The 40 Best Family Activities in Abu Dhabi, Sorted by Age

Abu Dhabi does family days out better than almost anywhere in the region, but the city rewards a plan. A four-year-old and a fourteen-year-old want very different Saturdays, the heat quietly decides half your options from May to September and a surprising number of venues have height rules, time slots or ladies’ days that can ambush you at the gate.

So we sorted it properly. This guide groups the best family activities in Abu Dhabi by age – under-fives, 5 to 11s and teens – then adds the all-ages crowd-pleasers that work for the whole tribe at once. Every venue comes with a verified location, contact, current price and our honest read on what other parents are saying.

Prices, hours and rules were checked against official venue sites on 27 September 2026. Online prices are usually cheaper than gate prices and details change, so confirm before you drive over.

The quick picks

Before you go: 5 things that save Abu Dhabi family days

• Season rules everything. October to April is outdoor season – parks, beaches, kayaking and Hudayriyat. May to September, plan around air-conditioned venues or go early morning and after 5pm.
• Measure your kids. Yas theme parks price juniors by height (under 1.1m at most parks) and ride access is height-based too. Knowing the number saves meltdowns in the queue.
• Book online. Nearly every ticketed venue in this guide is cheaper online than at the gate, and several (teamLab, the Grand Mosque, CLYMB) run on timed slots.
• Check ladies’ days. Yas Waterworld runs Ladies Events on Fridays where boys aged 9 and over are not allowed in, and Kai Beach usually keeps Fridays for women and very young children.
• Know the parking. Mall and theme park parking is generally free, city-centre spots are not. Our Mawaqif parking guide explains the zones before you circle the Corniche three times.

Best family activities in Abu Dhabi for under-5s

Little ones need shade, short queues, toilets within sprinting distance and something to touch. These deliver all four.

1. Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi

The whole park is indoors and air-conditioned, which makes it the safest bet in the city for toddlers any month of the year. Cartoon Junction and Bedrock are built for small riders, the character meet-and-greets are genuinely magical at this age and most rides welcome kids under 1.1m. The newest ride, Kryptonite Collider, opened in July 2026 and takes riders from 105cm with an adult – we covered it in our Kryptonite Collider first look.

Where: Yas Island, Abu Dhabi (indoor park)
Contact: 600 511115 (UAE) or +971 2 496 8000, wbworldabudhabi.com
Price: AED 345 adults, AED 295 juniors under 1.1m online. Under-3s free
Best for: Under-5s and 5 to 11s

Vibe check: The theming is so detailed you half expect Bugs Bunny to ask for your parking ticket, just budget for Quick Pass or an early start on weekends because the queues get serious.

2. SeaWorld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi

Eight indoor ocean realms, a huge central aquarium and animal encounters that rarely need a height chart. For under-fives it’s a slower, calmer theme park day, and for older siblings the Manta coaster keeps things interesting. Allow a full day because it’s bigger than it looks.

Where: Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
Contact: 600 511115 (Yas concierge), seaworldabudhabi.com
Price: AED 375 adults, AED 320 juniors under 1.1m online. Under-3s free
Best for: Under-5s and 5 to 11s

Vibe check: Parents rave about the realms and the staff, just grab a map at the door because the layout can have you walking in circles like a slightly lost penguin.

3. The National Aquarium Abu Dhabi

Sharks, turtles, penguins and a rescue centre, all compact enough to cover in about two hours with a buggy. It sits on the Al Qana waterfront, so you can follow it with a stroll along the 2.4km promenade and dinner by the canal. Add the Butterfly Gardens for a combo ticket if your small people still have legs left.

Where: Al Qana, Rabdan, Al Khaleej Al Arabi Street near Maqta Bridge
Contact: +971 2 418 6666, thenationalaquarium.ae
Price: AED 110 per person, one price for all ages. Under-3s free. Combo with Butterfly Gardens and extras AED 150
Best for: Under-5s and all ages

Vibe check: Clean, clever and easy with little ones, just pack a jumper because the penguin zone sits at about 1C and your summer sandals will file a complaint.

4. Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi

Opened in November 2025 on Saadiyat, this is the museum small dinosaur fans have been waiting for. There’s a T-rex, a meteorite gallery and a dedicated Dino Play zone for children up to six. Under-18s are free, so a family of four pays for two adults only – and our Saadiyat Island guide has where to eat afterwards.

Where: Saadiyat Cultural District, Saadiyat Island, next to teamLab Phenomena
Contact: Book via nhmad.ae (no public phone line is listed)
Price: AED 70 adults, under-18s free. Planetarium AED 49 extra
Best for: Under-5s and 5 to 11s

Vibe check: The dinosaurs deliver full jaw-drop, just leave the water bottles in the car because airport-style bag checks will confiscate them and plan for tight parking.

5. Umm Al Emarat Park

The best-value outdoor afternoon in the city. The Animal Barn has 26 resident animals you can feed for AED 10 a bunch, pony rides run daily from 4pm and there are shaded gardens, a children’s garden and weekend film screenings on the Great Lawn. Kids under seven can bring bikes and scooters.

Where: 15th Street, Al Mushrif, next to the International School of Choueifat
Contact: +971 2 666 9559, ummalemaratpark.ae
Price: AED 10 per person from age 3, under-3s free. Pony rides AED 15
Best for: Under-5s and 5 to 11s

Vibe check: Green, tidy and easily the cheapest way to burn off toddler energy in town, just eat before you go because the cafe prices clearly didn’t get the AED 10 memo.

6. Emirates Park Zoo and Resort

A manageable zoo where feeding is the whole point. Giraffe and hippo feeding are the favourites and the resort next door means you can turn it into an overnight adventure with no long drive home at bedtime.

Where: 12th Street, Al Bahyah, north-east Abu Dhabi
Contact: +971 2 501 0000, emiratesparkzooandresort.com
Price: Zoo Admission AED 65, Zoo Plus AED 85, Zoo Explorer AED 125
Best for: Under-5s and 5 to 11s

Vibe check: Kids lose their minds feeding the giraffes, just brace your wallet for the photo add-ons because they are priced like a professional portrait session.

7. Leo&Loona

A soft-play park that parents don’t secretly hate, with slides, climbing structures and a proper cafe so you can drink your coffee while it’s still hot. Built for ages 0 to 12 but toddlers get the most out of it.

Where: Yas Mall, First Floor and Dalma Mall, Level 2
Contact: +971 4 237 5454, leoloona.ae
Price: Yas Mall: 2-hour pass AED 159 weekdays, AED 199 weekends. Dalma Mall: day pass AED 129 weekdays, AED 149 weekends
Best for: Under-5s

8. miniBOUNCE

BOUNCE’s little-sibling venue, scaled down for walking-age kids up to six. Mini trampolines, soft zones and coaches who actually get down on the floor with the kids.

Where: Dalma Mall, Second Floor and Reem Mall, Level 2
Contact: +971 4 304 9333, bounce.ae
Price: 2 hours plus a kids meal AED 140
Best for: Under-5s (walking age to 6)

9. Orange Wheels

Role-play streets, a mini town and plenty to climb, designed for babies through to eight-year-olds. Two adults go in free with each child, which is rarer than it should be.

Where: Reem Mall, Level 2, Al Reem Island
Contact: 02 550 8582
Price: 90-minute sessions from AED 39.50 with current Kidzapp deals, full day AED 218.75
Best for: Under-5s

WOW Abu Dhabi Expert Tip: For under-fives, pair one ticketed venue with one free one rather than stacking two big-ticket attractions. The National Aquarium in the morning and the Al Qana promenade at golden hour is a near-perfect toddler day, and it costs one ticket per adult.

Best things to do in Abu Dhabi with kids aged 5 to 11

This is the golden age for Abu Dhabi. Tall enough for most rides, curious enough for museums and still happy to be seen with you in public.

10. Louvre Abu Dhabi Children’s Museum

The Children’s Museum runs themed, hands-on exhibitions that change every year or so. The current show, A Board Game Adventure, traces 5,000 years of games for ages 4 to 12 and runs until 25 April 2027. It’s included in general admission, and under-18s are free, so it’s a very easy win. Stay for the light under the dome.

