The summer holidays are officially upon us and while many families will be setting off for cooler climes, others will be settling indoors for the season in the UAE.
That’s where summer camps for children come in, to keep the little ones entertained during the day while mum and dad work — or relax.
There are options for all age groups, from babies to teens, and all manner of interests, as nurseries, hotels, fitness facilities and more come up with creatively themed camps.
This is only a slice of what’s on offer throughout the Emirates this summer.
Abu Dhabi
Al Forsan International Sports Resort
Karting, swimming, horse riding, basketball, football, arts and crafts, archery, gymnastics, trampolining and even cooking are on the agenda at the Al Forsan sports resort’s children’s summer camp this year. That and plenty more.
Dates: July 20-August 26
Price: From Dh835 for one week
Ages: 4-14
Contact: 052 921 0110
Caboodle
Over at The Galleria Al Maryah Island, Caboodle is hosting a summer camp with all sorts of creative indoor activities for children. This includes drama, gardening, storytelling, sensory play, fabric painting, building blocks, obstacle courses, cookie decorating, science experiments, music, movement and time for free play.
Dates: July 13-August 26
Price: From Dh180 per day
Ages: 4-9
Contact: 02 679 8019
DCT — Abu Dhabi
This one is for older children. The Department of Culture and Tourism in Abu Dhabi is hosting a two-week immersive programme that aims to inspire Emirati students to consider a career in Abu Dhabi’s growing tourism sector. It includes formal training and work experience, as well as a five-day placement at one of the emirate's hotels.
Only 50 Emirati nationals can enter this programme, which includes workshops, tutorials, field trips and talks by experts. Registrations close on July 5.
Dates: July 25-August 5
Ages: 17-21
Dolphin Sports Academy
Children can make like dolphins and practise their swimming this summer at this academy in Maplewood Canadian International School, in Mohamed Bin Zayed City. There’s also football, basketball and other activities on offer to the children, and transportation is provided for Dh400 more.
Dates: July 4-August 26
Price: From Dh400 for one week
Ages: 5-12
Contact: 056 338 8665
Emirates Palace
As part of the hotel's Summer of Discoveries campaign comes the Summer Camp for Young Explorers, in partnership with The ProKid sports club. Children will go on a cultural journey, exploring nature, sports, play, art and exercise. This comes in the form of activities and experiences led by trained professionals at one of Abu Dhabi’s most famous and luxurious properties, and there are different groups for various age categories.
Dates: July 4-August 28
Price: From Dh275 for weekday or weekend, paid in advance
Ages: 3-14
Contact: 02 690 7311
Emirates Park Zoo
Children can learn more about the animals at Abu Dhabi’s famous zoo, with the chance to also explore conservation topics such as habitats, extinct creatures and zookeeping.
Dates: June 27-August 26
Price: From Dh160 per day
Ages: 4-16
Contact: 02 501 0000
www.emiratesparkzooandresort.com
Makerspace Al Zeina
Kids can get creative at Makerspace Al Zeina, where five camps are going on this summer. Junior Jewellers teaches children casting, stamping, cutting and working with jewellery tools so they can make their own pieces to take home. The four-day DIY Makers’ Camp invites children to create art based on the theme of wildlife, while another is future-themed. There’s also the Fabric & Threads camp, which includes sessions on textile design, laser-cutting and macrame.
Dates: July 4-August 18
Price: From Dh250 per day
Ages: 8-14
Contact: 02 558 8624
Wolves Zone
This mixed martial arts academy is located in Zayed Sports City and is offering eight weeks of activities centred around the sports. Training sessions in jiu-jitsu, boxing, wrestling and Muay Thai are on the agenda, led by experienced coaches in a safe environment.
Dates: July 4-August 26
Price: From Dh950 per week
Ages: 5-12
Contact: info@wolveszoneuae.com
Zayed Sports City
Budding ice skaters are convening at this venue to practise their axels and twizzles this summer. The Zayed Sports Academy is running a camp for beginners and another for intermediates.
Dates: July 4-August 26
Price: From Dh840 per week
Ages: 5-12
Contact: 02 403 4333
Dubai
Air Maniax
When you sign your child up for the summer camp at Air Maniax in Al Quoz, Dubai, they also get access to the camp at Street Maniax. Activities include arts and crafts, magic shows, boxing and dance classes, plus games and prizes to be won. Camp fees also include lunch and drinks.
