< Previous30 SUMMER 2025 TIMEOUTDUBAI.COM Green PlanetVR ParkTop indoor activities TIMEOUTDUBAI.COM SUMMER 2025 31 can challenge reality and learn at the same time. Get in the game and be taken to distant planets or visit both the far-flung future and the not-so-distant world of a fully virtualised Dubai, thanks to a series of games specially designed with some of the world’s top VR production houses. O Prices vary. Open Mon-Wed 10am-10pm, Thu-Sat 10am-midnight, Sun 10am-10pm. Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai, vrparkdubai.com (800 382 246 255). Play at Glitch Arabia The game park has been on the scene for a while now, and is packed to the max with games from bowling to roller gliding. There’s plenty in the gaming realm too for you to have a crack at. Level up on the VR challenges and have a blast from the past on the arcade games. Back to reality, there’s even a ninja warrior course. O From Dhs100. Open Mon-Thu 10am-10pm, Fri-Sat 10am-midnight. Al Ghurair Centre, Deira, glitcharabia.com (04 886 1695). Putt at the glow-in-the-dark 3D Blacklight Mini Golf Ready to sink a hole-in-one under the sea? How about getting a birdie in out of space? 3D Blacklight Mini Golf in JBR is a load of fun, whether you’re handy with a club or a complete novice. The darkened rooms are adorned with vibrant neon artwork, complete with an 18-hole mini golf course. To take part you wear 3D glasses for good measure (which may or may not improve your aim). O Dhs110. Open daily 2pm-1am. JBR, 3d-blacklight- minigolf.com (04 565 7621). For the sport-lovers Challenge yourself at SENSAS The multi-sensory experience has just landed in Dubai, putting together puzzles that you will work your way around. From wacky taste tests to challenges in pitch darkness, you’ll get to make the most of some awesome photo opportunities too. O From Dhs140. Open Mon-Thu 10.45am-9.45pm, Fri-Sun 9.45am-10.45pm. Al Quoz, sensas- experience.com (050 856 4990). Get a strike at Dubai Bowling Center This is one of the most recognisable places in Al Quoz and the 1980s retro décor here will take you back to the good old days. Give it your best shot on the lanes, compete against your loved ones or get into teams to knock down the pins. If you want something else to keep you entertained, watch the classic films being beamed out on projectors instead. O Prices vary. Open Mon-Wed 10am-midnight, Fri-Sun, 10am-1am. Al Quoz, bowlingdubai.com (04 339 1010). Practise your skills at climbing gym Mountain Extreme It might be a little too hot to climb an actual mountain, but try improving your bouldering or strap into the ropes at Mountain Extreme. Get those hands covered in chalk and clamber about at the indoor climbing facility, with over 127 top rope routes. O From Dhs125. Open Mon-Tue 10am-10pm, Wed- Thu 1pm-10pm, Fri 10am-10pm, Sat-Sun 9am-6pm. Al Quoz, mtnextreme.com (04 236 6040). Soar through the air at iFly Once you have accepted that jumping out of a plane is a little too extreme for you, but that you really want the feeling of weightlessness, then iFly is your best option. Strap on a special suit and enter a 10m indoor glass tunnel and jets of wind will shoot you in to the air to (try and) perform aerial stunts (all indoors). There iFly 32 SUMMER 2025 TIMEOUTDUBAI.COM Arte MuseumTop indoor activities TIMEOUTDUBAI.COM SUMMER 2025 33 “You could spend hours in this immersive gallery”34 SUMMER 2025 TIMEOUTDUBAI.COM For the culture-lovers Find a hidden spot at Forma Ever visited a secret pizzeria inside a library? Say hello to Forma, the latest must-visit spot in Jumeirah. This new pizza place can be found in Al Safa Art and Design Library in Dubai and has all the arty vibes any creative could want. Order the miso corn before tucking into a six cheese pizza (the cheese pull is something else) then finish with the pretzel ice cream. O Open Mon-Thu 8am-11.30pm, Fri-Sun 8am-late. Al Safa Art & Design Library, Jumeirah, @formauae. Read a book at Mohammed Bin Rashid Library If you’re in the mood to cosy up with your latest read, we know just the place. Shaped like a book from the outside, browse the endless titles and have a look round all seven floors. Once you’re done exploring, sit down, flick through a few pages and watch the evening disappear as you get lost in a story. O Free. Open Mon-Thu 9am-9pm, Fri 2pm- 9pm, Sat 9am-9pm, Sun closed. Over