Travel/Tourism
Spring Beckons: 10 Fresh Ideas for Family Fun across Dubai This Season
If you’re looking for ways to spend time together as a family this spring, think Dubai for all manner of exciting activities and experiences. From outdoor sports to inspiring cooking classes, to culturally-enriching art exhibitions, we present below fresh ideas on how to make the most of your holiday in the emirate this Spring.
Tour the Town
A walking tour is a great way to discover the best of what a city has to offer. And now, thanks to a collaboration between Dubai Tourism and two digital tour apps, you can discover and learn more with what is, essentially, a virtual tour guide in your pocket – and it won’t cost you a dirham. The tours, titled ‘Metro Moments’ (available on the Voice Map app), and ‘Al Fahidi Architecture Tour’ (available on the on the Pocket Guide app), are available to download from the Apple Store and Google Play. They use GPS technology to provide users with audio guides to various points of interest in real time, as you progress from one to the next.
Hand Over the Reigns
One of the best things about taking some time off from the grind of everyday life is the fact that you don’t have to sit behind a wheel during rush hour. Yet it’s hard to switch to “holiday mode” when you’re worried about keeping your little ones happy and safe – which is why it’s great that taxi company Careem now offers a kids’ service – a vehicle dedicated to families that are equipped with a universal child car seat that’s suitable for kids up to 30kg. Drivers are also specially-trained Careem Kids Captains, who are pros at safely installing and altering the seat sizes, and who can help you to look after your family while you also take a “holiday” from the driver’s seat.
Go on Safari
Hop over to Dubai Safari, where you and your family will be able to experience an incredible array of creatures, big and small. Not only is there a truly impressive collection of unique wildlife for the whole family to “meet”, there are also plenty of edutainment-focused activities that mean there’s heaps of learning and fun to be had, while specially-trained guides inform about the flora and fauna you come across.
Cook up a Storm
Take a family cooking class and learn the essentials and perfect some useful life skills at the Culinary Boutique in Jumeirah, a cooking school and café featuring speciality classes dedicated to certain types of cuisine. It also features Family Day sessions and Kids Cooking Lessons, specially designed for families and little ones. Take a class here and you’ll be able to enjoy the meal you made together afterwards.
Paint a Picture
Head to The Jam Jar in Dubai’s Al Quoz area, where you can rent all the painting equipment you need before unleashing your and your family’s creativity in the onsite studio. They supply everything – from brushes, paints, and canvases, to helpful staff that assists you if you need help or inspiration – and you can, of course, take your artwork home at the end of the session. Why not make it a family challenge to each paint your favorite memory from Dubai so far?
Make a Splash
Few places do edutainment better than Legoland Dubai, a park that was exclusively created to cater for families with children aged 2-12. Whether you’re exploring Miniland, an impressive array of structures and recreations of entire areas of Dubai and other famous landmarks around the world made entirely out of Lego bricks, heading to The Factory arena to see how some of the products are produced (and perhaps walking home with your own customised Lego brick), or just enjoying the wide variety of land- and water-based rides, you’re guaranteed to head home with satisfied, smiling faces, who might also have learned a new thing or two.
Find Adventure
If the thought of streams, waterfalls, fountains, trees, and gardens, complete with tree houses, wooden bridges and climbing nets, not to mention a sandy play area, petting zoo, and even a “mud kitchen”, gets your kids excited, then it’s time to put Dubai’s new XPark Jr on your “must visit” list. Located next to Jumeirah’s XDubai Skatepark close to Kite Beach, this adventure park was specially designed for little ones and families, to allow children to take healthy risks in an environment where they can build confidence, make friends, inspire their imagination, and defy their limits in a positive way.
Skate it Out
Dubai’s burgeoning skateboarding scene offers some truly impressive facilities for skateboarders (or hopeful skateboarders) where there are ramps to suit every ability, and lessons to help improve your technique. If you’re seeking an alfresco vibe, head to XDubai Skatepark near Kite Beach. There are plenty of spots from which parents can watch or if your kids prefer a bit of space while they’re trying out their new tricks, you can easily pop over to one of the nearby beachside cafés and restaurants. For indoor skating, make your way to The Zoo Skatepark in Al Quoz – Dubai’s largest indoor skate venue and one of the city’s most extensive.
Fun and Games
Calling all mini-golf fans! While golf often gets a bad rap as a private, exclusive sport, the miniature version is open to the entire family and promises fun for all – especially somewhere like Tee and Putt. It’s the only place in the UAE that offers a glow-in-the-dark golfing facility, and they’ve recently introduced a new concept that blends mini-golf with the ‘escape room’ concept, creating a unique puzzle-style golf challenge where participants have to solve nine puzzles on nine holes in one hour. Good luck!
