As the UAE’s summer sun blazes and school holidays stretch on, families across the Emirates are searching for ways to keep children engaged, inspired, and out of the heat. This season, the country’s museums are stepping up as vibrant playgrounds for young minds, blending hands-on learning with immersive fun. Here’s a feature look at ten standout museums where kids can embark on unforgettable adventures, discover new passions, and make the most of their summer break.

1. Louvre Abu Dhabi

Step into a world where East meets West beneath the iconic “rain of light” dome. The Louvre Abu Dhabi isn’t just about art—it’s a journey through human creativity, with galleries that juxtapose ancient artifacts and modern masterpieces. The Children’s Museum offers interactive exhibits at a child’s eye level, encouraging hands-on exploration and creativity. Family workshops and treasure hunts make every visit a new adventure.

2. Museum of the Future, Dubai

This architectural marvel is more than a photo opportunity. Inside, kids can dive into futuristic worlds, design cities, and interact with AI-powered displays. The “Future Heroes” zone is dedicated to children, where they can play, build, and solve eco-challenges, earning digital badges along the way.

The annual Future Heroes Summer Camp, running from July 21 to August 7, 2025, immerses children ages 6 to 13 in weekly themes of sustainability, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Activities range from robotics and 3D printing to real-world problem-solving, all designed to empower the next generation of changemakers.

3. Dubai Museum (Al Fahidi Fort)

Housed in Dubai’s oldest building, this museum brings the city’s transformation to life. Kids can wander through recreated souks, pearl diving expeditions, and desert scenes, all brought to life with life-sized dioramas and authentic artifacts. It’s a hands-on history lesson that contrasts the city’s humble beginnings with its modern skyline.

4. Sharjah Science Museum

Curiosity comes alive here with interactive workshops on everything from color theory and sound to space, AI, and chemistry. Children can experiment, tinker, and even try their hand at perfume-making. The museum’s summer camps, running in late July and early August, are designed to build critical thinking and a love for discovery through hands-on experiments and group activities, with sessions tailored for different age groups.

5. OliOli, Dubai

Dubbed the “anti-boredom zone,” OliOli is a hands-on laboratory of curiosity. With eight immersive galleries, kids can climb, splash, and experiment with air cannons, water channels, and more. The Future Park zone uses projection mapping to turn children’s doodles into animated creatures, while Arabic storytelling sessions add a cultural twist.

6. Museum of Illusions, Dubai

Prepare for mind-bending fun! This museum is packed with optical illusions, brain teasers, and interactive exhibits that challenge perception and spark laughter. The Vortex Tunnel and Ames Room are favorites, and the smart playroom lets kids compete and learn through puzzles and games.

7. Sharjah Maritime Museum

Dive into the UAE’s seafaring heritage with traditional dhows, pearl diving equipment, and navigation tools. Kids can join “Maritime Adventures,” a summer camp from August 4 to 14, where they’ll try fishing, cook Emirati dishes, and make scented herbal candles—all while learning about the region’s deep connection to the sea.

8. Etihad Museum, Dubai

Located at the historic site where the UAE was founded, this museum’s interactive exhibits and holographic displays bring the nation’s story to life. Children can design their own passports, explore the Union Vault, and even film mini-documentaries, making history both accessible and exciting.

9. House of Wisdom, Sharjah

This ultra-modern library and cultural center fuses architecture, light, and technology. The “Little Reader” zone features AR books, sound domes, and LEGO robotics kits, while the Sculpture Garden outside offers a creative space for picnics and play. Summer camps here blend reading, science, and art in a futuristic setting. The Al Jazari FabLab, for kids aged 6 to 15, introduces AI, 3D printing, and coding through storytelling, while the Kalila wa Dimna camp brings classic Arabic fables to life with shadow theatre and puppetry.

10. Al Shindagha Museum, Dubai

Explore Dubai’s roots in this museum’s “Living Off the Sea and Land” pavilion, where interactive floor projections and scent stations immerse kids in old Emirati life. The Summer Camp, running mid-July, transforms children into young archaeologists—digging for fossils, exploring ancient trades, and learning about Dubai’s transformation from fishing village to global city through hands-on workshops and crafts

Tips for Visiting UAE Museums with Kids

• Stay Cool: Most museums are fully air-conditioned—perfect for escaping the summer heat.
• Check Schedules: Many offer extended hours and special summer programs; early registration is often required due to limited slots.
• Dress Modestly: Especially important at museums focused on Islamic culture.
• Photography: Allowed in most museums, but check for restrictions.
• Combo Tickets: Look for joint passes to save on multiple visits.

