Dubai Dolphinarium, Dubai

A great way to spend an afternoon in Dubai is at the Dubai Dolphinarium, which you will find in Creekside Park on the Bur Dubai side of the Creek.

Described as an “Edutainment Marine Adventure”, the dolphinarium has found a happy balance between education and family entertainment, where adults and children can learn facts about dolphins, seals and other forms of marine life while enjoying a wonderful show.

The dolphins and seals are well-trained and seem to be as happy to provide entertainment as the crowd is to watch them. At the end of each show, three people are chosen at random from the public to swim with the dolphins in the large pool. This costs a little extra.

If you really want to swim with the dolphins, you can book a private session, either on your own or in a group of six others. This is open to everyone, except children under 5 years old. Of course, you must be able to swim!

If you don’t want to go into the water with these beautiful creatures, you can have your photo taken with them by the centre’s professional photographer. There is a great gift shop where you will find funny toys called “grow toys”. You put these into the water and they’ll “hatch” and grow before your eyes.

There are other educational toys, baseball caps, towels and t-shirts that you can have personalized while you are watching the show or having a meal in the restaurant. The food is very good and you have a choice between an Oriental and a European menu.