Take me back to the best of Dubai in July | Complete Dubai Summer Guide | Jump forward to Dubai in September

It’s hard to use any other adjective than hot to describe Dubai in August! It is the peak of the desert summer, and the weather very much defines life in the Middle East.

That said, Dubai is a modern city built for the heat. You won’t find yourself going too far without airconditioned comfort to enjoy. You do need to plan your days carefully, though, to avoid being outside in the peak heat of the day and benefit from the plethora of activities still on offer in the evening.

Suggested Dubai Activities in August 2026

We’re keeping it all indoors still in August, with some favourite suggestions to try in the city:

• Catch La Perle by Dragon – the stunning stage show at Al Habtoor. It runs throughout the year, but August is the perfect time to catch the show in air-conditioned comfort and with special offers such as kids go free. Stick around for dinner and drinks in Al Habtoor City.

• Get out on the water in air-conditioned style, enjoy a night cruise with dinner from Dubai Marina, or even catch the Dubai Ferry for a spectacular view of many of the city’s highlights in air-conditioned comfort.

• Ski Dubai – hit the slopes indoors at the Mall of the Emirates, keeping you active during the hottest months.

• Visit AYA – Immersive Experience – at Wafi Mall; this cutting-edge VR tech experience is a truly incredible (and airconditioned!) way to stay in touch with nature in a futuristic manner.

• Try afternoon tea at the famous Burj al Arab – it may be too hot for the stunning infinity pool, but pull up a chair inside for a special treat on the 27th floor of Dubai’s “7-star” luxury jewel -CURRENTLY CLOSED. Whilst the Burj Al Arab is currently closed for refurbishment, lots of other hotels serve delicious afternoon teas. You can find out more here.

If you’d still like to enjoy the heat and get out in the sun, we suggest cooling off at one of the city’s many beach clubs. Head out in the late afternoon and stay hydrated to make the most of Dubai’s beaches in summer – or seek out some of the newer night beaches in Jumeirah.

More Frequently Asked Questions About August in Dubai

Check out the best things to do in every month in Dubai here!

The post How to Enjoy the Best of Dubai in August 2026 (Even When it’s Boiling Hot!) appeared first on Dubai Travel Planner.

Whether you’re an expat resident or a tourist looking to fly through or take advantage of lower summer prices, I bet you’ll be looking for what activities and attractions can be enjoyed INSIDE over Dubai’s hottest months of the year.

Having lived through a decade of UAE summers ourselves (OK, I can’t lie – most years, we do take off overseas for at least part of the summer to escape the heat!), we have spent A LOT of time getting to know Dubai’s best indoor attractions in the hottest months that can stretch from April to October each year.

No matter the time of year, Dubai has something to suit everyone indoors. We’ve broken this bumper summer list of 75+ indoor things to do in Dubai down into easy-to-navigate sections to suit your interests:

(NB places we have marked with a * are on the Dubai Pass – learn more on how to save money on Dubai’s top attractions here).

• Lost Chambers Aquarium* – part of the extensive Atlantis the Palm complex; travel through the Lost City, and take on a Myth Tour.

• IMG Worlds of Adventure* – Dubai’s entirely indoor action theme park based on the outskirts of the city where you can fit in a full day of adrenaline-pumping fun.

• Mohammed Bin Rashid Library – architecturally stunning outside and invitingly cool within; from the colourful children’s library to their extensive library catalogue, a bookworm’s dream.

• Museum of Illusions – based along the Al Seef Waterfront, pop in for a reprieve from the heat and enjoy the fun optical illusions on offer.

• Madam Tussauds Dubai – the famous wax works museum; find it on Bluewaters Island, under Ain Dubai (which remains closed over Summer 2024, so left off our list).

• Motiongate* – part of the Dubai Parks & Resorts complex, it is NOT entirely indoors, but a decent enough amount of the park, particularly the Dreamworks studios, IS indoors, so we’d not leave it off your summer attraction list (and big discounts to be had for summer visitors).

• Skyviews Dubai – fancy sliding down a see-through glass slide with views of Downtown Dubai? Only for the brave, this is the ultimate urban glass observatory, and utterly instagrammable!

