Taking kids to shows in the UAE: age rules at Coca-Cola Arena, Dubai Opera and F1
Minimum ages, ticket rules and supervision policies to check before you book family tickets.
Age rules differ from venue to venue in the UAE, and individual shows can add their own limits on top. These are the rules the venues publish themselves, so check your event listing as well before you buy.
Children under two are not permitted at Dubai Opera, except at certain family shows, and every child over two needs their own ticket. Visitors under 16 must be with a parent or guardian, and some shows offer a child price or set a higher minimum age, for which ID may be requested. Strollers are not allowed in the main auditorium.
Coca-Cola Arena requires a ticket for every child and infant. Under-16s are not allowed on the general admission standing floor at standing shows, so families need seated tickets, and children must be with an adult who takes full responsibility for them. The arena's conditions of entry give that adult's minimum age as 18 in one place and 21 in another, so confirm with the box office before you go.
Family restrooms and parenting rooms are on every level of the arena, according to Property Finder. Coca-Cola Arena also opens a silent room near Door 4 during family and children's shows and lends noise-cancelling headphones from Main Reception.
At the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the Kids Go Free offer has let adult Friday and four-day ticket holders bring up to four children aged 12 and under at no extra cost, with pre-registration on the Yas Marina Circuit website, according to Formula1.com's 2024 guide. Prams and strollers are on the circuit's banned list, while baby food is allowed. Check whether the offer runs again before race weekend, 4 to 6 December.
For a family night out in Dubai, the Bolshoi Theatre brings The Nutcracker to Dubai Opera from 4 to 6 December. The venue's under-two rule applies, and every child over two needs a ticket.
Bolshoi Theatre: The NutcrackerFri 4 to Sun 6 Dec · Dubai Opera, Dubai See ticketsSource: Dubai Opera: FAQs, Coca-Cola Arena: Conditions of entry, Coca-Cola Arena: Accessibility, Property Finder, Formula1.com
