Ski, play or meet penguins: pick your snow park

Only Ski Dubai has an actual ski slope: its pass runs AED 240 for two hours or AED 340 for the full day, open only to experienced skiers and snowboarders, from age 3. Snow Abu Dhabi's tickets never leave the Snow Park.

If it's rides and play you're after, without a lesson or a waiver, both sell a Snow Park pass: unlimited rides, clothing rental and a locker come with either one.

Both venues keep the chill year-round; Ski Dubai's own site markets its Snow Park as kept at -4°C.

If penguins are the draw, that's Ski Dubai again: its Snow Park Pass includes the daily penguin march, and a sit-down meal with its Gentoo and King penguins is AED 349.

Ski Dubai's ladder starts at Snow Base, AED 190, a one-time Snow Park entry with unlimited rides. The Snow Park Pass, AED 249, adds a single ride each on the chairlift and Mountain Thriller, hot chocolate, fleece gloves and a locker.

Above that sits Snow Daycation, AED 335: unlimited chairlift and Mountain Thriller rides, plus one of four add-ons — two Snow Bullet zipline rides, a 40-minute penguin encounter, a 2-hour slope pass, or a 60-minute ski or snowboard lesson.

Ski Dubai's slope itself is sold separately too: AED 240 for two hours, AED 340 for a full day, open to experienced skiers and snowboarders from age 3.

Snow Abu Dhabi keeps it simpler: one Snow Park Pass at AED 149, and Snow Premium at AED 199 for a meal at The Lodge, waterproof gloves and hot chocolate on top.

Our main Ski Dubai ticket carries two options. The Snow Classic covers the Snow Park, the Snow Cavern, tobogganing, the Giant Ball, the Bob Sleigh, the Tube Run and the Bumper Car, with one ride each on the chairlift and Mountain Thriller, plus winter gear and fleece gloves. The Snow Plus swaps those two single rides for unlimited ones and adds two Snow Bullet zipline rides, with the same winter gear and gloves.

This ticket runs for two hours and leaves out food, drinks and Wi-Fi.

A second Ski Dubai ticket we sell, sold as a plain entrance pass, runs two and a half hours and sets its own minimum age at 2; it leaves out coffee or tea, private transport, food and drinks.

Our Snow Abu Dhabi ticket is an entrance pass too, good for three hours, and does not list parking, food or drinks.

Ski Dubai's ride roster: a chairlift hauling you up to the slope's summit, Mountain Thriller topping out near 40 km/h, and zorb balls tumbling riders down a snow bank; two runs on the Snow Bullet zipline come with the higher-tier passes.

Its Gentoo and King penguins come with their own ladder: lunch or dinner alongside them is AED 349, and a private Ultimate Penguin Experience, with hand-feeding and a behind-the-scenes tour, is AED 900.

Two family-paced rides sit inside Snow Abu Dhabi's Snowflake Garden: the Crystal Carousel, alongside the miniature Polar Express train. Elsewhere in the park there are bumper tubes, the inflatable-lane Troll Bowl, and the suspended Flight of the Snowy Owl. Drift's Downhill Run, meanwhile, is the sledding hill Snow Abu Dhabi itself calls its broadest and straightest.

Ski Dubai sits on Mall of the Emirates' ground floor, reachable by Metro, taxi or car, with parking on site. Hours run 10:00–23:00 Monday through Thursday, 10:00–00:00 on Friday, and 09:00–00:00 across the weekend.

Snow Abu Dhabi sits on Al Reem Island, inside Reem Mall, reachable by taxi or private transport, with parking in the mall. Hours run 10:00–22:00 Sunday through Thursday, and 10:00–00:00 on Friday and Saturday. Budget around half an hour between arriving and actually reaching the snow, and lock in your rental-wear sizes on their website at least a day beforehand to save time.

Ski Dubai sets its minimum ages by activity: a ticketed adult must accompany anyone from 2 to 13 inside the Snow Park, and anyone from 2 to 15 on the slope or at a penguin encounter. The slope itself is reserved for skiers and snowboarders who already know how, starting at age 3, though a first lesson can be booked from age 3 on skis and age 8 on a board.

At Snow Abu Dhabi, guests aged 2 to 15 need an accompanying adult with a valid ticket; the park admits activities from age 2, but says each attraction sets its own limit.

Of our own tickets, only the Ski Dubai entrance pass sets a minimum age itself, at 2; follow the venue's own age rules above for the rest.