Dubai Culture and Arts Authority has unveiled its annual summer camps, set to run during July and August 2026 across a number of its cultural and heritage assets, offering children distinctive experiences that combine learning and entertainment.
Dubai’s heritage comes alive at Al Shindagha Museum
Al Shindagha Museum, the largest heritage museum in the UAE, will host the two-week camp “Young Dubai Creek Traders”. Children aged between 6 and 12 will take part in an interactive journey exploring the lives of Dubai Creek traders and the role of trade in shaping the city before it became a global hub for commerce and business.
Participants will join a range of workshops and cultural experiences designed to help them learn the skills, values and etiquette that defined traditional trade in Dubai. They will also discover how traditional boats were designed and built using wooden models, and learn about the goods once traded along Dubai Creek.
The children will create their own handmade products and present them in commercial stalls they design themselves, competing for the titles of “Little Trader” and “Best Commercial Stall”. They will also have the chance to visit one of Dubai’s heritage markets, experience buying and selling, and take part in a series of challenges and activities inspired by the world of trade.
Science, history and creativity at the Etihad Museum
The Etihad Museum summer camp will also run for two weeks and is aimed at children aged between 5 and 12. It will give them the opportunity to explore science, history and culture through a programme that combines learning with enjoyment, enriching their knowledge and sparking their curiosity.
Participants will experience the interactive “Science and Innovation Lab” through a series of hands-on activities, art and creative workshops, storytelling sessions, as well as games and group challenges that foster teamwork and creative thinking. They will also take part in museum tours that introduce them to key milestones in the UAE’s history and the story of its union, within an educational environment designed to encourage creativity and discovery, helping to sharpen their skills in an engaging way.
“Our Family, Our Unity” at Dubai Public Libraries
Under the شعار “Asretna Wahdatna” (“Our Family, Our Unity”), Dubai Public Libraries’ summer camp, inspired by “Year of Family 2026”, will be held in two sessions across the libraries of Al Mankhool, Al Twar, Al Safa Art and Design Library, Al Rashidiya, Umm Suqeim, Hatta and Hoor Al Anz, in addition to the Al Barsha Community Centre.
Children aged between 5 and 14 will take part in an educational experience that blends creative arts, handicrafts, technology and innovation, helping to strengthen family values, national identity and a sense of belonging to the community. They will also join a series of activities and practical projects that allow them to explore Emirati heritage and local customs and traditions, while learning about coding, robotics, smart systems and sustainability, and developing critical thinking, problem-solving, teamwork and leadership skills, within an inspiring learning environment that links heritage, creativity and technology.
The camp will conclude with interactive exhibitions hosted by the participating libraries, giving children the opportunity to present their artistic, technical and engineering projects and distinctive ideas to their families and community members, in celebration of the knowledge they have gained during their educational and creative journey.
Creativity camp at the Al Jalila Cultural Centre for Children
The Al Jalila Cultural Centre for Children will organise its “Creativity” summer camp in two sessions. During the camp, children aged between 4 and 14 will be given the chance to embark on a comprehensive educational and creative journey that combines the arts, theatre, design and interactive activities in an inspiring environment that stimulates imagination, nurtures innovation and helps uncover their talents and refine their creative abilities.
The camp will feature a varied programme of workshops and hands-on activities, including pottery, art and design, theatre, young actors, the creative kitchen, diamond art, name design using threads, hat-making, cake box decoration, as well as a Civil Defence workshop. It will also include a trip to Vox Cinemas, an art exhibition and family activities, along with theatre rehearsals, enabling children to develop their artistic and life skills and build confidence in themselves.
The camps offer children distinctive experiences that combine learning and entertainment.