Top Dubai Theme Parks - Popular Amusement Parks to Visit

Whatever kind of theme park fun you and your family are looking for, you’ll find the perfect attraction to suit your vacation in Dubai.

By Katie Sagal
Published: July 18, 2024
IMG theme park ride

Planning on visiting Dubai with family and looking to visit some of the top Dubai theme parks, waterparks, and more? There are plenty of activities that are perfect for what you are looking for, from traditional amusement parks to virtual gaming cafes. 

Aquaventure Waterpark

Aquaventure Waterpark

Based in the resort area of Atlantis the Palm, Aquaventure Waterpark is an unbeatable experience for fans of water rides. There are water slides, river slides, peaceful beaches, kids' play areas, and so much more for the whole family to enjoy. It’s more than just a waterpark, though.

You’ll get a chance to see and interact with aquatic animals. Feed cow nose rays and explore the amazing Shark Lagoon (you get to put on a specialty helmet and explore the lagoon underwater!) For the adults, there’s even a private beach where you can kick back and relax while the kids make sand castles. It’s a total win-win! 

Getting In: Admission to Aquaventure Waterpark is included on all Dubai passes.

Motiongate Dubai

Motiongate Dubai

This amazing Hollywood-inspired theme park is like nothing you’ve seen before – even if you’ve been to Los Angeles itself! Motiongate Dubai has all the glitz, glamor, excitement, and adventure. The park is divided into several different zones that each tackle an aspect of Hollywood or cinematic culture, from Lionsgate to Dreamworks to Columbia Pictures and beyond.

Some key franchises you’ll see elements from include The Smurfs, Ghostbusters, Madagascar, Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, and many more. They’ve got all the theme park fun: roller coasters, theatrical performances, meet-and-greet sessions with park characters, and even interactive shows. 

Getting In: Admission to Motiongate Dubai is available on all Dubai passes.

Bollywood Parks Dubai

Bollywood_Parks_Dubai

It’s the very first theme park in the world dedicated to the magic and wonder that is Bollywood culture. Immerse yourself in the musical world of Bollywood. This legendary film industry is anchored in the capital, Mumbai, but you've got the chance to explore the artistry and excitement behind their productions right here in Dubai.

With 16 rides and attractions to choose from and 5 entertainment zones, you’ll be able to explore many facets of Bollywood, from a train ride to exhilarating musical performances. Even if you’re not familiar with many Bollywood films, you’ll love the sense of pure adventure and fun that their stories bring to the table.

Play cricket, partake in a rural feast and celebration, sing along with famous stars, and go back in time to the era of India’s empire. 

Getting In: Bollywood Parks Dubai is separately ticketed.

IMG Worlds of Adventure

IMG

The largest indoor park of its kind in the entire world, IMG Worlds of Adventure is the perfect destination for those looking to enjoy theme park fun without suffering through the heat. The park itself is divided into five distinct “epic zones,” which encapsulate different ideas and franchises: the zones are Marvel, Lost Valley, Cartoon Network, IMG Boulevard, and Novo Cinemas.

Each zone has much to offer for kids and adults, whether you’re a fan of roller coasters and thrill rides or you prefer some more video-based adventure. The Cartoon Network zone is particularly popular with Americans, as it includes nods to franchises like Power Puff Girls, Adventure Time, The Amazing World of Gumball, and more. 

Getting In: Admission to IMG Worlds of Adventure is included on all Dubai passes.

Mattel Play! Town

See the world of your kids’ favorite toys brought to life at the charming Mattel Play! Town in Dubai. Explore the worlds of the best Mattel franchises from Bob the Builder to Thomas & Friends to Angelina Ballerina. Each exhibit area encourages positivity, creative thinking, and problem-solving. It’s a great atmosphere for kids to play and learn at the same time, all while interacting with their favorite TV and toy franchises. This theme park is best suited for younger children. 

Getting In: Mattel Play! Town is separately ticketed.