Too hot to get out? Take a virtual tour of Dubai’s attractions here

Best Mall Activities in Dubai

Much of the indoor action in Dubai can be found in the city’s major shopping malls. For more than just retail therapy, malls in Dubai are packed with indoor dining and entertainment, making them one of the best places to seek out Dubai summer activities.

Dubai Mall & Burj Khalifa

One of the world’s largest malls still has a vast amount going on over summer, and is home to many of Dubai’s best indoor activities. You could literally spend a couple of days here and not run out of things to do.  Some of our favourite attractions at Dubai Mall include:

• Burj Khalifa Observation Deck* (Levels 124 & 125 “At The Top” advance booking essential). The entrance is through the Dubai Mall basement level.

• Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo* you can view the world’s largest suspended tank from within the Mall for free, or come in for plenty of interactive water life experiences.

• Kidzania Dubai* – a real-to-life town where kids “work” to earn Kidzos to spend on fun activities.

• PlayDXB* – (formerly VR Park) is a virtual reality theme park.

• Dubai Ice Rink* – indoor ice skating fun on an Olympic-sized indoor rink.

• Don’t miss the stunning Dubai Waterfall (free), and grab an inside restaurant seat for the nightly Dubai Fountain shows.

• Boo Boo Laand, offers a whimsical blend of play and fantasy. There’s also a snow park, super slide, and football stadium on site for those kids who want to be a bit more active. 

• House of Hype is the latest cutting-edge immersive art experience to hit the city, with over 100 experiences to enjoy in this 100,000 sqft futuristic city

• ARTE Museum is another immersive experience to try within the mall. Offering a visual journey and sensory engagement, this is another excellent option for those steamy, hot days spent in Eternal Nature!

• With the kids, don’t forget the giant Hamleys store, plus The Toy Store in the basement, along with the Dubai Mall dinosaur – plenty of FREE fun indoor entertainment – this is our complete kids’ guide to Dubai Mall!

Visiting Dubai Mall on a DXB stopover? Our complete guide here how to get to Downtown Dubai on public transport

Dubai Mall is certainly not the only Dubai shopping mall with a lot going on this summer.  Check out these other mega-malls for more indoor attractions in Dubai:

Mall of the Emirates

• Ski Dubai* – far more than just an indoor ski slope! Enjoy the indoor snow park including bobsledding, snowball fighting, and even the chance to meet real penguins with the Snow Friends Penguin Encounter; this is undoubtedly one of the best indoor places in Dubai to cool off.

• Yalla! Bowling – Bowling is always a winning indoor sport and this state-of-the-art venue is no exception, connected to Magic Planet indoor entertainment centre for kids which also includes Gravity Air Park.

City Centre Mirdif

• ifly indoor flying simulator* gravity-defying indoor fun! This is Dubai’s indoor Skydiving centre.

• Sky Trails and Climbing Wall – part of the Magic Planet kids entertainment centre.

• Little Explorers – early childhood edutainment centre.

• ThEATre at Vox – luxury cinema dining experiences.

Times Square – Sheikh Zayed Road

• Adventure Zone by Adventure HQ – offering indoor climbing walls, obstacle courses and more.

• Chillout Ice Lounge – enjoy a one-hour desert drink experience in sub-zero temperatures! (Temporarily closed summer 2025)

City Walk

• The Green Planet Dubai* – an entirely indoor biodome experience that transports you to a tropical rainforest (warm but much cooler than outside!!); this is one of the best summer activities in Dubai for nature lovers missing the outdoors!

• La La Land – an exciting indoor play area for children from 2 to 12 years old.

Dubai Hills Mall

• Adventure Park – climbing walls to rope courses, keeping kids active indoors, designed for kids 4+.

• The Storm Coaster – a thrilling indoor roller coaster through a shopping mall! This is attached with Play DXB

• Hamleys Play, attached to toy retailer Hamleys includes a huge range of interactive activities for smaller kids

• Like Bricks – ever wanted the fun of playing with complete LEGO sets without the build time? Welcome to your childhood dreams!! Like Bricks play area is perfectly sized for imaginative play indoors.