Run the Good Race
The racing track at Dubai Autodrome isn’t just a place for adrenaline-fuelled adults – it’s actually a great way to spend a day with the family, and it’s suitable for all ages. The Dubai Kartdrome has become a hub for kids’ parties and teen activities, and there’s no need to worry since safety always comes first: all packages include helmets, overalls, gloves, marshals, mechanics, safety crews, medical support, timing, and a coordinator. Whether it’s a birthday, group event, or just a fun day out, you and your family won’t forget the experience in a hurry.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced plans to introduce V-Pass, a biometric facial recognition system designed to make passenger processing faster, safer and more seamless across its domestic airports.
According to FAAN, the new technology will allow passengers to verify their identities through facial recognition after a one-time enrolment, reducing reliance on physical identification documents and shortening queues through automated electronic gates.
The authority said the system is expected to enhance airport security while improving the overall travel experience for domestic passengers.
FAAN added that V-Pass has been developed with data privacy at its core and is compliant with the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR).
The agency described the initiative as part of its commitment to delivering smarter, technology-driven airport services and said nationwide sensitisation and rollout updates would be announced in due course.
Airports in countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates already deploy facial recognition technology for processes such as check-in, security screening, immigration and boarding, so the move also aligns Nigeria’s aviation sector with a growing global trend towards contactless travel.
These systems have been adopted to improve operational efficiency, strengthen security and enhance the overall passenger experience.
For FAAN, the deployment of V-Pass forms part of its broader digital transformation agenda aimed at modernising airport operations and accommodating rising passenger traffic.
Experts say that beyond improving convenience, the authority expects the biometric platform to strengthen identity verification, reduce the risk of impersonation and support more efficient airport security, while maintaining compliance with data protection.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
About 14.12 per cent stake in Ikeja Hotel Plc has been acquired by Honeywell Group Limited, a notice on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited has revealed.
Honeywell Group took up the part of the hospitality firm through one of its affiliates known as HGL Real Estate Limited.
Ikeja Hotel, in the disclosure filed with the NGX on July 2, 2026, said the stake comprised 305,323,525 units of its equities.
“Ikeja Hotel hereby notifies the Nigerian Exchange Limited and the general public that it has received notification from HGL Real Estate Limited, an affiliate of Honeywell Group Limited, that it has acquired 305,323,525 units of Ikeja Hotel Plc’s shares, representing 14.12 per cent shareholding in the company,” the notice stated.
Ikeja Hotel is one of Nigeria’s leading hospitality investment and hotel management companies with premium hospitality assets.
It operates two leading hospitality organisations in Lagos, the Sheraton Lagos Hotel and Balmoral Convention Centre.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
About 10 hospitality establishments, including hotels and restaurants, were sealed on Wednesday by officials of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA).
The affected businesses are located in different locations in the Alimosho Local Government Area of the metropolis, Business Post learned from a statement from the agency.
It was stated that they were sealed by LASEPA for persistent violations of environmental regulations despite repeated warnings, abatement notices, and several opportunities to comply with the agency’s directives.
According to the notice, the enforcement exercise was carried out in line with the directives of the Lagos State government to ensure strict compliance with environmental laws and to safeguard public health.
The affected facilities were said to have breached various environmental regulations, including noise pollution, air pollution, unlawful discharge of untreated effluent, obstruction of official duties, among others.
LASEPA closed the premises of Granduer Meridian at Obasa Akiniyi Street, Oluwaga, Ipaja for non-compliance with the agency’s directives; Lasola (Spazio Bar), located on Ipaja Road, Fatolu Bus Stop, Ipaja, was sealed for noise pollution and non-compliance with directives; Millennium Restaurant, located at Gate Bus Stop, Ipaja, Ayobo, was shut down for non-compliance with directives; O2 Exquisite Suites & Tower on Jimoh Akinremi Street, Jimoh Bus Stop, Akowonjo, was sealed for non-compliance with directives; and Chirozz Hotel & Suites, located on Samuel Street, Akowonjo, by Vulcanizer Bus Stop, Egbeda, was closed for noise pollution and non-compliance with directives.
In addition, House 7 Hotel, located at Remi Akande Street, Egbeda, was sealed for non-compliance with LASEPA’s directives; House 48 on Isiba Oluwo Street, Egbeda, was sealed for non-compliance with directives; Exclusive Hotel, located at Ishan Kimishe, Akesan Bus Stop, was shut down by non-compliance with directives; Sabola Ventures Limited, Iocated at Km 11, LASU–Isheri Road, Igando, was shut down for operating without evidence of an Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP), and discharging untreated effluent into public drains; and City Int’l Motel, located at Chief Olu-Adegbite Street, off Oladun Street, Council Bus Stop, Idimu, was sealed for non-compliance with directives.
1 Comment