LEGOLAND® Dubai

legoland-dubai

This delightful theme park for young children is a favorite worldwide, so it’s no surprise that you’ll find one in the amazing entertainment capital that is Dubai. You’ll find over 40 rides, attractions, and shows that employ LEGO characters and storylines across six themed lands. It’s got a great mix of indoor and outdoor attractions, so it’s easy to avoid the summer heat when necessary.

Plus, there are over 60 million LEGO bricks in the park altogether – pretty impressive, huh? Visit the popular MINILAND (where you can find tiny scale models of real buildings), explore the medieval world of Kingdoms, and create your own LEGO masterpieces in the Imagination areas. 

Getting In: Admission to LEGOLAND Dubai is available on all Dubai passes.

Looking for more kid friendly options? Check out our post on fun things to do in Dubai with kids.

KidZania

This attraction is one of the top kid-friendly places in all of Dubai. It’s a wonderful, interactive “edutainment center,” to use their words, where children can learn and play simultaneously. The emphasis at KidZania is on roleplaying real adult jobs. Kids have the opportunity to put on costumes and props from over 80 different jobs, all within the replica of a real urban center. They might become inspired by professions they never knew existed. 

They’ll also get the chance to interact with others in this world, by “paying” for groceries with the park’s currency, for example. KidZania City has everything a real community would have – from a hospital to a beauty salon – and your kids will get the chance to explore all of it at their leisure. 

Getting In: Admission to KidZania is separately ticketed.

Ski Dubai

Ski_Dubai_Indoor_Skiing

It’s more than just the first indoor ski resort in the Middle East – it’s a miracle of modern technology that allows visitors to enjoy this popular winter sport year-round...in the middle of the desert! Ski Dubai is designed to mimic the setting of a mountain in winter, so you’ll get the same rush of excitement when skiing, snowboarding, and tubing in this park as you would in the mountains of Colorado.

Best of all? It’s totally real snow. So get out there, strap on your skis, and get going! 

Getting In: Admission to Ski Dubai Polar Pass is included on all Dubai passes.

iFLY - Indoor Skydiving Experience

man-woman-enjoy-flying-together-wind

For adventurous folks, there are few things greater in the world than the feeling of flying. That’s where iFLY Indoor Skydiving Experience comes in. Feel all the excitement and wonder of flight at this exciting attraction, which combines elements of skydiving, bungee jumping, and base jumping.

You’ll fall pretty far down through a vertical wind tunnel (the world’s first of its kind, actually) and get a heck of a ride on the way down. This activity is safe for all ages 3+, although parents should exercise caution when deciding if younger children should fly. 

Getting In: Admission to iFLY Dubai Indoor Skydiving is included on all Dubai passes.

Thrill Zone - Laser Tag

Laser Tag

The Thrill Zone Entertainment Centre is among the best options in the region for older children and adults. Their Laser Tag is a high-tech, exhilarating experience that provides tons of fun and works off some excess kid energy. The 3,000-square-foot laser tag zone itself is designed to mimic a Jurassic Park theme. This zone evokes a lot of fun and maybe a little bit of fright.

Run around through UV lights and fog (with accompanying techno music) and try to avoid the pitfalls of the arena as you aim for the opposite team. As far as gear goes, you’ve got special vests equipped with advanced laser tag technology. It’s the real deal when it comes to laser tag, and your whole family will love the experience. 

Getting In: Thrill Zone – Dubai Laser Tag & more is separately ticketed.

Virtual Worlds - Virtual Reality Gaming Café

Virtual Reality Gaming

This amazing destination is the first virtual reality gaming café in all of the Middle East. It offers an immersive, virtual reality experience without the expense of having to buy all of your own equipment and pay for the fancy internet to support it. Come here to experience the latest and greatest in VR tech.

Dubai Virtual Worlds features everything from installations that physically move you through space as you experience the virtual world around you, to elements that keep you seated but feeling like you’re moving. It’s a newer attraction and is very popular in Dubai, so it’s definitely worth checking out if you’re a gamer, or even if you’re just curious about VR. 

