School is out, and the heat is on. Every parent in Abu Dhabi is asking the same thing. What do I do with the kids this summer? Summer The good news is that there has never been a better year to be looking. Summer camp Abu Dhabi scene in 2026 ranges from snow parks and world class theme parks to heritage programmes, multi-sport academies, and creative nursery camps for children as young as three months. Whatever your child is into and whatever your schedule looks like world-class , there is something on this list that fits.looks like, world-class like, world-class
- What to look for when choosing a summer camp in Abu Dhabi
- Best summer camps in Abu Dhabi 2026
- Quick comparison: summer camps in Abu Dhabi 2026
- Key takeaways
- FAQs
What to look for when choosing a summer camp in Abu Dhabi
With so many options available, it is worth taking ten minutes to think through what your family actually needs before you book. Here are the four things most parents wish they had considered earlier.
Your child’s age and interests
Abu Dhabi’s camps cater to children from three months to 14 years old, but the age ranges and group structures vary significantly. More importantly, a child who loves sport will not thrive in a nursery-based creative camp — and vice versa. Start with what your child genuinely enjoys, not what sounds most impressive.
Logistics: location, hours, and transport
A camp that is two hours away from home on a daily basis is going to wear thin by week three. Consider how far the camp is from where you live or work, whether the hours match your working day, and whether transport is included. Dolphin Sports Academy, for example, offers a free bus service with monthly subscriptions, a detail that matters enormously for busy families.
Duration and flexibility
Some programmes run for the full summer; others are sold week by week, or even day by day. If your summer plans are not yet set, look for camps with flexible registration — the Yas Island Summer Camp, for instance, offers both a five-day programme and a single-day option.
Food, facilities, and care
Check whether meals and snacks are provided, and if so, how dietary requirements and allergies are handled. For camps where children bring their own food, confirm any restrictions in advance. It is also worth asking about the staff-to-child ratio and what happens if your child needs to leave early.
Best summer camps Abu Dhabi 2026
Here are 11 of the top options this summer, covering sports, culture, adventure, creative learning, and everything in between.
1. Dolphin Sports Academy summer camp
If your child thrives on variety, Dolphin Sports Academy is hard to beat. Set at Maplewood Canadian International School in Mohammed Bin Zayed City, it packs a genuinely broad mix into every day — football, swimming, basketball, badminton, arts and crafts, cooking without fire, gardening, educational lectures, and entertainment trips. For Muslim children, Qur’an recitation sessions are also included. One of the most practical features for working parents is the free pick-and-drop bus service that comes with every monthly subscription, making it one of the most family-friendly options in the capital.
- Location: Maplewood Canadian International School, MBZ City, Abu Dhabi
- Dates: Starting 29 June 2026, Monday to Friday
- Hours: 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- Ages: 5–12 years
- Contact: +971 56 338 8665
2. Qasr Al Hosn cultural summer camp
Run by the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism, Qasr Al Hosn is a top summer camp Abu Dhabi. It is a meaningful way for children to spend summer holidays in the UAE. Built around Abu Dhabi’s oldest landmark, the programme immerses children in Emirati heritage through traditional crafts, storytelling, and hands-on cultural activities designed to bring the history of the place to life. It is not just a way to fill the holidays — it is a chance for children to develop a genuine connection with the country they grow up in. Spaces fill up fast, so register early through the Abu Dhabi Culture portal.
- Location: Al Maqta’a Museum
- Dates: 6 July – 20 August 2026
- Age: 5-14 years
- Contact: Visit the website to confirm dates, session availability, and registration
3. Yas Island summer camp
For children who want a summer they will be talking about for years, the Yas Island Summer Camp delivers. Operated by Miral Experiences, it rotates campers across five world-class theme parks throughout the week: Ferrari World Abu Dhabi on Mondays, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi on Tuesdays, CLYMB on Wednesdays, Yas Waterworld on Thursdays, and Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi on Fridays. No two days look the same — one morning your child is experiencing high-speed racing; the next, they are meeting marine animals or scaling a 43-metre indoor climbing wall. Trained counsellors accompany the group all day, and parents do not need to attend.
- Location: Yas Island, Abu Dhabi (five theme parks, rotating daily)
- Dates: 6 July – 21 August 2026, Monday to Friday
- Hours: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Ages: 7–13 years
- Contact: 600 511 115
A five-day weekly programme and a flexible single day option are both available. Lunch and snacks are provided, and all campers receive a camp T-shirt for easy identification.
