From arts and crafts, to sport and fitness and performing arts…

Summer is officially here, and with it comes some shorter school hours and summer holidays, with the children now off school until September 1.

With all those long hours to entertain your kids, adventurous thinking can sometimes get a little tiring, especially if you’re still at work full-time.

Fear not as there are plenty of engaging – and educational – summer camps happening across the city to keep the little ones stimulated – and busy.

Here are 14 summer camps in Dubai for children.

Atlantis The Palm

Atlantis The Palm aren’t messing around when it comes to kids’ activities, with no less than six summer camps for the young ones and some great offers for the parents to go along with it. Choose from Summer Adventurers, Junior Athletes, Junior Masterchef, Aquamania and Teen Athletes. For parents who have the time, if your kids are at the summer camp, you’ll get free pool and beach access and there’s some great deals at the ShuiQi Spa, like the Bastien’s Summer Pamper Package for Dhs566, which saves you Dhs300 throughout June, July and August. 

Atlantis, The Palm, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, kids aged 8 to 17, July 7 to August 29, various times and prices dependent on package. Tel: (04) 426 1387. atlantisthepalm.com/kids-activities/summer-camps

ALSO READ: 17 awesome family-friendly indoor activities in Dubai to try

Mega Summer Camps at SAE

Creative media industry institute, SAE, will be putting on two camps this summer. The Mega Film Camp will run from July 7 to July 25, and is split into three workshops; filmmaking, audio and graphic design. The Mega Animation Camp will start on July 21 to August 8 and will also be divided into three workshops which are animation, audio and graphic design. It’s the perfect summer camp for creative minds, as children will gain skills on film production, audio pre-production and industry software. Each of the practical workshops are Dhs1500, but there is a Dhs1000 discount for those who sign up to all three classes. If your child decides to enroll at the university in the future, the cost of the summer camps will be deducted from their fees.

Mega Summer Camps, SAE Institute’s Dubai campus, located at Block 2B, G Floor, Dubai Knowledge Park, Dubai, kids aged 10 to 16, Mega Film Camp from July 7 to July 25, Mega Animation camp from July 21 to August 8. Dhs1500 per workshop class. dubai.sae.edu

Air Maniax Summer Camp

Let little ones burn off some steam at Air Maniax this summer. It’s got a 15,000 square foot inflatable area, obstacle course, laser tag and a zip line. Their camp will run each week Sunday to Thursday from July 7 to August 29 (aside from August 11 to August 16). There will be arts and crafts, daily competitions, team games, fitness activities, singing and dancing. The timings are 8.30pm to 1pm or 2pm to 6pm and food, is included. This camp is more at the wallet-friendly end of the Dubai summer camp spectrum, priced at Dhs699 per week. There’s also a 10 percent discount for siblings who attend.

Air Maniax, 16 Street 1 (opposite Dynatrade), Al Quoz Industrial First, Dubai, July 7 to August 29, Dhs699 per week. Tel: (04) 348 8981. airmaniax.com.

Club Mina

There’s never a second for boredom at Club Mina’s summer camp. Children will be able to tackle obstacle courses, attend float fit sessions, team building challenges, arts and craft and design sessions and tree planting and ocean awareness activities to assist in raising environmental awareness. There’ll also be boxing, basketball, swimming, kayaking, core fitness, football and more. If you’re a Club Mina member, you’ll get discounts on the standard rate. 

Club Mina, Le Meridien Mina Seyahi, Dubai, kids aged 6 to 12, July 07 to August 29, Sun to Thurs 9am to 2pm, from Dhs850 per child per week or Dhs190 for a day pass for non-members. Tel: (04) 318 1315. clubminadubai.com

Summer Camp in the City

Why have fun in just one spot? Meraas’ Summer Camp in the City will take children on an adventure to multiple Meraas destinations, from Hub Zero to The Green Planet, Mattel Play! Town, Roxy Cinemas and Laguna Waterpark at La Mer. Activities include arts and crafts, scavenger hunts, ballet classes, live shows, character games, karates, lazer mazes and water fun. Parents can drop the children off at Hub Zero in City Walk each day from 8am and the camp runs though to 4pm. If you need a little extra time to get back from work, you can arrange extended pick up times for a small fee.

Summer Camp in the City, various Meraas Leisure & Entertainment Destinations, kids aged 5 to 10, July 07 to August 29, Dhs375 per day or Dhs855 per week. Tel: (04) 5905 599. dxbvenues.com

FitRepublik

It’s FitRepublik’s fifth year of running their summer camp, which gives kids a fun-filled and energetic time with loads of activities on offer. Whether your child is active, creative or musical – there something to suit everyone and encourage them to try new things. Arts and crafts include t-shirt printing, playdough modelling, or even making friendship bracelets. There’s lip sync battles, music jam sessions and tons of sports, from gymnastics, rugby, martial arts and dance for them to tackle. If you sign them up before June 30, you’ll get 10 percent off the price and another 10 percent off for siblings. They can also splash about on the inflatable obstacle course in the olympic swimming pool. 

