If you are looking for theme parks in Dubai to celebrate your weekend, you will be spoilt for your choice. There is a slew of them, each rivaling the other. This listicle will cover all the major theme parks in Dubai.
1. Aquaventure Water Theme Park
It is not the first water park in Dubai, but arguably the largest one. Aquaventure Water Theme Park is the largest in Dubai, the Middle East, and Europe. Size aside, how does it fare in the fun department? Quite well, in fact. It received the title of the best water park in the Middle East for many consecutive years.
Another factor that draws people to this park is its location. The park is on the outermost part of Palm Island, right next to the Atlantis Palm Hotel. It offers a nice ocean view, especially if you are on top of the tallest rides.
Best attractions to look out for
i. The leap of faith
This is the most popular ride in the Aquaventure water theme park. As the name implies, you need a nerve of steel to try this ride. And the park does not recommend this ride if you have a full stomach. They don’t want to clean up the mess, of course. The leap of faith is a near-vertical 98-foot water slide that takes you down a transparent acrylic tunnel surrounded by sharks and rays.
ii. Shark Attack
This ride takes two riders on a tube through a transparent tunnel, passing through a large tank of sharks and rays. The ride begins from the Ziggurat at the heart of the waterpark. You plunge into the water and emerge, passing through the Shark Tank at the other end. With clear fiberglass surrounding you, you can look around and get a 360-degree view of the tank.
iii. Poseidon’s revenge
Although it is a waterslide, this ride differs from the other in the trap door, where you must stand, open up, and drop when you least expect it. Then, you fall through the 116-meter-long slide from an altitude of 32 meters. This easily qualifies as one of the scariest rides in the Aquaventure park.
iv. Atlantean flyer
This zipline takes you from the waterslide tower to the zipline tower. The zipline is 65 feet above the ground. Even though that is not a dizzying height, the top speed of the zipline, which is 15 km/ hr, will get your heart thumping.
2. Wild Wadi Water Theme Park
This has a reputation for being the first water theme park in Dubai and the whole of Dubai. And the good news is that even though it is over two decades old, it has aged gracefully. Timely maintenance and proper updates have kept the amusement park relevant even today.
The wild wadi is on the Jumeirah beach overlooking the iconic Burj al Arab hotel.
The park is themed around the Arabian legend of Juha, Sinbad’s friend, who embarked on adventurous voyages worldwide. The park also has something for every age. If you want to experience the tallest free-fall waterslide and the largest wave pool in the region, you have no option but to come here. Also, you get terrific views of the beach and Burj al Arab from here.
Best attractions to look out for
i. Jumeirah Sceirah
This is by far the most famous ride in Wild Wadi Park. Jumeirah Sceirah towers 33 meters above the ground and is Asia’s tallest free-fall water slide. Moreover, it carries you through a tunnel 120 meters long at a mind-blowing speed of 80 kilometers per hour.
ii. Tantrum Alley
Hold on to a ring for four, tumble down a tunnel, and get your head spinning in not one, not two, but three tornadoes along the way.
ii. Wipeout
Try out the largest wave pool in the country. This mammoth spits out seven tonnes of water every second. Riders can board lying down or standing up here, but only those taller than 1.1 meters can ride. So, young ones will have to wait a few years.
iv. Juha’s Journey
This ride is named after the theme park’s titular character, Juha. Juha’s Journey is a lazy river where you can relax in the water on a single—or double-seater tube while bobbing along with the waves. You can spend as much time as possible in this 360-meter-long river, which is an excellent place to rest between the extreme rides.
3. IMG Worlds of Adventure
In 2016, Dubai opened the largest indoor theme park, the first-ever fully air-conditioned theme park in the Emirates. Such an expansive indoor area for fun and adventure is excellent in the hot desert climate. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be many things to do in the summer months.
The park spans an area of 140,000 square meters, nearly the size of 28 football fields. IMG World of Adventure is a place to meet your favorite movie and animation characters. It is divided into IMG Boulevard, Cartoon Network, Marvel Comics, and Lost Valley Dinosaur Adventure. Even though the park was designed with younger kids in mind, even grown-ups can enjoy some rides here.
Best attractions to look out for
i. The Haunted Hotel
This one is going to get a little scary. Only those who are older than 15 are allowed inside this. The haunted hotel takes you to an unprecedented and horror-filled experience of your life. So, only go inside if you are ready for it. You will meet zombies and half-dead creatures all over the place.
