It’s 49°C outside, your kid just used a banana to finger-paint the sofa. You’ve already said “No, you can’t have another snack” fourteen times, and it’s only 9:12 AM. You’ve done soft play, built one too many pillow forts and you’re one “Mommmm” away from booking yourself a solo ticket to a silent yoga retreat. With no Wi-Fi. And honestly? That’s starting to sound like a dream. But wait, don’t start planning that yet! Because I found six offbeat, genuinely fun (and air-conditioned) things you can do in Dubai this week with your tiny humans. Whether your kid is into cupcakes, claw machines, or camping with sloths (yep, that’s a thing), we’ve got you covered with this list of offbeat indoor activities. Let’s roll!
Also read: 5 Dubai Restaurants Where Parents Can Have A Peaceful Meal While Kids Play
Fixies Screening at ToDA
It’s the final weekend to catch The Fixies! Oh, what are Fixies? Well, Fixies are like teeny-tiny tech gremlins who fix your appliances and live inside your microwave (no, really). Start with a lively Meet & Greet (cue: excited squeals and photo ops), get crafty colouring your own Fixies character, then snuggle into ToDA’s trippy immersive theatre for a special 30-min Fixies screening in a 360-degree dome. Oh, and don’t rush off, there’s more colouring magic at the end that actually comes to life. Prices start at AED 60 and they have multiple shows happening on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Location: Theatre Of Digital Art, Souk Madinat, Al Sufouh 1 – Dubai
Stepping Into a Glitchy Video Game IRL At House Of Hype
Ready to win major mum points? Head to House of Hype, where your little ones can delve into an immersive, dance like TikTok stars and dig into mochi waffle eggs. What’s even better? In this giant neon world, your kids can bounce and run wild without knocking over your vase collection! There’s a claw machine where they (or let’s be real, you) could win the holy grail of quirky toys – a Labubu! So, go ahead and grab your tickets for AED 149 and if your tot is under three, they can enter for free (rhyme totally unintended)!
Camping in a Rainforest
INDOOR CAMPING IN A RANIFOREST! Who knew such beauty and irony could co-exist so perfectly? Dubai’s only tropical rainforest, The Green Planet is kicking off its overnight rainforest camping trips inside their indoor biodome from this weekend. Which sounds either magical or mildly terrifying depending on how many hours of sleep you’ve had this week. Imagine cosy tents, night walks through a jungle with sloths, and waking up surrounded by 3,000 animals. As for the prices, the tents are available for AED 900 (for a duo) and AED 1700 (for a group of four).
OliOli – Controlled Chaos That’s Technically Educational
Imagine a museum where everything is touchable and launchable and your child somehow learns about Newton’s Third Law while also crawling through tunnels and painting walls. Parents can chill, pretend they’re watching, and sneak a minute of scrolling time. Win-win.
Cooking Class at Eataly
Let your mini masterchefs loose in a real kitchen (where you needn’t do the clean up)! At Eataly Dubai Festival City, they’ll learn how to make carrot cupcakes (Saturday – 3 to 4 PM) or chocolate cookies (Sunday – 12-1 PM). You’ll learn how to keep calm and not get tempted by the leftover icing. Oh, and in order to sign up, your kid should be between 5 and 12 years. And before you ask, the cooking sesh is priced at AED 85 per kid.
Join The Fluff Party At Lilo & Stitch Pop-Up
While you’re at Festival City, swing by the Lilo & Stitch Pop-Up, which will be around until June 4. Honestly, it’s like being embraced in a magnified Hawaiian hug! Miniso has created a pastel paradise full of plushies, keychains, bubble cameras, and Lilo & Stitch-themed skincare (which I may have accidentally bought for myself). Dress the little ones in Hawaiian florals, strike a pose among the plush mountains, and embrace the chaos. Or do it yourself, we don’t judge!
You came here for 6 offbeat things… here’s a bonus!
Set Them Loose at the New, Biggest Indoor Play Area in the UAE
Just when you thought you’d exhausted all soft play options, bam! Orange Wheels has levelled up with two shiny new locations: Nad Al Sheba Mall and Dubai Mall Zabeel Extension. It’s now officially the biggest indoor play space in the country. And with these new spots comes a brand-new weekday morning offering that’s perfect for the little ones and your caffeine-deprived soul. Tinker Tots AM, a developmental program for toddlers aged 6 months to 3 years and their grown-ups, is running from 11:00 AM onwards on weekdays. Designed to support early childhood growth through purposeful play, it mixes sensory activities, social interaction, and discovery time in a warm, nurturing setting. The program is now live across all Orange Wheels centres, and it beautifully blends the brand’s “Play, Discover, Create” philosophy with real developmental milestones.
Also worth bookmarking: Half Price Tuesday is a thing. Every Tuesday (except public holidays), you can score half-price entry for the 2-hour Stay & Play session: AED 57.5 for kids aged 18 months and above & AED 30 for those under 18 months
Because survival = creativity (you’ve got this!)
So yes, it’s hot. And yes, the kids are turning slightly feral. But look at you, planning cool indoor adventures like a pro. Is it going to be perfectly peaceful? No. Is it going to be memorable? 100%. Will you need a nap by Sunday night? Absolutely. But hey, at least it’s not another trip to the mall food court. Now go forth and survive the week like the legend you are. Tiara optional!
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