Dates: July 4-August 26
Price: From Dh170 per day
Ages: 3-12
Contact: 04 348 8981
Aventura Parks
Learn all about life skills during holiday camps at Aventura Parks. The adventure zip line park offers nature-based activities and programmes, plus pets to interact with.
Dates: July 4-August 26
Price: From Dh180 for a morning
Ages: 5-12
Contact: 052 624 5007
Beit Arabi
This summer camp is available to book via Kidzapp or through Beit Arabi's Instagram account, and offers full immersion in Arabic for the season, so your child gets a crash course in the language.
Dates: June 27-August 26
Price: Dh1,100
Ages: 3.5-12
Contact: 050 516 3635
www.instagram.com/arabic_beitarabi
Cheeky Monkeys
This camp is available across Cheeky Monkeys locations in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Ras Al Khaimah. It offers structured fun with creative arts and crafts sessions, cooking, science experiences and more. It’s open for potty-trained children only.
Dates: July 4-September 9
Price: From Dh125 per session
Ages: 3-8
Contact: 055 340 0526
Children’s Oasis Nursery
This Umm Suqeim 2 nursery is theming its summer camp on the rainforest. Children will be introduced to the brightly coloured birds that call the rainforest home, as well as the plants, trees and flowers that grow there.
Dates: July 4-August 31
Price: From Dh735 for three days
Ages: 1-4
Contact: 800 244 53736
Courtyard Playhouse
There are a couple of summer camps running at community theatre space Courtyard Playhouse this season. The Mini Storytellers Summer camp, for ages 4 to 7, has sold out, but the Junior Actors Summer Camp is still open. This lets children explore the imaginative world of picture books by their favourite actors, bringing these to life on stage.
Dates: July 4-8
Price: From Dh1,215
Ages: 8-11
Contact: 050 986 1760
Fun Robotics
Got the next Steve Jobs in your midst? Then send your budding brainiac to Fun Robotics for an educational summer camp. It introduces girls and boys to coding, as well as topics such as inventing apps, 3G robotics, artificial intelligence, programming with Minecraft, cybersecurity, Raspberry Pi, Kodu Game Lab and more.
These take place in person and online.
Dates: July 30-September 1
Price: From Dh446 (online) or Dh893 (onsite)
Age: 7-9 and 10-plus
Contact: 04 338 8354
Jungle Gymsters
For an all-round summer camp that ticks many boxes and age groups, try Jungle Gymsters at The Mall in Jumeirah, Umm Suqeim 3. The theme is travelling around the world and includes activities from each country, including dance, crafts, culinary sessions, music and more. There’s gymnastics, karate, arts and crafts, painting, storytelling, Zumba, yoga and more.
Dates: June 20-September 2
Price: From Dh200 for one day
Ages: 18 months-12
Contact: 04 258 2820
Odyssey Nursery
It’s all about pets at Odyssey Nursery summer camps in Umm Suqeim, JBR and Sheikh Zayed Road, among other locations.
Children will learn about different types of pets, how to look after them, games you can play with them and all about kindness to animals. Pets & Me is part of the Reggio Emilia project-based inquiry style of learning through role play and exploration.
Dates: July 4-August 31
Price: From Dh515 for two days
Ages: 1 to 4
Contact: 800 639 24453
OliOli
There’s a different theme every week at Dubai’s OliOli children’s museum. The Summer Blast Camps include specially curated activities, with weeks inspired by dinosaurs, water, outer space and superheroes.
Dates: July 4-August 26
Price: Dh1,090 per week
Ages: 4 to 10
Contact: 04 702 7300
SeaYou
The watersports company is hosting a summer camp at Sofitel Dubai The Palm, with an array of beach and watersports activities for children to take part in. This includes stand-up paddle boarding polo, dragon boat racing, tug of war, ultimate frisbee, fish feeding and beach clean-ups. There will also be nature talks and competitions.
Dates: July 4-August 26
Price: Dh500
Ages: 7-12
Contact: 050 551 0238
The Green Planet
Dubai’s indoor rainforest is offering children the opportunity to learn more about the environment and sustainability during its summer camp. This includes getting up close with the animals, plants and ecosystems that call the biodome home. There will also be arts and crafts, games, scavenger hunts and more.