Getting In: Dubai Virtual Worlds is separately ticketed.

So much adventure, so little time...

Whew! It’s clear that Dubai has theme parks and plenty of other fun amusement parks to offer visitors, whether you’ve got some little ones in tow who want to explore their favorite TV franchises, or you’re a group of adults looking to get your adventure on. Visit a few of these amazing adventure parks as part of a larger Dubai vacation, and you’re set for the time of your life.

Can't choose? No need, see it all with Go City® 

With an All-Inclusive Pass from Go City, you can visit both attractions for a fraction of the cost. Plus, you could save up to 50% on all your Dubai must-sees. Or pick an Explorer Pass, if you've chosen your fave and have a specific bucket list you're dreaming of ticking off.  

☀️ Compare Dubai passes ☀️– 🌏 Explore other destinations 🌏 –  ✈️ Buy a pass ✈ 

Katie Sagal
Go City Travel Expert

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A woman tries sandboarding down a Dubai desert dune
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Outdoor activities in Dubai you have to try

With temperatures during its coldest months still hitting lows of 16°C and daily highs of 24°C, Dubai has been attracting those seeking out winter warmth for years. And though images of this constituent part of the United Arab Emirates tend to focus on its modern architecture and air-conditioned malls, there are few limits to getting out and about into the fresh air and sunny skies. Let’s take a look at the outdoor activities in Dubai you won’t want to miss! Desert safaris A dream world of lofty dunes and wandering antelope, Dubai is one of the easiest places in the world to get out into the desert. Just a short drive will have you waving goodbye to the towers of downtown and gazing in wonder at expansive desert panoramas. Don’t worry about having no off-road skills though, there are plenty of guided desert safaris to choose between, combining the experience of capping the dunes in a 4x4 with some time on the back of a camel or sitting around the open fire of a Bedouin camp come evening. If you’re a morning person, you can swap the sunset for the sunrise, with hot air balloons drifting across this ethereal landscape as oryx and gazelles feel the first warmth of the new day. Sailing adventures Before the advent of international air travel, it was the seas and waterways around Dubai that were its lifeblood. Signs of its significance aren’t hard to find, from the design of the Burj Al Arab to the stumpy hand-carved trading vessels called dhow which still dock at wharves within Dubai Creek. Smaller abra remain a popular alternative to the metro system for transporting people between one side of the creek and the other. However, to fully discover the sparkling waters head out on an organized sightseeing tour of the creek or Dubai Marina. Green spaces Dubai may not be known for its parks, but know where to look and you’ll find small pockets perfectly suited for getting away from it all. When it was first inaugurated, Safa Park was on the outskirts of the city. Today its palms and public boating lake are at the heart of it all, with views facing back towards downtown and the Burj Khalifa. Facing downtown from the opposite direction is Zabeel Park, whose grasses also include Dubai Frame. Another alternative is Creek Park, whose length of almost three kilometers is covered in flowers and liberally sprinkled with benches. Amusement parks Straddling multiple past times, Global Village is part funfair and part market, sharing the traditions of 78 different cultures across 26 pavilions. Whilst the replicas of