Fun-filled theme parks in Qatar have emerged following the country's rapid developments and now boasts a bounty of family-friendly options to choose from. In addition to the old-time favourites, Doha’s cutting-edge amusement parks come as part of a concerted effort to provide heaps of fun options for visiting families.

If you’re planning a family trip to Qatar and fancy a day out at a theme park, you’ve got ample opportunity to entertain the kids. From indoor snow centres to the clank and rumble of rollercoasters and everything in between, we've listed the best Qatari theme parks below.

  • 1

    Gondolania

    A taste of Europe in the Middle East

    Gondolania
    • Families

    The enormous Gondolania resides within the air-conditioned Villaggio Mall, ensuring you can enjoy its wholesome entertainment any time of day. Its namesake is a cute Venetian-style gondola ride through an artificial canal – it’s a slice of old-world Italy right here in the Middle East.

    Toddler-friendly attractions include a Ferris wheel, a dino land, and bumper cars, while older kids and adults can instead seek out adrenaline rushes on the roller coaster, flume ride, and drop tower. An array of tasty food options as well as a 4D cinema, 10-pin bowling, ice skating, and laser tag games ensure there’s something for everyone at Gondolania.

    Location: Villaggio Mall, Aspire Park Rd, Doha, Qatar

    Open: Saturday– Wednesday from 9 am to 11 pm, Thursday from 9 am to midnight, Friday from 9 am to 11.30 am and from 12.30 pm to midnight

    Phone: +974 4403 9800

    Map
  • 2

    Aqua Park Qatar

    Beat the heat at this action-packed water park

    Aqua Park Qatar
    • Families

    Aqua Park Qatar is an excellent place in Doha to escape the Qatari heat. And given the arid climate is famed for being unbearably hot, this refreshing manmade oasis is a welcoming sight.  

    The waterpark, about as big as 5 football fields, can accommodate up to 3,000 people at a time. Special days and hours are allocated for women and families. Inside the grounds, adrenaline-pumping rides and aquatic attractions are on offer to tempt the bold – a massive wave pool, tube slides, speed lines, and stingray surfing, just to name a few. Tamer options include an African village, bumper boat driving, a lazy river, a lagoon pool, and Pirate Bay.

    Location: Salwa Road Exit 29 Abu Nakhla, Doha, Qatar

    Open: Hours vary by season (closed in winter)

    Phone: +974 4490 5878

    Map
  • 3

    Virtuocity

    Qatar’s gaming mecca

    Virtuocity
    • Families

    As the region’s first dedicated gaming hub, Virtuocity attracts droves of Doha’s growing gaming community. The centrepiece is its futuristic Coliseum Arena, where the country’s best e-sports gladiators clash head to head in a furious showdown of precision and skill. Over 200 high-spec PCs allow us mere mortals to entertain ourselves between tournaments, featuring pay-per-hour packages to suit hardcore and casual gamers alike.

    For a real-world challenge, gather your friends and head to the Enigma Escape Room. Here, your puzzle-solving prowess will be pushed to the limit in this exciting 60-minute game. Full-motion racing simulators are another appealing option at Virtuocity.

    Location: Doha Festival City, Umm Salal Mohammed, Qatar

    Open: Saturday–Wednesday from 10 am to 10 pm, Thursday from 10 am to midnight, Friday from 1 pm to midnight

    Phone: +974 4042 0444

    Map
  • 4

    Jungle Zone

    Welcome to the jungle

    Jungle Zone
    • Families

    Jungle Zone in Hyatt Plaza, Doha, is an action-packed, jungle-themed fun park with a multitude of exciting activities. The entire indoor area has been immaculately decorated to mimic a dense rainforest, complete with animated animals and exotic plants. Adrenaline-inducing rides include the Splash Falls, the Funcano Rollercoaster, and Candy Bouncers, while old favourites like bumper boats, a racetrack, and carnival games attract a younger crowd.

    Party rooms with distinct Amazon and tropical themes are the perfect place to host a memorable children’s birthday party. Tailor-made live entertainment such as face-painting, magic shows, and acrobatic or juggling acts can be arranged on request to spice up your private event.  

    Location: Al Waab St, Doha, Qatar

    Open: Sunday–Friday from 10 am to 2 pm (closed on Saturdays)

    Phone: +974 4499 9699

    Map
  • 5

    Circus Land

    A circus-style fun park in Doha

    Circus Land
    • Families

    Circus Land is an old-time Doha favourite that hasn’t lost its fun-filled allure. The expansive circus-themed amusement park has plenty of rides for kids of all ages, including a merry-go-round, a Red Baron ride, bumper cars, trampolines, and an inflatable slide, just to name a few.

    The 4-storey soft play area is the perfect spot to let the kids safely clown around, while a selection of video games and simulators entertain for adults. A large food court full of well-known international chains ensures everyone is well-fed, and there’s a high-tech Cinema Land if you’d rather relax with a flick.

    Location: Landmark Mall Al Markhiya St, Qatar

    Open: Saturday–Wednesday from 9 am to 10 pm, Thursday from 9 am to 11 am, Friday from 2 pm to 11 pm (closed on Sundays)

    Phone: +974 4487 6111

    Map
  • 6

    Angry Birds World

    An Angry Birds fan’s dream come true

    • Families

    Angry Birds World is a must for fans of the global gaming sensation. The franchise has captivated the imagination of young and adults since the original puzzle game was released back in 2009, and then further rose to fame with the release of 2 blockbuster Hollywood films.