Dates: July 18-August 18
Price: From Dh225 for one day
Age: 5-12
Contact: 800 7699
Willow Nursery
Using the Reggio Emilia play-based learning techniques, Willow Nursery branches in Umm Suqeim, One Central and Dubai Marina are hosting water-themed summer camps this season. This includes water play experiences, experiments and educational fun.
Dates: July 4-August 31
Price: From Dh609 for two days
Ages: 1-4
Contact: 800 945569
www.willowchildrensnursery.com
25 new things to do indoors in the UAE this summer — in pictures
-
Take a sushi-making masterclass at SushiSamba in Dubai. Photo: SushiSamba -
Roxy Cinemas is opening at Dubai Hills Mall this summer. Photo: Roxy Cinemas -
Nakheel Mall has opened a VR-powered escape rooms venue with a board game cafe. Photo: Nakheel -
Back-to-school activities are ongoing at Dubai Hills Mall, pictured, The Dubai Mall and Dubai Marina Mall. Photo: Dubai Hills Mall -
Try the cannoli from Cipriani Dolci at Abu Dhabi's Marina Mall. Photo: Cipriani -
Anyone aged 5 and upwards can join in the Yas Mall Indoor Run this summer. Photo: Yas Mall -
Dubai Design District is hosting its Rethink Summer programme until August 26. Photo: Dubai Design District -
Deep Dive Dubai turned one in July. -
The Mohammed bin Rashid Library spans seven storeys. EPA -
Adnec's Abu Dhabi Summer Sports is the biggest event of its kind in the Middle East. Photo: Abu Dhabi Summer Sports / Instagram -
A summer camp will be held indoors at the WB Abu Dhabi hotel. -
Ice Bar at The London Project on Bluewaters, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Splatter Rooms in Abu Dhabi offers freewheeling art sessions for children and adults. Photo: Splatter Rooms -
Ripe Market will be held indoors at Golden Mile Galleria and Circle Mall in Dubai this summer. -
Yas Island has a Kids Go Free offer this summer, which includes accommodation, food and access to its theme parks for children under 12. Photo: Ferrari World -
Saray spa at Marriott Al Forsan Abu Dhabi has discounts of up to 50 per cent this summer. -
Abu Dhabi Mall's Boxed In - Think In is the latest escape room to open in the capital. Photo: Boxed In - Think In -
The Green Planet, Dubai, has an overnight camping experience. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
The National Aquarium in Al Qana, Abu Dhabi, is home to 46,000 creatures and 300 species. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
The Storm Coaster in Dubai Hills Mall is the fastest indoor roller coaster in the world. Photo: Emaar -
Museum of the Future in Dubai requires visitors to book tickets well in advance. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Central Yas Bay in Abu Dhabi has arcade games and bowling alleys. Victor Besa / The National -
Dubai Sports World offers indoor courts for padel, a popular sport in the UAE. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Theatre of Digital Art in Dubai is hosting a Digital Extravaganza exhibition led by Synti, a 3D holographic figure. Photo: Theatre of Digital Art -
Viking restaurant in Ajman is a cool new spot that will take you back in time. Photo: Viking -
The Galleria Al Maryah Island is hosting a new Let's Walk fitness programme. Photo: The Galleria Al Maryah Island -
Dubai Summer Surprises: a number of malls will hold sales from July 1 to September 4. Photo: DFRE -
RAK Animal Welfare Centre in Ras Al Khaimah is looking for people to meet, play with and adopt pets. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Motiongate Dubai has launched its Coolest Summer promotion. Dubai Parks and Resorts. -
Studio 14 in Dubai has a Himalayan salt wall, which is beneficial when you're working out indoors in close proximity with others. Antonie Robertson / The National -
An object discovered at Deir el-Medina by the Egyptian Museum of Turin. The museum, along with Sharjah Museum Authority, has put together an interactive exhibition targeted at school children called Deir el Medina: Village of the Pharaohs’ Artists. Photo: museoegizio / Instagram -
Alserkal Avenue in Dubai is hosting the Eyes Wide Shut exhibition. Photo: Alserkal Avenue -
The Alley DXB is a glow-in-the-dark padel court in Dubai. Photo: @thealleydxb / Instagram -
Thunder Road restaurant in Umm Al Quwain has an indoor retail store selling speciality Italian products, from olive oil to truffle everything. Photo: Pixabay -
Indoor golf and entertainment lounge MyGolf Dubai is open during the summer. Photo: MyGolf Dubai
