The UAE summer break is long, it’s often too hot to play outside after mid-morning, and many families travel for part of it. Without a plan, the days can drift into hours on a tablet. This guide gives you 10 summer activities for kids that work in the UAE heat, at home or out, with ideas for each age and a simple weekly plan you can copy.
Quick answer: the best summer activities for kids in the UAE mix one learning activity (such as coding, robotics, reading or a science project), one physical activity (swimming or an indoor sport, with outdoor time early or late in the day), and plenty of free time. Indoor options are key in July and August, and online classes or camps keep learning going even when you travel.
1. Learn to code, at home or in a summer camp
Coding fills long afternoons with something children make themselves. A five-year-old can make a character dance with picture blocks on a tablet; a ten-year-old can build a Scratch game with levels; a teenager can write a Python quiz or design a Roblox obstacle course.
- Try at home: free apps like ScratchJr and Scratch. Our guide to block coding for kids shows where to start.
- Go further: a live online coding summer camp gives your child a teacher and a plan, even while you travel.
Our guide to coding summer camps in Dubai compares the kinds of camp.
2. Build a robot or an electronics project
Robots turn code into something children can see and touch. Beginners can program a micro:bit to light up or react to sound; older children can build a line-following robot.
“The first time a robot doesn’t follow the instructions, children are usually surprised. Then we look at the code, make a small change and try again.”
— Harika E, iCodejr teacher
If you’re deciding between the two, our guide to robotics or coding helps.
3. Try a simple AI project
Children can train a computer to recognise pictures, sounds or hand gestures, then use it in a game. It’s a fun way to understand the AI they already see around them, and to talk about using it sensibly. Our AI for kids guide has ideas by age.
4. Start a summer reading challenge
Set a family goal (say, ten books by the end of August), keep a chart on the fridge, and let children choose their own books, including comics and audiobooks. Visit your local public library for new titles and quiet, cool afternoons. Ask older children to write a short review or make a book trailer video.
5. Do science experiments at home
Most need only kitchen supplies: a baking-soda volcano, growing crystals in salt water, a paper-towel rainbow, or a homemade lava lamp with oil and food colouring. For older children, turn it into a mini investigation: make a guess, test it, and write down what happened.
6. Swim and play indoor sports
Summer is a good time to learn to swim properly or join an indoor sport such as football, gymnastics, martial arts or climbing. Keep outdoor play for early morning or after sunset, when it’s cooler, and make sure children drink plenty of water.
7. Create: art, crafts and 3D design
Painting, clay, recycled-material models and comics all count. Children who like building can try 3D design in Tinkercad, designing a keychain or a toy they could 3D-print later.
8. Explore museums and indoor attractions
The UAE has world-class museums and indoor places to explore, such as the Museum of the Future in Dubai and the Louvre Abu Dhabi. Before you go, give children a “mission” (find three things that surprised them, or one invention they’d improve) to make the visit more than a walk-through.
9. Make a summer project with a deadline
Pick one bigger project for the whole break: a game, a short film, a website about their hobby, or a model city. Set a “showcase day” at the end of summer when they present it to the family. Children who like competing can aim for a school hackathon when term starts.
10. Learn life skills
Summer is the perfect time for skills school doesn’t cover: cooking a simple meal, planning a family day out, managing a small budget for a treat, or looking after a plant. Give them real responsibility; it builds confidence quickly.
Want to fill some summer afternoons with coding?
Book a free one-to-one lesson in coding, robotics or AI. Your child builds a small project live with a teacher, and you can sit in for part of it. It costs nothing.
Summer activities by age
| Age | Ideas that work well |
|---|---|
| 5–7 | Picture-block coding on a tablet, kitchen science, swimming lessons, crafts, a reading chart with stickers |
| 8–10 | Scratch games, a micro:bit project, a museum “mission”, an indoor sport, a family cooking day |
| 11–13 | A bigger coding or robotics project, an AI project, 3D design, a short film, budgeting for a day out |
| 14–18 | Python or web projects, a summer job-style project at home, volunteering, preparing for a hackathon |
A simple weekly summer plan
A loose routine stops the days blurring together, without filling every hour:
| Morning | Afternoon | Evening | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun–Thu | Swim or sport (early, before the heat) | One learning activity (coding, reading or a project), then free time | Family time; short outdoor walk after sunset |
| Fri–Sat | Outing: museum, indoor play or a library | Creative time (art, building, baking) | Free choice |
Keep screens purposeful: time spent making a game or a video is very different from scrolling. Our screen time vs smart time guide shows how to tell useful screen time from the rest.
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Frequently asked questions
What are good summer activities for kids in the UAE?
A mix of learning (coding, robotics, reading or science), movement (swimming or indoor sport) and creative time (art, building, cooking), planned around the heat.
What can kids do indoors in the UAE summer?
Coding and robotics projects, reading challenges, science experiments, crafts, 3D design, indoor sports and museum visits all work well indoors.
How do I keep my child busy without too much screen time?
Give each day one planned activity and plenty of free time, and keep screen time for making things, such as a game or a film, rather than watching.
What are good summer activities for 12-year-olds?
A bigger project with a deadline (a game, a robot, a short film or a website), an AI project, 3D design, an indoor sport and real life skills like budgeting.
Are there free summer activities for kids?
Yes: library visits, reading challenges, kitchen science, free coding apps like Scratch, crafts with recycled materials and early-morning walks.
Is a summer camp worth it?
It can be, if it suits your child’s age and interests and they build something during it. Our guide to coding summer camps explains what to look for.
Can my child learn coding over the summer?
Yes. A few sessions a week is enough to finish real projects, and online classes continue wherever you travel.
Does iCodejr run summer camps?
Yes. Our live online summer camp covers coding, robotics and AI for ages 5 to 18, with summer 2027 dates announced in the spring on our summer camp page.
Planning your child’s summer? See our online summer camp, or book a free first lesson to see if coding clicks.
