Ski Dubai: Snow Premium with Penguin Encounter

The Ski Dubai Snow Premium pass is the all-in day ticket at Ski Dubai, the indoor snow park inside Mall of the Emirates in Dubai. It combines unlimited access to the snow rides with a 40-minute Penguin Encounter and a choice between a slope session for confident skiers or a beginner’s lesson, so one booking covers a full afternoon or evening in the snow.

What the Ski Dubai Snow Premium Pass Includes

The core of the pass is unlimited use of the Snow Park and its rides. That covers tobogganing, the bobsled, the tubing run, snow bumpers, the giant Zorb ball, the chairlift, the Mountain Thriller and the Snow Bullet ride. You can go back to your favourites as often as you like for the rest of your visit.

On top of the rides, you pick one of two activities when you book:

• Slope pass: a two-hour slope session for experienced skiers or snowboarders. To ski or board without an instructor you must be at least Intermediate Level 2.
• Discovery Lesson: a one-hour group ski or snowboard lesson for people who have never skied or snowboarded before. Groups are split by age: 3 to 6 years, 7 to 13 years and adults.

The pass also includes a hot chocolate, a locker and the cold-weather kit you need: a jacket, trousers, disposable socks, snow, ski or snowboard boots, waterproof gloves and hand warmers. Helmets are compulsory for children under 13. Souvenirs, transport, food and drinks are not included, and photos from the Penguin Encounter are sold separately.

The Penguin Encounter at Ski Dubai

For many visitors the 40-minute Penguin Encounter is the highlight. Ski Dubai is home to a colony of king and gentoo penguins, and the original group was flown in from SeaWorld San Antonio in Texas. The birds were hatched and raised in human care, and they live in a purpose-built habitat within the snow park.

Encounters start every half an hour between 12pm and 9pm, and slots depend on availability, so choose yours when you book. For the penguins’ safety you cannot take your own photos: mobile phones and cameras are not allowed inside the encounter area. The official Ski Dubai site asks guests to arrive 40 minutes before a booked Penguin Encounter or lesson time.

About Ski Dubai at Mall of the Emirates

Ski Dubai opened in November 2005 as the first indoor ski resort in the Middle East. It was developed by Majid Al Futtaim, which also runs Mall of the Emirates, and covers around 22,500 square metres of real snow. The longest run is about 400 metres, served by lifts and terrain features, and the temperature is held between roughly minus one and two degrees Celsius all year.

That steady chill is what makes Ski Dubai such an unusual day out in a desert city. Whether it is a hot afternoon in August or a mild evening in winter, the snow conditions inside are the same.

Opening Hours and Planning Your Visit

Ski Dubai is open every day. From Monday to Thursday the park runs 10am to 11pm, with the last ticket sold at 9:30pm. On Fridays it is open 10am to midnight, and on Saturdays and Sundays 9am to midnight, with the last ticket sold at 10:30pm on those days. Weekday daytime sessions tend to suit families with younger children, while evenings and weekends draw more groups of friends.

The ticket page recommends booking in advance. Allow time on arrival to collect your kit and lock away your belongings before your penguin slot or lesson. Bring your own cap or hat, and wear warm, comfortable clothes under the jacket and trousers provided.

Age, Height and Safety Rules

Ski Dubai does not admit children aged 0 to 2 for safety reasons. Children aged 3 and over can enter with a parent or adult, and children under 13 must wear helmets and be supervised by someone aged 16 or older. The minimum age for ski lessons is 3, and for snowboard lessons it is 8.

Some rides carry their own limits. The Zorb ball needs a minimum height of 1 metre and the Mountain Thriller 1.2 metres. The Snow Bullet is open to children aged 8 and over or at least 1.2 metres tall, accompanied by an adult, with a weight range of 30 to 120 kg. The Mountain Thriller and the Snow Bullet are not recommended for older guests, pregnant women or anyone with back or neck problems or other medical conditions.

Who the Snow Premium Pass Suits

This package works best for families and groups who want to do everything in one visit: first-timers can take the Discovery Lesson, confident skiers can use the slope, and everyone gets the rides and the penguins. It is also a good choice for visitors who have never seen snow and want the full experience in a single afternoon.

For more ideas, browse our list of attractions in Dubai, family picks in kids’ events in Dubai, and our wider guides to things to do in Dubai and things to do in November.