Back when we were kids, there was one go-to soft play area in Dubai, and it lived gloriously inside Lamcy Plaza *sob, why did it have to close?* Sigh, simpler times. Anyway, there was just one option and hence, one mission. Jump till your knees gave out and beg for the 1 AED softie from McDonald’s! But today’s toddlers? Oh, they’re living in a different universe. There’s a soft play area in every nook and corner of Dubai. And practically half a dozen of them with jungle themes, rainbow foam pits, cloud rooms, and cafes that serve actual flat whites. As the mum of a toddler, I’ve found myself overwhelmed by this abundance of padded joy. I’ve spent far too many weekend mornings scrolling through options, comparing entry fees like I’m booking a luxury resort, and eventually giving up… only to face a meltdown from my tiny, irrational roommate.
So I decided to turn all that mindless scrolling into productive, sanity-saving research. And, so here I am unfurling my round-up of a bunch of fabulous soft play areas across Dubai that don’t crush your wallet. Yup, every single one of these is AED 65 or less. Because let’s be honest, if I’m spending more than that on a place with ball pits, I better at least get a free coffee. Actually… not a bad idea, right? Soft play peeps, are you reading this? *grin*
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Cheeky Monkeys
If soft play areas had a Miss Universe pageant, Cheeky Monkeys would have already taken the crown, sash, and possibly the microphone to thank their parents. This multi-award-winning spot has branches across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, RAK, and Al Ain – and trust me, once your kid enters, there’s no turning back (because they refuse to leave, duh!). The play zone is cleverly split into fun stations – from life-sized clubhouses and toddler pits to arts & crafts corners and sensory zones that quietly trick kids into learning while having fun. The environment is so hands-on, colourful, and creatively stimulating, it almost makes up for the noise. Almost.
Cost: AED 63 for the first hour, AED 35 for every extra one.
Location: Leisure Center, Arabian Ranches 2, Dubai
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Kids HQ
If Willy Wonka had swapped chocolate for foam and glitter glue, you’d get Kids HQ. This three-level soft play haven in Al Barsha is packed with a giant ball pit, a DIY craft studio, an interactive game room, and a cloud play experience that looks like a toddler daydream come true. All the staff are seasoned child-whisperers. And they somehow manage to keep the chaos contained and the craft glue out of nostrils.
Cost: Around AED 65 for 2 hours (I know, what a steal!!)
Location: Umm Suqeim St, Al Barsha 2, Dubai
Fabyland’s Soft Play Area
Fabyland is for the child who wants to go down a dark tunnel slide, bounce on trampolines, shoot foam balls, and then challenge you to an arcade game. All of this before their midday snack! Their soft play zone includes slides, ball pools, football zones, and just enough energy-draining activities to earn you a quiet car ride home. There are two play zones! One inside Fabyland and one in the food court of DFC Mall. Yes, mall = shopping + parenting win.
Cost: AED 50 + 2 free arcade rides
Location: Near Food Court, Dubai Festival City Mall, Dubai
La La Land
No, not the Ryan Gosling movie – but this one’s still a dream. La La Land is the OG soft play hero hiding inside malls across Dubai. You’ll find a giant jungle gym, inflatable slides, obstacle courses, toddler zones, Xbox corners, and enough arts & crafts to redecorate your entire fridge. From ceramic and stone painting to Play-Doh, glitter, and 3D art, your kids will come out creatively fulfilled and likely covered in sparkles. The Toddler Court is perfect for little ones aged 1+, with scaled-down fun and zero stampedes.
Cost: AED 55/hour
Location: Near Roxy Cinema, Dubai Hill’s Mall, Dubai Hills Estate, Dubai
Also read: 6 Unexpectedly Cool Things to Do at BurJuman Mall
Koko Kids’ Soft Play Area
Another mall-inhabiting soft play area to the rescue! Tucked inside Villanova Mall, Koko Kids is a sensory wonderland. Think colourful tunnels, bouncy slides, padded ramps, and obstacle courses built for tiny explorers. They’ve even thought about sensory development, with textured walls, interactive panels, and tactile toys woven into the setup. So while your kid is having the time of their life, they’re also technically learning. And isn’t that the dream?
Cost: AED 55/hr (sometimes drops to AED 49.50 during promos).
Location: Villanova Community Mall, Emirates Rd, Wadi Al Safa 5, Dubai
Finding an affordable indoor play area that doesn’t reek of tears and cheese puffs is no small feat. But these five options are clean, fun, safe, and budget-friendly – a combo rarer than a child voluntarily napping.
So go ahead, pick a spot, pack some snacks, and enjoy one glorious hour of not being climbed like a tree.
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