five years old only. Al Jaddaf, mbrl.ae (800 627523). Shop at Souk Madinat There’s nothing like rooting through a stall or two and if shopping is what you’re after, take yourself to the market in Souk Madinat Jumeirah. Lined with traditional stores in a contemporary souk, this is your chance to pick up a trinket for the house or a new fragrance. Once the retail therapy is over, reward yourself with a bite to eat. For an authentic Middle Eastern experience, try Al Makan. O Open daily 10am-11pm. Souk Madinat Jumeirah, Umm Suqeim, jumeirah.com (04 366 8888). “Browse the endless titles and get lost in a story”Top indoor activities TIMEOUTDUBAI.COM SUMMER 2025 35 Mohammed Bin Rashid Library are beginner’s sessions so take that leap (literally) at this one this summer. O From Dhs179. Open Sun-Thu noon-10pm, Fri noon- midnight, Sat noon-11pm. Mirdif City Centre, Mirdif, iflyme.com (04 231 6292). Spin round the rink at Roll DXB Swap the beach path for the retro rink and whizz around on some roller skates to your heart’s content. Ideal for a cool Instagram pic, hire a pair of light up skates at RollDXB and strike a pose next to the neon signs. If you’re really a beginner, there are newbie classes every Saturday morning. O From Dhs65. Open daily 11am-11pm. Marina Cubes St, Dubai Maritime City, Port Rashid, rolldxb.com (055 800 6868). Swing a club at Bedrock It might not be nine holes at a golf club, but it’s close enough (and there’s AC so no sweating your way around the course). There are a few simulators across the city where you can get a digital hole-in-one, including at Bedrock in Dubai Marina. The X-Golf simulator will let you try out 50 of the world’s top courses, or work on your swing at the virtual driving range. O Prices vary. Open daily noon-2am. Pier 7, Dubai Marina, bedrockdxb.ae (04 578 1668). Tackle a course at Parkour Heard of Parkour? You can now let your kids try it out in a safe child-friendly environment. Try it out at one of three locations in the city that mean you can test your limits on padded mats and a safe environment instead of scaling building and hopping off roofs. If your little ones get really into it, there are even academies and weekly training classes you can sign them up for. New summer skill incoming. O Opening times and prices vary. Al Quoz, Port Rashid and JVC, parkour.ae (800 727 5687). Roll DXB36 SUMMER 2025 TIMEOUTDUBAI.COM Try zorbing at Ski Dubai Cool yourself right down and hit the slopes at Ski Dubai for a couple of hours. Whizz down the manmade mountain from two hours to the entire day, or if you’re not in the mood for skiing, get a pass for the snow park and try clambering in a zorb ball, bobsledding or a tubing run. Finish up with a hot chocolate or a meet and greet with the venue’s very own penguins. O Prices vary. Open Mon-Thu 10am-11pm, Fri 10am-midnight, Sat-Sun 9am-midnight. Mall of the Emirates, Al Barsha, skidxb.com (04 409 4000). For the creatives Be amazed at Arte Museum Ready for something totally different and brilliant? You could spend hours in this immersive gallery in Dubai Mall, exploring the natural landscapes of ‘eternal nature’ or getting involved with the live sketchbook feature – draw your own animal and watch it come alive on the digital walls. After all that art, be sure to grab a tea-inspired mocktail at the ARTE Tea Bar. O From Dhs129 (adults), Dhs69 (kids). Open daily 10am-10pm. Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai, dubai.artemuseum.com (04 570 7084). Explore AYA Universe Let’s jump in a giant ball pit and stare up at the stars. The interactive experiences at the Wafi City attraction are all about getting involved with galaxies far far away, and immersing yourself in the art. There are 12 rooms to see – including ‘Flora’, containing an Avatar-style tree, and ‘The Falls’, where you can dance underneath the water. O From Dhs135. Open Sun-Thu 10am-10pm, Fri-Sat 10am-midnight. Wafi City, Oud Metha. aya-universe.com (04 542 0300). Have a proper giggle at Museum of Illusions Get some hilarious family photos and take everyone down to the Museum of Illusions for a fun day indoors in the air-conditioning. You won’t believe your eyes as each of you adjust to the visual trickery, including floating heads and shrinking you down to size. Take a deep breath as you trundle through the vortex tunnel — it’s sure to leave