for readers and researchers alike. Children under 5 years are not allowed. 
  

• Public Libraries: For more cozy corners and bookish adventures, check out our older blog linking to various public libraries across Dubai!

• House of Wisdom : Shajrah: The House of Wisdom is a state-of-the-art library and cultural center in Sharjah, designed to be a modern reimagining of a traditional library. 

• Dubai Dino: is located in The Dubai Mall and is accessible to all visitors without any entry fee. You can enjoy viewing the massive dinosaur skeleton as part of your visit to the mall.

• Apple Store: offers a variety of free activities under the "Today at Apple" program. These sessions are designed to inspire creativity and help you get the most out of your Apple products. you can sign up online or drop by the store to participate. For more details on specific sessions and timings, visit the Today at Apple page on Apple's website.

Under 50 AED/hour

• Dubai Bowling Center: Strike it lucky at Dubai Bowling Center! Fun for all ages with lanes from just 1 AED every Monday. Check our reel to know more!

• Al Nasr Leisureland: with an admission fee of 10 AED and a day visitor rate of 40 AED. Ideal for a full day of fun and activities.

• Hive Board Game Cafe: Dive into a world of strategy and fun with a wide selection of board games starting at 15 AED.

• Hungarian Games: Challenge your mind with board games starting from  20 AED or test your escape skills with friends with Escape room activity starting from 120 AED per person.( This price may vary depending on the specific escape room challenge and the number of participants involved. )

• Palm Monorail: Enjoy breathtaking views of Palm Jumeirah on the monorail. A one-way ticket is 20 AED, and a return is 30 AED.Pro tip: park at Nakheel Mall for free and set over the palm to the Atlantis Hotel and back!  

•  Glitch Al Ghurair: Enter the glitchy world from 25 AED and lose yourself in a vibrant techscape.

• Chaos Karts: A thrilling mix of go-Karting and video gaming starting from 25 AED.

•  Otaku: Otaku is a unique Japanese hobby space for older children and teenagers, where they can purchase car model kits, assemble, paint them, and then race them on a track. Kits start from around 50 AED (watch out for promotions). Purchase over 100 AED allows you to play for free.

Between 50-100 AED/hour

• FiaFia: Charges AED 55 for the first hour, AED 30 for every additional hour, or AED 120 for a full day, with food options available.

• Neon Galaxy: Light up your night for just 60 AED. Step into an out-of-this-world glow-in-the-dark experience.

• Cheeky Monkeys: Known for its vibrant and interactive environment for children, the cost of the first hour is 63 AED, followed by 35 AED for each subsequent hour. For more details and to catch any special offers, visit their official site.

• The Green Planet: Explore the nature park for only 69AED for guests above 3 years (Children under 2 years old enter for free) and a day pass can go up to 155 AED.

• Ready, Set, Go: situated in Al Quoz, features trampolines, climbing walls, and obstacle courses perfect for active families, with tickets priced around 75 AED.

• Galleria Ice Rink: Experience the thrill of ice skating at Galleria Ice Rink, where prices start from just 75 AED. Perfect for a fun day out with family and friends.

• Bounce Dubai: This trampoline park offers 60 minutes of freestyle fun with prices at AED 85 for adults and AED 80 for children under 110 cm at the Al Quoz location. If you're aiming for a whole day of jumping, an all-day pass costs AED 200 for adults and AED 180 for children at the same location.

• illusion City Dubai: is an interactive entertainment featuring optical illusions and mind-bending exhibits. Tickets for kids under 7 can be entered for free where the adult ticket is 75 AED and 60 for kids above 18 years.

• The Smash Room: breaks things for fun and relieves stress in a unique setting. Starting from 69 AED.

• Dubai Mall Ice Rank:  Skate in one of the largest ice rinks in Dubai, located in The Dubai Mall. Prices start from 85 AED during the off-season and 110 AED during the peak season.

• Mini Bounce: Let the little ones (under 6 years) jump around in trampoline zones for 90 AED/hour with the DS20 code until Eid. Check our reel.

• Trampo Extreme: Trampo Extreme is an indoor trampoline park offering a variety of trampoline activities for all ages. Tickets start from 90AED.

• Adventure Zone: It is an indoor adventure park offering various activities such as climbing walls, high ropes courses, and more. It is designed to cater to both children and adults. Prices start from  99 AED.

• Dubai Creek Dhow Cruise: Take in the Dubai skyline from a traditional dhow. Tickets for a basic dinner cruise can start around 65 AED, with more luxurious or private options costing upwards of 150 AED or more.

• Opera Dubai: Go on a guided tour of Dubai Opera  Dubai Opera Grand tour, from 75 AED.

• TEP Factor: Tackle physical and mental challenges in an adventure setting. Entry starts at 80 AED per person with varying levels of challenges and puzzles to solve in teams.

• Playtorium: Spice up your Wednesday with a Buy One Get One free hour from 2:00 pm till 7:00 pm for 80 AED.

•  3D World Selfie Museum: Snap quirky selfies with 3D artwork for 65 AED for children and 89 for adults. Perfect for Instagram stars!

• Air Maniax and Street Maniax: both provide exciting indoor adventure experiences, with options for everyone from toddlers to adults. Air Maniax offers a variety of sessions: a 1-hour general access session costs 85 AED, and a 2-hour session is available at a discounted price of AED 104, originally 130 AEd. Additionally, a family pass for 2 adults and 2 kids for 1 hour is priced at AED 200, down from AED 250. Both venues are known for their generous use of discounts, especially when using the DS discount code, making them a cost-effective choice for a fun day out.

