Glitch Arabia

Tucked away on Level 2 of Al Ghurair Centre in Deira, Glitch Arabia is a 40,000 sq ft indoor active game park that feels closer to a theme park than an arcade. Built by Al Ghurair Leisure & Entertainment, the space packs in more than 30 attractions under one neon-lit roof, headlined by SkySurf, the city's only indoor roller glider that sends you gliding through the air in a harness more than ten metres above the floor. Around it you'll find Kazu, a ninja warrior style obstacle course, the climbing challenges of Newton's Walls, Pandora's Peak with its cloud-shaped structures and ten-metre slide, plus laser tag, an eight-lane bowling alley, billiards and the GamePort Arcade, where retro classics sit alongside 360-degree VR shooters. The rides and games at Glitch Arabia are designed to work for kids, teens and adults at the same time, which is why so many families end up staying far longer than planned.

Getting there is easy: the location in the heart of Deira puts Al Rigga, Union and Salah Al Din metro stations all within walking distance, and parking at the mall is free for up to four hours, and free entirely at weekends and on public holidays. There is no single age limit, since little ones from around four years old can join in at the gentler zones, while the more intense attractions carry their own height and weight requirements for safety. Tickets can be bought per activity or as day and unlimited-play packages, with bowling, billiards and laser tag usually charged separately, and Glitch Arabia Dubai runs from 10am to 10pm Sunday to Thursday and until midnight on Friday and Saturday. Add birthday and group packages in the Boogy Bash room, snacks inside and a food court right outside, and it's a straightforward pick for a rainy-day plan or a full day out with friends and family.