the leaning tower of Pisa and London’s Big Ben are impressive enough, many visitors come for the food alone, since there’s around 200 different stalls in all – a similar number to the dining options at Dubai Mall. For splashing around there’s a couple of great options, with La Mer’s Laguna Waterpark and Aquaventure Waterpark at Atlantis The Palm leading the way. At Laguna cabanas overlooking the Persian Gulf make it as easy to relax as it is to get the heart pumping with its Free Fall plunge and surf machine. Meanwhile Aquaventure mixes lazy river rides with the twisted slides of aquaconda and over 100 other water-based activities for all the family. Hop-on Hop-off sightseeing Take to the open top deck of a Hop-on Hop-off sightseeing bus and let the most instaworthy of Dubai sights come to you without having to move from your seat. Stay onboard for the entire route and you’ll get two hours of commentary on attractions including Deira’s Gold Souk and downtown’s Burj Khalifa. Of course, there’s no better way to experience them than by seeing them for yourself. This is actually what a one day ticket allows you to do without having to pay any more to rejoin a later bus. Win-win. Beaches Beaches line Dubai’s coastline and are universally well-kept stretches of sand. Hitting their busiest on the weekends and during holiday periods (which does not include Christmas), they are also relatively popular on warmer evenings. Sundown at The Palm Jumeirah’s Palm West Beach is a particular favorite, since it gives visitors views of the setting sun. Its promenade’s 300 palms are lit up not long after, creating an attractive place for an evening stroll. At other times of day the beach hums with the sound of jet ski engines and speedboats towing inflatables, with wakeboards, efoils and flyboards all available too. Heritage village Created in 1997 but harking back to the time of Dubai’s earliest settlers, Al Shindagha district’s Heritage Village seeks to keep the emirate’s culture and tradition alive for future generations. It provides a space for visitors to explore traditional ways of life in the mountains, on the coast and in Dubai’s desert regions. A living museum, craftspeople such as potters and weavers sit within historic structures, whilst there’s also a functioning fishing village using age-old techniques to haul in the daily catch. Diving A much more modern approach to interacting with the region’s fish stocks is by snorkeling and scuba diving. Dubai itself is short of major dive sites, with Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo one of its top locations. On the plus side, Fujairah – another of the United Arab Emirates – has a number of sites and can be reached by road from Dubai in a couple of hours without having to worry about any passport formalities. Situated on the Gulf of Oman, Fujairah has both natural and artificial coral reefs, with most tours taking divers to Dibba Rock, Martini Rock, Snoopy Island or Inchcape, where species including green turtles, black-tipped reef sharks and clownfish can be encountered. Enjoy the best outdoor activities in Dubai with Go City You don’t have to look too far to find fun in the sun on a trip to Dubai. Nor does it take much searching to find ways of receiving significant savings on admission to many of its top outdoor attractions, since Go City does just that! So whether it’s desert safaris, the amusement parks or diving opportunities, don’t miss your chance to enjoy the outdoor activities in Dubai you just have to try.
Ian Packham
The waterfront at Dubai Creek in Deira
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Cool things to do in Deira Dubai

