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Family outings

Family outings in Abu Dhabi

From October to April, Abu Dhabi lives outdoors: the Corniche, lifeguarded beaches, mangroves and parks open until midnight. When the heat arrives, the Saadiyat museums, free for under-18s, the children's library, the ice rink and the Yas theme parks take over. Here are our addresses, checked on official websites.

Verified on 30 October 2026

Parks, beaches and mangroves

Parks open late into the evening, public beaches are lifeguarded and several have a women and children's area; in summer, you go after 5pm. Parking is paid almost everywhere (Mawaqif).

Good to know

  • Umm Al Emarat Park, the big park in Al Mushrif, opens daily from 8am to midnight (last entry 11pm) for a small fee; children feed the farm animals and ride ponies from 4pm. Source
  • Corniche Beach, Blue Flag certified, stretches two kilometres in three sections; the Al Sahil section (Gate 4) is free, the others ask a small fee. Source
  • Al Bateen Beach, facing Hudayriyat Island, offers 800 metres of calm, Blue Flag shoreline, with kayaks and paddleboards at the water sports centre; Kai Beach, Saadiyat's public beach, charges entry but is free for under-fives, and dolphins and turtles are sometimes spotted offshore. Source
  • Jubail Mangrove Park, between Yas and Saadiyat, half an hour from the centre, runs a two-kilometre boardwalk above the mangroves, with turtles, herons and gazelles; kayaking, including night tours, is booked online. Source

Addresses

  • Umm Al Emarat Park

    Park

    15th Street, Al Mushrif

    Children's garden, animal barn and ponies, botanic garden, shade house, amphitheatre with water play; next to the Lycée Louis-Massignon area, and home to the Children's Biennale every autumn.

    Website Source

  • Corniche Beach

    Park

    Corniche Road

    Two kilometres of Blue Flag sand in three sections, seaside promenade, gardens and benches; free access through Gate 4.

    Website Source

  • Al Bateen Beach

    Park

    Khalifa Al Mubarak Street, Al Bateen

    800-metre Blue Flag beach, calm shallow water, beach volleyball, kayaking and paddleboarding, views of the Hudayriyat bridge.

    Website Source

  • Kai Beach, Saadiyat

    Park

    Saadiyat Island

    Saadiyat's public beach: shaded loungers, restaurant, showers, dolphins and turtles offshore; paid entry, free for under-fives.

    Website Source

  • Jubail Mangrove Park

    Park

    Jubail Island, entre Yas et Saadiyat

    Two-kilometre boardwalk above the mangroves, day and night kayaking, turtles and herons; families' favourite nature outing.

    Website Source

  • Khalifa Park

    Park

    Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Street, Al Muntazah

    Open 3pm to 11pm: miniature train, Murjan Splash Park water park, maritime museum, horse rides and big lawns for picnics.

    Website Source

  • Yas Beach

    Park

    Yas Island

    Yas Island's managed beach, with water sports, for a day combined with the theme parks.

    Website Source

Go further

Saadiyat museums and great landmarks

The Saadiyat Cultural District lines up the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Zayed National Museum, the Natural History Museum and teamLab Phenomena; under-18s enter most of them for free. In town, the presidential palace, the Qasr Al Hosn fort and the Grand Mosque, free of charge, complete the list.

Good to know

  • At the Louvre Abu Dhabi, entry is free for under-18s and the ticket includes the Children's Museum, designed for young visitors; the museum generally opens at 10am and is closed on Mondays. Source
  • The Zayed National Museum, opened in late 2025, is open daily from 10am to 8pm; under-18s enter free, and workshops and guided tours are booked separately. Allow two hours, the Magan boat and the rooftop terrace delight children. Source
  • The Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, opened in 2025, is free for under-18s: Stan, one of the most complete T. rex skeletons in the world, the Murchison meteorite, the poles and the deep ocean; allow two to three hours with children. Source
  • teamLab Phenomena, the immersive digital art museum opened in 2025, welcomes families with accompanied children; Monday to Thursday, the last entry for under-18s is at 4:30pm, with evenings reserved for adults. Source
  • The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is free, guided tours included; modest dress is required, online booking eases entry, and the main prayer hall is closed to visitors on Fridays from 12pm to 3pm. Dusk is the most beautiful time. Source

Addresses

  • Louvre Abu Dhabi et son Musée des enfants

    Museum

    Saadiyat Cultural District, Saadiyat Island

    Under Jean Nouvel's dome, a universal museum with a Children's Museum included in the ticket, free for under-18s; closed on Mondays.

