22 summer camps in Abu Dhabi and Dubai for 2022

The summer holidays are officially upon us and while many families will be setting off for cooler climes, others will be settling indoors for the season in the UAE. That’s where summer camps for children come in, to keep the little ones entertained during the day while mum and dad work — or relax. There are options for all age groups, from babies to teens, and all manner of interests, as nurseries, hotels, fitness facilities and more come up with creatively themed camps. This is only a slice of what’s on offer throughout the Emirates this summer. Karting, swimming, horse riding, basketball, football, arts and crafts, archery, gymnastics, trampolining and even cooking are on the agenda at the Al Forsan sports resort’s children’s summer camp this year. That and plenty more. Dates: July 20-August 26 Price: From Dh835 for one week Ages: 4-14 Contact: 052 921 0110 www.alforsan.com Over at The Galleria Al Maryah Island, Caboodle is hosting a summer camp with all sorts of creative indoor activities for children. This includes drama, gardening, storytelling, sensory play, fabric painting, building blocks, obstacle courses, cookie decorating, science experiments, music, movement and time for free play. Dates: July 13-August 26 Price: From Dh180 per day Ages: 4-9 Contact: 02 679 8019 www.caboodle.ae This one is for older children. The Department of Culture and Tourism in Abu Dhabi is hosting a two-week immersive programme that aims to inspire Emirati students to consider a career in Abu Dhabi’s growing tourism sector. It includes formal training and work experience, as well as a five-day placement at one of the emirate's hotels. Only 50 Emirati nationals can enter this programme, which includes workshops, tutorials, field trips and talks by experts. Registrations close on July 5. Dates: July 25-August 5 Ages: 17-21 www.tcaabudhabi.ae Children can make like dolphins and practise their swimming this summer at this academy in Maplewood Canadian International School, in Mohamed Bin Zayed City. There’s also football, basketball and other activities on offer to the children, and transportation is provided for Dh400 more. Dates: July 4-August 26 Price: From Dh400 for one week Ages: 5-12 Contact: 056 338 8665 www.dolphinesportsacademy.com As part of the hotel's Summer of Discoveries campaign comes the Summer Camp for Young Explorers, in partnership with The ProKid sports club. Children will go on a cultural journey, exploring nature, sports, play, art and exercise. This comes in the form of activities and experiences led by trained professionals at one of Abu Dhabi’s most famous and luxurious properties, and there are different groups for various age categories. Dates: July 4-August 28 Price: From Dh275 for weekday or weekend, paid in advance Ages: 3-14 Contact: 02 690 7311 www.mandarinoriental.com Children can learn more about the animals at Abu Dhabi’s famous zoo, with the chance to also explore conservation topics such as habitats, extinct creatures and zookeeping. Dates: June 27-August 26 Price: From Dh160 per day Ages: 4-16 Contact: 02 501 0000 www.emiratesparkzooandresort.com Kids can get creative at Makerspace Al Zeina, where five camps are going on this summer. Junior Jewellers teaches children casting, stamping, cutting and working with jewellery tools so they can make their own pieces to take home. The four-day DIY Makers’ Camp invites children to create art based on the theme of wildlife, while another is future-themed. There’s also the Fabric & Threads camp, which includes sessions on textile design, laser-cutting and macrame. Dates: July 4-August 18 Price: From Dh250 per day Ages: 8-14 Contact: 02 558 8624 www.makerspace.ae This mixed martial arts academy is located in Zayed Sports City and is offering eight weeks of activities centred around the sports. Training sessions in jiu-jitsu, boxing, wrestling and Muay Thai are on the agenda, led by experienced coaches in a safe environment. Dates: July 4-August 26 Price: From Dh950 per week Ages: 5-12 Contact: info@wolveszoneuae.com www.wolveszoneuae.com Budding ice skaters are convening at this venue to practise their axels and twizzles this summer. The Zayed Sports Academy is running a camp for beginners and another for intermediates. Dates: July 4-August 26 Price: From Dh840 per week Ages: 5-12 Contact: 02 403 4333 www.zsc.ae When you sign your child up for the summer camp at Air Maniax in Al Quoz, Dubai, they also get access to the camp at Street Maniax. Activities include arts and crafts, magic shows, boxing and dance classes, plus games and prizes to be won. Camp fees also include lunch and drinks. Dates: July 4-August 26 Price: From Dh170 per day Ages: 3-12 Contact: 04 348 8981 www.airmaniax.com Learn all about life skills during