Can I Be 5 Again? We Refused to Leave KidZania at Dubai Mall
When you were a kid, what did you want to be? I wanted to be a fairy princess—or maybe a chef or doctor princess. Honestly, just any kind of cool princess.
I know a typical child’s imagination has no bounds. But I always thought the idea of a kid-sized city with realistic establishments like shops, a hospital, a police station, and a bakery for young career seekers would be super cool!
Since KidZania opened at Dubai Mall, I often take my nieces there. And really, they never want to leave—and neither do I. We love it so much that these cuties helped me make a travel guide so others can see what they’re missing. Check it out below!
What is KidZania Dubai Mall known for?
KidZania Dubai Mall is known for being a big, interactive mini-city that creatively mixes play with learning. It showcases life-like streets, buildings, and shops scaled down for the kids to enjoy.
Best Time to Go
The best time to go to KidZania Dubai Mall is on weekdays. This would save you from the unnecessary hassle of crowds on weekends. Otherwise, it’s best to get there as soon as it opens.
Things to Know
Ticket Prices: Economy tickets cost AED 195 each, while premium tickets cost AED 260 each. Both are for ages 4 to 16, with all-day access. However, the premium tickets offer more amenities, like KidZania Titans, seasonal activities, and vouchers.
Operating Hours: KidZania Dubai Mall is open from 10 am to 10 pm from Sundays to Thursdays, and from 10 am to 11 pm from Fridays to Saturdays.
Parking: Parking is on the 2nd floor of Dubai Mall. At the entrance gate of the mall, you may also get valet services, which cost between AED 50 and AED 100.
Washroom: There are washrooms, change tables, and chairs available.
Parents: Parents aren’t allowed inside the areas where activities occur.
Food: Visitors can’t bring outside food and drinks inside. But don’t fret! There are food options available inside.
Wi-Fi: Supervising your kid all day? There’s free Wi-Fi and TV access in the parents’ lounge on the upper floor.
Dogs: Unfortunately, pets aren’t allowed in KidZania.
How to Get Around
What to Do in KidZania Dubai Mall
Roleplay Dream Jobs
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Do your kids already have a dream job? At KidZania, they can choose from over 40 careers! They can learn about their potential jobs in great detail. For us, this is incredible, especially if the kids are practical or hands-on learners.
They can be firefighters, surgeons, or news anchors for a day! But if they aren’t into that, they can change careers and become vloggers, painters, or bakers instead!
Make Tasty Snacks
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If it’s tough getting kids to help out in the kitchen, this might just change their minds. There’s a special activity section in the amusement center where kids can make their chosen treat!
We love that there are plenty of options! Kids can make their own pizza or burger, as well as sweets like cookies, chocolates, and ice cream! But if you’re worried about their teeth or sugar intake, they can make healthy snacks and smoothies too.
In our opinion, participating in this section is a great way for the little ones to save their kidZos (KidZania currency) during lunch. They can use this extra “money” instead to enjoy more activities later!
Play Games
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Besides the career roleplays, the kids can have the time of their lives playing a bunch of games at KidZania! This includes table foosball, billiards, a pool, and an obstacle course.
For us, this encourages children to mingle, gain confidence, and make new friends! Of course, we reckon it wouldn’t hurt to remind them to always play fair and not be a sore loser (or sore winner, because that exists too!).
Get a “Driving License”
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This “edutainment” (education and entertainment) center allows kids to join the Emirates Driving Institute. They can get a “driving license” and zip across KidZania as a car racer!
This includes taking your child’s photo for the card, and even better—they actually take a driving test! Of course, it’s just all about using the touchpads inside the kiddie cars.
And don’t worry—the purpose of all this is to teach kids to be safe when driving. Moreover, this license will only be used so kids can drive on the KidZania racing track.
Celebrate Their Birthdays
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KidZania Dubai Mall offers birthday party arrangements that your kid and their buddies can enjoy in a private room! We believe this is a big step up from a regular party. After the celebration, the kids can go on and roleplay various careers!
We’re pretty sure this birthday idea would make you the kid’s favorite (if you aren’t already). Just note that you should book well in advance to properly set this up.
Where to Eat around KidZania Dubai Mall
PizzaExpress Kidzania
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Website: https://www.pizzaexpress.ae/
Address: The Dubai Mall – Kidzania
Contact Details: +971 4 448 5221, [email protected]
Pricing: $
PizzaExpress KidZania is a family-friendly restaurant that’s actually within KidZania at the Dubai Mall! The kids can join and make their own pizza, but parents must also buy an entry ticket worth AED 80 to come in.
For us, this is an adorable way for the kids to make something tasty for their parents. We suggest making classic cheese or pepperoni pizza, or be bolder and try making bacon pizza with an egg or a veggie ‘za!