Only a short hop from the international airport, Deira still manages to be one of the most charismatic of Dubai’s neighborhoods. Forming a part of Old Dubai, its port continues to be a place for traditional dhow trading vessels to be loaded and unloaded by hand, sailing their small cargoes between Dubai, the Middle East and even India. Its streets are dominated by souks – dedicated to gold, spices and perfumes – where Arabic is still more likely to be heard than English. When it comes to things to do in Deira Dubai there’s also a smattering of small museums and even a beachfront park. Plenty of reasons to take a turn in Dubai’s original downtown district! Enjoy the creek-side setting Long before the observation decks at the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, existed and long before Dubai came together with its neighbors to form the United Arab Emirates, there was Deira. As the historic location for mooring dhows, it was the obvious place for the young city’s souks to develop. The simplest of ports, just mooring bollards lining the northern entrance to Dubai Creek, Deira’s ageless waterfront provides a contrast to the usual image of Dubai. Its handcrafted and wooden built ships haven’t changed much in centuries – except for the fact they now contain engines as well as sails. Still dodging the piracy of the high seas, there’s nowhere in Deira with more atmosphere and no better way to discover it than with a creek sightseeing cruise. However, even staying on dry land there are lots of ways to take in the neighborhood’s traditional way of living and working. For instance, Deira’s multitude of souks are a world away from the polished floors and mood music of Dubai’s malls, providing a much more visceral shopping – or window shopping – experience. Choose between the gold, spice and perfume souks depending on what interests you most. Delve into Deira’s history A one minute walk from the Gold Souk is the Dubai Municipality Museum. Fully restored and opened to the public in 2006, it was from this simple building that Dubai was administered for many years. As a result, the museum’s collection uses four main sections to focus on the development of the city and state. An old-school museum with plenty of glass cabinets to gaze into, its upper floor balcony is also a nice place to enjoy life on the street below. The nearby Bait Al Banat – or Women’s Museum – does an important job in highlighting the role of women in a society which historically expected wives, mothers and sisters to stay at home and out of sight. Using historical examples to inspire future generations, gallery one hosts temporary exhibitions and gallery two a semi-permanent collection of archive photographs and contemporary artworks. Dating to 1890, Deira’s self-proclaimed Heritage House has the traditional form of buildings of coral stone and gypsum enclosing a central courtyard. It once belonged to an affluent pearl merchant called Sheikh Ahmed Bin Dalmouk, who also financed the next-door Al Ahmadiya School – one of Dubai’s most prestigious. Step within, and you’ll learn about life behind closed doors, from the majlis meeting place on the ground floor to the kitchens and bathrooms. Relax in Deira’s green spaces A short distance further along the creek from Deira’s wharves, and edged by three of the most luxurious hotels in Deira is Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club. A ribbon of verdant green dotted with lakes, bunkers and palms, there are three difficult golf courses to choose between. The average traveler will probably have the most fun at the insta-ready #minigolfdubai course. Although there aren’t any rotating windmills or crazy angles to contend with, there are a series of challenging holes as perfectly manicured as the club’s beginner-friendly nine-hole course or the 7000 yard 18-hole championship course. Greenery without the golf cart can be enjoyed at Al Mamzar Beach Park on a peninsula facing off against Sharjah, Dubai’s neighboring (border-free) emirate. Containing basketball courts, climbing walls and beach volleyball as well as barbecues and plenty of places to sit, swimming is an option from its pools or its multiple beaches. It’s worth noting that Mondays and Wednesdays are women-only days. Together, the golf club and Al Mamzar Beach Park form the main green spaces in Deira. Explore Deira’s newest and oldest structures Because of its status as the second oldest neighborhood in Dubai, new developments are largely reserved for other parts of the city. However, architecture fans won’t be left disappointed. Start at Burj Nahar, a round defensive watchtower constructed in the 1870s. The last of its kind to remain, it’s well worth climbing its steps to add it to your list of places to visit in Deira. Then continue to the contemporary doughnut shaped Chamber of Commerce building on the waterfront. Beside it stands the headquarters of the National Bank of Dubai, whose curved frontage is meant to replicate the sails of the creek’s boats. On the other side of Deira you’ll also find Deira Islands. Made by reclaiming land from the Persian Gulf, the original intention was to create a third Palm. This plan was ruined by the financial crisis of 2008, and it’s only now that these islands are coming to life. For the moment there’s only a handful of hotel’s operating, meaning you’ll have the promised eight kilometers of new beachfront pretty much all to yourself! Go City’s top things to do in Deira It may be just one of Dubai’s districts, but there are still several must see attractions in Deira. Its souks cement it as one of the region’s most important trading areas, whilst its small but interesting museum collections help to reveal its two centuries of culture. Deira is an unmissable part of any trip to Dubai. When looking for the top things to do in Deira and Dubai more widely don’t forget to check out our pre-pay passes. Travel with Go City and you’ll make huge savings on many of the emirate’s top attractions.
Ian Packham
Buggy Ride in Dubai Desert
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Best Desert Safari Tours in Dubai