    Website Source

  • Zayed National Museum

    Museum

    Saadiyat Cultural District, Saadiyat Island

    Six galleries on the history of the Emirates and the founding father, the Magan boat, the Al Masar garden and the 360-degree terrace; free for under-18s, children's workshops.

    Website Source

  • Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi

    Museum

    Saadiyat Cultural District, Saadiyat Island

    Dinosaurs, meteorites, blue whale and visible laboratories: the most visual museum for children, free for under-18s.

    Website Source

  • teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi

    Museum

    Saadiyat Cultural District, Saadiyat Island

    Immersive installations of light, water and movement that react to visitors; accompanied children, last entry for minors at 4:30pm on weekdays.

    Website Source

  • Qasr Al Watan

    Museum

    The presidential palace open to the public: state rooms, exhibitions on the nation's history, audio guide in five languages, and the evening Palace in Motion show on the facade.

    Website Source

  • Qasr Al Hosn et la House of Artisans

    Museum

    Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum Street, Al Hosn

    The historic fort in the city centre, open all year (Saturday to Thursday 9am to 8pm, Friday 2pm to 8pm), with the House of Artisans and its sadu weaving workshops.

    Website Source

  • Mosquée Sheikh Zayed

    One of the largest mosques in the world, free, with free guided tours in English; book online, dress modestly and come at sunset.

    Website Source

  • The National Aquarium, Al Qana

    Al Qana, Rabdan

    The largest aquarium in the Middle East, ten themed zones, over 46,000 animals and a Junior Marine Biologist programme for ages 5 to 15; ideal on the hottest days.

    Website Source

Go further

Libraries and the French médiathèque

Two addresses for readers: the big children's library of the Cultural Foundation, at the foot of the Qasr Al Hosn fort, and the Alliance française médiathèque in Al Bateen, your library in French. For the rest, digital takes over.

Good to know

  • The Abu Dhabi Children's Library welcomes ages 0 to 14 Saturday to Thursday from 9am to 8pm and Friday from 2pm to 8pm: book mountain, reading dunes, toddlers' area, a 300 m² art workshop and a studio for coding or recording a podcast, with book lending and story times. Source
  • The Alliance française médiathèque, in Al Bateen, offers several thousand books in French, a kids' corner with fairy tales and children's magazines, and a learner's library (easy readers and audio books); access is included for students and open to members. Source
  • Culturethèque, the Institut français digital library, gives access from abroad to French press, e-books, audiobooks and a children's section: a good complement when the French bookshop is missing. Source
  • The Lycée Louis-Massignon and the Lycée Théodore-Monod each have a library for their pupils; the Institut français takes part in the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair every spring, with French authors and workshops. Source

Addresses

  • Abu Dhabi Children's Library, Cultural Foundation

    Library

    Cultural Foundation, Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum Street, Al Hosn

    The capital's finest children's library, within the Qasr Al Hosn precinct: reading, arts, technology, story times and workshops, ages 0 to 14.

    Website Source

  • Médiathèque de l'Alliance française d'Abou Dabi

    Library

    99, Villa A1, Al Qou' Street, Al Bateen

    Your French library in Abu Dhabi: novels, comics, picture books, children's magazines, easy readers and audiobooks; Monday to Thursday 10am to 7pm, Friday until 4:30pm, Sunday until 5:30pm, closed on Saturdays.

    Website Source

  • Culturethèque

    Library

    The Institut français digital library: press, books and audiobooks, children's section, available by subscription from the UAE.

    Website Source

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Activities, clubs and camps in French

The Alliance française in Al Bateen is the heart of French-language activities outside school: camps every holiday for ages 4 to 10, ballet, theatre, baking. Alongside, the city's big sports and leisure venues welcome children from age 3, in English.