This summer, let the UAE’s museums be your family’s passport to discovery, creativity, and endless fun. Whether your child dreams of exploring ancient civilizations, coding robots, or building the cities of tomorrow, these museums promise stories and memories that will last long after the school bell rings again.

Turkish Airlines has expanded its complimentary “Touristanbul” program, offering international transit passengers with layovers of 6 to 24 hours at Istanbul Airport (IST) a unique opportunity to explore the city’s rich history and culture without leaving the airport experience behind.

Eligible travelers can choose from six different daily tours, each led by professional guides and including transportation by shuttle bus directly from the airport.

One of the highlights of the program is a visit to Bozdağ Film Studios in Beykoz, a sprawling 200-acre complex renowned for producing popular Turkish historical TV dramas like "Diriliş: Ertuğrul" and "Kuruluş: Osman."

This studio is the largest in Europe and the third-largest in the world, offering visitors a behind-the-scenes look at life-sized sets that recreate different eras of Turkish history.

Beyond the film studio, the various tour routes cover Istanbul’s most iconic landmarks, such as the Blue Mosque, Dolmabahçe Palace, Hippodrome, Taksim Square, Grand Bazaar, and the Galata Bridge, with photo stops and guided commentary throughout.

Passengers can also enjoy authentic Turkish cuisine—such as fire-cooked soup and hand-pounded rice pudding—at local restaurants, and participate in cultural workshops like glassmaking and archery.

All meals, museum entrance fees, and transportation are included at no cost, and the tours are available every day of the year, with 19 different routes offered weekly. To participate, passengers must have a Turkish Airlines ticket with a layover of 6 to 24 hours, and must register at the Touristanbul desk at least 30 minutes before the tour begins.

The program is designed to ensure travelers return to the airport with ample time for their connecting flights, transforming what could be idle hours into a memorable cultural experience.

Etihad Guest, the loyalty program of Etihad Airways, has expanded its highly popular competition, The Extraordinary Challenge, by increasing the total prize pool to over 20 million Etihad Guest Miles following an unprecedented surge in participation.

Initially, the challenge offered 5 million miles to the first member to visit all 15 of Etihad’s newly launched destinations, with second and third place receiving 3 million and 1 million miles, respectively. However, due to overwhelming demand, Etihad has now added 12.5 million additional miles, opening the door for more than 200 winners in total.

The competition, which runs until May 25, 2026, is open to both new and existing Etihad Guest members. Participants must travel to or from 15 specific new year-round destinations, including cities such as Addis Ababa, Atlanta, Prague, and Taipei, within a 12-month period. The race is based on speed and dedication—the fastest members to complete all 15 routes win the largest prizes, while tie-breakers are resolved by the earliest registration date.

In addition to the top three grand prizes, Etihad has introduced "The Extraordinary Milestones" category: the first 100 members to visit five new destinations will receive 25,000 miles each, and the first 100 to reach ten destinations will earn 100,000 miles each. This expansion aims to reward both the most ambitious travelers and those making significant progress, with members able to track their journeys and standings on a live digital leaderboard.

Mark Potter, Managing Director of Etihad Guest, commented, “We’ve seen an amazing response across the globe since we launched The Extraordinary Challenge, and expect to see over 50,000 member sign-ups as more destinations come online. Having seen the desire and determination of so many, we wanted to reward Etihad Guest members even more by giving flight to their ambition with more prize miles and potential for 200 additional winners”.

Sohar International and its Islamic banking division, Sohar Islamic, have announced a new partnership with SalamAir, Oman’s prominent budget airline, to bring substantial savings to their customers on domestic travel. Under this collaboration, credit cardholders from Sohar International and Sohar Islamic can enjoy up to 40% off, while debit cardholders receive a 15% discount on SalamAir flights within Oman.

The offer covers popular routes such as Muscat to Salalah, Masirah, Duqm, and the newly introduced Sohar to Salalah flights, with bookings available from June 22 to August 31, 2025, for travel between July 1 and August 31, 2025.

To take advantage of these discounts, eligible customers must book their tickets through SalamAir’s official website, applying special promo codes provided by the banks and using their Sohar cards for payment. The partnership was officially launched at a signing event on June 17, 2025, at Sohar International’s headquarters, highlighting a shared vision to blend financial services with lifestyle benefits and support Oman’s national tourism strategy outlined in Vision 2040.