But whether the pizza turns out well or not, we feel this is still a great opportunity to snap some memorable photos together.
The Cereal Killer Cafe
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Address: Ground Floor Level – The Village – Gate 4 – Dubai Mall – Behind Waterfalls
Contact Details: +971 4 347 7279
Pricing: $
The Cereal Killer Cafe is a win for the kids with its creative breakfast desserts! Some adults also like starting their day with a sugar high, so we reckon this could be fascinating for you too.
We think it can be overwhelming to choose, considering there are over 120 different cereals to choose from. There’s plenty of milk and toppings too!
But if you’re craving something savory, we say go for the grilled cheese sandwich or cornflake chicken instead. For us, this goes well with coffee or juice.
Bosporus
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Website: https://thebosporus.com/
Address: 115 B – Floor LG – Dubai Mall
Contact Details: +971 4 380 8090, [email protected]
Pricing: $$
Bosporus is a Turkish restaurant that prides itself on being “your bridge to Turkey,” as it boasts authentic Ottoman recipes.
We recommend the grilled kebabs, pides (flatbread), and kofte (meatballs or patties). For dessert, we believe you can’t go without trying the baklava (layered filo pastry) with ice cream or the special kunefe (syrupy cheese pie).
But if you want a one-of-a-kind experience, we suggest getting the special Prime Gold Menu, which features 7 signature dishes topped with a 22k gold leaf—very Instagrammable!
Entrecôte Café de Paris
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Website: https://www.entrecote.me/
Address: The Dubai Mall – Unit LG – 119
Contact Details: +971 54 255 2255, [email protected]
Pricing: $$$
If you love steak and French cuisine, we reckon Entrecôte Café de Paris would be right up your alley. This restaurant is known for its delectable “secret sauce,” which the waiter pours all over the steak. For us, this pairs well with the fries too!
We’re also happy with the desserts, although the options are few. Our top picks are the profiteroles (cream puffs), tiramisu, and vanilla ice cream.
On top of that, we love the sound of the waterfalls since the restaurant is conveniently located near the Dubai Mall fountain!
YO! Sushi
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Website: https://www.yosushi.me/
Address: Unit LG – 116 – Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Blvd – Downtown Dubai
Contact Details: +971 4 339 9083, [email protected]
Pricing: $
YO! Sushi provides a broad selection of authentic Japanese food that both kids and adults love. It’s known for its unique kaiten (rotating) sushi experience, where diners can select their favorites as the food passes via a conveyor belt.
In our opinion, this interactive dining style makes eating super engaging for the kids! We think even selecting salads like crab and salmon skin would look entertaining for them.
As for desserts, we bet the kids would love the sweet and colorful Nutella bao-nut (steamed bun), with layers of cream frosting, chocolate, toasted marshmallows, and crushed nuts. We like the chewy strawberry mochi (glutinous rice cake) as well!
Where to Shop near KidZania Dubai Mall
The Little Things
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Website: https://littlethingsme.com/
Address: Unit SF – 186 – Unit L2 186 – 19 – 19 Financial Center Rd
Contact Details: +971 56 557 7365, [email protected]
The Little Things is a popular collector and pop-culture shop about a minute’s walk from KidZania Dubai Mall. For us, this is great for anime and gaming fanatics. If your kid (or teen and older) is into these, we say allot at least 15 minutes to check out everything.
There are tons of things to look at, from Naruto and One Piece action figures to Marvel, Harry Potter, and Super Mario items. You might also want to check out the t-shirts and accessories!
But what we like most about shopping here is that the staff seems to have extensive knowledge of the items. So if you want to expand your collectibles or just find something new for a gift or souvenir, just politely ask away!
Scarves & Glitters
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Website: https://scarvesandglitters.com/
Address: Financial Centre Street Lower Ground Floor, Near Grand Parking P1
Contact Details: +971 4 547 8377, [email protected]
Scarves & Glitters is a cute gift shop offering trendy accessories for fashionistas. We love that there are many colors and designs to choose from, so we say take a moment to explore it all!
Also, some scarves and shawls here can be styled in different ways—the staff can teach you how! You can also find hijabs (head coverings for Muslim women), jellabiya (loose, traditional garments), and mukhawar (traditional trendy dresses) around here.
But while most items here are designed for women, we appreciate that there are simpler designs for men too! In our opinion, the solid cashmere scarves look sophisticated and can suit anyone.
Light of Sakina
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Website: http://www.lightofsakina.com/
Address: Fashion Avenue Dubai Mall – L1 – beside Sana Osmani Boutique – Downtown Dubai
Contact Details: +971 52 353 5718, [email protected]
If you want your home to smell fancier, we recommend visiting Light of Sakina. It’s a luxury candle store with scents inspired by Allah’s creation. Perhaps one of its scents can give you that zen you’re looking for at home.