Good to know

  • Alliance française Abu Dhabi, founded in 1974, runs themed French Camps for ages 4 to 10 (carnival, spring, summer), French courses for kids and teens by level, and classical ballet, theatre, hip hop, French bakery, music and zumba workshops; for theatre, perfect French is not required. Source
  • The Institut français of the UAE, the embassy's cultural service based at Etihad Towers, programmes Francofilm and My French Film Festival, the Francophonie Month in March and events at the book fair; the Abu Dhabi and Dubai Alliances are its partners. Source
  • Both French lycées offer extracurricular activities to their pupils: at the Lycée Louis-Massignon, clubs, UJS school sport and Jeunes Reporters; at the Lycée Théodore-Monod, arts, music, sport and a Model United Nations project. Source
  • Zayed Sports City, on Airport Road, gathers an ice rink and skating programme, tennis, bowling (open 4pm to 11pm), padel and children's camps in the holidays; Yas Kartzone takes 5 to 7-year-olds in Bambino karts and 8 to 12-year-olds in the Junior category. Source

Addresses

  • Alliance française d'Abou Dabi, camps et ateliers enfants

    Activity

    99, Villa A1, Al Qou' Street, Al Bateen

    French Camps for ages 4 to 10 every holiday, ballet, theatre, hip hop, baking, music and French courses by level; open Sunday to Friday.

    Website Source

  • Institut français des Émirats arabes unis

    Activity

    Etihad Towers, Tour 3, 22e étage

    The embassy's cultural service: French cinema, Francophonie Month, book fairs, concerts and exhibitions with the Alliances françaises.

    Website Source

  • Zayed Sports City

    Activity

    Airport Road

    Ice rink, tennis, bowling, padel, football and children's camps during the holidays; the antidote to summer heat.

    Website Source

  • Art Studio, Manarat Al Saadiyat

    Activity

    Saadiyat Cultural District, Saadiyat Island

    Saadiyat's community art centre, open daily 9am to 8pm: painting, drawing and printmaking workshops for all ages, drop-in sessions and exhibitions.

    Website Source

  • Yas Kartzone

    Activity

    Yas Marina Circuit, Yas Island

    One-kilometre track at the foot of the F1 circuit: Bambino karts for ages 5 to 7, Junior category for ages 8 to 12.

    Website Source

  • KidZania Abu Dhabi

    Activity

    An indoor mini-city where children from age 3 play at jobs and earn kidZos; perfect for summer afternoons.

    Website Source

  • Bounce Abu Dhabi

    Activity

    Marina Mall

    About a hundred connected trampolines, from age 3, and tailored birthdays, at Marina Mall.

    Website Source

  • Junior Marine Biologist, The National Aquarium

    Activity

    Al Qana, Rabdan

    Junior marine biologist programme for ages 5 to 15 in the Middle East's largest aquarium.

    Website Source

Go further

Through the seasons and festivities

The year revolves around the climate: the fine season runs from October to April, with the Formula 1 Grand Prix, National Day, the Abu Dhabi Festival and the Liwa Festival; Ramadan changes the city's rhythm; summer, from June to September, is spent indoors.

Good to know

  • In early December, the Formula 1 Grand Prix closes the season at Yas Marina Circuit (4 to 7 December 2026); tickets include access to the Yas parks (Ferrari World, Warner Bros. World, SeaWorld, Yas Waterworld) and the after-race concerts. Source
  • Public holidays: 1 January, Eid Al Fitr (three to four days), Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha (three days), Hijri New Year, the Prophet's Birthday, and National Day on 2 and 3 December; Islamic holidays depend on moon sighting and are confirmed only a few days ahead. Source
  • During Ramadan, the working day is reduced by two hours for all employees, Muslim or not; non-Muslims do not fast, malls keep dining areas out of sight, and iftar tents offer meals at sunset. Source
  • In autumn, the Abu Dhabi Festival (10 October to 19 December 2026) mixes big concerts with a youth programme, including the Children's Biennale, an outdoor art exhibition at Umm Al Emarat Park from 6 November to 6 December 2026; then the Liwa International Festival livens up the desert from 11 December 2026 to 2 January 2027. Source
  • From June to the end of September, heat and humidity make outdoor life very hard: you switch to museums, the ice rink, water parks and malls, and parks are visited after sunset. Source

Addresses

  • Grand Prix de Formule 1 d'Abu Dhabi, Yas Marina Circuit

    Activity

    Yas Island

    The last race of the season, in early December, with access to the Yas parks and after-race concerts; book early, the city fills up.

    Website Source

  • Festival d'Abu Dhabi et Biennale des enfants

    Activity

    Umm Al Emarat Park et salles de la ville

    ADMAF's big festival, October to December: classical and pop concerts, talks, and the open-air Children's Biennale at Umm Al Emarat Park.