Where: Saadiyat Cultural District, Saadiyat Island
Contact: +971 600 56 55 66, louvreabudhabi.ae
Price: AED 70 adults, under-18s free (Children’s Museum included)
Best for: 5 to 11s (from age 4)

Vibe check: The dome light show will quietly impress even the kids who swore they hate museums, just go on a weekday because weekends turn the galleries into a very well-dressed traffic jam.

11. Yas Waterworld

Now bigger than ever after an April 2026 expansion added 11 attractions, including Matamir’s Drop – the UAE’s tallest waterslide at more than 40 metres – and the Sarab family leisure pool. There are more than 70 rides in total, with dedicated play zones for younger siblings. Here’s how it broke a Guinness World Record this summer.

Where: Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
Contact: 600 511115 or +971 2 496 8000, yaswaterworld.com
Price: AED 295 adults, AED 250 juniors under 1.1m online. Under-3s free
Best for: 5 to 11s and teens

Vibe check: Big thrills, clean park and a lazy river for the grown-ups, just go on a weekday and double-check Fridays because Ladies Events mean boys aged 9 and over are turned away.

12. Ferrari World Yas Island, Abu Dhabi

Most people come for the thrill rides, but the kids’ zone is properly good for primary-age racers, with Formula Rossa Junior from 90cm and the Junior Grand Prix driving experience for kids between 110cm and 140cm. Note that Formula Rossa itself is currently closed for maintenance and Mission Ferrari is closed until 17 October. We rounded up the best places to eat inside Ferrari World.

Where: Yas Island, connected to Yas Mall (free parking in the Grand Prix car park)
Contact: 600 511115 or +971 2 496 8000, ferrariworldabudhabi.com
Price: AED 345 adults, AED 295 juniors online. Under-3s free
Best for: 5 to 11s and teens

Vibe check: Petrolheads of every age leave grinning, just arrive at opening because the queues can stretch longer than a lap of the full Yas circuit.

13. CLYMB Yas Island

One of the world’s biggest indoor skydiving tunnels plus a monster climbing wall, all under one roof. Kids can fly from age 3 and climb from age 4, and instructors are brilliant with nervous first-timers. There’s also a free Junior Climbers programme for teens.

Where: Yas Mall, Ground Floor, Yas Island
Contact: 600 511115 (also WhatsApp), clymbabudhabi.com
Price: Flying Experience (2 flights) AED 235, flying plus climbing combo AED 315. Spectators free
Best for: 5 to 11s and teens

Vibe check: Instructors here get praised by name so often they could run for office, just book ahead because hours vary and walk-ins don’t always get a slot.

14. Snow Abu Dhabi

Actual snow in the middle of an Abu Dhabi summer. The Snow Park Pass includes nine rides including tobogganing, plus gloves and a locker. Most rides need kids to be 1.05m to 1.25m tall, so it’s best from about age five. Children under two can’t enter.

Where: Reem Mall, Level 2, Al Reem Island
Contact: 600 599 905, skidxb.com
Price: Snow Park Pass AED 155 on weekdays (online). Under-14s need an adult aged 16 or over
Best for: 5 to 11s

15. Qasr Al Watan

The working Presidential Palace opens its gilded halls to visitors, and kids love the scale of it – especially the House of Knowledge library and the Palace in Motion light show every night at 8pm. Here’s our full inside look at Qasr Al Watan.

Where: Al Ras Al Akhdar, western end of the Corniche (entry via the Visitor Centre shuttle)
Contact: +971 600 544 442, qasralwatan.ae
Price: AED 65 adults, reduced junior tickets for ages 4 to 17, under-4s free. Light show AED 25 adults, AED 12 children
Best for: 5 to 11s and teens

Vibe check: The interiors are so over-the-top gorgeous your kids may stop asking for the iPad, just factor in the shuttle and parking shuffle because it takes longer than you think.

16. Qasr Al Hosn and House of Artisans

Abu Dhabi’s oldest stone building, with a children’s trail for ages 5 to 13 and live craft demonstrations at the House of Artisans, where kids can watch weaving and palm crafts up close. House of Artisans and the grounds are free, and under-18s are free inside the fort.

