Family Outdoor Activities in the UAE: Watch, Ride, Paddle and Walk

The heat is easing, and the cool months (October to April) are when the UAE's outdoors works for a family. Start with what your child enjoys doing: watching birds at Ras Al Khor in Dubai is free, paddling the mangroves at Jubail in Abu Dhabi starts from AED 80, and walking Al Ain Oasis costs nothing. Pick one outing and go early.

Watch: flamingos in the middle of Dubai

Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary has bird hides on its edge, so children see the flamingos from behind a screen without disturbing them. The hides are free and need no booking for families. They open 7:30am to 5:30pm in winter, and flamingos are around for feeding between 10am and 4pm. Allow about an hour, which suits toddlers and preschoolers well.

Walk-in registration is required and the security officer may ask for an Emirates ID, so keep one in your bag. The Mangrove Hide is currently closed; the Flamingo Hide and Lagoon Hide are the ones to head for. Directions

Ride: Dubai's cycle tracks

Dubai Municipality has built 18.4 km of cycling track inside ten public parks, open 8:00am to 10:00pm. Mushrif Park has 4 km, Al Warqaa Park 3 km and Al Khawaneej Pond Park 2 km. The little Al Nahda Pond Park track is 345 m, a gentle first go on a balance bike.

The RTA asks riders to wear a helmet and a reflective jacket, to dismount at pedestrian crossings and to wear bright colours at night. On city tracks shared with walkers the limit is 20 km/h. Al Qudra is an external training track with no speed limit, so with small children it is worth staying alert and keeping them close. Directions to Mushrif Park

Paddle: the mangroves in Abu Dhabi

Jubail Mangrove Park has a boardwalk of about 2 km, from AED 10, and a ranger-led boardwalk walk from AED 40. On the water, one-hour kayak tours start from AED 80, and the electric dragon boat is AED 80 to 120 for an hour. The dragon boat is suitable from age 3, children under 18 must go with an adult, and pregnant women are not allowed on the water activities.

The park opens at 7:00am, last entry is 8:00pm and it closes at 9:00pm. Arrive 20 minutes before a booked slot. The park says high tide is the prettiest time, so check the Abu Dhabi tide chart first. Kayak age limits are not listed on the pages we read, so ask when you book. Directions

If you would rather just look, Abu Dhabi's Mangrove National Park is free to view at any hour, and operators there run excursions from the Anantara Eastern Mangroves hotel. Bring sunscreen and water.

Walk: Al Ain Oasis in the shade

Al Ain Oasis is a UNESCO-listed oasis of 147,000 date palms, open daily 9am to 7pm with no entry fee. Walk the shaded paths at your own pace, or hire a bike, e-scooter or a quadricycle for the group, with rental from AED 30. The ancient falaj water channels still run, though the flow varies with the season. Directions

Hike a little: Wadi Shawka, Ras Al Khaimah

Wadi Shawka, about 92 km from Dubai, has beginner-friendly trails and, near the dam, a barbecue area and a children's play area. Visit Ras Al Khaimah recommends the cooler months for it. The rock is shaley and uneven, so pick sturdy shoes and keep to the easy paths with young children. Directions

A mangrove in Sharjah

Khor Kalba Mangrove Centre on Sharjah's east coast sits in the UAE's oldest mangrove forest, where visitors can spot the rare Arabian Collared Kingfisher, crabs and green turtles. We could not find hours or a ticket price on the official page, so check before you drive out. Directions

Closed right now

Al Wathba Wetland Reserve in Abu Dhabi, known for its flamingos, is temporarily closed for development until further notice, so skip it for now.

More to read, and one thing to do this week

Already planning parks, beaches or farms? See best parks in Dubai for families, family beaches and farms families can visit, then this weekend with kids and the mumma events calendar.

This week: pick one of the four, pack water and a hat, and be there before 9am.

Sources

• Dubai Municipality, Ras Al Khor bird hides: https://www.dm.gov.ae/dubai-protected-areas/book-a-visit/
• Visit Dubai, Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary: https://www.visitdubai.com/en/places-to-visit/ras-al-khor-wildlife-sanctuary
• RTA, cycling tracks and safety rules: https://www.rta.ae/wps/portal/rta/ae/home/about-rta/cycling-track
• Jubail Island, Mangrove Park activities: https://jubailisland.ae/shop/
• Jubail Island, electric dragon boat: https://jubailisland.ae/product/electric-dragon-boat-experience/
• Jubail Island, when to visit: https://jubailisland.ae/activities/
• EAD, Mangrove National Park: https://www.ead.gov.ae/en/Experience-Green-Abu-Dhabi/Places-To-Go/Mangrove-National-Park
• Visit Al Ain, Al Ain Oasis: https://visitalain.ae/en/experiences/nature/al-ain-oasis
• Visit Ras Al Khaimah, Wadi Shawka: https://visitrasalkhaimah.com/location/place/wadi-shawka/
• Visit Sharjah, Khor Kalba Mangrove Centre: https://www.visitsharjah.com/activities/nature-and-wildlife/khor-kalba-mangrove-centre/
• EAD, Al Wathba Wetland Reserve: https://www.ead.gov.ae/en/Experience-Green-Abu-Dhabi/Places-To-Go/Al-Wathba-Wetland-Reserve