Family Theme Parks in the UAE: How to Choose by Your Child's Height

Start with your child's height, not the park's name. Across the UAE's big parks the rides open up at about 80 cm, 90 cm, 105 cm and 120 cm, and children under 3 enter free at LEGOLAND Dubai, Warner Bros. World and Ferrari World Abu Dhabi. Measure your child before you book and the choice gets much shorter.

Why height matters more than age

None of these parks sets a ride age. Warner Bros. World says there is no age limit, only height limits. A tall four-year-old and a small six-year-old can end up in very different queues, so the numbers below are in centimetres.

Under 3: free entry, so go gentle

LEGOLAND Dubai, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi and Ferrari World Abu Dhabi all let children under 3 in free. LEGOLAND asks you to bring proof of age. Free entry does not mean free rides: at LEGOLAND the lowest minimums are 80 cm (Submarine Adventure, DUPLO Express). A toddler under that has the play areas, not the rides, so keep the day short.

Aged 3 to 5: a short ride list, an adult beside them

This is the age where the park you pick changes the day.

• LEGOLAND Dubai: 80 cm for two rides, 90 cm for Lost Kingdom Adventure, 95 cm for Kid Power Towers, Rescue Academy and City Airport
• Warner Bros. World: many rides from 80 cm, others at 90, 100 and 105 cm
• Ferrari World: kids' rides from 90 cm, with an adult required between 90 and 110 cm
• IMG Worlds of Adventure: Robbie's Lair from 0.9 m, Tree House from 1.2 m

At LEGOLAND, children under 13 must have an adult over 18 with them in the park.

Aged 6 to 9: 105 cm and 120 cm open the day up

At 105 cm LEGOLAND's Wave Racers, Beetle Bounce and LEGO Technic Twister open up. Ferrari World's 105 cm rides still need an adult up to 120 cm. IMG's Stephanie's Dance Academy starts at 1.2 m. If your child is close to a line, the park pages carry each ride's exact minimum.

Teens: the big coasters

Ferrari World's Formula Rossa needs 1.4 m, and IMG's Pirates Adventure is also 1.4 m. If the family is mostly teens, this is where the day pays off. If you have a mix of ages, pick the park with the longest ride list for the youngest and let the older ones do the tall rides in turns.

Tickets: junior or adult is also a height line

The ticket category follows height too.

• Warner Bros. World: under 3 free, 3 and under 1.3 m a Junior ticket, 1.3 m and above an Adult ticket
• Ferrari World: under 3 free, 3 and under 1.1 m Junior, 1.1 m and above Adult

Warner Bros. World lists single-day tickets from AED 345 and two-, three- and four-park combinations across Yas Island that save up to AED 245, AED 490 or AED 685. LEGOLAND Water Park lists tickets from AED 295 per person. These are the parks' own "from" prices and they change, so check the booking page the day you buy.

A water day for small children

LEGOLAND Water Park is designed for children aged 2 to 12. If your child is under the dry-park minimums, this is the one built around them. Bring swimwear and keep a close eye on small ones in water.

Dubai or Abu Dhabi

LEGOLAND and IMG Worlds of Adventure are in Dubai, Warner Bros. World and Ferrari World on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Directions: LEGOLAND Dubai · IMG Worlds of Adventure · Warner Bros. World · Ferrari World. Planning a day outdoors first? See our best parks in Dubai for families, then this weekend with kids, and the family travel guide.

One thing to do this week

Measure your child against a door frame, write the number in your phone, and check it against the ride lists on the park pages below before you pay.

Sources

• LEGOLAND Dubai height restrictions: https://www.legoland.com/dubai/plan-your-visit/planning-tools/height-restrictions/
• LEGOLAND Dubai FAQ: https://www.legoland.com/dubai/about-us/faq/
• LEGOLAND Water Park: https://www.legoland.com/dubai/explore-legoland-dubai/legoland-water-park/
• Warner Bros. World, rides for kids: https://www.wbworldabudhabi.com/en/rides/rides-for-kids
• Warner Bros. World, single-day ticket: https://www.wbworldabudhabi.com/en/tickets/single-day-ticket
• Ferrari World, rides for kids: https://www.ferrariworldabudhabi.com/en/rides/rides-for-kids-under-four-feet
• IMG Worlds of Adventure, park access guide: https://www.imgworlds.com/plan-your-visit/park-access-guide