Where: Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Street, Al Hosn, downtown Abu Dhabi
Contact: +971 2 697 6400, qasralhosn.ae
Price: House of Artisans free. Qasr Al Hosn free for under-18s, adult ticket online
Best for: 5 to 11s

Vibe check: A calm, underrated gem that most residents still haven’t visited, just go in cooler months because the courtyards turn into a very historic frying pan by midday.

17. Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital

Where else can a seven-year-old hold a falcon, watch a vet treatment and walk through a free-flight aviary? The guided tours are small-group and genuinely educational, and they’re a strong school-holiday pick.

Where: Al Sha-i’ Street, Al Shamkha, about 6km from the airport
Contact: +971 2 885 8100, falconhospital.com (online booking)
Price: Child rate for ages 5 to 9, under-5s free. Tours are non-refundable, book online
Best for: 5 to 11s

Vibe check: Holding a falcon turns every kid into a nature documentary presenter for a week, just allow extra driving time because roadworks around the entrance can test your patience.

18. Jubail Mangrove Park

A flat 2km boardwalk through the mangroves where kids can spot crabs, herons and the odd curious fish, plus guided kayak tours for older children. No bikes or scooters are allowed, which keeps it calm.

Where: Jubail Island, off Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Highway (E12), between Yas and Saadiyat
Contact: +971 2 546 8341, jubailmangrovepark.ae
Price: Boardwalk from AED 15 adults, under-3s free. Kayak tours from AED 130 adults, AED 110 children
Best for: 5 to 11s and all ages (open daily 7am to 9pm)

19. Circuit X at Hudayriyat Island

An outdoor adventure hub on Hudayriyat with a splash-and-climb park from age 1, a skate park from age 5 and a high ropes course for kids aged 7 and over who are at least 121cm. The ropes and BMX parks close over summer, so check they have reopened before you promise anyone.

Where: Marsana, Hudayriyat Island
Contact: +971 50 195 2216, circuitxuae.com
Price: Splash and Climb Park AED 65 per hour. Ropes AED 60
Best for: 5 to 11s (splash park from age 1)

20. Yas Kartzone

Real karting on the F1 circuit’s own kart track, split sensibly by age: Micro for 3 to 6, Kids for 5 to 7, Junior for 8 to 12 and Adult from 13. Duo karts let a parent drive with a passenger aged 5 and over.

Where: Yas Marina Circuit, Yas Island
Contact: 800 927 (800 YAS), yasmarinacircuit.com
Price: Micro and Kids AED 55, Junior AED 80 (12 min), Adult AED 120 (15 min), Duo AED 190
Best for: 5 to 11s and teens (open 5pm to midnight)

21. StuDIYo Lab

A real woodworking studio where kids from age 5 make things with actual tools under proper supervision. Most sessions run one to three hours and your child leaves with something they’ll insist on putting on the dining table.

Where: Abu Dhabi Mall, Level 3
Contact: 056 403 8383, studiyolab.com
Price: Try-Me sessions from AED 105, most workshops AED 170 to AED 340
Best for: 5 to 11s and teens

WOW Abu Dhabi Expert Tip: If you plan to do more than one Yas park, never buy single tickets. A 1 Day Any 2 Parks ticket is AED 435 per person and the 3-Park ticket (used within 6 days) is AED 575, both with free shuttles and parking. Residents doing four or more visits a year should look at the Yas annual passes instead.

Best activities in Abu Dhabi for teens (12 to 17)

The brief: nothing that looks like it was designed for their little brother. These pass the test.

22. teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi

Immersive digital art that reacts to you, with fog, light and whole rooms that seem to move. It’s Instagram gold for teens and still wows adults. Note the dark spaces, strobes and fog can unsettle small children, and on Monday to Thursday under-18s must enter by 4:30pm because it’s adults only after 6pm.

Where: Saadiyat Cultural District, Saadiyat Island
Contact: Book via teamlababudhabi.com
Price: AED 155 adults (current offer, usually AED 165), AED 55 children aged 4 to 12, under-4s free
Best for: Teens and 5 to 11s

Vibe check: It feels like walking through a screensaver that gained a personality, just stick to your time slot because staff enforce them like airport boarding gates.

