Dubai is the capital of family-friendly entertainment. You can find here the best theme parks, aqua parks, and VR parks in the world. But did you know that this city in the desert has really beautiful green parks for cozy outdoor family fun that can be compared to the Central Park of New York? 

Here are the top 10 parks for you to take into consideration. 

 1. Zabeel Park

  • central location in Downtown Dubai
  • 51 hectares
  • dinosaur park with animated dinosaur models and a small museum devoted to dinosaurs
  • glow garden lit up with twinkling lights, creating a fairy-tale garden after dark
  • a lot of kids’ playgrounds for different age groups
  • plenty of spots for locals to enjoy picnics and jogging
  • Dubai Frame is a main tourist attraction

2. Safa Park

  • 2 blocks inland from Jumeirah Beach
  • one of the city’s oldest public park spaces
  • great team sports facilities: tennis, volleyball, basketball courts, a running track, and on-site bikes rent to cycle the park’s trails
  • a humanmade lake has pedalo-boats that can be rented
  • plenty of playgrounds for small children
  • picnic and barbecue areas
  • cafes and restaurants on the premises

3. Creek Park

  • the western bank of Dubai Creek
  • the city’s second-largest public park area
  • the promenade to stroll and enjoy the waterside views or to Instagram the creek
  • a dedicated barbecue area for families and friends
  • various cafés and restaurants within the park
  • bikes to rent on-site
  • science-activity center Children’s City with a planetarium, theater, and plenty of interactive science exhibits inside

4. Mushrif Park

  • right on the city’s eastern side
  • a green space of 13 acres
  • Aventura, a tree-top adventure-activity course with multiple rope swings and ziplines
  • a public swimming pool complex with a pool for children
  • a horse riding school
  • cycling trails, bike rentals, and running tracks
  • a football field, basketball courts, and volleyball courts
  • a popular spot with local bird-watchers
  • plenty of lawn space for picnics and a barbecuing area with fire pits
  • a model village featuring architecture from across the world in miniature

5. Burj Park

  • in the heart of Dubai and its most breathtaking sights
  • the best views of the fountain displays on Burj Lake
  • a hot spot for views and Instagram photos of the surrounding skyscrapers and Downtown Dubai city lights after dark
  • a wide lakefront promenade
  • contemporary art installations and sculptures

6. Dubai Miracle Garden

  • the biggest flower garden in the world
  • 72,000 square meters with 150+ million blooming flowers
  • sophisticated landscaped areas of flower beds, an entire floral village, and a castle
  • surreal 3D designs and a huge floral airplane
  • a Disney Avenue area with oversized floral Disney characters and activities for kids
  • 30 food outlets: restaurants, cafés, food kiosks, and shops for refreshments

7. Al Barsha Pond Park

  • Southern districts of Dubai, inland from Dubai Marina and The Palms Jumeirah,
  • a landscaped green space centered around a humanmade lake
  • 52 acres 
  • a 1.5-kilometer-long running track that circuits the lake
  • a cycling path circuit that threads around the lake
  • rental office for bikes, e-bikes, and go-karts
  • pedalos-boat rent
  • 3 playground areas for children

8. Al Mamzar Beach Park

  • in the city’s northern side
  • a great mix of beach and green space 
  • 5 sandy beaches
  • 55,000 meters of manicured lawn rimmed with palm trees
  • various paths for cycling, running and strolling
  • areas for barbecuing in the garden space and plenty of picnic spots
  • various food kiosks and a couple of cafés

9. Jumeirah Lake Towers Park

  • east of Dubai Marina
  • a neatly landscaped green park rimmed by both high-rise buildings and small humanmade lakes.
  • a couple of well-equipped playground areas for smaller kids
  • a small football field
  • plenty of cafés and restaurants to hang out on the weekends with area residents
  • the pathway circuiting the lake is used by many local strollers, runners, and cyclists

10. JVC area

  • the whole area is filled with landscaped parks
  • 30+ parks
  • one park naturally flows into the other
  • various playgrounds for kids
  • dogs’ playgrounds
  • running tracks and cycling tracks
  • picnic areas