The haunted hotel is the most popular adventure ride in the IMG world. Although there are several other action-packed rides in this theme park, you will find the most queues in front of this.
ii. Avengers: Battle of Ultron
It’s a must-visit ride for all the Marvel fans out there. Meet all your superheroes from the MCU in one place and be a part of their adventure on the quest to save the day.
iii. Forbidden Territory
See the largest of the animals ever to walk on the face of the earth. You can see them up close, but beware of getting too close. The ride has a height restriction of 130 cm, which means children shorter than that cannot go on this ride.
iv. Ben 10 5D Hero Time
This interactive ride is inside the Cartoon Network zone. On top of the 3D visuals, you experience many more dimensions of the battle between Ben and Rook. Feel your seats move and the wind and splash of water on your face as both characters advance through their journey.
4. Laguna Water Theme Park
Another water park in Dubai is on the shore of the Arabian Gulf. The Laguna water park is in La Mer, a beautiful, bustling beachside attraction in Dubai. It is located right in the center of La Mer and far from Wild Wadi, but this one is pretty new and beautiful.
Laguna is not as expansive as the Aquaventure or Wild Wadi. But some unique rides, including a wave pool that is only the second of its kind in the world, make a visit worth it nonetheless. Another thing that sets it apart is the slew of restaurants and shopping centers nearby. When chilling at the beach becomes impossible in the summer, you might as well go for the comfort of the cool water in the park.
Best attractions to look out for
: i. WaveOz 180 Degree Flow Rider
Despite its long and winded name, this is a surf pool. But a special one, though. Unlike the surf pools we usually encounter that only pump the water in one direction, the WaveOz spits water 180 degrees, forming half of a circle. The pool spans a length of 187 feet. The shape of the pool makes carving the waves even more fun.
ii. Infinity pool
The infinity pool is a great place to enjoy the sea view and relax. The pool is near the access to North Beach and has cafes nearby, which makes it even better.
iii. The Loop
This is the most popular waterslide in Laguna. Fall through the trap door from the top of the tower and pass through a series of translucent loops till you reach the bottom.
iv. Constrictor
This ride takes regular waterslides to the next level by adding a few optical illusions. These lights create a coiling appearance to the tunnels, dizzying the riders. If you dare, try this ride for a second time.
However, this ride also has a weight limit for riders and a height restriction. Only those taller than 1.2 meters and under 136 Kg can go for it.
5. Legoland Dubai
It is part of Dubai parks and resorts. This novel children’s park has an amusement park and a water park. The famous toymaker Lego designed the park for kids ages 2 to 12, but in reality, it will be better enjoyed by those ages 4 to 9.
The park has six zones: Miniland, Factory, Kingdom, Lego City, Adventure, and Imagination. Two of them, Miniland and Factory, do not have rides. The factory showcases the Lego-making process, while the Miniland is a large area with replicas of several landmarks of Dubai made out of Legos. Kingdom, Imagination, and Lego City are exclusively for kids. If you want to participate in some fun, try the rides in the Adventure Zone.
Best attractions to look out for
i. Rescue Academy
The young ones can save the day by putting out the fire using the Lego fire trucks. This will teach them to be brave in facing challenges and to take risks for good things. Parents can help them in their kids’ mission by helping them get through the ‘flames.’ This will be a fun activity for both parents and kids.
ii. Lego Slide Racers
You can lie down on the water slide in this waterslide and race with your friends to the bottom. There are six parallel slides, meaning you can simultaneously slide together with up to six friends.
iii. Build-A-Raft River
This one is a bit of a creative challenge for the younger ones. However, if the kids are younger than six, parents are required to assist them. They can build custom rafts using giant and soft Legos in the lazy river.
6. Bollywood Theme Park Dubai
After the famous movie industry of India, Bollywood Park is the only park of its kind in the world. The park showcases the evolution of the Indian film industry (initially based in Bombay, the old name for Mumbai, and hence the name Bollywood) over the decades.
Here, you can experience some famous movies in India’s history of motion pictures in a new light. You can watch the latest rendition of favorite movies like Lagaan in immersive 4D. The hottest hits of the 60s, 70s, and 80s, which most of the present generation has forgotten, are immortalized in the different avenues of the Bollywood park.
The park is that, unlike all the other parks on the list, there are no adrenaline-pumping rides. The ones that come close to any adventurousness are 4D experiences.
Like LEGOLAND, this park is also a part of Dubai Parks and Resorts.