•  3D Black Light Mini Golf: Play minigolf under vibrant 3D black lights from 90 AED. Children below 4 years enter for free.

•  Skyzone: Jump and bounce around in this energetic indoor trampoline park from 99 AED. Check our reel for more info.

• Orange Wheels: Play area and café with a variety of food options for kids and adults. Each session will last 2 Hours for AED 115 and 2 Adults free per household.
  

Above 100 AED

• Wild Paint House: For those looking to unleash their creativity through paint, a session costs around 100 AED and above. This interactive paint-splashing experience includes all the necessary materials and equipment, making it a vibrant choice for a fun outing.

• Rollerdxb:60 minutes of fun and excitement make sure to wear long, fresh, and clean socks! Children aged 5 and below are not allowed in open sessions and group classesTickets are start from 105 AED but if you have your own skate prices start from 90 AED.

• Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo: Marvel at marine life from 120 AED.

• Bricobilandia: is a LEGO-themed play area where children can build and create with LEGO bricks, fostering creativity and imagination, with entry prices starting at 120 AED. More information can be found on their website.

• Fablyand is a vibrant indoor theme park located in Dubai Festival City Mall, offering a range of rides and arcade games for kids, with entry fees starting at 135 AED(instead of 165). Check out their Instagram for details.

• Fun City: This family entertainment center is great for kids and families, offering various activities and games. They also provide monthly passes, which can be a cost-effective way to enjoy long-term fun. Passes start from 125 AED Prices and specific pass benefits can be found on their official website or at the venues.

• Arte Museum: an immersive digital art museum located in The Dubai Mall. It features a variety of exhibitions that blend art and technology, creating stunning visual experiences inspired by nature and cultural themes.  General Admission prices bought online are typically around 129 AED per Adult and 89 AED and they have special prices for families 3+.

• Aya Universe:  Explore immersive virtual reality games and experiences. Ticket prices for this virtual reality experience start around 135 AED for a basic pass.

• Chaos Karts: A thrilling mix of go-karting and video gaming awaits you for 140 AED.

• Ribambelle Dubai: for countless adventures and joy! Weekday (Monday to Thursday): 150 AED for an unlimited amount of play and Weekend for AED 200 for unlimited play (Friday to Sunday)

•  Ski Dubai: Hit the slopes in the desert city from 195 AED. For the best price check out the ticket section.

• Oli Oli: A paradise of hands-on activities for kids at 139 AED for a 2-hour experience. One adult enters free with every child ticket! We got 15% off OliOli with code DS15 more details are here.

• Madame Tussauds: Meet celebrity wax figures for 150 AED from May to August, with a special offer of a complimentary ticket.

• Escape Hunt: Offering a range of themed rooms where participants solve puzzles and find clues to escape within a set time limit. It is ideal for friends, families, and corporate team-building activities. Prices start from 130 AED.

• Magic Planet Mena:  Enjoy various arcade games, rides, and attractions. Entry is free, but you pay for games and rides. A reloadable card system is used where you can top-up credits. Packages start from 155 AED, which includes a mix of game credits and rides. 
  They have many offers and promotions online and a 20% offer if you book an online card

• Game Over: is an escape room experience that offers a variety of themed escape rooms designed to challenge participants' problem-solving and teamwork skills.  Prices start from 175 AED per person.

• Kidzania: kids can roleplay adult jobs in a fun learning environment for 195 AED.

Indoor activities in Sharjah:

• Sharjah Science Museum: Dive into the intriguing world of science and technology for just 5 AED.

• Rain Room: Experience the unique Rain Room, where you can walk through rain without getting wet, thanks to advanced motion sensor technology. The cost is 25 AED per person, and it's recommended to book tickets in advance due to high demand on weekends and official holidays​ (Sharjah Art)​.

• Mahatta Museum: Uncover the fascinating history of aviation in the UAE at the region's first airport for 10 AED. Check out our visit to the museum here!

• Classic Cars Museum: Marvel at the evolution of automobiles with a collection of vintage and classic cars, also for 10 AED.

• Archaeology museum: learn the rich and deep-rooted history of Sharjah, entry fees for adults are 10 AED and 5 AED for children (2-12 years).

• Off Road History Museum: Explore a massive collection of over 350 vehicles, showcasing the evolution of offroad transport. Admission is 55 AED, but children under 10 enter free. The museum is open daily from 9 am to 4:30 pm​ (Automotive Museum Guide)​.

• Sharjah Aquarium & Maritime Museum: Delve into the marine world of the Arabian Gulf with a joint ticket starting from 15 AED.

• Arabian Wildlife Center and Adjacent Museums: Spend a day learning at the Arabian Wildlife Center for 15 AED. Check out our Visit!

• flipped: an amusement and theme park including a trampoline park and indoor soft play area. It offers a wide range of reasonably priced events and activities. 49 AED for children under 4 and 59 AED for children older than 4.
  
  Fun Transportation to Try in Dubai
  
  -The Dubai Metro, starting from 3 AED, offers efficient travel on its Red and Green lines. 
  
  -The Waterbus provides scenic rides along Dubai Creek and Dubai Marina for as low as 3 AED, operating from 10 AM to 10 PM. More info in our Reel!
  
  -the Water Taxi travels to key waterfront areas like Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah, with prices varying by distance. 

We Hope this guide inspires you to explore Dubai's best budget-friendly indoor activities. For extra fun, check out our ticketing page for great deals on theme park tickets and other attractions. While these offers are a tad pricier, they’re still an excellent value for an unforgettable family adventure.