23. Zero Latency VR

Free-roam virtual reality where up to eight players walk around a warehouse-sized arena together, dodging zombies or solving puzzles. It’s 12 and over, which makes it a rare teen activity their younger siblings can’t gatecrash.

Where: The Galleria Al Maryah Island, Level 3, Section C
Contact: +971 2 882 0223, zerolatencyvr.ae
Price: Priced per game on the booking site
Best for: Teens

Vibe check: Teens come out shouting about it for a week, just know the sessions are 30 to 45 minutes so the fun ends right as they master the controls.

24. CUBE Challenges

Thirty-two physical and mental challenge rooms in the style of a game show, played in teams against the clock. Brilliant for birthday groups and siblings who need to compete about something other than the front seat.

Where: Reem Mall, Level 2, Al Reem Island
Contact: 02 887 0061, cube-abudhabi.ae
Price: 60 minutes AED 110 (12+), AED 90 (ages 8 to 11)
Best for: Teens (from age 8 with an adult)

25. GAME OVER Escape Rooms

Nine themed rooms, 60 minutes on the clock, two to seven players. Recommended for 12 and over, and kids aged 7 to 11 can join with a paying adult. Two rooms feature live actors, so read the descriptions before you book the horror ones for a sleepover.

Where: The Galleria Al Maryah Island, Level 3, Section B
Contact: +971 2 635 8743, abudhabi.escapegameover.ae
Price: Priced by group size on the booking site
Best for: Teens

26. BOUNCE Abu Dhabi

Freestyle trampolines, a ninja course (from 125cm) and giant slides, with the Khalifa City venue covering around 3,500 square metres. General tickets need kids to be at least 110cm, so it suits confident older kids and teens best.

Where: Marina Mall, First Floor and Forsan Central Mall, Level 1, Khalifa City
Contact: +971 4 304 9333, bounce.ae
Price: 2 hours plus a treat AED 150
Best for: Teens and 5 to 11s

27. Surf Abu Dhabi

The world-class wave pool on Hudayriyat runs structured lessons for young surfers. One-on-one lessons and Open Surf Beginner sessions start from age 8, Discovery sessions are 12 and over, and the eight-week Kids Go Surfing programme runs on Thursday afternoons and Sunday mornings. It closes every July and August.

Where: Hudayriyat Island
Contact: hello@surfabudhabi.com, surfabudhabi.com (no public phone line)
Price: Kids Go Surfing 8 weeks AED 4,000. Surf Club Pool Pass AED 100
Best for: Teens and 8 to 11s

Vibe check: The facilities and coaching are world-class, just check your bank balance first because the prices are world-class too.

28. Mangrove kayaking with Husaak Adventures

Two-hour guided paddles through Abu Dhabi Mangrove National Park at Eastern Mangroves. You’ll spot herons and crabs, and on a lucky day a turtle. Full moon tours are a special-occasion treat. Husaak was formerly Sea Hawk Water Sports, so don’t be confused by older listings.

Where: Eastern Mangroves, Al Kheeran (golf cart or 10 to 15 minute walk from parking)
Contact: +971 55 548 3534, husaak.ae
Price: 2-hour guided tour AED 168 adults, AED 147 children
Best for: Teens and 5 to 11s (October to April)

Vibe check: Patient guides and properly peaceful water make this a family favourite, just wear swimwear under your clothes because everyone gets wet whether they planned to or not.

29. Zayed Sports City Ice Rink

An Olympic-sized rink with public skating sessions every day and lessons for kids who want to go beyond clinging to the wall. The perfect answer to a 45C August weekend.

Where: Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi
Contact: 02 403 4333, zsc.ae
Price: Public session AED 85 (Monday to Thursday), AED 110 (Friday evening to Sunday)
Best for: Teens and all ages

30. Khalifa International Bowling Centre

Forty lanes, fair prices and the kind of low-stakes competition that gets teenagers talking to their parents again, at least until someone gets a strike.

