Fun things to do in Dubai are never in short supply, but if your weekends have started to feel predictable, this roundup cuts through the noise. Here are seven spots genuinely worth the effort — whether you want something competitive, active, date-worthy, or just a solid reason to leave the house.
Game Over Escape Rooms
Game Over at Palm Jumeirah's Nakheel Mall is one of the most well-known escape room setups in Dubai, and for good reason. The venue has 12 themed rooms spanning horror, adventure, mystery, and more. Sessions run for 60 minutes and can take two to seven players. Some horror rooms include a live actor in the room with you — which is very much an experience. Prices start from AED 70.
Game Over also recently opened its largest UAE location at Dubai Festival City Mall, with 16 themed rooms across fantasy, sci-fi, adventure, and mystery — the obvious next step for anyone who has already done the Nakheel Mall rooms.
Where: Palm Jumeirah Mall (Nakheel Mall) and Dubai Festival City Mall
Book: dubai.escapegameover.ae
Swingers
Three nine-hole crazy golf courses, cocktail bars, street food, and live DJs — all on Bluewaters Island at the foot of Ain Dubai. Swingers spans 22,000 square feet across two floors, with courses named Hot Air Balloon, Waterwheel, and Clocktower, each with moving obstacles and its own layout. Prices start from AED 80 per round; packages including golf, food, and drinks are available from AED 180 per person. The Saturday Bottomless Brunch runs from 2 to 5 PM — three hours of free-flow drinks, food, and golf, if you want to turn it into a full afternoon.
Where: Bluewaters Island, Dubai
Book: swingerscrazygolf.ae
Brass Monkey
Two storeys, adults only (21 and above), and packed with options. Brass Monkey at Bluewaters Island and City Walk has 12 bowling lanes, VR racing simulators, pool and snooker tables, air hockey, and retro arcade games. A restaurant and bar on-site means you can make a full night of it. On Saturdays and Sundays between noon and 4 PM, bowling is half price.
Where: Bluewaters Island and City Walk, Dubai
Book: brassmonkeysocial.com
Topgolf Dubai
At Emirates Golf Club off Sheikh Zayed Road, Topgolf is a three-level venue with 96 hitting bays and three dining options on-site. You pay per bay, not per person — each bay fits up to six players and you split the cost. Weekday rates start from around AED 140 per bay per hour, with free club rental included. No golf experience required, and the views of the Dubai Marina skyline make the whole thing worth it regardless of your score.
Where: Emirates Golf Club, Al Thanyah, Dubai
Book: topgolfdubai.ae
Pac-Man Live Experience
Pac-Man Live at Active Games in Al Quoz is a 30-minute, physical recreation of the classic arcade game. The arena uses projection technology to map the maze, ghosts, and pellets onto the floor and walls around you — no headsets or screens needed. You wear a tracking vest and physically run through the maze as Pac-Man. Tickets start from AED 160. The minimum age is 7, with children under 12 needing an adult present. Sessions run Tuesday to Thursday and on weekends.
Where: Active Games, 6A Street, Al Quoz, Dubai
Book: pacmanlive.ae
Chaos Kart
Also at Active Games in Al Quoz, Chaos Kart has you racing in a real electric kart through six digitally projected AR tracks — from the Arabian desert to outer space. No driver's licence required, but you need to be at least 1.30m tall. Each race lasts 20 minutes. The Cube, an immersive arcade add-on, can be booked alongside your race. Weekday hours run from 1 PM to 10 PM, with extended hours on Friday and Saturday until midnight.
Where: Active Games, 6A Street, Al Quoz, Dubai
Book: chaoskarts.ae
Dinner with Penguins at Ski Dubai
This one is in a category of its own. Every evening at Ski Dubai inside Mall of the Emirates, guests sit down for a full multi-course dinner inside a private igloo-style room, with King and Gentoo penguins roaming freely around them. The experience starts at 7 PM and runs until around 8:30 PM. Guests arrive at 6:30 PM, and the team provides a jacket, gloves, boots, and crew socks for the cold.
Dinner includes a welcome drink, appetizer, main course, dessert, and both hot and cold beverages. A photographer is present so you leave with a printed photo. Petting is not allowed, but the penguins interact with guests freely. Tables seat a maximum of four people. Booking at least 24 hours in advance is required, and spots go fast.
Where: Ski Dubai, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai
Book: skidxb.com
How to Book These Fun Things to Do in Dubai
Most of these fill up fast on weekends — Dinner with Penguins in particular requires a 24-hour advance booking minimum. Whether this is a group night, a date, or something genuinely new to try in the city, this list covers more than enough to keep your calendar interesting for a good stretch of weekends.