    The theme park encapsulates the magic of this zany cartoon fantasy world through a series of exciting rides and ‘edutainment’ activities. No less than 35 rides reside within the expansive grounds about the size of a football field, which features both indoor and outdoor play areas as well as plenty of retail and food outlets. 

    Location: Doha Festival City, Umm Salal Mohammed, Qatar

    Open: Saturday–Wednesday from 10 am to 10 pm, Thursday–Friday from 10 am to midnight (closed on Sundays)

    Phone: +974 4042 0444

    Map
  • 7

    Snow Dunes

    An Arabian winter wonderland

    • Families

    Snow Dunes is the very first indoor snow centre in Qatar. Of course, snow isn’t native to the Middle East, so the entire complex (roughly the size of a football field) is cooled below freezing point, with 17 state-of-the-art snow guns pumping out the fluffy stuff. The result? An Arabian winter wonderland that’s stacks of fun for the whole family.

    Although it mightn’t compete with Whistler, Snow Dunes offers oodles of downhill fun with speeds exceeding 50 km/h on the dune dash slides. There’s no real skiing available, but the little ones can have fun with carousels, slides, and toboggans.

    Location: Doha Festival City, Umm Salal Mohammed, Qatar

    Open: Saturday–Wednesday from 10 am to 10 pm, Thursday from 10 am to midnight, Friday from 1 pm to midnight (closed on Sundays)

    Phone: +974 4042 0444

    Map
  • 8

    KidZania

    Fun-filled real-world education for the kids

    • Families

    KidZania, as the name implies, is a theme park aimed specifically at children (in this case, between 4 and 14). Unlike its many competitors in Doha, Kidzania isn’t about adrenaline-inducing thrills. This novel amusement park seeks to educate children on the adult world.

    Kids can partake in up to 60 educational and engaging activities regarding all sorts of real-world professions, from doctors to firefighters, and everything in between. The little ones will even learn to take charge of their finances by cashing cheques, opening a bank account, depositing and withdrawing funds, and spending savings on a special prize. While all this in-depth learning is going on, the grownups can relax outside with a coffee and free Wi-Fi. 

    Location: Aspire Park, Doha, Qatar

    Open: Monday–Friday from 2 pm to 10 pm, Saturday from 10 am to 10 pm (closed on Sundays)

    Phone: 974 4482 6222

    Map
  • 9

    Bounce Inc

    Hop, skip, and bounce your way to happiness

    • Families

    Bounce Inc is a global phenomenon that’s taken the world by storm, and the franchise has finally found its way to Qatar. Unlike other theme parks in Doha, Bounce Inc focuses on healthy living and is a hit among young adults. But that’s not to say the kids won’t love it because the centre boasts loads of child-friendly activities like the Big Bag and interconnected free-jump trampolines.

    Slam dunk challenges, high-performance trampolines, run up rebound walls, and cliff jump platforms offer ample excitement for active adults. Treat yourself to a taste of the parkour lifestyle without the extreme risk.

    Location: 2nd floor, Tawar Mall Doha, Al Markhiya Street, Al Duhail South, Doha, Qatar

    Open: Saturday–Wednesday from 10 am to 10 pm, Thursday and Friday from 10 am to 12 am (closed on Sundays)

    Phone: +974 4408 6500

    Map
  • 10

    Baladna Park

    A farmyard fun land

    • Families

    Baladna Park in Qatar is a hit among local families, thanks to its child-friendly rides and farmyard appeal. One of the largest dairies and livestock farms in the entire Middle East, Baladna provides the little ones with a chance to see the production process first hand. A high-tech rotary milking parlour shows precisely how it’s all done, while an attached petting zoo lets the kids meet their favourite farmyard animal.

    The outside grounds adopt a festive atmosphere when they open for the cooler months. Downhill mountain bike tracks and ziplining courses tempt the brave, while a leafy garden gives parents a relaxing spot to chill. Meanwhile, a rotating roster of cultural and musical events takes place on the main stage.

    Location: Baladna Farm, Qatar

    Open: Sunday–Thursday from 10 am to 7 pm, Friday from 12 pm to 8 pm, Saturday from 10 am to 8 pm

    Phone: +974 4035 8833

    Map
  • 11

    Doha Oasis

    The epitome of an entertainment complex

    • Adventure
    • Families

    Doha Oasis is a leading entertainment site in Musheireb, one of Doha's oldest neighbourhoods. A 12-storey oval design features residential living with world-class recreational services – including a 4-storey mall – all within walking distance. Beside the oval is a 30-storey tower, home to the 7-star Oasis Tower Hotel. It offers brilliant suites with views across Doha as well as 7 restaurants. Head to the tower’s rooftop for uninterrupted, sunset views from the Sky Lounge.

    The elliptical garden offers an oasis among 20,000 square metres of beautiful flowers and plants. If you're looking for some action or an adrenaline rush, a visit to the Wonder Dome will uncover a theme park housing over 26 attractions within an 18-metre-tall dome.

    Location: Al Mazrouaa St, Doha, Qatar

    Map
Harry Stewart | Contributing Writer