Where: Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi
Contact: 02 403 4648, zsc.ae
Price: AED 30 a game Monday to Thursday, AED 40 Friday to Sunday. Lanes from AED 170 per hour
Best for: Teens and all ages

Vibe check: Clean, modern and good value by the lane, just call ahead because league nights can swallow the lanes you were counting on.

31. Zayed National Museum

Opened in December 2025, this is the story of the UAE told through multisensory galleries, and it lands best with older kids who can follow the history. Modest dress is required (shoulders and knees covered). Our opening report has the full background.

Where: Saadiyat Cultural District, near Louvre Abu Dhabi
Contact: Book via zayednationalmuseum.ae
Price: AED 70 adults, under-18s free
Best for: Teens

Vibe check: The architecture alone earns the trip, just give yourself a buffer for parking because weekend traffic around the district can get chaotic.

32. Karting at Al Forsan

An outdoor karting track in Khalifa City for when Yas Kartzone is booked out. Juniors aged 7 to 12 need to be at least 130cm and adults 13 and over at least 150cm. Being outdoors, it’s an October to April plan.

Where: Al Forsan International Sports Resort, Khalifa City
Contact: 02 656 5656 (WhatsApp 050 700 8609)
Price: From AED 150 for 15 minutes on track
Best for: Teens

33. Ecole Ducasse Abu Dhabi Studio

Alain Ducasse’s culinary studio on the historic Al Hosn site runs two-hour kids’ cooking and pastry classes, split into Beginners (6 to 10) and Advanced (11 to 16), plus parent-and-child pastry sessions. Your teenager may even cook dinner afterwards. Maybe.

Where: Al Hosn site, downtown Abu Dhabi
Contact: +971 2 566 9885, abudhabi-ecoleducasse-studio.ae
Price: Kids’ classes AED 425 (2 hours), parent-and-child pastry AED 630
Best for: Teens and 6 to 11s

WOW Abu Dhabi Expert Tip: Teens in Abu Dhabi rarely want a whole day planned. Book one anchor activity – CLYMB, Zero Latency or a surf lesson – then give them a food budget at Yas Bay or The Galleria and a meeting time. You get a happier teenager and a coffee in peace.

Family activities for all ages

The places that work whether you’re pushing a buggy or negotiating with a 15-year-old about phone time.

34. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

Still the most awe-inspiring building in the country, and kids of every age feel it. Since September 2026 there is a small entry fee, visits must be pre-booked online (up to a month ahead) and free guided cultural tours run daily. Everyone needs long, loose clothing to the ankles and women need a headscarf.

Where: Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Street, Abu Dhabi
Contact: +971 2 419 1919, szgmc.gov.ae
Price: AED 10 tourists, AED 5 Emirates ID holders. Under-3s, over-60s and People of Determination free
Best for: All ages (5 and up engage most)

Vibe check: Pure goosebumps from the moment you walk into the courtyard, just take the dress code seriously because staff will turn back a dress that stops even slightly short of the ankle.

35. Corniche Beach

The Corniche’s Blue Flag beach sits right in the heart of the city with lifeguards, calm water and a skyline view. The main stretches are free and the gated family sections charge a small entry fee. Swimming is allowed until sunset and the beach stays open until midnight – see our note on the Corniche night beach.

Where: Corniche Road, Abu Dhabi city
Contact: Run by the Department of Municipalities and Transport, dmt.gov.ae
Price: Free main beach, small fee for gated family sections
Best for: All ages

Vibe check: Clean sand, lifeguards and those famous sunsets make it an easy win, just skip the peak of August when the water gets shallow, warm and a little murky.

36. Al Bateen Beach

The locals’ favourite for a quieter, free beach day. It’s 800m long, Blue Flag certified and faces Hudayriyat, with a water sports centre and courts. Our Al Bateen and Breakwater guide covers where to eat nearby.

Where: Khalifa Al Mubarak Street, off Al Khaleej Al Arabi Street, Al Bateen
Contact: Run by the Department of Municipalities and Transport, dmt.gov.ae
Price: Free
Best for: All ages (open 6am to midnight, swimming until sunset)

37. Kai Beach, Saadiyat

The former Saadiyat Public Beach is now a managed beach club with loungers, food and drink credit and some of the softest sand in the emirate. The family ticket makes it more reasonable. We compared it with the other Saadiyat options in our review of all five Saadiyat beaches.

