As a vibrant tourist hub, Dubai is already known for its soaring skyscrapers, expansive shopping malls and opulent hotels. What adds to this Middle Eastern City’s charm are the tourist spots and the adventure sports you can indulge in. And one of the places to indulge in some roaring fun is the magnificent theme parks of Dubai.
They have pulse-racing rides, Hollywood-themed zones and many immersive attractions, all under one roof. These parks provide diverse experiences, from thrilling adventures to surreal encounters and moments of relaxation. With a carefully curated selection of six theme parks listed below, you can tailor your experience based on your personal preferences.
Best theme parks in Dubai
AYA Universe
Visit the AYA Universe and prepare to leave the real world behind. This massive 40,000-square-foot theme park will take you to another dimension with its creative use of light, sound and mirrors.
Each of its 12 zones offers a different transformative experience. In one, you might find yourself surrounded by jellyfish-like creatures, while in another, you may experience the illusion of floating. The immersive entertainment park’s famous attraction is “Galaxy Light Show”, which will spellbind you with its mesmerising visuals and sound effects.
Location: AYA Dubai First Floor, WAFI Mall, Oud Metha Road – Umm Hurair 2 Dubai, UAE
Ticket price: For adults, AED 99 (USD 27); children below three can enter for free. The walk-in price is AED 125 (USD 34)
Timings: 10 am till 8:30 pm
Book your tickets here
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IMG Worlds of Adventure
Are you and your kids big fans of the Avengers? If so, then IMG Worlds of Adventure is the place to be. The indoor amusement park spans 1.5 million square feet and has six themed zones, one of which is based on the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In this zone, you can hop on fun rides such as the Avenger’s Flight of the Quinjet, Thor Thunder Spin and Hulk Epsilon Base, where you sit in a dome and experience a motion-based 3D ride.
Kids can head to the Cartoon Network zone for the rides that will delight them. Other zones, such as IMG Boulevard and the Lost Valley, comprise adventures from Jurassic World, and the last two zones are original concepts of the IMG Group that includes Haunted Hotel and IMG Kids.
Location: E311, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, near Arabian Ranches, next to Global Village, Dubai
Ticket price: AED 345 (USD 94) for adults and children. Admission is free for children below 1.06 ft
Timings: 12 pm to 10 pm on all days. On Friday and Saturday, the park is open till 11 pm.
Must-try ride: The tallest and fastest roller coaster ride in Dubai — The Velociraptor.
Book your tickets here.
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Dubai Global Village
Visit the biggest entertainment space that is home to several pavilions representing various countries of the world. Get a sneak peek into the culture and heritage of each country in this theme park which opens for only six months (October to April).
And that’s not all it offers. From picking souvenirs and ride hopping to watching cultural, international and street shows, Dubai Global Village has something for everyone. Check out all the bizarre and fascinating art pieces at Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Museum.
Location: Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road E 311 Road, Dubai
Ticket price: Ticket price will be available once the bookings open
Timings: The park opens from Monday to Thursday from 4 pm to 12 am and during the weekends (Friday to Sunday) from 12 pm to 1 am. The park is exclusively reserved for families and women on Tuesdays except on public holidays
Find out more about Dubai Global Village here
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Motiongate Dubai Parks and Resorts
Motiongate Dubai Parks and Resorts has some heart-pounding roller coaster rides. Of all, 4D free flying tops the list. Its riding experience is totally different from others, as the seats on the cart flip suddenly when the cart goes up and down on the track at a breakneck speed. The zones where the rides are located have themes inspired by flicks from famous Hollywood studios, such as DreamWorks Animation, Columbia Pictures and Lionsgate. For a spooky experience, get on the Hotel Transylvania ride.
Divided into five different air-conditioned theme zones, at Motiongate Dubai, one should stay at the LEGOLAND Hotel, located just a few steps away from the park, for two to three days exploring adventure rides and water parks, especially with children.