FitRepublik, The Academies, Dubai, kids aged 5 to 14, July 7 to August 29, Sun to Thurs weekly from , full day 8am to 3.30pm, half day 8am to 12pm. Tel: (04) 556 1800. fitrepublik.com/summercamp

Emaar Kids Camp

Emaar Entertainment have loads of awesome summer camp programmes for children aged 4 to 17 years old. There are classes across attractions incluing KidZania, Dubai Aquarium and The Springs Souk. The classes last all summer, but each one has a different age group, cost and operating time s- o it’s best to check their website to find the one that suits you and your child.

The Dubai Mall, Financial Centre Road, Dubai, daily 10am to 12am, class times, costs and duration change. Tel: (800) 382246255. emaarkidscamp.com

OliOli

Oli Oli is the creative kids museum that is so much more than a museum. Designed to be innovative, interactive and fun, there’s eight galleries for little ones to get lost in, themed on a different subject such as ‘forts and dens’ and ‘future park’. Worrying which will fit your work schedule? There’s the Morning Marker, Afternoon Adventures and a Full Day camp – so there’s something to suit everyone’s needs. The camps are catered to children aged 4 to 9, but there will be separate camps for ages 4 to 5 and 6 to 9.

OliOli Building, Al Quoz, Dubai, kids aged 4 to 9, July 7 to August 29, Sun to Thurs weekly, various times and prices dependent on package. Tel: (04) 702 7300. olioli.ae/summer-camps-2019

The Sustainable City

From July 7 to August 29, The Sustainable City Summer Camp invites children aged 4 to 10 to gain a hands-on experience about sustainable living and celebrating the richness of nature. Each week will highlight a different cause, such as fresh water supplies, local food production and recycling, with activities such as baking brownies in a solar oven and designing electric cars all part of the program. The little ones will also go on a scavenger hunt and create their own model city, learning the practical aspects of sustainable living.

The Sustainable City Summer Camp,  The Sustainable City, Dubai, July 7 to Aug. 29, 2019, Dhs700 per child, Dhs1,260 for two children per week of full-day camp. thesustainablecity.ae

The Ballet Centre

This performing arts experience is perfect for little ones into dance and drama, but is also great for helping those who are less confident along a bit. Classes will include mixed dance styles, martial arts (self defense), acting, singing, musical theatre and arts & crafts. Children will be taught by highly-qualified teachers from RAD Ballet, Trinity qualified teachers from BODA, ITF Taekwondo teacher and NICHE art trainer.

The Ballet Centre Dubai, Jumeria 1, Dubai, July 7 to July 18, 9.30am to 2.30pm, Dhs800 per week. Tel: (04) 3449776. balletcentredubai.com

Fairmont The Palm

Especially handy if you live on The Palm, Fairmont Falcon Kids’ Club will give your child loads of fun activities to keep them busy this summer. The 9-week programme will also have a number of interactive themes, and children will keep active with dance fitness every Sunday and Thursday, along with fitness games on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Fairmont The Palm, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, aged 3 years and above, July 07 to Sep 05, from Dhs200 per day, Dhs460 for three days and  Dhs700 for five days per child. Tel: (04) 4573331. fairmont.com/palm-dubai/

Dubai Sports World

#EveryGirlCan is a new concept at Dubai Sports World designed for girls aged 6 to 14. Using exercise and sports, the programme aims to build confidence, encourage a problem solving attitude and ability and improve attention and focus, amongst other things. The camp will include a range of sports for girls to try like basketball, volleyball, kickboxing, badminton, ping pong (Table Tennis) and yoga. There’s also ‘Empower Workshops’ with talks from sporting role models. 

Dubai Sports World, The Dubai World Trade Centre, girls aged 6 to 14 years, July 07 to August 01 (Sunday to Thursday). 10am ’til 2pm, Dhs550 per week. facebook.com/everygirlcan.ae

St. Regis Saadiyat – Abu Dhabi

If you’re an Abu Dhabi resident, the St. Regis Saadiyat Island summer camp is perfect to keep the kids entertained. Children aged four to twelve will benefit from a range of entertaining and educational activities such as arts and crafts, dancing, indoor and outdoor exercises and competitive games. Groups are split in to two groups dependent on age, and will partake in activities including swimming, games, zumba and more.

The Sandcastle Club, St. Regis Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi, kids aged 4 to 12 year, July 7 to August 29, weekly Dhs1,030 and Dhs263, Sun to Thurs 9am to 3.30pm. Tel: (02) 498 899. mariott.com

Bab Al Qasr – Abu Dhabi

If you’re an Abu Dhabi resident, this one might be fore you. If your child is aged 5 to 14, you can sign them up for either a daily, weekly or monthly package, where they will benefit from an abundance of entertainment and activities at Bab Al Qasr. The itinerary includes swimming, dancing, zumba, virtual reality, and fun games which will be available from 9am to 1.30pm during weekdays. Refreshments will be provided too, including lunch. 

Bab Al Qasr, Corniche Road, Abu Dhabi, kids aged 4 to 14, July 7 to August 29, 9am to 1.30pm, daily rate Dhs199, weekly rate Dhs799, monthly rate Dhs1299. Tel: (02) 205 3090. babalqasr.com

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