Where: Saadiyat Beach, Saadiyat Island
Contact: +971 50 283 5795, kaibeachsaadiyat.com
Price: Weekday family ticket (2 adults and 2 kids) AED 375, weekend AED 500. Age 5 and under free
Best for: All ages

Vibe check: The sand and water are genuinely worth showing up for, just bring your own towel and brace for seagulls and crows who behave like paying customers.

38. Marsana beaches, Hudayriyat Island

Two managed beaches on Hudayriyat with Circuit X and a strip of restaurants on the doorstep. Marsana West is the budget pick, Marsana East the more polished one, and children under six go free at both.

Where: Marsana, Hudayriyat Island (across the bridge from Al Bateen)
Contact: info@hudayriyatisland.ae, hudayriyatisland.ae
Price: Marsana East AED 50 adults and AED 25 kids aged 6 to 11 on weekdays (AED 110 and AED 60 at weekends). Marsana West from AED 25 adults
Best for: All ages

39. Reem Central Park

A big, free, green park on Al Reem Island with play zones, a skate park, a canal walk, lawns and food trucks. Husaak rents kayaks and paddleboards from the park if the kids want to get on the water.

Where: Al Reem Island
Contact: Aldar 800 25327 (800 ALDAR). Kayak hire via husaak.ae
Price: Free entry. Single kayak AED 63 per hour
Best for: All ages

40. Al Ain Zoo (day trip)

About 90 minutes from the city and worth every minute. It’s huge, spacious and has a proper safari, giraffe feeding and a desert learning centre. It reopened for the season on 5 September 2026 with the Glow After Dark festival running until 4 October – here’s our Al Ain Zoo reopening guide.

Where: Nahyan The First Street, Al Ain
Contact: 800 966 or +971 3 799 2000, alainzoo.com
Price: Children aged 3 to 12 AED 10.50, under-3s free. Adult tickets around AED 30. Safari extra
Best for: All ages

Vibe check: Spacious, clean and full of genuinely happy-looking animals, just wear proper shoes because the walking distances would impress a marathon coach.

How to save money on family days out in Abu Dhabi

• Multi-park tickets beat singles. Yas 2-Park AED 475, 3-Park AED 575 and 4-Park AED 675 per person, each usable within six days with free shuttles and parking.
• Hotel deals can include tickets. Yas Island’s Kids Go Free offer (for stays at participating hotels until 31 October 2026) gives up to two under-12s a free stay, free park access and free meals with two paying adults. Here’s how Kids Go Free works.
• Museums are secretly cheap for families. Under-18s are free at Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum and the Natural History Museum. Adults can bundle all three with the Saadiyat Cultural District Museum Pass (AED 170 for three).
• Bank cards pay off. Emirates NBD cardholders currently get 20% off single-day Yas theme park tickets.
• Free wins exist. Al Bateen Beach, Reem Central Park, the Al Qana promenade, House of Artisans and the Corniche’s free stretches cost nothing but parking.

What’s coming for Abu Dhabi families

• Guggenheim Abu Dhabi opens on 11 December 2026 in the Saadiyat Cultural District. Our Guggenheim Abu Dhabi visitor guide is updated as details land.
• Superman Up and Away, a flying coaster at Warner Bros. World, is reported for 2028.
• Three Harry Potter lands – Hogwarts Castle, Diagon Alley and the Forbidden Forest – are targeted for completion in 2029 at Warner Bros. World.
• Disneyland Abu Dhabi on Yas Island was announced in 2025 with no opening date yet. We explain what we know about the Disney park.

For this week’s festivals, shows and pop-ups, check our What’s On in Abu Dhabi events hub. Planning a Yas-heavy weekend? Our Yas Island guide and two-day Yas itinerary with kids map it out, and the Al Maryah Island guide covers The Galleria’s indoor options.

Family activities in Abu Dhabi: FAQs

This guide is refreshed as venues change prices, rides and rules. Last checked 27 September 2026.