The highlight for us is the Sakina White scent. It’s made of bergamot (citrus), oud (dark and resinous wood), cedarwood, mandarin, and allspice (Jamaica pepper), which we believe gives it the right depth and impact. Plus, we like that it’s vegan and cruelty-free!
If you’re a fan of meditation techniques, energy healing modalities, aromatherapy, or other mindfulness practices, we bet one of these candles can help you focus on bringing in some good energy.
Where to Stay near KidZania Dubai Mall
The Heritage Hotel, Autograph Collection
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Website: https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/dxbdz-the-heritage-hotel-autograph-collection/overview/
Address: Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashed Boulevard – Downtown Dubai – 114822
Contact Details: +971 4 428 5888
Pricing: $$
The Heritage Hotel is a 4-star hotel with a beautiful arabesque theme and decor. It’s also only 3 km from KidZania Dubai Mall—basically a 10-minute walk if you’re up for some exercise.
All the modern rooms offer the basics, like free Wi-Fi, smart TVs, and minibars. Still, not all have skyscraper views, so we recommend asking the staff about getting the most scenic rooms.
We also think the grub options are great for friends since there’s a sports bar and grill, as well as 3 restaurants—1 serving Italian cuisine, 1 with courtyard seating, and 1 with a shisha (flavored smoking tobacco) lounge.
DAMAC Maison Mall Street
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Website: https://www.damachotelsandresorts.com/damac-maison-dubai-mall-street
Address: Umniyati Street Burj Area
Contact Details: +971 4 246 5353, +971 4 444 9111 (Reservations), [email protected]
Pricing: $$$
DAMAC Maison Mall Street is a chic 5-star accommodation 3 km from the Dubai Mall. We like that it offers free mall shuttle services too—you and your kids won’t be late for KidZania!
You may choose from 1- to 3-bedroom suites, and we like that all of these provide kitchens with dining areas. Just be sure to get a room with a balcony to capture the stunning city views.
For us, relaxation also seems easy here since it’s got an outdoor pool and a spa! And when you get hungry, there’s a sophisticated Mediterranean restaurant to enjoy.
Mövenpick Hotel Apartments
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Website: https://movenpick.accor.com/en/middle-east/uae/dubai/dubai-downtown.html
Address: Al Ohood Street – Burj Khalifa Blvd – Downtown Dubai
Contact Details: +971 4 518 7777, [email protected]
Pricing: $$$
Mövenpick Hotel Apartments is a posh 5-star spot in a modern high-rise building. We appreciate its proximity to the Dubai Mall, so you won’t have to walk too far in 40°C heat to reach it.
While we like that the suites have all the basics plus kitchens, some en suite bathrooms only have showers (no bathtubs). But if you opt for the 1-, 2-, or 3-bedroom apartments, we love that they come with separate living and dining areas for more space!
To rejuvenate from a long day at the mall, we also recommend trying out the hotel sauna or getting a massage! There’s also an outdoor pool and a fitness center for more self-care activities.
Rove City Walk
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Website: https://www.rovehotels.com/en/hotels/rove-city-walk/
Address: Al Badaa Street – Al Wasl
Contact Details: +971 4 241 9700, [email protected]
Pricing: $$
Those who want to be around plenty of restaurants and the Coca-Cola Arena might love to stay at Rove City Walk. It’s a 3-star hotel known for its laid-back appeal. Plus, we appreciate that most of the staff can speak English!
For us, the hotel’s quirky local designs are quite attractive too! We also think you and your family can easily chill in the relaxed rooms with Wi-Fi, smart TVs, and sofa beds. There are minifridges and coffee-making facilities too, perfect for your midnight snacks.
And if your kids stain their clothes at KidZania, no worries! There’s a coin-operated laundry service here that we think would be handy to use.
Tips When Visiting KidZania Dubai Mall
Now that you know the ins and outs of KidZania, here are more tips to make your kids’ playtime hassle-free:
Get tickets early.
KidZania closes at 10 or 11 pm (depending on the day), but it’s best to grab tickets before 9 pm since the counter closes around that time. Don’t cut it too close, though. To be safe, we advise booking online to save time and money!
Arrive as soon as it opens.
Plan ahead and reach the amusement center as soon as it opens! Expect crowds to increase after 12 pm, so we want you to avoid all the hassle if possible.
Visit during Ramadan!
We recommend going to KidZania during Ramadan to get discounted tickets!
Encourage the kids to dress up.
Not a lot of attire restrictions here, but KidZania encourages kids to match their clothes with the activities they want to do. Just make sure it’s appropriate for their comfort and convenience.
Teach your kids some money strategies.
To make your kids earn more kidZos (KidZania currency), make them go for jobs with shorter queues!
The more kidZos they have, the more activities they can pay for later at the departmental store. This involves face painting, studio painting, jewelry making, and more.