Holiday Ideas

Many busy parents are wondering how to keep their kids occupied during the upcoming school holidays. Thankfully, there are several kids camps right here in JVT to choose from.

I’ve got some specifics on the website activities page (click here for more info). In particular, Elite Sports has a fun-filled camp planned at Sunmarke school if you are looking to run the energy out of your youngsters!

If you’re not enrolling your kids in a full day camp, below is my list of fun activities to keep everyone going during the days off school. Feel free to share your own ideas!

Little Tots

Children’s City

Miracle Garden

Legoland

Zabeel Park Glow Garden

Al Jalila Children’s Center

Gingerbread decorating at Maison Mathis from 20^th – 31^st December

Teens

IMG Worlds of Adventure

Bollywood Park

Dubai Outlet Village (the new one!)

Global Village

Ski Dubai

Climbing at Adventure HQ Time Square

Laser Tag at Motor City or Oasis Center

Mini Golf at WAFI

Ice Skating at Dubai Mall or Al Nasr Leisure Land

Nature and History Trips for the whole Family:

Al Dhafra Festival is happening from 13 – 29^th December in Abu Dhabi’s Madinat Zayed

Oasis of Dignity memorial is open to the public 24/7. It’s located between the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and the General Headquarters of the UAE Armed Forces.

Sharjah Arabian Wildlife Center, Natural History & Botanical Museum

Emirates Soil Museum

Al Hefaiyah Mountain Conservation Center in Sharjah located near Kalba

Saruq Al Hadid Archaeology Museum in Dubai

The Women’s Museum in Deira near the Old Gold Souk

Qasr Al Muwaiji, the birthplace of H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, restored and opened as a museum last year.

Unique places to tour:

Take a look at the Street Art all along 2nd December street which is part of the 1st phase of its renovations.

Go have a look at the ‘Office of the Future’, the world’s first 3d printed building at Emirates Towers

Visit the Sharjah Center for Space Sciences and Astronomy that opened last year

Take a trip to the Mleiha Archaeological Centre in Sharjah

Check out the Eco House at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center (this one I’m not sure if it’s possible to visit.)

Stroll along the Boardwalk or take a boat ride along the new Canal which opened last month

Or visit the many beaches around town!

Need another idea? Mark the Year of Reading by devouring a few books and visit one of the many libraries around town instead of buying new.

Have you forgotten a present for the little ones during all this holiday planning? If so, check out Klug Toys online shopping. They are located in The Village Mall on Beach Road, but you can do your shopping for their quality wooden toys right from home. Spoiler alert – a friend of mine opened this shop a year ago – this is not an advertising ploy !

Are you exhausted after all this running around during the holidays? If so, then book yourself a hot stone massage at the Ghaya Grand. I just treated myself this morning and it was the perfect pick-me up on a chilly winter day. As kids will surely run you ragged during their days off, don’t forget to schedule in some pampering as well!