    Website Source

  • Liwa International Festival

    Activity

    Tal Moreeb, Liwa, région d'Al Dhafra

    Three weeks at the foot of the Tal Moreeb dune, 4pm to midnight: sand motorsports, Liwa Village with a play park and petting zoo, rides, fireworks and family camping.

    Website Source

  • Yas Waterworld

    Activity

    Yas Island

    Yas Island's water park, with slides grouped by thrill level and a pool area reserved for babies and toddlers; the refuge of summer weekends.

    Website Source

  • Patinoire de Zayed Sports City

    Activity

    Airport Road

    Free skating and a children's lessons programme in the city's big ice rink: minus ten inside when it is forty outside.

    Website Source

  • Yas Island, offre Kids Go Free

    Activity

    Yas Island

    For a weekend on the island: with a hotel night on Yas, one child under 12 per adult enters the parks free, from 10 April to 20 December 2026.

    Website Source

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Trips under two hours away

Dubai an hour away, Al Ain and its oases an hour and a half, the Liwa desert two hours: the car opens up very different weekends. And to get away without driving, Yas and Saadiyat make mini-holidays twenty minutes from home.

Good to know

  • Dubai is about an hour's drive away, on a direct motorway; without a car, the E100, E101 and E102 buses leave daily from Abu Dhabi Main Bus Station. Source
  • Al Ain, the oasis city, is 90 minutes away: UNESCO-listed palm grove watered by falaj channels, zoo and Arabian oryx, winding road up Jebel Hafit for sunset; October to March for outdoor activities. Source
  • Jebel Hafit Desert Park, an hour and a half from the capital, lets you hike, ride horses or camels and camp in serviced tents, among more than 500 ancient tombs on the World Heritage list. Source
  • The Al Dhafra region, two to three hours' drive depending on the destination, means the Liwa desert and the Tal Moreeb dune, forts, the west coast and Sir Bani Yas Island, a nature reserve reached by boat from the Jebel Dhanna jetty or by seaplane; better for a long weekend. Source

Addresses

  • Dubaï

    Dubaï

    An hour's drive: museums, beaches, theme parks and the country's largest French community; the simplest Saturday getaway.

    Website Source

  • Al Ain et son oasis

    Al Ain

    The UNESCO-listed palm grove and its falaj channels, Al Jahili Fort, the Al Ain Adventure rapids and the Jebel Hafit climb; 90 minutes via the E22 or E66 motorways.

    Website Source

  • Al Ain Zoo

    Al Ain

    The largest zoo in the Middle East, founded in 1968: Arabian oryx, safaris, animal feeding and daily presentations.

    Website Source

  • Jebel Hafit Desert Park

    Al Ain

    Nine kilometres of park at the foot of the emirate's highest mountain: hiking, mountain biking, camels, nights in serviced tents; dogs allowed on the trails.

    Website Source

  • Liwa et Tal Moreeb, région d'Al Dhafra

    Liwa, Al Dhafra

    The great ochre dunes of the Rub al Khali two hours' drive away: 4x4 on the sand, camel farms, a night in the desert and the Liwa Festival in December.

    Website Source

  • Emirates Park Zoo

    Al Bahia

    North-east of the city, a quarter of an hour from Yas: 1,500 animals, giraffe feeding, shows; free for under-twos.

    Website Source

  • Sir Bani Yas Island

    Al Dhafra, jetée de Jebel Dhanna

    An 87 km² royal nature reserve with safaris, historic sites and Anantara hotels; 250 kilometres to the jetty then a boat, or a 45-minute seaplane: for a long weekend.

    Website Source

  • Yas Island, week-end sur place

    Yas Island

    Hotels, beach, theme parks and marina twenty minutes from town: the weekend without a suitcase, with the Kids Go Free offer most of the year.

    Website Source

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A place has closed, something has changed? Tell us: the mums of Abu Dhabi will thank you.

Sources for this page

The public pages these landmarks come from. The official website always prevails.

  1. 1 Umm Al Emarat Park, questions fréquentes
  2. 2 Visit Abu Dhabi, Louvre Abu Dhabi
  3. 3 Cultural Foundation, Abu Dhabi Children's Library
  4. 4 Alliance française d'Abou Dabi, activités enfants
  5. 5 Visit Abu Dhabi, Grand Prix de Formule 1
  6. 6 Visit Abu Dhabi, la région d'Al Ain
  7. 7 Dubai Madame, les incontournables d'Abu Dhabi

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