Horse Riding Experiences for Families in the UAE

Horse Riding Experiences for Families in the UAE

Horse riding is an outdoor activity that families across the UAE can try, whether a child wants structured lessons or the whole group wants a guided ride in the desert. This article covers riding clubs in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, drawn from what each one says about its own facilities and sessions. When choosing, think about whether you want lessons that build up over weeks or a one-off ride, whether you need an indoor arena for the hotter months, and how you prefer to book.

M11 Equestrian Club, Dubai

M11 Equestrian Club is in Al Rowaiyah, Dubai, and brings together Arabian horsemanship heritage with a modern equestrian setting. It keeps more than 50 horses on site and has a team of 15 trainers.

The club offers:

  • Group and private desert rides, which go out around sunrise and sunset

  • A long trail hack

  • A beach ride that includes a beach picnic setup

  • Horse training to build confidence, technique and control

  • Show jumping packages

Group desert rides last 60 to 70 minutes and take up to 10 riders. The club also has dedicated training arenas for lessons and regular practice in a controlled environment. For horse owners, it provides livery with daily care and access to the stable facilities, and it also sells horses.

Bookings are made online: you pick an activity, then an available date and time, and complete the booking through the website.

Mandara Equestrian Club, Abu Dhabi

Mandara Equestrian Club is a family-run club in the Al Rahba farms area of Abu Dhabi, located between Abu Dhabi and Dubai. It offers riding lessons for both children and adults, with classes starting from age 4 and running from beginner through to advanced level.

The stables and indoor arena are air-conditioned for use during the hotter months, so lessons can continue through summer. On site there is a team of farriers and the club's own tack shop, stocking products for both riders and horses. There is also a cafe, Cafe Mandarina, among the club's affiliates.

Dhabian Equestrian Club, Abu Dhabi

Dhabian Equestrian Club is in Al Samhah, Abu Dhabi. It started as a small rescue operation for a few horses in the owner's garden and has grown into a stables and equestrian community. It offers ACTVET certified and accredited training programmes.

The facilities include:

  • Two full-sized arenas

  • Two smaller arenas designed to help beginners and children feel comfortable in a controlled environment

  • An indoor air-conditioned arena

  • A round pen and ten turnout paddocks

  • 27 fan-cooled stables and 28 air-conditioned stables, with indoor and outdoor wash bays

  • Equuis Cafe and a tack shop

Beyond lessons, riders can go on desert gallops, walks or trots around the farms, or swim with horses at the beach and in the desert.

Lesson and experience packages come in bundles of 4, 8 or 12 and are valid for one month, with 24 hours' notice needed to cancel. Bookings are made via WhatsApp and payment is in advance by bank transfer. Riders check in at the office before their lesson, and should wear long stretchy trousers with trainers or flat boots. A helmet is provided if you do not have your own.

SPARTA Academy, Dubai

SPARTA Academy is in Al Rowaiyah Third, Dubai. It has indoor and outdoor arenas, professional-grade stables, and certified instructors with international experience. The horses are well trained and selected for temperament.

Riding is organised into three tiered programmes:

  • Foundation Program for beginners

  • Advancement Program for intermediate riders

  • Competition Program for advanced riders

This structure suits families who want a child to progress through clear stages rather than book single rides.

Practical points

  • Dubai and Abu Dhabi both have options. M11 and SPARTA Academy are in the Al Rowaiyah area of Dubai; Mandara and Dhabian are in Abu Dhabi, with Mandara sitting between the two cities.

  • For the hotter months, Mandara and Dhabian both have air-conditioned indoor arenas, and SPARTA Academy has an indoor arena alongside its outdoor one.

  • Mandara states a minimum age of 4 for its classes. Dhabian has two smaller arenas set aside for beginners and children.

  • Booking methods differ: M11 uses an online booking system, while Dhabian takes bookings over WhatsApp with payment by bank transfer in advance.

  • Dhabian asks riders to wear long stretchy trousers and trainers or flat boots, and lends helmets to anyone without one.

  • Cafes are available at Mandara and Dhabian if you want somewhere to sit while a child has a lesson.

  • If you are after a one-off experience rather than lessons, M11 offers desert and beach rides, and Dhabian offers desert gallops, farm rides and swimming with horses.