There's something magical about the desert. It feels almost alien, like an unexplored world. Full of wonder and beauty, it's a place that needs to be respected too. We've all seen films and TV shows about people lost in the desert, seeing mirages of wells and fresh water. You might be drawn to the desert, but it can be dangerous venturing forth alone. Speaking of deserts, Dubai. Dubai has plenty of desert surrounding it. In fact, what we now know as Dubai is only 200 years old. It was a city built literally amongst the sand. So it's no surprise that, in a city known for its abundance of entertainment opportunities, Dubai has some of the best desert safari tours on the planet. These curated experiences come in all shapes and sizes, from relaxing treks to adrenaline-fueled races. But no matter which you pick, you can be sure that you'll be safe and well taken care of in the desert! So which one is for you? These are our picks of the best desert safari tours in Dubai! Including: Thrill Buggy Rides in Dubai's desert 4x4 Quad Bike Ride in Desert (Sahara Adventure) Camel Trekking Desert Safari and BBQ Dinner Enjoy a Thrill Buggy Ride in Dubai's desert Let's kick off this list with the heart-pumping variety of desert safari tours! If you've never ridden over the dunes outside Dubai in a dune buggy, can you say you've truly lived? Change all that, and get behind the wheel of a dune raider with this amazing day buggy ride. After you're escorted from your hotel in a 4x4, your journey to the dunes will be full of photo ops. Cameras at the ready, boys and girls. Then, you'll arrive at base camp, board your metal hog, and take the beast for a spin. For 30 glorious minutes, you'll be free to bob, dip, and glide across Dubai's fine white sand. And don't worry, you'll buddy up with an instructor to make sure you don't hurt yourself, them, or their buggy. Perhaps the latter is the most important one there. Do you think dune buggies are cheap? Think again. Nothing quite beats the roar and rumble of an 800cc buggy. Trust us; if you're the daring sort, this will be one of the best desert safari tours for you in Dubai. Enjoy a 4x4 Quad Bike Tour in the desert If dune buggies don't quite do it for you, why not try a quad bike instead? These four-wheeled wonders can make quick work of Dubai's dunes, so consider doing some sweet dune jumps on this tour of the desert. After your ride drops you at camp, you'll hop on the desert's original form of transport, a two-humped camel, to tour the surroundings. After you've fulfilled your dream of embodying Laurence of Arabia, you'll reach a specially designed track nestled deep in the beautiful dunes. And then, well, it's game on. If you're with buddies, you can race them. If you're with strangers, you have to race them. Show them true dominance and key strength. Show them who you really are. And then, when you're done, you'll get a lift right back to your hotel. Nice. Take the Desert Safari and BBQ Dinner If your idea of a desert safari is less action and more relaxin', then you're in luck. Thanks to this desert safari and BBQ dinner, you can enjoy a more laid-back approach to Dubai's desert. You'll still get your 4x4 tour of the dunes, right from your hotel's door. And yes, you'll still have plenty of time to snap pics of the mesmerizing scenery. But when you reach the desert camp, you'll be treated to a traditional BBQ meal and feast on grilled meats and other Arabian specialties. Make sure you have a light lunch - you'll want as much space as possible to gorge on all the goodness. You'll also be treated to a host of entertainment, including belly dancing, a traditional Egyptian dance show, some smoky shisha, sandboarding, camel riding, henna painting, and more. However, if you're in a food coma, just kick back and let everyone else have all the fun. Enjoy camel trekking in Abu Dhabi If you're looking for something a bit more exciting than a BBQ but a bit less full-on than quad biking or dune buggin', then they even have something for you. They're called camels, you silly goose, and they're nature's answer to our four-wheeled friends. Did you know camels have three sets of eyelids and two sets of eyelashes, all to keep out sand? Weird. Like before, you'll be escorted to a camp deep in the dunes in comfort - and air conditioning. From there, you'll saddle up and ride these curious creatures for a 30-minute trek of the glorious dunes. Then, when you're done, you'll be taken back to camp, where you can refuel, relax, and enjoy complimentary coffee, tea, dates, and more before heading back to the city. Some might call that cameltastic. Not us, because it sounds weird. We prefer cameltacular. Sorry. And those were our picks for the best desert safari tours in Dubai! Safari's are fun, but have you thought about what else you want to do on your vacation? Dubai is stacked with entertainment opportunities and attractions at every turn - where do you begin to plan it all? Go City may be able to help. With our All-Inclusive Pass or Explorer Pass, you can see all of Dubai's best bits when and how you want. We cover the very best Dubai attractions, so if you want all of the fun without all the fuss, go check us out.
Dom Bewley

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