Best attractions to look out for
i. Bollywood Boulevard
Indian movies are known for their vibrant and gritty colors and themes. The Bollywood boulevard lives on the stage, where plays and dance numbers resemble old movies.
ii. Mumbai Chowk
A spot that will transport you straight to Mumbai during the golden era of Bollywood. This was also a period in time when mafia bosses ruled the streets. In Mumbai Chowk, you can be a part of the movies inspired by the gang wars in Mumbai, like Don – The Chase Begins.
iii. Royal Plaza
This is the grandest spot in Bollywood Park. Its structure is a cross between the Tajmahal and other Indian palaces. But it also features the latest technologies for comfort. If you check inside this theatre, you might catch some events that are going on.
Apart from hosting live events, people can book this venue for parties and weddings.
7. Motiongate Dubai
Another one is from the famous Dubai Parks and Resorts. While the IMG World of Adventures is an indoor amusement park, the Motion Gate is open-air. This makes it better to visit during winter when the desert heat is less intense.
Motiongate Park is also themed around movies. More precisely, Hollywood movie studios. The parks are divided into Dreamworks, Columbia Pictures, Lionsgate, and Smurfs Village. Among these, Smurfs Village is not a movie production studio. But unlike the Bollywood parks, Motiongate is not as mellow. Some intense and heated rides in Motiongate will spike up the adrenaline levels in your blood.
Each zone showcases rides themed after the characters that belong to them. For example, Dreamworks features Alex and Marty from Madagascar, Columbia Pictures has rides themed after Ghostbusters and Hotel Transylvania, Lionsgate has shows themed around the Step-Up movie and Smurfs Village, have you guessed it, Smurfs.
Both young and older children can enjoy twenty-seven rides in Motiongate.
Best attractions to look out for
i. Capitol Bullet Train
The Hunger Games movies inspire this scary ride. It is a half-pipe roller coaster with several inversions that will send chills down your spine. It even has a zero-g roll. If you are an adventure lover or a Hunger Games fan, put this on top of your list while visiting the park.
Look at the landmarks you will recognize from the movies along the roller coaster route. You will find this ride in the Lionsgate section of the park.
ii. Madagascar Mad Pursuit
Probably, this is the craziest roller coaster in the park. Not only does this take you on a high-speed ride, but the tunnel through which it will pass also has some out-of-the-world visual effects to make things even better.
This is a thrilling and sometimes dizzying ride in Motiongate.
iii. Hotel Transylvania
This might look like the Haunted Hotel in the IMG World of Adventures, but Hotel Transylvania has friendlier and more fun monsters. This ride is suitable for the whole family, including young kids. Transylvania Hotel is a 2,800-square-meter castle with characters from the animated movie of the same name.
The guests are taken through the hotel inside carriages that resemble coffins. The ride will last a whole seven minutes. You will meet Dracula, Frankenstein, and many more on the way.
8. Ski Dubai
This one is very different from the previous ones. It is also the only snow-themed park in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates. Ski Dubai focuses on one thing and does that one thing well. There aren’t a whole lot of rides here. The number of specific attractions in the park is two or three. Out of these, the snow slope is the crowd favorite.
Ski Dubai was once the largest indoor ski park globally and still is the largest in the Middle East. There is an 85-meter slope that has four runs of varying difficulty levels. You can choose the one you want, depending on your skiing experience. The longest of these slopes is 400 meters. But if you are not experienced, you will be better off going for the shortest run before you build your way up to the longer ones.
In addition to these five runs, there is also a 90-meter-long freestyle course. The great thing is that both of these are chairlift accessible.
You don’t have to bring your ski or thermal clothing to the snow park. There is a facility to rent them near the ticket counter. But the socks and gloves are not rentable. You have to purchase them both.
Best attractions to look out for
: i. The Slope
Entry to the skiing slope is based on an hourly basis. There are packages that you can choose from. But not everyone can choose what they can do on the slope alone.
There are six categories of packages depending on your skill level. The rookies start at the Discovery section, where they get basic classes, like balancing on the skies, turning, and coming to a complete stop.
You can access all four runs and the freestyle area with the highest skill set. You require additional passes to access the snow slope on top of the pass to get inside the snow park. You must also experience a desert safari tour if you are a tourist.
ii. The Snow Park
The primary entry pass to Ski Dubai will get you here. The snow park is a fun place to hang out. You can make snowmen and throw snowballs at one another. If you dare, get inside the Zorb ball and roll down to the bottom of the snow hill. Besides these, you can meet some cute penguins, ride the bobsled, have a hot drink, and much more.