Keep the kids occupied throughout the summer with the help of our comprehensive guide to the capital’s summer camps
We all cherish the time we spend with our little cherubs, but they can go a little crazy with a two-month holiday through the hottest time of the year. When the beaches have been done, the heat is too much to go outdoors and visiting one more shopping centre is just too much… what do you do?
Abu Dhabi’s summer camps are great for keeping your offspring occupied, so Abu Dhabi Week has compiled a list of places to keep the kids entertained and the parents sane.
E-Sports at Khalifa City A is an indoor summer camp offering sports and recreational activities throughout the summer. Keeping them active through team sports and activities, they should sleep very well at the end of the day! This one is best for the sporty.
Details
Where: Gems American Academy, Khalifa City A
When: 30th June to 29th August
Ages: Four to 14
Cost: AED 150 per day or AED 650 per week
Timing: 8.30am to 1.30pm
Website: www.esportsuae.com
For the super-fit kids (or kids wanting to get fit) Abu Dhabi Country Club has a two-and-a-half-month-long camp. Fitness, football, dancing, basketball and transport included, what more could the kids want? Transport to and from the camp is free for any island addresses.
Details
Where: ADCC on Al Saada St, Al Mushrif
When: 2nd June to 29th August
Ages: Four to 14
Cost: AED 150 per day or AED 700 per week or AED 2,200 a month (discounts apply for members)
Time: 9am to 2pm
Website: www.adcountryclub.com
For those wanting different adventures, Zayed Sports City has the longest days of any Abu Dhabi camps. Ice-skating, bowling, table tennis, billiards and initiative games are some of the sporty activities on offer.
Details
Where: Zayed Sports City
When: 23rd June to July 18th and 11th August to 29th August
Ages: Six to 14
Cost: AED 200 per day or AED 800 per week
Time: 8.30am to 5.15pm
Website: www.zsc.ae
British Orchard Nursery is holding an Abu Dhabi Summer Fun camp, with different themed weeks. ‘Transport’, ‘Holidays’, ‘On the beach’, ‘Under the sea’ and ‘Jungle animals’ are the themes, and children get to enjoy a Gymjuniorz session and active music and movement.
Details
Where: British Orchard Nursery
When: 7th June to 29th August
Ages: Two to five
Cost: AED 450 per week
Time: 9am to 1pm
Call: 02 443 9892
For the little ‘uns, Teddy Bear Nursery Summer Camp is a fun option. There is a gymnasium, creative arts and crafts, water play and story time as well as cooking; all age appropriate and heavily supervised.
Details
Where: Teddy Bear Nursery
When: 7th June to 15th August
Ages: Eight months to four years
Cost: AED 450 for three days or AED 700 per week
Time: 8am to 1pm
Website: teddybearnursery.net
St. Regis Hotel on Saadiyat will hold its inaugural summer camp this year, to give parents a bit of relief. The camp will be split into juniors (four to seven years) and seniors (seven to 12).
Details
Where: St. Regis Hotel on Saadiyat Island
When: 30th June to 1st August and 15th August to 27th August
Ages: Four to 12
Cost: AED 200 per day or AED 850 per week
Time: 8am to 3.30pm
Website: stregissaadiyatisland.com
Little Smarties is having a month-long camp for young ones, complete with arts and crafts, music and singing, junior kitchen chef, physical development, dance and themed days and splash days.
Details
Where: Khalifa City A
When: 30th June to 25th June
Ages: One to five
Cost: AED 200 per day or AED 800 per week
Time: 8am to 2pm
Email: or call 02 556 5500
For the little chefs around Abu Dhabi, Lil’ Chefs cooking school is where to offload them. The children will learn cooking skills and traditional recipes as well as mural paints and crafts. The last day of the camp, the chefs will showcase their skills by cooking a meal for their mum and dad.
Details
Where: Api Cae Gourmet
When: 16th June to 8th July
Ages: Three to 16
Cost: AED 450 for three days or AED 750 per week
Time: 9am to 12pm and 5pm to 8pm
Email:
For the first time, Redwood is offering a camp for kids, which will include themed weeks (think pirates, princesses and superheroes). The camp will have loads of hands-on activities; mini-kitchen and music as well as a gym and arts and crafts.
Details
Where: Redwood Montessori Nursery, Khalifa City A
When: 30th June to 8th August
Ages: One to eight
Cost: AED 550 for two days or AED 975 per week
Time: 9am to 2pm
Email:
For all-round family fun, Shangri-La and Traders Hotel are offering a kids camp between the two. This means you can drop the children off and go and relax. Their camps offer social activities, educational games and use of the hotel facilities.
Details
Where: Shangri-La Hotel
When: 2nd June to 15th June
Ages: Four to ten
Cost: AED 200 per day or AED 800 per week
Time: 8:30am to 3pm
Website: Shangri-La.com
Al Raha Beach Hotel is offering a summer camp for children with a loads of activities. Swimming and pedal boating, karaoke time, tie-dying, dance craze games, teambuilding games and cooking classes to name a few.
Details
Where: Al Raha Beach Hotel
When: 23rd June to 29th August
Ages: Five to 12
Cost: AED 150 per day of AED 650 per week
Time: 9:30am to 2:30pm
Email:
The Pony Nursery is launching their two-month summer camp, with swimming and an art teacher as well as Arabic and French lessons.
Details
Where: Pony Nursery, Khalifa City A
When: 1st July to 29th August
Ages: One month to four years
Cost: AED 2,000 per month
Time: 8am to 3pm
Call: 02 55 777 60
Noah’s Arc Nurseries are holding super-camps at all three of their nurseries featuring magicians, face-painters and a mascot. The children will be able to cool off in the splash pool in between educational activities.
Details
Where: Noah’s Arc Nursery – Khalifa City A, Mussafah and Abu Dhabi
When: 30th June to 22nd August
Ages: One-and-a-half to four
Cost: AED 200 per week
Time: 9am to 1pm (9:00am to 12:00pm during Ramadan)
For more info: call 050 422 1697
If you want to spend time with the children but need to get out of the house, try one of these super activities:
Monte-Carlo Beach Club, Saadiyat is now offering free day passes for children all summer (usually 75 AED each). The free day passes will included entry into the kids ‘Turtle Club’ where there will be face painting, balloon modelling, water sports and games in their very own pool.
Eton Institute is offering language courses with a twist. The courses include arts and crafts to stimulate learning. Older children (12 to 16 years old) can learn to make mobile applications while simultaneously learning a language (English, Arabic, German, French, Spanish or Italian).
Dalma Mall will have games for kids in addition to the Ramadan family events which include henna drawing, traditional dances, a mascot, and traditional Arabic activities such as Qur’an reading contests and Question-Answer contests with prizes.
Expressions of Dance and Drama Camp is for aspiring performers aged three to 15. The classes will run for 30 and 45 minutes at One to One Hotel in Khalidiya Village. The yoga, gymnastics, ballet, jazz and pop classes will run from June 29th to July 25th.
The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson is a free beginner’s lesson attempting to break the world record. The event will take place simultaneously on June 18th at Yas Waterworld and Murjan Splash Park at Khalifa City: www.worldslargestswimminglesson.org
Fun Day Monday at Fun City is a bargain for youngsters, with one-dirham deals for games and rides at the Fun City centres in Abu Dhabi. Open on weekdays from 10am to 10pm and on weekends from 10am to 12am. Check out www.funcity.ae
Caitlyn Davey
