Things to Do in Dubai This Weekend With Kids: 2–4 October 2026

October is here and the weekend plans are moving back outside. Here are eleven things to do in Dubai this weekend with kids, Friday 2 to Sunday 4 October, sorted by budget: a AED 25 family run at DAMAC Hills, fairytales with a live orchestra, a water circus, and Saturn through a telescope in Sharjah. Most are on our family calendar.

Under AED 50: football, fossils, a frame and a family run

Al Wasl vs Kalba at Zabeel Stadium

An easy first match for little fans: an ADIB Cup game on Friday afternoon, food on sale inside. Under-twos go free on your lap.

Fri 2 Oct, kick-off 5:15pm · Zabeel Stadium, Oud Metha · from AED 20 · Book tickets

Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, free for under-18s

Dinosaurs, meteorites and 13.8 billion years of Earth's story, with select workshops included in the ticket. Children under 18 go free.

Fri to Sun, 10am to 8:30pm · Saadiyat Cultural District, Abu Dhabi · adults from AED 49 · Book tickets

Dubai Frame

Old Dubai on one side, new Dubai on the other, 150 metres up. Leave the buggy at gate 4 and hold little hands on the deck.

Daily, 8am to 9pm · Zabeel Park · children 3 to 12 AED 20, adults AED 50, under 3 free · Book tickets

Spinneys Family Pink Run, DAMAC Hills

A flat 2.5 km or 5 km at DAMAC Hills Mall, open to every age. All entry fees go to the Al Jalila Foundation for breast cancer awareness, and everyone gets a T-shirt, a medal and a snack.

Sat 3 Oct, 7:30am (check-in from 6:30am) · DAMAC Hills Mall · from AED 25 · Register

AED 50 to 150: a water circus, an orchestra, K-pop and a choir

Pluma, the water circus

Trapeze, water and projection mapping tell the story of a girl who wants to fly. New this week, and under-twos go free.

Fri and Sat 5pm or 8pm, Sun 4pm or 7pm · Dubai Festival City Mall · from AED 100 · Book tickets

Fairytales with Orchestra

The UAE Philharmonic Orchestra and a narrator bring Aladdin, Sinbad and Peter and the Wolf to life in one hour, made for a first concert.

Sat 3 Oct, afternoon · The New Covent Garden Theatre, Mall of the Emirates · from AED 120 · Book tickets

KPOPZ Live

An afternoon K-pop tribute show with songs from K-Pop: Demon Hunters. All ages; everyone from three needs a ticket.

Fri 2 and Sat 3 Oct · Theatre by QE2, Port Rashid · from AED 120 · Book tickets

One Day Choir, one for mum

No auditions: a whole room learns Seal's "Kiss From A Rose" together. A few hours to yourself, or bring a child aged 10 or over.

Sun 4 Oct, 10am · The Club, Mina Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi · from AED 150 · Book tickets

Worth the splurge: Saturn, slides and VR

Saturn night at Mleiha, Sharjah

Saturn's rings through a telescope, a guided walk and karak under desert skies, about an hour from Dubai. It runs until 11pm, so pick it for older kids.

Sun 4 Oct, from 6pm · Mleiha, Sharjah · children 5 to 10 AED 150, adults AED 200, under 4 free · Book tickets

Aquaventure and the Lost Chambers

A waterpark day plus the aquarium, with parking included. Some rides need 1.2 m, and babies need swim nappies.

Daily, 10am to 6pm · Atlantis, The Palm · from AED 234 · Book tickets

PlayDXB

Two floors of VR rides and games for all ages. Height rules vary by ride; there's an AED 5 gate card on arrival.

Daily from 10am, late at weekends · Level 2, The Dubai Mall · from AED 199.50 · Book tickets

What we're doing this weekend

We'll be at the Spinneys Family Pink Run at DAMAC Hills on Saturday morning, then at Fairytales with Orchestra that afternoon. If there's time, we might pop into Fluffin, the dog café at Dubai Creek Harbour. If you spot us, come and say hello.

Which pick for which age

• Toddlers: Pluma, Dubai Frame, the family run
• Ages 3 to 7: Fairytales with Orchestra, Aquaventure, the museum
• Ages 8 to 12: the football, KPOPZ Live, Mleiha
• Teens: PlayDXB, the choir with you

Coming up in October

Dubai Parks and Resorts reopens on 7 October, Dubai Miracle Garden on 8 October (AED 30 for UAE residents, under-12s free), The Ripe Market on 10 October, Dubai Safari Park on 12 October and Global Village on 14 October.

Before you go

• The UAE weekend is Saturday and Sunday, with Friday a half working day
• Most tickets can't be refunded, so check the date before you book
• On a budget? See our free things to do with kids in Dubai
• For a cool indoor morning, try our indoor playgrounds in Dubai

Share your weekend

Found something we missed? Tell us in the mumma community. Family events are on the calendar, offers on deals.

Sources

• Platinumlist event pages, read 28 September 2026
• Premier Online, Spinneys Family Pink Run, DAMAC Hills
• Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, Dubai Frame, Aquaventure, Emaar Entertainment
• Visit Dubai, Fairytale with Orchestra
• Fluffin
• What's On, October bucket list; Time Out Dubai, reopening dates
• UAE Government, working hours

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