Bank officials, including Abdul Qadir Al Sumali, stressed that the initiative is designed to go beyond simple discounts, aiming to create a more integrated experience for customers by connecting banking with travel. Steven Allen, SalamAir’s Chief Commercial Officer, noted that the airline is committed to making domestic travel more affordable, especially during the busy Khareef season in Salalah.

SalamAir, which operates a growing fleet of Airbus aircraft and serves over 80 flights daily, is also investing in digital upgrades, such as a new WhatsApp ticketing service. The airline has introduced fixed fares for Omani nationals on key routes to further support local travelers.

This partnership not only delivers significant value to Sohar International and Sohar Islamic customers but also contributes to the wider goals of enhancing domestic tourism and strengthening collaboration between Oman’s banking and aviation sectors.

Air Arabia has launched a major summer mega sale, offering one-way fares starting from just Dh149 for select destinations across its network. The promotion is available for bookings made between June 30 and July 6, 2025, with travel permitted from July 14 to September 30, 2025—a period that covers the busy summer holiday season and is ideal for families and travelers looking for affordable getaways.

The discounted fares apply to a wide variety of routes from Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. Travelers departing from Sharjah can fly to Bahrain and Muscat for as low as Dh149, while fares to Dammam, Riyadh, Salalah, and Kuwait start at Dh199. Routes to Abha, Tabuk, and Yanbu are available from Dh298, Doha from Dh399, Jeddah and Medinah from Dh449, and Taif from Dh574.

For those heading to South Asia, Abu Dhabi to Chennai fares start at Dh275, Kochi at Dh315, Dhaka at Dh499, and Chattogram at Dh549. From Sharjah, travelers can book flights to Ahmedabad from Dh299, Delhi from Dh317, Mumbai from Dh323, Thiruvananthapuram from Dh325, and Kathmandu from Dh449. These special rates are especially appealing for the large South Asian expatriate community in the UAE.

Air Arabia’s summer sale comes as the airline reports strong financial growth, with a net profit of Dh355 million in the first quarter of 2025—a 34 percent increase year-on-year. The airline also saw a 14 percent rise in turnover to Dh1.75 billion and carried more than 4.9 million passengers in the first three months of the year, achieving an average seat load factor of 84 percent.

The airline is also expanding its network, with the resumption of direct flights between Sharjah and Damascus starting July 10, 2025, operating twice daily. All fares in the promotion are one-way and include surcharges, but airport taxes may not be included and are subject to change. Seats are limited and are expected to sell out quickly, so travelers are encouraged to book early to secure the best deals.

For passengers needing flexibility, Air Arabia allows modifications or cancellations of bookings online, via its call center, or at sales offices, though fare differences and terms may apply

Cebu Pacific, the Philippines’ largest low-cost airline, has announced a special seat sale in honor of the country’s 127th Independence Day, offering one-way base fares from Dubai to Manila for just Dh3. The promotion, part of the airline’s annual Super Seat Fest, is available for bookings made between June 11 and June 15, 2025. The travel period for these discounted tickets spans from December 1, 2025, to May 31, 2026, making it ideal for those planning year-end holidays or summer visits to the Philippines.

The Dh3 fare covers only the base ticket price, with additional charges for taxes and surcharges. Cebu Pacific’s extensive network allows travelers to connect from Manila to 37 domestic and 26 international destinations, including popular tourist spots like Boracay, the Banaue Rice Terraces, Vigan, and Davao’s Seven Falls. The airline encourages passengers to explore the Philippines’ rich historical and cultural sites, such as Intramuros and the National Museum complex in Manila.

Booking is available through Cebu Pacific’s official website, with multiple payment options including credit cards, debit cards, and e-wallets. The airline also offers special guidelines for families traveling with infants or minors: infants under two years old may travel on an adult’s lap for an infant fee, and strollers or car seats can be brought free of charge. Children aged 12 and above are considered adult guests, and minors traveling with parents only need to present documents proving their relationship, such as a birth certificate or valid IDs.

Seats at the promotional rate are limited and subject to availability, so travelers are encouraged to book early. Cebu Pacific’s Super Seat Fest is a recurring event, celebrated alongside major milestones and holidays, and continues to be popular among Filipinos abroad looking for affordable ways to reunite with family or explore the country’s diverse attractions.