4. Zayed Sports City summer camps
Zayed Sports City sits at the heart of Abu Dhabi’s sporting life, and its summer 2026 programme reflects exactly that. Four separate camps run across the season, giving families genuine choice: the Junior Summer Tennis Camp, the Adult Summer Tennis Camp, the Ice Skating Summer Camp on the city’s Olympic-standard ice rink, and the ZSC Summer Camp operated by HARAKA, which covers a broad range of sports and activities. Whether your child is trying a new sport for the first time or working to sharpen an existing skill, ZSC’s professional coaches and world-class facilities set a high standard.
- Location: Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi
- Dates: Tennis camps from 29 June | HARAKA and ice skating: 6 July – 28 August 2026
- Contact: +971 2 403 4200
- Email: info@zsc.ae
5. Snow Abu Dhabi summer day camp
There is something genuinely brilliant about a snow camp in the middle of a Gulf summer — and Snow Abu Dhabi at Reem Mall pulls it off beautifully. Children aged 4 to 10 get a full day of cold-weather fun: snow park rides, team-building challenges with a wintry twist, interactive workshops, and a trip to VOX Cinemas on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Lunch and two snacks are included, as is a group photo and a complimentary nanny pass. On the hottest days of the year, this is genuinely the coolest place your child could be — in every sense of the word.
- Location: Reem Mall, Abu Dhabi
- Dates: 29 June – 21 August 2026, Monday to Friday
- Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Ages: 4–10 years
6. Air Maniax summer camp
Air Maniax has built a loyal following among UAE families for good reason — its camps are energetic, well-organised, and genuinely fun. At its Abu Dhabi locations in Yas Mall and Marina Mall, the holiday camp keeps children moving all day with jumping, arts and crafts, games, and themed challenges. Drop-off is at 8:30 AM and pick-up at 2:00 PM, with lunch and snacks included. Sibling discounts and early-bird rates are usually available, so it is worth booking ahead rather than waiting until the season starts.
- Locations: Yas Mall Abu Dhabi | Marina Mall Abu Dhabi | Al Jimi Mall, Al Ain
- Hours: 8:30 AM – 2:00 PM, Monday to Friday
- Prices: From AED 150 per day | AED 5699 per week
7. Blossom Nursery – Curious By Nature summer camp
Blossom Nursery’s 2026 summer camp is built around a beautifully simple idea: children learn best when they are allowed to be curious. The “Curious By Nature” theme takes children aged 0 to 5 through a nature-inspired programme rooted in the nursery’s Sustainable Education Approach — exploring light and shadow, sound and movement, water experiments, gardening, and simple eco-challenges. Everything is hands-on, age-appropriate, and thoughtfully designed. With 11 Abu Dhabi locations spread across the emirate, Blossom is one of the most accessible summer options for families wherever they live.
- Abu Dhabi locations: MBZ City | Al Najda | Rabdan | Khalifa City A | Bateen | Muroor | Zayed University (Shakhbout) | Water’s Edge | Masdar | Al Zeina | Al Reem Island
- Ages: 0–5 years (babies, toddlers, FS1, FS2)
- Contact: 800 6877 379 | +971 556 877 379
8. Odyssey Nursery – Living Planet Atelier summer camp
Odyssey Nursery’s 2026 summer camp is one of the most imaginative on this list. The Living Planet Atelier takes its inspiration from the animal kingdom: children observe like zoologists, explore ocean systems, discover how animals communicate, and investigate the remarkable ways nature adapts and survives. It is an eight-week programme, though families can join for one week or four if the full run does not work for their plans. For children aged 3 months to 6 years old, it offers a genuinely rich, play-based summer in Reggio Emilia-inspired environments designed to invite curiosity rather than just fill hours.
- Abu Dhabi locations: Khalifa City A | Mushrif | Al Zeina | Al Muneera | Saadiyat | West Yas
- Ages: 3 months – 6 years
- Contact: 800 CHILD (800 24453) | WhatsApp: +971 565 384 642
- Email: register@odysseynursery.com
9. Falcon British Nursery holiday club
As the only UK-accredited nursery school in Abu Dhabi, Falcon British Nursery brings the same care and structure to its Summer Holiday Club as it does to its academic-year programme. Located near the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the club runs morning and afternoon sessions with an optional lunch club for children staying the full day. Each week has a seasonal theme, with lesson plans packed with varied, thoughtfully designed activities for early years children. If you are looking for a camp that feels like a natural, reassuring extension of your child’s nursery life rather than something entirely unfamiliar, this is a strong choice.
