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- From the petting zoo, a thrilling zipline, hands-on workshops, prize hunting and other high-flying thrills, live family entertainment and foodie favourites, here are top five reasons to make DAZ Festival your next family day out this week
- Kids under 13 enter free on weekdays, making it the perfect after-school escape for the young ones to learn, play and explore before summer
- Tickets available from AED AED 25 on Ticketmaster.ae
Abu Dhabi, UAE, 6th April 2026: As schools shift to homeschooling and summer approaches, families are looking for meaningful ways to keep children active, engaged and entertained beyond the online classroom. DAZ Festival 2026, taking place at Al Jahili Park in Al Ain until 12 April, offers the perfect solution – a dynamic, outdoor family destination where kids can learn, play, explore, pet some animals and challenge themselves every day after school.
With children under 13 entering for free from Monday to Thursday, DAZ Festival stands out as one of the most accessible and enriching family experiences in the UAE this season, combining education, creativity, adventure and entertainment all in one place.
Here are the top five reasons you should visit the DAZ Festival 2026:
1. Soar into the action
For thrill-seekers, this year DAZ brings back one of its most popular experiences. Zip the DAZ World returns as a festival favourite, giving guests the chance to glide across the festival from above in one fast-paced, high-energy ride. Alongside it, families can look forward to even more adventure across the festival grounds, with Adventure Towers and the Zip-Cycle adding to the excitement.
2. Big adventures for curious minds
There is plenty for little adventurers to get stuck into at DAZ Festival 2026. At the Petting Zoo with Al Ain Zoo, children can get up close with friendly animals, while Pony World brings gentle ride experiences to the little ones. Over at the Fossil Discovery Workshops, young explorers can brush, dig and uncover prehistoric secrets, while the Pottery & Clay Workshops invite them to twist, pinch, roll and mould their way through a hands-on creative experience.
3. Catch live shows and festival fun
The Community Stage returns with a buzzing daily line-up designed to keep families entertained throughout the day. This year’s programme brings beloved characters to centre stage, including the Care Bears, Maya the Bee, and Shaun the Sheep. With special animal appearances and roaming characters also popping up across the grounds, there’s something to entertain every family member.
4. Refuel between adventures at the Food Yard
Big adventures call for big flavours, and the Food Yard delivers. With 16 outlets across the festival, families can tuck into a mix of international and homegrown favourites, whether that means burgers from Salt, flavour-packed Korean noodles & fried chicken by Meokja, delicious belgium fries from T’parletje, or a sweet pick-me-up from Brooki before heading back out for more. Easy, lively and full of crowd-pleasers, it is the go-to spot to recharge for a full day of outdoor fun.
5. Browse, shop and make a day of it
There is more to discover at DAZ than thrills and attractions alone. Between adventures, families can wander through a lively mix of pop-up shopping, from beauty finds at Celaeno Beauty to child-friendly grooming at Cozy Cuts and easy everyday fashion at Gloss Á Lévres. Add in the food, entertainment and open-air setting of Al Jahili Park, and it all comes together for a family day out with plenty to see, do and take home.
Plan your wild escape today
Before the summer heat rolls in, DAZ Festival 2026 is the perfect reason to step out of the city, reconnect with the great outdoors and make unforgettable memories as a family. With its mix of adventure, edutainment, live performances, food and shopping, it’s a day out designed for every age.
Ticketing
- Entry Pass 13+ weekday: General Admission ticket for AED 25, providing access to the festival grounds, kids’ show, community stage performances, free entertainment and selected attractions, international and local food, arcade zone, petting zoo, and football area and is valid for one (1) day, Monday to Thursday.
- Entry Pass 13+ weekend: General Admission ticket for AED 35, providing access to the festival grounds, kids’ show, community stage performances, free entertainment and selected attractions, international and local food, arcade zone, petting zoo, and football area and is valid for one (1) day, Friday to Sunday
- Child Entry Pass-Weekday (aged 0-12 years old): free General Admission ticket, providing access to the festival grounds, kids’ show, community stage performances, free entertainment and selected attractions, international and local food, arcade zone, petting zoo, and football area and is valid for one (1) day, Monday to Thursday
- Child Entry Pass-Weekend (aged 5-12 years old): General Admission ticket for AED15, providing access to the festival grounds, kids’ show, community stage performances, free entertainment and selected attractions, international and local food, arcade zone, petting zoo, and football area and is valid for one (1) day, Friday to Sunday
- Child entry (0-4 years old), Senior Citizens (60+) and People of Determination (with one caregiver): free entry all days of the week, providing access to festival grounds, kids show, community stage performances, free entertainment, and selected attractions, international and local food, arcade zone, petting zoo, and football area, valid for one (1) day. Guests must visit the Box Office to collect their physical ticket for scanning and entry.
For more details, visit www.dazfestival.ae.
