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Family outings

Family outings in Dubai

In Dubai, the outings calendar follows the thermometer: from October to April, life is outdoors, between beaches, parks and festivals; from June to September, families retreat to museums, libraries and big air-conditioned spaces. Here are our addresses, all checked on official websites.

Verified on 30 October 2026

Parks, beaches and nature

The big municipal parks have lawns, playgrounds, barbecue areas and running tracks, for a token entry fee. Go early in the morning or late afternoon, even in winter.

Good to know

  • The pleasant season runs from October to April; from June to September, the heat makes daytime outdoor outings hard, especially for toddlers. Source
  • The equipped public beaches have running tracks and facilities: Kite Beach for watersports facing the Burj Al Arab, Al Mamzar for its five beaches, pools and day chalets. Source
  • Dubai Municipality runs the public parks and publishes hours, fees and rules (barbecues, bikes, pets). Source

Addresses

  • Zabeel Park

    Park

    Zabeel, au pied du Dubai Frame

    A large 47-hectare central park with sports courts, picnic lawns and seasonal festivals.

    Website Source

  • Safa Park

    Park

    Al Safa, le long de Sheikh Zayed Road

    64 hectares of lawns around a lake, with skyline views: the family picnic park.

    Website Source

  • Creek Park

    Park

    Bord de la Creek, Umm Hurair

    Along the Creek, with go-karting, mini golf and the Dubai Dolphinarium.

    Website Source

  • Al Barsha Pond Park

    Park

    Al Barsha 2

    A neighbourhood park around a pond, with a 1.5 km track, playgrounds and fitness stations.

    Website Source

  • Kite Beach

    Park

    Umm Suqeim, Jumeirah

    A public beach with watersports, a running track and restaurants, facing the Burj Al Arab.

    Website Source

  • Al Mamzar Beach Park

    Park

    Al Mamzar, Deira

    A large family beach park: five beaches, pools, bike paths, picnic areas and chalets to rent.

    Website Source

  • Dubai Safari Park

    Park

    Al Warqa

    A wildlife park of about 3,000 animals, with safari zones and close encounters with some of them.

    Website Source

  • Al Qudra Lakes

    Park

    Désert d'Al Qudra, au sud de Dubaï

    Desert lakes for picnics, cycling and spotting flamingos, foxes and oryx at sunset.

    Website Source

Go further

Museums and places to discover

Between history museums along the Creek and spectacular attractions, Dubai has plenty to fill cool summer afternoons. Book online: the most popular slots go fast.

Good to know

  • Old Dubai (Al Fahidi and Al Shindagha, along the Creek) gathers history museums and restored wind-tower houses: ideal for showing children the city before oil. Source
  • The big attractions (Museum of the Future, Dubai Frame, the Dubai Mall aquarium) charge entry and are booked online, often for a set time. Source
  • Dubai Madame publishes a full guide to the UAE's museums, emirate by emirate, useful for planning cultural weekends. Source

Addresses

  • Museum of the Future

    Museum

    Sheikh Zayed Road, Trade Centre

    Immersive exhibitions on innovation, technology and the world of tomorrow, in a building that has become a city landmark.

    Website Source

  • Etihad Museum

    Museum

    Jumeirah 1

    The museum of the founding of the UAE in 1971, with a library and temporary exhibitions.

    Website Source

  • Al Shindagha Museum

    Museum

    Al Shindagha, bord de la Creek

    Dubai's history told through interactive exhibits, with the Perfume House.

    Website Source

  • Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood

    Museum

    Al Fahidi, Bur Dubai

    The restored old town, its lanes, wind towers, galleries and small museums.

    Website Source

  • Coffee Museum

    Museum

    Al Fahidi, Bur Dubai

    A small museum on the history and culture of coffee, in the heart of Al Fahidi.

    Website Source

  • Dubai Frame

    Museum

    Zabeel Park

    A giant frame with galleries on the city's past and future, and a glass-floored sky deck.

    Website Source

  • The Green Planet

    Museum

    City Walk

    A tropical rainforest under an air-conditioned dome, over 3,000 plants and animals: the nature outing for hot months.

    Website Source

  • Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo

    Museum

    The Dubai Mall, Downtown

    More than 33,000 aquatic animals, including sharks and rays, with a tunnel under the tank.

    Website Source

Libraries and books in French

To keep French alive at home, the Alliance française médiathèque is the key address, complemented by the great Mohammed Bin Rashid Library and the city's French-language bookshop.

Good to know

  • The Alliance française médiathèque in Oud Metha has the largest collection of French books in Dubai: more than 28,000 items (books, magazines, films) and access to Culturethèque. Source
  • A Family membership covers up to five household members, with a refundable deposit; you can reserve online and collect books in Oud Metha or Knowledge Park. Source
  • The Mohammed Bin Rashid Library holds over a million titles in more than 70 languages, free to visit, with a theatre and shows. Source

Addresses

  • Médiathèque de l'Alliance française de Dubaï

    Library

    Street 18, Oud Metha

    Books, comics, magazines and films in French for all ages, open Saturday to Thursday, closed on Fridays.

    Website Source

  • Alliance française, antenne de Knowledge Park

    Library

    Block 2B, Al Bourooj Street, Knowledge Park

    Pick-up point for books reserved online (Click & Collect), handy for families in the Marina and Al Barsha.

    Website Source

  • Mohammed Bin Rashid Library

    Library

    Al Jaddaf, bord de la Creek

    Dubai's great public library, free and open to all for browsing the shelves or catching a show.