your head spinning. O Dhs90 (adults), Dhs65 (kids aged three-15). Open Mon-Thu 10am-10pm, Fri-Sun 10am-11pm. Al Seef, museumofillusionsdubai.com (04 357 3999). AYA Universe Museum of IllusionsTop indoor activities TIMEOUTDUBAI.COM SUMMER 2025 37 Cinema Akil Marvel at incredible artwork at Foundry Art Space The exciting art space offers you an entire evening of activities that you don’t need to spend a dirham on, so not only is it nice and cool, it’s also totally free. From open exhibitions to talks and film screenings, there are even cool elevated pods to curl up with a good book in. The displays change on a monthly rotation, so you can head along every few weeks. O Free. Open daily 10am-10pm. Boulevard Crescent, Downtown Dubai, foundry-downtowndubai.ae (04 367 3696). Take a snap at House of Hype Created by the team behind equally impressive Dubai attraction AYA Universe, this lot knows how to give you a cool Insta- op. The venue opened early 2025 at Dubai Mall, and at first glance, you might not know what to expect. But trust us on this one. This gigantic experience has more than 100 different things to do, and you’ll feel like you’ve walked through video games, taken a stroll through Japan and stumbled into a dream at the same time. O From Dhs149. Open Sun-Thu 10am-10pm, Fri-Sat 10am-midnight. Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai, house-of-hype.com (04 542 0330). Try something sweet at Museum of Candy In need of a sugar rush? The attraction is an incredible adventure browsing 15 rooms all dedicated to (you guessed it), candy. Not only will you learn some weird and wonderful facts, you’ll also get to slide into a gummy bear pool, watch some crazy candy being crafted and get some ideal Insta opportunities. Don’t leave without trying the unlimited ice cream (the flavours might surprise you). O From Dhs109 (adults), Dhs99 (kids). Open daily 10am-10pm. Oud Metha, themuseumofcandy.com (04 591 0088). For the movie buffs Catch an indie flick at Cinema Akil Settle in among the mismatched cushions on the old cinema seats and catch an indie flick. Cinema Akil is an independent movie theatre located in a converted shipping container in Alserkal Avenue in Al Quoz. It originally started as a pop-up across the region in 2014, taking four years of hard work from founder Butheina Kazim and her team to set up the permanent home. Now, the cinema has 133 seats and shows dozens of unique and independent films every single week. Check it out. O Prices and times vary. Warehouse68, Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz, cinemaakil.com (04 223 1139). Dine at Cinemacity Fountain Views If you’re looking to watch Hollywood blockbusters or enjoy regional and international cinematic gems, then head to Cinemacity Fountain Views for ultimate luxury cinema viewing. Put your feet up in the VIP recliner and prepare to be entertained in the utmost comfort. Plus you can order tasty bites and drinks right to your seat. Sounds good to us. O Prices and times vary. Cinemacity Fountain Views, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard, Downtown Dubai, cinemacity.ae. Gather the gang for Dubai Hills Mall’s Xtreme at Roxy Cinemas Boasting the largest cinema screen in the Middle East, the Roxy Xtreme screen is a whopping 28m high by 15.1m wide, which is the size of two tennis courts. So you know 38 SUMMER 2025 TIMEOUTDUBAI.COM Top indoor activities you’re going to get an excellent view for whatever you choose if you go to this one. If you’re watching a film here, you can sit in the Director’s Boxes, which host 12 people in private and comes with food served by a personal waiter. Along with the huge screen, there are 14 others that offer Platinum and Silver services each offering reclining seats and premium food. Best get checking out the movie line-up and book in. O Prices and times vary. Dubai Hills Mall, Dubai Hills, heroxycinemas.com. Get immersed at Dubai Mall’s ScreenX at Reel Cinemas If you want to talk about an immersive cinematic experience, as Reel Cinemas at The Dubai Mall has rolled out ScreenX – the UAE’s first multi-projection screening system offering audiences a 270-degree cinema screen. That means even your peripheral vision will be fully engaged in the latest blockbusters. The technology expands the image of films onto three of the cinema’s walls without distorting what’s on