Wafi Mall

• AYA Interactive Experience – step into the beautiful, futuristic VR Universe of AYA, a mystic journey to a new dimension using cutting-edge technology for a fully immersive experience. Now with the world’s largest fully immersive ball pit!

Dubai Festival City Mall

• Special for summer 2025, catch the Messi Experience, an immersive multi-sensory journey through the football icons life.

• Leo and Loona have opened a huge new family park offering everything from soft play to workshops for kids in a ‘phygital’ environment – combining physical play with cutting-edge technology.

Best Dubai Indoor Activities For Families

There are also some super action venues not tied to the larger shopping malls but dotted across the city you mustn’t miss! Why not try these fun indoor places in Dubai:

Edutainment and creative entertainment centres in Dubai

• OliOli Children’s Museum – one of the best interactive and educational centres in Dubai with its famous Toshi’s Net and a great range of add-on school holiday programs.

• Woo-Hoo Children’s Museum – an interactive edutainment centre in Al Quoz with an extensive after-school and summer program.

• The Jam Jar – in Al Quoz, Dubai’s centre for arts and creativity, enjoy DIY painting sessions and workshops.

• Wild Paint House – forget traditional brushes; here’s where you can get really creative with your painting techniques – swing, splat, spin, or pour, the choice is yours.

• Medaf Studio – a winner with your creative kids, especially their “Expression Room” where even the walls and floors become part of the canvas! Found in Uptown Mirdif Mall.

• Cafe Ceramique – part cafe, part art studio, this is a local favourite for families found at Golden Mile Galleria on Palm Jumeirah

• RC Cities – Fancy playing with real remote control construction trucks in a cafe setting? Of course, you can in Dubai! Found in The Galleries, Nad al Sheba, this fun new cafe experience is certainly a change from your normal noisy entertainment centres and will add a fun new element to your morning coffee!

• Dubai Butterfly Garden – the world’s largest indoor butterfly garden, found next to Dubai Miracle Gardens.

• Ribambelle is a huge new venue found at The Wharf, Bluwaters Island. A brilliant mix of restaurant, creative workshops, parties, and art studio as an indoor playground.

• A special for summer 2025 is Titanic: A Voyage Through Time, where you can take a VR Experience back in time to explore the world’s most famous ship.” Dive through wreckage, walk the grand staircase, and interact with your surroundings. Found at Active Games, Al Quoz.

Toddler Play Centres in Dubai

One thing the city of Dubai is not short on is indoor edutainment and play centres. As well as the places mentioned in the large shopping malls above, for fun indoor Dubai activities for kids, look out for:

• Bricobilandia – found in Nakheel Mall, Palm Jumeirah, this is the perfect drop-in and play centre for Lego-lovers!

• Cheeky Monkeys – Arabian Ranches 2, J3 Mall Umm Suqeim, The Pointe on the Palm, Etihad Mall Mirdif, and Al Barsha Mall.

• Cuckoos – located in City Centre, Al Zahia

• Extreme Fun – Motor City and Centro in the Villa.

• FiaFia – interactive fun in DIFC with playgroups and drop and shop services.

• Funky Monkeys Play-land – Al Wasl Centre on Sheikh Zayed Road.

• Fun N Learn – imaginative play centres inside Fun City, various locations across the city.

• Fun Block – First Avenue Mall in Dubailand.

• Kids HQ – edutainment and soft play galore in these huge play centre in Barsha 2.

• Magic Planet – Mall of the Emirates, City Centre Deira, City Centre Mirdiff, City Centre Me’aisem, Wafi Mall, Arabian Ranches and Burjuman.

• Mumu Family is a bit of a hidden gem found in Mumuso Dubai Hills Mall, this soft play area is free for customers

• Neon Galaxy – a space-themed indoor play centre to accompany a day out at the indoor theme parks of Dubai Parks & Resorts, Riverland, Jebel Ali

• Orange Wheels Jumeirah Town Centre.

• Roli Poli – in the new Megaplex Dubai by Grand Hyatt, Oud Metha Road

• Sky Zone – indoor active play from ziplines and climbing frames to trampolines and warrior courses, Ibn Battuta.

