Parks and gardens are spread
across the city of Dubai for all to enjoy. Situated around Dubai are
numerous public parks and gardens that offer a peaceful respite from
urban life. These are particularly popular with families as they offer
attractive picnic spots and childrens' play areas with a variety of entertainment
facilities.
The largest of the city's parks are Jumeirah Beach Park, Dubai Creekside
Park, Mushrif Park, Ras Al Mamzar Park and Safa Park, while many smaller
ones throughout the city provide pleasant green oases.
Dubai has numerous well-maintained public parks and gardens which are
extremely popular hangouts for families with some of them having certain
days reserved only for ladies and children. Providing a respite from
the urban life, the parks feature a host of recreational facilities
including children's playgrounds and swimming pools, camel and pony
rides, colourful
gardens and manicured lawns, restaurants and cafetarias.
Some of the favourite haunts include Al Mamzar Beach Park situated on Al Mamzar Creek at the Dubai-Sharjah border; the Dubai Creekside Park between Al Maktoum and Al Garhoud bridges overlooking the creek; the shoreside Jumeira Beach Park featuring full beach facilities with round- the-clock lifeguard service and a helipad; the large Mushrif National Park on Al Awir Road, past the Dubai International Airport, noted for its miniature International Village featuring different styles of architecture from around the world; and the Safa Park on Al Wasl Road; and Umm Suqueim Park, one of the largest youngster-oriented parks in Umm Suqueim. Besides these, there are several small family parks well equipped with children's play areas including Al Hamriya Park, Al Khazzan Park, Al Wasl Park, Rashidiya Park, and Al Towar Park.
Al Mamzar Beach Park:
One of the best in Dubai, with barbecue sites, food kiosks and a safe
swimming area. Children's play areas dot the park and you can hire
a chalet for your family.
Park Timings - 08:00 - 22:00 hrs
Location - Hamriya
Entrance Fee - Dhs. 5/-per person or Dhs. 30/- per car.
Tel - (9714) 682527
At the Mushrif Park (off Garhoud), a "World Village" greets
visitors with miniature architectural samples from every continent. Child-sized
Dutch windmills, English Tudor cottages and Thai stilt dwellings among
others, can be seen and explored.
Creekside Park:
The lawn stretches to eternity here! The park boasts of well-maintained botanical gardens, an amphitheatre for 1,200 people, an 18-hole mini golf course, 14 picnic locations with modern barbecue equipment, a mini train, fishing piers, jogging tracks, imaginative children's play areas and food kiosks. You will enjoy walking or roller-blading by the Dubai Creek.
Park Timings - 08:00 - 22:00 hrs
Location - Opp. Dubai Creek Golf Club
Entrance Fees - Dhs. 5/- (Wednesday is for women & children only.)
Tel - (9714) 369082
Safa Park, located in Jumeirah, and one of the oldest in Dubai, the
park features a fairground dominated by a ferris wheel, a mini city with
small-scale roads, traffic lights and signs, tennis courts and a mini
train.
Theme Parks
Wonderland & Splashland
A trip to WonderLand -
Dubai's one and only theme park with a unique Caribbean setting. Step
into WonderLand and you step into a world of fun and fantasy - with
rides and slides, eats and treats, games and spectacular shows for the
entire
family. Splashland has unique water rides to keep you cool and laughing.
For rates, special day-passes and other details, call (9714) 341222.
Wild Wadi Water Park:
Wild Wadi is a playground of unparalleled pleasure, where guests are swept from delight to awe and where excitement flows upon excitement. Wild Wadi is a place for children to lose themselves in a world of waterborne fantasies, and for adults to rediscover the joys of the child within. Situated adjacent to The Jumerah Beach Hotel, twenty minutes drive from the airport and the bustling modern city of Dubai.
Al Ain Fun-City (2 hour drive from Dubai) and the Dreamland Aquapark (located in the Emirate of Umm Al Quwain - 1 hour drive from Dubai) are other theme parks of worth visiting.