screen, and is perfect for watching action- packed flicks or getting scared by whatever monstrosities are lurking around the corner in horror movies. This is one of the best cinema experiences in town, for sure. O Prices and times vary. Reel Cinemas, Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai, reelcinemas.ae (04 449 1988). Have a date night at Platinum Plus at BoxPark One of the city’s most determinedly retro cinema experiences, plump for a screening at Platinum Plus at Roxy Cinema’s BoxPark location and you’ll find yourself in a room Dubai Mall’s ScreenX at Reel Cinemas Boom Battle Bar The summer blockbusters worth seeing 28 Years Later Release date: June 19. If you’ve watched 28 Days Later, then you can assume that its sequel will have you on the edge of your seat. Living on an island, the tale follows one of the survivors making a trip back to the mainland, only to discover some pretty scary stuff (bring something with you to peek out from behind). F1 Release date: June 26. Starring Brad Pitt, this blockbuster follows a former Formula One driver who leaves retirement behind to mentor a new driver. Not only will this be packed with fast cars and lots of action, it was also partly filmed at the real life Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2024, so you might even spot yourself on camera. Jurassic World, Rebirth Release date: July 3. You’d think they’d have a grasp on these dinosaurs by now, but thankfully not (because it means we get another Jurassic movie). The next in the iconic series is set five years after Jurassic World Dominion, when an expedition begins to extract DNA from three prehistoric animals. As you can imagine, not everything goes to plan. Starring Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey, it’s set to be good. Superman Release date: July 10. Ready to pin your cape back on? If you’re a Clark Kent fan then grab yourself a seat and a bucket of sweet and salty popcorn as the iconic superhero makes his return. This time played by David Corenswet, expect some brilliant stunts, goodie-baddie battles and all the rest.Top indoor activities TIMEOUTDUBAI.COM SUMMER 2025 39 filled with scarlet armchairs and speakeasy- esque lighting. There’s a robust menu of hot plates as well as the usual cinema snacks, and table service, natch. Pick a flick and spend a couple of hours catching up on the latest movies at one of the most luxurious and best cinema experiences around. O Prices and times vary. Roxy Cinema, BoxPark, Al Wasl Road, theroxycinemas.com (800 7699). Sip a drink at Reel Boutique at Rove Downtown Imagine a cosy, intimate movie theatre in the middle of Downtown Dubai. One of the few cinemas in the city that are fully licensed, Rove offers an experience for people looking to have a good time with friends and family. In fact, the 46-seater cinema can even be rented out for private movie parties or screenings. The chairs are spacious and very comfy. All you need is a bag of warm popcorn and your favourite beverage in hand to complete the experience for a chill evening at Reel Boutique. It’s time to pick your movie. O Prices and times vary. Reel Cinemas, Rove Downtown, rovehotels.com, reelcinemas.com. Splash out at Roxy Cinema at City Walk Whether you love comedy or action, head to this ace cinema for a super luxe movie screening. Pick between the Gold Plus or the Platinum Plus experience – both come with a promise of a top-notch film-viewing experience. Nestled in the happening City Walk area, the place makes for a great stopover for gourmet dishes at the many restaurants and cafés around, or for some shopping on your way back. O Prices and times vary. Roxy Cinemas, City Walk, theroxycinemas.com/location/city-walk. For the date nights Get extra-competitive at Boom Battle Bar If you’re the competitive type, head here. Perfect for the indecisive, Boom Battle bar has it all. And even the stuff you didn’t know you wanted (shuffleboard, anyone?). For over 21s only, start off your trip with a spot of augmented reality axe-throwing, before a quick round of crazy golf. If you’re still feeling competitive, try your hand at augmented reality darts and make the loser give everyone a quick rendition in one of the karaoke booths. O Open Sun-Thu 4pm-1am, Fri-Sat 4pm-2am. DoubleTree by Hilton Dubai – Jumeirah Beach, JBR, boombattlebar.com (04 585 7357).Next >