- Location: 200 Saif Ghobash Street, near Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi
- Hours: Sunday to Thursday: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM (morning, afternoon, and full-day options)
- Contact: +971 2 444 8814
- Email: info@falconbritishnursery.com
10. Elite Sports summer camps Abu Dhabi
Elite Sports Academy’s multi-sports camp is built for children who are happiest when they are moving. Designed for ages 3.5 to 14, it runs six different sports or activities every day — football, basketball, tennis, dodgeball, hockey, volleyball, and more — structured around themed daily sessions like Teamwork Day, Adventure Day, American Sports, and the Olympics. The coaching is serious without being pressured, and the camp runs both indoors and outdoors so children stay comfortable during the hotter parts of the day. Children bring their own lunch and snacks. The academy also holds a West Ham United Foundation partnership, which gives the football coaching real credibility.
- Ages: 3.5–14 years
- Hours: 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM, Monday to Friday
- Contact: +971 4 554 5916
- Email: info@elitesports.ae
- Note: Children bring their own lunch and snacks (no peanut products, please)
Quick comparison: summer camps in Abu Dhabi 2026
Use this table as a quick reference to find camps that suit your child’s age and interests.
| Camp | Ages | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Dolphin Sports Academy | 5–12 years | 29 Jun 2026 |
| Qasr Al Hosn | 5-14 years | 6 July – 20 Aug 2026 |
| Yas Island | 7–13 years | 6 Jul – 21 Aug 2026 |
| Zayed Sports City | Varies | 29 Jun 2026 |
| Snow Abu Dhabi | 4–10 years | 29 Jun – 21 Aug 2026 |
| Air Maniax | Varies | School holidays |
| Blossom Nursery | 0–5 years | Summer 2026 |
| Odyssey Nursery | 3 months – 6 years | Summer 2026 |
| Falcon British Nursery | Early years | Summer 2026 |
| Elite Sports | 3.5–14 years | Summer 2026 |
Key takeaways
- Abu Dhabi has summer camps for every age group, from babies to teenagers, and every interest, from professional sport to snow, Emirati heritage, and nature-inspired play.
- Popular camps, particularly Yas Island and Qasr Al Hosn, fill up well before the summer starts. Early registration is essential.
- For nursery-age children, Blossom Nursery, Odyssey Nursery, and Falcon British Nursery all offer trusted, structured programmes across multiple Abu Dhabi locations.
- For older and sporty children, Elite Sports Academy and Zayed Sports City offer some of the most professionally run multi-sport programmes in the UAE.
- Snow Abu Dhabi’s summer day camp is the top pick for a genuinely memorable, one-of-a-kind summer experience.
FAQs
Elite Sports Academy’s multi-sports camp and Zayed Sports City’s summer programmes are the strongest choices for active children. Dolphin Sports Academy is also an excellent option, combining sport with creative enrichment so children stay engaged across the full day.
Yes. Blossom Nursery’s Curious By Nature camp welcomes children from birth, and Odyssey Nursery’s Living Planet Atelier accepts children from three months. Falcon British Nursery’s Holiday Club also caters specifically to early years children in a structured, nurturing environment
The Yas Island Summer Camp accepts children up to age 13, and Elite Sports Academy takes participants up to 14. Zayed Sports City’s junior and adult tennis camps are also suitable for older children and teens looking for a more focused programme.
Snow Abu Dhabi’s Summer Day Camp is genuinely unlike anything else — spending a full day in an indoor snow environment when it is 45°C outside is an experience children remember. The Qasr Al Hosn camp is equally distinctive for families who want something culturally meaningful rather than just entertaining.
Most camps ask for comfortable sportswear, closed-toe shoes, a water bottle, and sunscreen for outdoor activities. Whether you need to pack food depends on the camp — Snow Abu Dhabi and Yas Island include meals, while Elite Sports and some others ask children to bring their own. Always check the individual camp’s guidelines before the first day.