Location: Sheikh Zayed Road – Opposite Palm Jebel Ali, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Ticket price: The price for the pass varies depending on the number of parks one wants to enter. The minimum price is AED 295 (USD 80)
Timings: All five theme parks have different timings, which can be checked here
Must try: Now You Spin Me, John Wick, Capitol Bullet Train and Underworld 4D.
Book your tickets here
LEGOLAND Dubai and LEGOLAND Waterpark
For any LEGO fan, LEGOLAND Dubai and LEGOLAND Waterpark are a must-visit. Perfect for kids from 2 to 12 years, visitors can participate in more than 50 interactive rides, water slides, shows and LEGO-building experiences. Begin the day by enrolling your children in the Boating School as they captain their own LEGO boat or make them sit in a miniature car and learn the basics of driving; whatever you choose the kids are in for an exciting day ahead.
Retire for the day at the LEGOLAND Hotel which comes with a dragon-guarded entrance and LEGO-themed rooms. There are many stay options and include perks like free breakfast, and access to LEGOLAND Dubai and Waterpark.
Location: Sheikh Zayed Road – Opposite Palm Jebel Ali, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Ticket price: The price for the pass varies depending on the theme park one wants to enter. The minimum price is AED 295 (USD 80)
Timings: 10 am to 6 pm
Must try: Factory Tour, Miniland Light Show, City Airport and Rescue Academy.
Book your tickets here
Dubai Garden Glow
Another unique theme park worth exploring is Dubai Garden Glow which should be visited for its colourful handmade lights and eco-friendly art. The installations are going to take your breath away as you witness unique structures made by artists from all over the world, lit with over a million low-energy lightbulbs.
With five attractive themes of Glow, Dinosaur, Ice (currently under maintenance), Magic and Art Parks, admire the various ice carvings, giant peacock structure, magical exhibitions and animated dinosaurs which will be equally enjoyable for adults as well as children.
Location: Zabeel Park, Gate No- 6 & 7 Area – B, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Ticket price: AED 70 (USD 19).
Timings: The park opens from 5 pm to 11 pm from Sunday to Friday. On Saturdays and national holidays, the park is open from 5 pm to midnight
Must see: The Flower Wally, Colorful World, Glowing Safari and Happy Forest attractions in the park
Book your tickets here.
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Book your stay at Hilton Dubai The Walk Hotel in Dubai at Agoda.com
Aventura Parks
Try not to miss visiting Dubai’s largest zipline park, which also houses fun camps and challenging activities such as climbing the Leap of Faith and Himalaya Challenger or reaching the top of Jacob’s Ladder.
The park also offers relaxing nature walks where visitors can explore the rich flora and fauna of the city. If you aren’t feeling adventurous enough, then there are options such as Aventura Word Hunt and night camping. Aventura also accepts requests for curated experiences for children and adults.
Location: Mushrif Park, Gate 1, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Ticket price: The price for visiting the park starts from AED 35 (USD 10)
Timings: Depending on the season, the timings keep changing
Book your tickets here.
(All currency conversions have been done at the time of writing the story)
(Hero and feature image credit: Global Village AE/ Facebook)
Related: Must-See Attractions To Little-Known City Secrets: 10 Best Things To Do In Dubai
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Answer: There are around six theme parks and several waterparks in Dubai.
Answer: Every theme park has unique adventurous activities available for thrill seekers. From rollercoaster rides to 4D virtual reality games and ziplining to many other adventure rides, one has a lot of options to choose from.
Answer: AYA Universe, Dubai Garden Glow, Aventura Parks, Motiongate Dubai Parks and Resorts and IMG Worlds of Adventure are some of the best theme parks in Dubai.
Answer: No, Dubai doesn’t have a Disneyland.
Written By
Ayushi Anand
A post-graduate in journalism and mass communication, Ayushi is a digital writer who has worked with several Indian media organisations, including Times Internet Limited and Zee Media Corporation Limited, in the news, lifestyle and entertainment space. When she's not on her desk, she can be found dancing, trying new restaurants or packing her bags to ..Read More
