Family attractions in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi is home to over 2.5 million people. The presence of a wide range of properties, beautiful beaches and a host of other family attractions in Abu Dhabi has made the capital city extremely popular with both expats and local residents. Economic development and job opportunities have attracted professionals from around the world and a lot of families and young couples have moved to Abu Dhabi. While the government has been instrumental in driving this growth, the private sector also has invested heavily in improving the quality of life for residents in the emirate and today there are many family attractions in Abu Dhabi, popular with tourists and residents alike.

Top Family attractions in Abu Dhabi

There is a wide variety of options to choose from for those looking at fun places to visit in Abu Dhabi with family. Whether you appreciate nature or enjoy history, this buzzing metropolis has something for everyone. This blog looks at things to do in Abu Dhabi with family and provides information about the best family attractions this wonderful city has to offer. This will help you list down potential family activities in Abu Dhabi for 2019.

Relive your childhood with your kids at Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi Rides

Located in Yas Island Abu Dhabi, this indoor theme park spans over 1.6 million sq. ft. It one of the most visited places mainly because of the options it provides for indoor attractions in Abu Dhabi for families. The park has five distinct areas Bedrock, Dynamite Gulch, Gotham City, Cartoon Junction and the Metropolis. 

The child inside us, never really grows old, right? The nostalgia, we all feel when we see cartoon characters we loved as children take us back in time.  This is the place where your favourite cartoon characters make an appearance outside of the iPad screen. It is undoubtedly the best place to bond with your kid. The fact that this is an indoor theme park, makes it even better for families wanting to avoid the scorching heat. 

If you are a resident or a tourist visiting Abu Dhabi with family, check out Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi. It could be one of the more memorable trips with your child. You can read all about the different rides, tickets, timings and more in our detailed Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi review.

General admission ticket: Adults AED 295 | Juniors AED 230

Contact: +971-6-00511-115

Enjoy family time at the stunning Qasr Al Watan Palace

Discovering the marvels of the city with your family is an experience unlike any other. The Presidential Palace, Qasr Al Watan was recently opened up to the public. It is a great place to explore the glorious lifestyle of royalty in Abu Dhabi. With gorgeous interiors, manicured gardens and a library that you could easily get lost in, this culturally overwhelming family attraction in Abu Dhabi definitely deserves a visit. Although the palace is open to public viewing between 10:00 am to 08:00 pm, from Sunday to Thursday, try to reach before 06:00 pm as they issue the last tickets by 07:00 pm. 

• General entry cost: Free
• Garden & Palace entry: Adults AED 60  | AED 30 (Children below 17 years and Senior Citizens) 
• Guided tours: AED 30 (1 to 20 visitors)
• Private Guided Tour English/Arabic: AED 600  (1 to 20 visitors)
• Contact: +971-6-00544-442 

Indulge in the need for speed at Ferrari World

Ferrari is a global brand, loved by one and all. It became a symbol of speed, worldwide and Abu Dhabi is no different. Another addition to your list of fun things to do in Abu Dhabi with family should be a visit to Ferrari World.

Ferrari World has a wide variety of rides for people of all ages to enjoy. These include Tyre Twist, Scuderia Challenge, RC Challenge, Motor Midway Games, Made in Maranello and Nello’s Adventureland. The uniqueness of these rides makes Ferrari World one of the top family attractions in Abu Dhabi. You can learn more about this place by reading our Ferrari World review.

Kayak in Eastern Mangrove

Do you follow David Attenborough’s work religiously? Is National Geographic’s magazine your favourite read of the month? 

If yes, you should really go for a day tour to Eastern Mangroves in Abu Dhabi.  There are a bunch of activities you could do here with your family. You can go kayaking and witness exotic animals in their natural habitat. Your ward would be fascinated to see different fish, crustaceans, shellfish, mammals and reptiles. There are a few other family activities such as water sports, Fit Solar Tech Boats Trading and Desert tours that you can enjoy when you visit Eastern Mangroves in Abu Dhabi.

It is a beautiful place, which shows how small efforts can make a huge difference in sustaining the balance between human activity and the environment. This is one of the few family-friendly attractions in Abu Dhabi which is just not about fun. Kayaking in Eastern Mangroves will be like education for your family. This should be in the list of places to visit with family in Abu Dhabi.

