Dubai's mid-term break is here, and parents have an unusually packed menu to choose from this October: spooky camps, a cartoon-themed candy museum, a ski slope full of kids' activities, and the season-openings of two of the city's biggest outdoor attractions. Here's what's on.
For little ones, the new Lala Little Wonders on Sheikh Zayed Road in Al Quoz has gone Halloween-mad, with hourly stage shows, themed workshops and superhero and princess photo ops. General entry tickets are available, add-on workshops like candle making start at Dhs45, and multi-visit packages run from Dhs450. Around the corner in Al Quoz 3, Black Bunny amusement park is running a spooky camp from October 12 to 18 (10am to 2pm) mixing slime, crafts, trampolining and bowling. A single day costs Dhs209 with meals or Dhs179 without; a five-day week is Dhs999 or Dhs849.
Older Cartoon Network fans get their own event: Adventure Time: Side Quests has taken over the Museum of Candy in Oud Metha, complete with Candy Kingdom installations and photo moments with Finn, Jake and Princess Bubblegum. Meanwhile, Ski Dubai at Mall of the Emirates is running an autumn camp for ages four to ten from October 12 to 16, bundling slope rides, a treasure hunt, face painting, a magic show, two movie screenings, lunch and snacks, a nanny ticket and a group photo — Dhs399 for a day or Dhs1,500 for the week.
If budget is the priority, the joint Madame Tussauds and Illusion City ticket on Bluewaters Island is a solid deal: Dhs180 for adults, Dhs155 for kids aged two to 11, under-twos free. Dubai Safari Park has also reopened for the season with its Wildest Opening Week from October 12 to 18 — think a Little Explorers' Base Camp, face painting, clay modelling and safari-themed inflatables — with tickets from Dhs50.
Two seasonal favourites are back too. Dubai Miracle Garden, the world's largest natural flower garden, has over 150 million blooms across 72,000 square metres, including its famous flower-covered Emirates A380; entry is Dhs100 for tourists, with cheaper resident rates. Global Village reopens on October 14 for its 31st season with new pavilions and dining, open from 4pm daily (6pm on opening day) and priced at Dhs25 weekdays, Dhs30 on weekends and public holidays.
Creative types can join a tote bag painting plus pizza-making session at Osteria Mario (Dubai Hills Mall, Dubai Festival City Mall and Circle Mall, October 13 to 16, Dhs120 per child, ice cream included). Uptown Social is offering 20% off the à la carte menu for families dining with children from October 12 to 16, and Ribambelle on Bluewaters pairs a proper restaurant with a soft playground.
New opening worth knowing: NESTT in Al Quoz combines a Euro-Mediterranean restaurant, coworking space and age-specific play areas for kids up to eight, with entry at Dhs90 to Dhs110 per child. And if you'd rather turn the break into a mini-holiday, Grand Hyatt Dubai has a GCC20 code with waterpark access, breakfast and up to 20% off rooms and spa, while the three Mina Seyahi resorts (W, Westin, Le Méridien) let guests share beachfront facilities, 19 restaurants and the Jungle Bay Waterpark — with kids under 12 staying free.