holiday camps at Aventura Parks. The adventure zip line park offers nature-based activities and programmes, plus pets to interact with. Dates: July 4-August 26 Price: From Dh180 for a morning Ages: 5-12 Contact: 052 624 5007 www.aventuraparks.com This summer camp is available to book via Kidzapp or through Beit Arabi's Instagram account, and offers full immersion in Arabic for the season, so your child gets a crash course in the language. Dates: June 27-August 26 Price: Dh1,100 Ages: 3.5-12 Contact: 050 516 3635 www.instagram.com/arabic_beitarabi This camp is available across Cheeky Monkeys locations in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Ras Al Khaimah. It offers structured fun with creative arts and crafts sessions, cooking, science experiences and more. It’s open for potty-trained children only. Dates: July 4-September 9 Price: From Dh125 per session Ages: 3-8 Contact: 055 340 0526 www.cheekymonkeys.com This Umm Suqeim 2 nursery is theming its summer camp on the rainforest. Children will be introduced to the brightly coloured birds that call the rainforest home, as well as the plants, trees and flowers that grow there. Dates: July 4-August 31 Price: From Dh735 for three days Ages: 1-4 Contact: 800 244 53736 www.childrensoasisnursery.com There are a couple of summer camps running at community theatre space Courtyard Playhouse this season. The Mini Storytellers Summer camp, for ages 4 to 7, has sold out, but the Junior Actors Summer Camp is still open. This lets children explore the imaginative world of picture books by their favourite actors, bringing these to life on stage. Dates: July 4-8 Price: From Dh1,215 Ages: 8-11 Contact: 050 986 1760 www.courtyardplayhouse.com Got the next Steve Jobs in your midst? Then send your budding brainiac to Fun Robotics for an educational summer camp. It introduces girls and boys to coding, as well as topics such as inventing apps, 3G robotics, artificial intelligence, programming with Minecraft, cybersecurity, Raspberry Pi, Kodu Game Lab and more. These take place in person and online. Dates: July 30-September 1 Price: From Dh446 (online) or Dh893 (onsite) Age: 7-9 and 10-plus Contact: 04 338 8354 www.fun-robotics.com For an all-round summer camp that ticks many boxes and age groups, try Jungle Gymsters at The Mall in Jumeirah, Umm Suqeim 3. The theme is travelling around the world and includes activities from each country, including dance, crafts, culinary sessions, music and more. There’s gymnastics, karate, arts and crafts, painting, storytelling, Zumba, yoga and more. Dates: June 20-September 2 Price: From Dh200 for one day Ages: 18 months-12 Contact: 04 258 2820 www.junglegymstersae.com It’s all about pets at Odyssey Nursery summer camps in Umm Suqeim, JBR and Sheikh Zayed Road, among other locations. Children will learn about different types of pets, how to look after them, games you can play with them and all about kindness to animals. Pets & Me is part of the Reggio Emilia project-based inquiry style of learning through role play and exploration. Dates: July 4-August 31 Price: From Dh515 for two days Ages: 1 to 4 Contact: 800 639 24453 www.odysseynursery.com There’s a different theme every week at Dubai’s OliOli children’s museum. The Summer Blast Camps include specially curated activities, with weeks inspired by dinosaurs, water, outer space and superheroes. Dates: July 4-August 26 Price: Dh1,090 per week Ages: 4 to 10 Contact: 04 702 7300 www.olioli.ae The watersports company is hosting a summer camp at Sofitel Dubai The Palm, with an array of beach and watersports activities for children to take part in. This includes stand-up paddle boarding polo, dragon boat racing, tug of war, ultimate frisbee, fish feeding and beach clean-ups. There will also be nature talks and competitions. Dates: July 4-August 26 Price: Dh500 Ages: 7-12 Contact: 050 551 0238 www.seayou.ae Dubai’s indoor rainforest is offering children the opportunity to learn more about the environment and sustainability during its summer camp. This includes getting up close with the animals, plants and ecosystems that call the biodome home. There will also be arts and crafts, games, scavenger hunts and more. Dates: July 18-August 18 Price: From Dh225 for one day Age: 5-12 Contact: 800 7699 www.thegreenplanet.com Using the Reggio Emilia play-based learning techniques, Willow Nursery branches in Umm Suqeim, One Central and Dubai Marina are hosting water-themed summer camps this season. This includes water play experiences, experiments and educational fun. Dates: July 4-August 31 Price: From Dh609 for two days Ages: 1-4 Contact: 800 945569 www.willowchildrensnursery.com

22 summer camps in Abu Dhabi and Dubai for 2022

From martial arts and maths to coding and cooking, here's where to keep the children entertained