Another great source you can check out for kids activities in Dubai is Family Travel in the Middle East. Check out their guest post on Top Dubai Activities for Kids and their extensive guide to visiting Dubai with toddlers & young children.

Dubai Indoors for Your Older Kids & Sports Enthusiasts

Over the hottest summer months, check out these indoor places to visit in Dubai, perfect for keeping active:

• Adventure Parx & Cafe – indoor urban play space – climbing, ropes, and challenging adventures for younger children.

• Adventure Zone by Adventure HQ – the sports shop come indoor adventure playground in Times Square and the Galleria Mall offering climbing walls, ropes courses and active indoor fun in Dubai.

• AES_SB is the largest indoor skate park in the UAE! Found in an unassuming factory space in Dubai Investment Park, its open 24/7 for skating enthusiasts to enjoy

• Air Maniax – inflatable indoor play centre. Much more than just trampolines, take on warrior assault courses, laser frenzy and a zip zag ride at this mega entertainment centre guaranteed to burn some energy, found in Al Quoz.

• Backlight Mini Golf – illuminated neon fun indoors, a fun little stop in JBR.

• Bouldering at Rock Republic – a fabulous all-over workout in this purpose-built bouldering venue over 400 sqm, Dubai Business Park.

• Adults-only brew and bowling can be enjoyed alongside retro arcade games and pool tables at Brass Monkey Social, Bluewaters Island.

• Chaos Karts is the latest indoor adrenaline craze found at Active Games, Al Quoz, where you can race your mates in real-life carts, combined with state-of-the-art gaming technology (minimum age 9, height 1.3m).

• Find more Karting and Laser Tag at Dubai Autodrome.

• Deep Dive Dubai – the world’s largest indoor swimming pool for free dives and scuba diving to depths up to 60m!

• Dubai Bowling Centre – good old-fashioned bowling fun and MUCH more at this bumper indoor entertainment venue in Al Quoz – it also includes a gaming zone.

• Dubai Sports World – annual summer event taking over the exhibition halls at the Dubai World Trade Centre (August only in 2025).

• Glitch Arabia – family fun centre including SkySurf, mega slides, ninja warrior course, and a bowling alley in Al Ghurair Centre

• Highway 66 – Mini bowling lanes at City Centre Deira.

• Infinite Ski – the ultimate place to work on your skills indoors with Maxxtracks simulator slopes, Al Quoz

• Jump Boxx – indoor trampoline park in Dubai with over 120+ trampolines in Uptown Mirdiff Mall.

• Loco Bear joins a long line-up of ‘all-in-one’ family entertainment centres to enjoy in Dubai, with trampolining, bowling, laser tag, and wall climbing among the top activities to enjoy, in Al Quoz 2

• Mountain Extreme – offering over 60 bouldering and 70 climbing routes in the Business Bay area.

• Pac-Man Live Experience puts you in the centre of the action with cutting-edge technology and high-adrenaline indoor fun in the Al Quoz area of the city

• Precision Football – from working on your ball skills with UEFA-trained coaches or hiring out a pitch for a party, football fans can stay active all summer long with indoor and outdoor pitches.

• Quiz Room is another fun interactive experience to enter the Dubai family entertainment scene with a real-life game show style experience, found in Al Quoz

• Ready Set Go! – one of the city’s largest soft play centres with a jungle theme- trampolines to pretend play for a wide age range of kids, also found in Al Quoz.

• Roll DXB is a fab new retro-themed indoor rollerskating centre found in Port Rashih. From lessons to birthday parties and free skate times, the perfect way to have fun and keep fit indoors!

• Smash Room – get physical and smash out those frustrations, Al Quoz

• Splash Island – Indoor water splash playpark, part of Blue Wave, Al Quoz.

• TEPFactor* – indoor adventure game with 21 challenges to complete at The Walk, JBR.

• Mixing the latest sensational sport padel with glow-in-the-dark fun, The Alley DXB will light up your summer for some serious Dubai indoor sporting fun, adults and kids alike, in Al Quoz

• thejamjar – home of craft and creativity in Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz.

