Top water activities for kids in Dubai

This outdoor playscape may offer a variety of activities to keep children entertained – think pony rides, rabbits, climbing frames, a mud kitchen and a vegetable patch – but the big draw is always the water. Kids dash around the squirting nozzles at Xemo's Fountain while parents can pick up a coffee from Cafe Junior Catering. Plus the place is dotted with ponds and water features where you can spot waddling ducks and wandering turtles.

Geared at the younger ones, this brightly-coloured LEGO-themed park provides all the aquatic activity they could wish for. Aside from the usual slides, spills and splash pads, there's also educational fun to be had, like the Build-A-Boat area where kids can customise their rafts and adjust them to float down the current. One thing's for sure, you'll find it hard to tear your toddler away from the Duplo Splash Safari.

Decked out in cool blue and white hues, this giant water-based playground is perched in the middle of Club Mina which already boasts a plethora of aquatic attractions, including three swimming pools and a soft sand beachfront. Smaller visitors, however, will want to make a bee-line for the Splash Zone before sampling the treats at Refuel Cafe & Bar. In the summer months, it's worth keeping out of the sun by booking one of the chic white cabanas that dot this new destination.

Your children will be in seventh heaven when they see this beautifully designed play area in the heart of Al Barari. Lush landscaping (as befits its surroundings) combines with giant swings, toddler-friendly spaces, ziplines, climbing structures and a water-centric park where kids can create their own adventure. The snacks are specially catered for the clients too; The Dairy Shed serves up gluten- and sugar-free ice creams, and there's guilt-free fast food like vegetarian burgers and healthy hot dogs.

At both edutainment arenas OliOli and Woo-Hoo (Call: +971 800 966 466), there are galleries devoted to water-based play. Cannons, simulated rain rooms, giant bubbles, build-a-dam and even a car wash combine to stimulate the senses and give a gentle introduction to the world of movement and physics. Best of all, kids get mini raincoats to put on so that they don't get wet, which make for adorable photo ops.

Sign your clan up for surfing or paddleboarding lessons at Surf House Dubai. You'll rest easy knowing your kids are in safe hands, as all instructors are qualified lifeguards and expert surfers themselves, and have accreditations in Level 1 Surf Coaching, ILS and first aid certificates. Call ahead to see which group classes are coming up, or book a private session at your convenience.