And even though this season is still a few months away, it would work to your advantage if you make your summer vacation plans now. After all, you still have to narrow down the best attractions and top theme parks in Abu Dhabi to visit during this limited time.
Top Things to Do With Your Family in Abu Dhabi This Summer
If you’re making your itinerary for your family summer vacation in Abu Dhabi for summer, ensure Yas Island is on the top of your list of must-visit places.
In this one place alone, you and your family can enjoy various activities that will make your summer vacation fun and unforgettable.
These activities include the following:
1.Hang out at Yas Beach
A summer holiday won’t be complete without spending a day or two at the beach.
Abu Dhabi has several beautiful beaches perfect for families and children of all ages. However, you won’t go wrong with bringing your loved ones to Yas Beach.
Located on Yas Island, Yas Beach is one of the scenic beaches in Abu Dhabi. Its soft, powdery white sands and clear, blue tranquil waters make it the perfect setting for various water activities and sports.
Aside from swimming, you can go kayaking, canoeing, and banana boating with your family on Yas Beach. You can also play volleyball and sand football or throw frisbees while you’re here.
You can also visit the nearby mangrove park. Hire kayaks to explore this fascinating area where you and your group will see various species of fish, aquatic creatures, and birds.
The beach cabanas are the perfect spots for you and your family to get some rest when everyone’s tired and feeling hot from playing sports.
Yas Beach also has an exquisite infinity swimming pool with stunning views of the beach and cabanas. It’s another great place where you and your family can take a dip, enjoy a snack, or relax.
2.Have fun while getting drenched at Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi
Waterparks are another enjoyable family destination during summers.
Yas Island has one of the biggest water parks in the United Arab Emirates – Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi.
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi is home to over 45 water slides, rides, and other attractions. Many of these are family-friendly, which means everyone in your group can have fun trying them.
If your kids are toddlers or preschoolers, Yehal, Tot’s Playground, and Cannon Point are perfect for them.
The Bandit Bomber, Dawwama, Falcons Falaj, and Liwa Loop are attractions you and your spouse, teens, and other adults in your group shouldn’t miss out on.
The slides, rides, and attractions that your entire group can enjoy here include the Al Raha River, Amwaj, Marah Fortress, and Cinesplash, a unique, immersive movie-watching experience that your family will love.
3.Explore Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi
As the world’s and UAE’s largest indoor theme park, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi is another place you have to bring your family to this summer.
Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi is home to over 29 rides and attractions, many of which are suitable for people of all ages.
Some rides and attractions you can enjoy with your family here include Ani-Mayhem, Green Lantern: Galactic Odyssey, The Flintstones Bedrock River Adventure, and Scooby-Doo: The Museum of Mysteries.
The rides and attractions suitable for adults and teens include Batman: Knight Flight, Fast and Furry-ous, Justice League: Warworld Attacks, and Tom and Jerry: Swiss Cheese Spin.
With its fantastical rides and attractions, visiting Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi should be on the top of your itinerary in the UAE.
4.Go on a food crawl.
If you and your loved ones are foodies, you’ll appreciate the variety of restaurants and dining experiences on Yas Island.
The Fountains should be your first stop on your food crawl on Yas Island. This outdoor dining hub is home to various restaurants featuring cuisines from different parts of the world.
If you’re having dinner here, ensure you and your family have a great view of the Dancing Fountains, choreographed water, light, and music shows that will surely amaze everyone.
Don’t forget to include Yas Marina in your food crawl plan. You and your loved ones will enjoy stunning views of the harbour and yachts as you indulge in amazing eats from the Iris and Aquarium, two of the most popular restaurants on Yas Island.
Yas Mall and the various hotels and resorts on Yas Island also boast top-rated restaurants and cafes. Try to visit as many as you can to have a fantastic time and enjoy lots of amazing food.
5.Enjoy the hotel or resort facilities.
Aside from Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi and Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, Yas Island is also home to Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Yas Marina Circuit, and CLYMB Abu Dhabi – theme parks and attractions that you and your family should also visit during summer.
However, the various top-rated Yas Island hotels and resorts offer plenty of facilities and services that you and your family shouldn’t miss out on.
All hotels and resorts on Yas Island feature lovely indoor or outdoor swimming pools. Some even have both. As such, include spending some time in these amenities to get the most from your accommodation.
Indulge in some pampering time as well by getting some treatments offered by the in-house spa and beauty salons. A massage or facial can help you relax and de-stress, allowing you to maximise your vacation.
Lastly, don’t forget to sample the delectable offerings you’ll find at the hotel or resort in-house restaurants and cafes with your family.
When you include these activities on your itinerary, you and your family are sure to have a fun-filled summer.
Get more fun-filled ideas for planning your family summer vacation in Abu Dhabi on our Things to Do page.
Getting To Yas island
- General
Yas Express is our complimentary shuttle bus service that can get you to any of the major island attractions. For more information, timetable and map, download the pocket guide or call +971 (0) 600 511115.
- To Yas Island:
- Boarding spots are available at the Deira City Center entrance (beside Aloft Hotel) and Ibn Battuta Mall, Parking 7 stop (right in front of the China Court section).
- Within Yas Island:
- The shuttle service bus can take guests to any of the major island attractions.
- Air travel to Yas Island
- If you're coming from outside the UAE, aim to land in Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH), as it is located just 10 minutes away from Yas Island.
- Rental car to Yas Island
- From Abu Dhabi International Airport, you can rent a car. All car rental offices operate 24/7
- Uber/Careem
- Connect to the Wi-Fi at Abu Dhabi International Airport and book an Uber or Careem via their apps.
- Taxis to Yas Island
- You can take a taxi to Yas Island from Abu Dhabi International Airport (10 minutes), Abu Dhabi (25 minutes), and Dubai (45 minutes). To get a taxi, you can flag them down at the roadside, call the TransAD hotline 600 535353 to book, or use the Abu Dhabi Taxi app available for both iOS and Android platforms. Taxis are plentiful and fares are reasonable.
- From Abu Dhabi:
- Board the 102 Bus Route to Yas Island at the Abu Dhabi Bus Station next to Al Wahda Mall.
- From Dubai:
- Travel to the Dubai Al Ghubaiba Bus Station to ride to the Abu Dhabi Bus Station, then board the 102 Bus Route to Yas Island.