• Tr88house – a huge all-rounder indoor family entertainment centre on Bluewaters Island, soft play to Mystic Golf, Laser Rush, and interactive games, including a family dining hall this is one of the best places for indoor games in Dubai.

• Wavehouse – we love this indoor dining and entertainment centre at Atlantis the Palm – if you’re willing to brave the heat at Aquaventure waterpark, then this is the perfect sundowner spot, indoors!

• Wild Paint House – unleash your creativity from graffiti painting walls to UV splat and spin painting in an industrial warehouse, Al Quoz.

• Unwind Cafe – a brilliant board games cafe can be the perfect summer chill out in Al Barsha.

• X Park at Bounce – an obstacle course providing an all-over workout for super energetic kids – as well as a trampoline park.

• 3D World Selfie Museum – yup, an indoor space designed to take weird and whacky pictures of yourselves! Optical illusions and trick art at its best.

We have this great guide to Dubai Trampoline Parks to consider as well; most operate as multi-sport indoor centres offering a wide range of fun kids’ activities to keep them active indoors.

You may also want to check out our latest guide to the best escape rooms in Dubai. These can be a fun family activity or a great indoor activity for adults, and great for small groups and team building too!

For more fun activities in Dubai for adults indoors, check out the best Dubai dinner shows, and best Dubai nightclubs to enjoy after dark, or for a relaxing retreat, these are the top hotels in Dubai offering indoor swimming pools.

BONUS! Indoor Activities in Abu Dhabi

It is well worth making a day trip or even an overnight stop down to Abu Dhabi to enjoy the indoor offerings there, too. There’s plenty you can enjoy even in the peak heat that will keep you indoors.

Don’t forget to check out our partner site Abu Dhabi Travel Planner if you plan to spend time in the UAE’s capital too. We even share over here how you can travel to Abu Dhabi for FREE!

Yas Island indoor activities

Home to the fabulous Yas Island theme parks, you will find entirely indoors:

• Ferrari World – OK, a couple of the rides do burst out of the building, but the 925,000 sq ft venue is the only one of its kind in the world, combining a love of fast cars and adrenaline-pumping rides, including the world’s fastest roller coaster.
• CLYMB – home to the World’s largest indoor flight chamber and largest indoor climbing wall, this is one for your sporting enthusiasts to keep active year-round.
• Warner Bros World – the World’s largest entirely indoor theme park combines favourites from DC Comic heroes and villains through the Flintstones and Looney Tunes favourites over 29 rides and attractions.
• SeaWorld Abu Dhabi – the latest addition to Yas Island in 2023 – uncover 8 “realms” as well as access to the SeaWorld Research & Rescue Yas Island, the first-of-its-kind dedicated marine research, rescue, rehabilitation and return centre in the region.
• Yas Mall has plenty of other kiddy entertainment, including the giant slide inside Virgin Mega Store, Fun Works, AirManiax, Madcap, Leo and Loona, and Kidzania.

Abu Dhabi cultural attractions & indoor sightseeing

• Qasr al Watan – enjoy touring through the Grand Hall and admire the “Spirit of Collaboration” meeting place of the UAE Cabinet.

• Louvre Abu Dhabi – the Journey through Humanity keeps going throughout the summer. There are some covered outdoor areas, but the collections are obviously well-maintained indoors away from the heat.

• Observation 300 – gaze over the giant Emirates Palace hotel & neighbouring President Palace from the city’s highest observation deck, Level 74 of Conrad at Etihad Towers (Ok, we know nowhere near as high as the Burj Khalifa, but still some stunning views!)

You can see our complete guide on how to get from Dubai to Abu Dhabi here. 

We’ll be adding more soon for Sharjah and the Northern Emirates, too – stay tuned! In the meantime, check out this great resource for further reading on Sharjah’s attractions and our complete guide to Sharjah Museums.

Take me back to the Dubai Travel Blog

Please note we are not a travel agency. This site is a travel blog to help newcomers to the UAE and transit passengers self plan their trip, we cannot book your flights, hotels, visas or connections for you. We may make a small commission if you click on any of our recommendation links.