    Website Source

  • Culture & Co

    Shop

    The only French-language bookshop in the UAE, a meeting place for the French-speaking community.

    Website Source

Activities in French for children

There is plenty on offer in French: language classes for French-speaking children, theatre, dance, football, cooking. Most activities are paid by the term; sign up at the start of the school year, groups fill quickly.

Good to know

  • The Alliance française runs classes for French-speaking children by age (4-5, 6-10, 11-16) based on the French curriculum, after a level test. Source
  • During the holidays, the Alliance française runs French camps for ages 3 to 9 in Oud Metha, Monday to Friday, 9 am to 4 pm. Source
  • Dubai Madame keeps a detailed list of extracurricular activities, including those offered in French (theatre, ballet, football, cooking). Source
  • The French Social Club, Dubai's Accueil, runs outings and meetups for newly arrived families. Source

Addresses

  • Alliance française, cours pour enfants francophones

    Activity

    Oud Metha et Knowledge Park

    Les petits francophones, Les primaires and Les ados: reading, writing, grammar and vocabulary, on site or online.

    Website Source

  • Les Pitchounes, Alliance française

    Activity

    Oud Metha

    A weekly French workshop for 2 to 3-year-olds together with their parent.

    Website Source

  • Camps de vacances de l'Alliance française

    Activity

    Oud Metha

    Camp weeks in French for ages 3 to 9: language practice, arts and crafts, sport and reading in the médiathèque.

    Website Source

  • Culture Émulsion

    Activity

    The Junction, Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz

    Theatre and improvisation in French for ages 6 to 18, by age group, and holiday workshops.

    Website Source

  • Classique Attitude

    Activity

    A French classical ballet school for children from age 4 and for adults.

    Website Source

  • AFC Sport Academy

    Activity

    Plusieurs terrains dans Dubaï

    A football academy well known in the French-speaking community, ages 4 to 23, with UEFA-qualified coaches.

    Source

  • Petits Chefs Dubai

    Activity

    Expo City

    French cooking workshops for ages 4 to 15, by the term or per session, after school or at weekends.

    Source

Seasons, festivities and big events

The year runs in reverse compared with France: winter is high season for outings. The Islamic calendar and National Day also set the city's rhythm.

Good to know

  • From October to May, the city opens its big seasonal outdoor sites, such as Global Village and Dubai Miracle Garden. Source
  • During Ramadan, hours change and people refrain from eating, drinking and smoking in public from sunrise to sunset; evenings come alive after the fast is broken, and Eid al-Fitr ends the month in celebration. Source
  • UAE National Day, on 2 December, is a public holiday: the city is decked in flags and celebrations abound, often in schools too. Source
  • In summer, families move to indoor activities and the summer camps of schools, clubs and the Alliance française. Source

Addresses

  • Global Village

    Activity

    Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road

    A park of pavilions from more than 90 cultures, shows and rides, open in the evening from October to May; free entry under 3.

    Website Source

  • Dubai Miracle Garden

    Park

    Al Barsha South 3

    A huge flower garden with giant sculptures, open October to May.

    Website Source

  • Dubai Shopping Festival

    Activity

    Toute la ville

    December to January: sales, concerts and raffles in the malls and around town.

    Website Source

  • Ramadan à Dubaï

    Toute la ville

    Night markets, iftars and cultural events: a month to experience as a family while respecting customs.

    Website Source

Go further

Trips under two hours away

By car, every emirate is within weekend reach: Abu Dhabi's museums and palace, the mountains of Hatta and Ras Al Khaimah, the Al Ain oasis, Sharjah's islands.

Good to know

  • Hatta, Dubai's mountain enclave near the Omani border, is great for families: hiking, kayaking, mountain biking, farms and nights camping or in lodges. Source
  • On the road to Abu Dhabi, speeding and sudden lane changes make the motorway dangerous: leave early and drive carefully. Source
  • Jebel Jais, the UAE's highest mountain, has much cooler air than town: a good escape in spring and autumn. Source

Addresses

  • Hatta

    Park

    Hatta, émirat de Dubaï

    Mountains, kayaking on the dam lake, hiking, mountain biking and stays in the wild.

    Website Source

  • Louvre Abu Dhabi

    Museum

    Saadiyat Island, Abou Dabi

    The great universal museum born of an agreement with France, under its latticed dome, with a children's museum.

    Website Source

  • Qasr Al Watan

    Museum

    Abou Dabi

    The presidential palace open to visitors: Emirati history, culture and architecture.

    Website Source

  • Al Ain Zoo

    Park

    Al Ain, émirat d'Abou Dabi

    A large wildlife park and safari, to combine with the Al Ain oasis, a World Heritage site.

    Website Source

  • Jebel Jais

    Park

    Ras Al Khaimah

    The UAE's highest mountain: cool air, viewpoints and ziplines.

    Website Source

  • Al Noor Island

    Park

    Lagune de Khalid, Charjah

    A garden island in Sharjah, with a butterfly house, trails and light installations.

    Website Source

Go further

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

Sources for this page

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

  1. 1 Visit Dubai, office du tourisme de Dubaï
  2. 2 Alliance française de Dubaï
  3. 3 Dubai Municipality
  4. 4 Dubai Madame, sorties et activités
  5. 5 lepetitjournal.com Dubaï, que faire à Dubaï
  6. 6 Consulat, vie pratique aux Émirats
  7. 7 Visit Abu Dhabi

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