Indoor things to do in Dubai: the best attractions when it is too hot outside

Dubai's summer is serious. From June to September the heat is intense, and even in the warmer weeks either side of that period a midday walk can be exhausting, especially for children and older travellers. The good news is that the city was built for this: many of its best attractions are fully covered and air-conditioned, from a ski slope with real snow to a giant aquarium, the deepest diving pool in the world and a rainforest under a roof.

Indoor attractions are not just a summer plan. They also work on any afternoon in the cooler season, when you want a break from the sun between a morning outdoors and an evening by the water, and they are a reliable back-up if the wind cancels a boat trip or a balloon flight.

This guide brings together the best covered attractions in Dubai, with the official facts, how long to allow and who each one suits. If you are planning a summer trip, our guide to the best time to visit Dubai explains what to expect month by month.

The table summarises the main options. Durations are the times we usually plan for; hours and ticket conditions change, so check each official website for your date.

Ski Dubai is the attraction that best sums up the city: real snow inside a shopping mall in the desert. It is at Mall of the Emirates, and according to the official FAQ the temperature inside is around minus 2 °C. There are slopes for those who ski or snowboard, and a Snow Park for everyone else, which is often the highlight for children who have never seen snow.

The penguins are the other big draw. Meeting them can require a specific ticket, so check which experience is included before you buy. Snow clothing, such as jackets and trousers, is normally included in the ticket, but check the details, and bring your own gloves, hat and warm socks if you can, as they are not always part of the package.

Allow two and a half to four hours, including changing. Combine it with lunch or shopping at Mall of the Emirates, and our guide to the best places to shop in Dubai has more ideas for the rest of the day.

In The Dubai Mall, the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo is impossible to miss: its 10-million-litre tank faces the mall. The ticket takes you through a 48-metre tunnel, with the fish swimming over your head, and into the Underwater Zoo. There are different passes, from a simple visit to experiences that take longer, so the visit can last from about one and a half to four hours.

In the same mall, the Dubai Ice Rink offers ice skating in the middle of the desert. It is a fun hour and a half for families and groups, and children of 120 cm and over can skate without an adult. Check the session times before you go, and bring socks and a light jacket, as the rink is cold compared with the rest of the mall.

The Dubai Mall is also the easiest place to spend a hot afternoon without planning much: the aquarium, the ice rink, the shops and dozens of places to eat are all under one roof, and you can stay until the evening, when the temperature drops a little and the fountain shows begin outside.

These two combine perfectly with the Burj Khalifa At the Top, which also has its entrance inside The Dubai Mall, and with the Dubai Fountain in the evening, for a full day without spending much time outside.

The Museum of the Future would normally be near the top of any indoor list, but it is temporarily closed. It shut its doors at the beginning of September 2026 to prepare a completely new experience, and reopening is expected in the first quarter of 2027. The current exhibitions will not return in their previous form, and tickets for the renewed museum will go on sale closer to the reopening.

The building is still worth a stop. Its stainless steel facade, covered in Arabic calligraphy, stays exactly as it is, and 20 to 30 minutes for photos from outside fit easily into a day in the city centre. Emirates Towers station on the Metro Red Line is connected to it by a footbridge, although on a hot day a car dropping you right at the building is far more comfortable.

When it reopens, check the new opening hours and booking rules on the official website; hours in Dubai change on public holidays and during Ramadan. We let our travellers know as soon as tickets are available.

Deep Dive Dubai has a 60-metre pool, the deepest diving pool in the world. There are experiences for certified divers and discovery sessions for first-timers. Allow two to three hours and check the age, health and certification rules on the official website before booking.

The Green Planet, at City Walk, recreates a tropical rainforest under a roof, with dense greenery and walkways over several levels. It is a favourite with children and a calm, green break on a hot day; allow about one and a half to two hours.

There is more if you have time. IMG Worlds of Adventure, at City of Arabia, is a huge covered theme park that can fill a whole day; our guide to Dubai theme parks and water parks compares it with the other parks. AYA Universe, at Wafi City Mall, is an immersive digital art experience, and the Museum of Illusions at Al Seef is fun for families. And on any day, the city's observation decks, compared in our guide to the best views in Dubai, offer views in air-conditioned comfort.

Summer in Dubai has its own rhythm. In 2025, Dubai Summer Surprises ran from 27 June to 31 August, with promotions and family activities in the malls. The festival returns every summer, so check the dates of the next edition before you travel.

The secret is to organise the day around the heat. Go outside early in the morning or after sunset, and keep the middle of the day for covered attractions, malls and the hotel pool in the shade. Travel between places by car rather than on foot, even for short distances, and drink water all day.

Many families find that summer has advantages too: hotels are often quieter and the malls are full of activities. Our guide to Dubai and Abu Dhabi with kids has more tips for travelling with children at any time of year.

We start on WhatsApp by asking who is travelling, the ages and what you enjoy most: snow, marine life, technology, diving or nature. Then we put together a day, or several, that keeps you in comfort during the hottest hours, with attractions grouped by area to avoid long journeys.

We book the tickets and time slots in advance, especially in the school holidays, and arrange a car with a driver who drops you at the right entrance of each mall or attraction and waits for you, so you never have to stand outside looking for a taxi in the heat. For families or older travellers, we include breaks and meals at an easy pace. Hours, prices and availability change, so we confirm everything for your date before booking.