Dubai Travel Planner

The post 100+ Coolest Indoor Activities in Dubai in 2026 appeared first on Dubai Travel Planner.

If you are looking for winter travel in Dubai, pop on over to these Dubai in winter guide

Dubai Summer Temperature – How Hot Does it Actually Get?

While summer averages are reported at 45°C (113°F), it is quite typical to experience daytime maximums up to 50°C (122°F). The hottest month of the year in Dubai is August.

When is summer in Dubai? “Summer” in Dubai realistically runs from May until October.

Exactly how hot is Dubai? Check out this chart for Dubai’s average reported monthly temperatures ⁽¹⁾ .

What you feel in Dubai and what is actually reported in the peas of summer can also be two different things! You need to take into account not only the temperature but also the humidity. It helps if you have a weather app that gives you the “feels like” temperature as well!

The humidity in Dubai tends to be more noticeable in the latter half of summer, August to September.

It’s also important to note that although you don’t get the sun’s powerful heat overnight, the temperatures don’t drop below 30°C (86°F). You can certainly see and do much more after dark without the glaring sun and heat, but be realistic about what can be done at night, too.

Let’s just agree: Dubai in summer is hot.

You can learn more about Dubai’s weather patterns and the best time to visit here.

Current Weather in Dubai

Dubai, AE

33°

Fair

06:2017:46 +04

Feels like: 37°C
Wind: 16km/h NNW
Humidity: 50%
Pressure: 1014.22mbar
UV index: 0

FriSatSunMonTue

36°C / 28°C
35°C / 28°C
35°C / 28°C
35°C / 27°C
34°C / 27°C

Dubai, AE 10 days weather forecast ▸

Also check out these posts to learn more about the Dubai Summer months in detail

MAY | JUNE | JULY | AUGUST | SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER

---

Dealing with the heat in Dubai

Dealing with the summer heat in Dubai is not nearly as difficult for most tourists as it might seem. First, nearly everything is airconditioned to the max—even too cold. You will arrive in an airconditioned airport, transfer to an airconditioned car or Metro train, and arrive at an air-conditioned accommodation. Even bus stops are air-conditioned in many locations!

Whilst the outside air temperature is extreme, most hotels will chill their pools in the summer months to make them a refreshing retreat. Swimming is still best tackled in the early morning and late afternoon/evenings (or look for a hotel with an indoor pool if you’d still like to get your laps in!).

The same cannot be said for the ocean, however!  You must be mindful that the salty waters of the Gulf can be too hot for swimming in over the summer (32-35°C/90-95°F); it will feel more like spa water than a refreshing break.

And if it isn’t obvious, the sand becomes excruciatingly hot in the summer. It only takes burning sand to become trapped in your sandals or flip-flops once to work this out, let alone if you dare walk on it barefoot!

Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa & Downtown Dubai

One of the world’s largest malls still has a huge amount going on over the summer. You could spend a few days here and not run out of things to do!

Sitting in the heart of “Downtown Dubai”, some of our favourites at Dubai Mall include:

• Burj Khalifa Observation Deck – (Levels 124 & 125 “At The Top” advance booking essential). The entrance is through the Dubai Mall basement level.
• Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo – you can view the world’s largest suspended tank from within the Mall for free or come in for plenty of interactive water life experiences.
• Kidzania Dubai – a real-to-life town where kids “work” to earn Kidzos to spend on fun activities.
• Play DXB (Formerly VR Park) – a virtual reality theme park.
• Dubai Ice Rink – indoor ice skating fun on a full-sized Olympic rink.
• ARTE Museum – interactive gallery experience
• House of Hype – interactive art experience
• Dubai Opera – offering a year-round program of incredible entertainment from traditional opera to the best of Westend theatre and internationally acclaimed acts.
• Evening fountain show of Burj Lake, plus LED light show on the Burj Khalifa (NB – the fountains have been temporarily closed in 2025 for extensive renovations; reopening date still TBC)
• With the kids, don’t forget the giant Hamleys store, plus The Toy Store in the basement – plenty of FREE fun entertainment!

Dubai Mall is certainly not the only shopping mall with a lot going on.  In fact, malls are where most summer life circulates during the day in Dubai.