Discover the history of Abu Dhabi at the Qasr Al Hosn 

You can literally take a walk through the annals of Abu Dhabi’s rich history at this erstwhile seat of royal power. The official abode of the Al Nahyan family during the rule of Sheikh Shakhbout bin Sultan Al Nahyan. You can see the rooms of the Founding Father of the UAE Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan in this renovated fort, which traces the rich history of the emirate. 

Your kids will definitely be fascinated by the various artefacts the nomadic tribes used to survive the challenging desert conditions. For more details on the unmissable attractions in this cultural treasure, read our detailed review of Qasr Al Hosn. They also have an annual Qasr Al Hosn festival, where the ancient rituals of the Arab world come to life! 

Have close encounters with the UAE’s national Bird at Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital

Once you are in the UAE, you will find falcon bird visuals everywhere including TV advertisements, billboards, sculptures in high-end hotels or just plain posters. Being the national bird of UAE, it is a sign of patriotism and pride.

Therefore, falcons are taken care of in the UAE. Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital is a shining example of it. The hospital is an impressive facility and the best possible medical treatment is provided to these astounding birds.

However, for visitors, there is so much to learn at the hospital. There are informative exhibits on the fascinating history of falconry. You can take a guided tour where you and your family can learn about recovering falcons. And that perfect selfie, with a falcon perched on your hand, also awaits you.

Again, this is one of the best indoor activities in Abu Dhabi for families.

• Contact: 971-2-5755-155

Splash about at the Yas Waterworld

One of the most famous family attractions in Abu Dhabi is the Yas Waterworld. They call it ‘water’s most fabulous playground’. With thrilling water slides, rides and other adventures, this is the place to be especially during summer, which can be quite harsh in Abu Dhabi.

For zealous souls, who want to jump from one ride to another, Yas Waterworld has 40 plus rides. However, for those who wish to have a relaxing experience, there is plenty here for you too.

So, if you are a parent of young kids, who have bundles of energy, Yas Waterworld is the ideal place to visit. In a safe environment, they can have fun all day long while you sit back and relax, without a care in the world. It’s a win-win situation for all. If you are renting an apartment on Yas Island, it might be a good idea to get annual membership of Yas Waterworld.

However, often people complain that they didn’t have enough time to enjoy all the rides. So it is always better to tactically plan your visit. You can’t do all the rides in one day. So here is our list of top 17 rides in Yas Waterworld to help you decide better.

• Single Day Ticket: AED 250
• Contact: +971-6-00511-115

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

You cannot come to Abu Dhabi and not visit the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Its spellbinding beauty makes it a top family attraction in Abu Dhabi. The design of the mosque tells us a lot about traditional Islamic architecture. It is the largest mosque in the United Arab Emirates. Moreover, the main hall carpet is the largest carpet in the world while it has the third largest chandelier in the world. Altogether it has seven chandeliers each having Swarovski crystals. All visitors, especially women are expected to wear modest clothes when visiting the mosque. If you are preparing a budget, this one is amongst cheap family attractions in Abu Dhabi.

Louvre Museum

A museum might not seem like the most obvious choice for a place to visit with a family especially with young children. However, if you can get your children to go to the Louvre Museum Abu Dhabi, they will want to go back again.

Why? Because unlike most museums, the Louvre Museum has a dedicated section for kids. So while you are busy learning about the ancient falaj water system and Arab engineering, your child can enjoy being there doing his/her own thing, all thanks to the innovative techniques and child-friendly displays. This is one of the best family attractions in Abu Dhabi. 

Also, you are likely to get tons of amazing pictures. Here is our list of most Instagrammable spots in the Louvre Museum.

• Entry ticket: AED 60 Adults 
• Children under-13 go free
• Contact: +971-6-00565-566

As you can see, there are many family friendly places in Abu Dhabi. And good food would make your family time even more exciting. If you’re spending Ramadan in the capital city, check out the wonderful iftar tents in Abu Dhabi. You can also take your family out to restaurants that offer amazing suhoor deals in Abu Dhabi.