Motiongate is the Hollywood-themed park at Dubai Parks and Resorts, 20 minutes by car from Dubai Marina: DreamWorks, Lionsgate and Smurfs zones, a full day for the rides and a ticket of its own. Part of it is indoors, but much of the day is outside, so the cooler months from November to March are the comfortable ones. This guide covers the zones, who it suits, the heat, hours, the Metro and bus route via Ibn Battuta, and how to build a family week around it.
By SB Excursions · Published 29 October 2026 · Updated 29 October 2026
Tour on this route: Full-Day Desert Safari in Dubai — From $45 per person, 7 hours.
How long does Motiongate take?
Plan one full day, about six to eight hours, for the main rides. A family with young children may see fewer zones and stay a shorter time. The park closes about 8 PM on weekdays and 9 PM at weekends, with rides stopping about 30 minutes earlier.
This guide also answers:
- How far is Motiongate from Dubai Marina?
- Can I get to Motiongate by Metro?
- Is Motiongate good for toddlers?
Five ways to plan around Motiongate
#1
Legoland Dubai across Riverland
Legoland sits in the same complex and needs its own ticket, as does its water park. It is built for ages 2 to 12 and has many rides from 80 cm, so younger children get more from it than from Motiongate. Our Legoland guide has the details.
#2
IMG Worlds for a summer day
IMG Worlds is fully indoors, so it is the safer pick for July and August. Motiongate has more variety in open-air settings and is nicer from November to March. The IMG Worlds vs Motiongate guide compares heights, prices and seasons.
#3
The Metro and the DPR1 bus
Legoland's directions for the complex say to take the Metro to Ibn Battuta and connect to RTA route DPR1, which runs 26 trips a day from about 7:00 AM to 11:15 PM. Check the last bus back before you ride the last rides.
#4
A shared yacht on the Marina, 20 minutes away
Motiongate and the Marina are about 20 minutes apart by car, so a one-hour shared yacht at sunset makes a gentle end to a park day. Children are welcome under adult supervision, and check-in is 20 minutes before departure.
#5
A desert evening on another day
A day at Motiongate and a desert safari are both long, so give each its own day. The safari is from $45 per person and includes hotel pickup, dune bashing, sandboarding, a camel ride and a camp dinner, with no prepayment.
Motiongate Dubai in one minute
Motiongate is a film-themed park at Dubai Parks and Resorts, with zones built around DreamWorks Animation, Lionsgate and Sony Pictures Studios characters plus a Smurfs village. It is about 20 minutes by car from Dubai Marina and 35 from Downtown. Plan one full day, buy a ticket for Motiongate alone, because Legoland and its water park each need their own, and go in the cooler months if you can.
We do not quote a ticket price because it moves with the date and the offers; the park's official site is the place to check. The honest summary is that Motiongate suits school-age children, teenagers and adults who like film worlds, is less suited to under-fives than Legoland, and is less suited to July and August than IMG Worlds. If you are choosing between parks in general, the best theme parks in Dubai and which Dubai Parks and Resorts park to choose cover the options.
The zones and who each one is for
The park is split by studio and franchise. Which rides are open changes through the year, so treat this as the shape of the park rather than a ride list.
| Zone | Built around | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| DreamWorks | Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, Madagascar, How to Train Your Dragon | Families with children; reported to be fully indoors, so it doubles as a cool break |
| Lionsgate | The Hunger Games, John Wick, Now You See Me, including the Capitol Bullet Train | Teenagers and adults |
| Smurfs Village | The Smurfs, with a family coaster | Younger children |
| Sony Pictures | Characters and films from Sony Pictures Studios | Mixed ages; check which rides are open |
Based on the park's published themes and visitor guides; rides are added, renamed and closed for maintenance, so check the current map.
Each ride has its own height, weight or age rule, posted at the ride and available from guest services. Check the rule before queueing with a child near the limit, and do not rely on a guess from another park.
Who should go, and who should skip
Decide by age and by month.
- Ages 5 to 12: the core audience, especially if they know the films. Smurfs Village and the DreamWorks rides suit the younger half of that range, and the family rides suit the older half.
- Teenagers: the Lionsgate zone and its coasters are the draw. If your teenagers want pure thrills, compare with IMG Worlds, where the biggest rides want 1.25 to 1.40 m.
- Under-fives: possible but limited. Legoland is cheaper per ride for this age because it has many rides from 80 cm.
- Adults without children: worth it if you are a film fan and the weather is cool. Otherwise the money is better spent elsewhere.
- Skip it if: you are visiting between June and September and cannot go at the start and end of the day, or if you only have two or three days in Dubai.
Heat, season and the best day to go
Motiongate mixes indoor rides with outdoor queues and open-air walkways, so the heat is the real variable. Use this as a rough plan.
| Months | What to expect | Plan |
|---|---|---|
| November to March | Mild days, pleasant outdoor queues | Best time; any day works, though weekends are busiest |
| April, May and October | Warm to hot afternoons | Go early, do outdoor rides first and move indoors at midday |
| June to September | Hot and humid; outdoor stretches are tiring | Arrive at opening, save the DreamWorks indoor zone for midday and leave by late afternoon, or choose IMG Worlds instead |
General seasonal guidance. See the month-by-month guide for temperatures.
Take water and sunscreen, wear a hat and light clothes, and keep small children in the shade between rides. Weekdays outside school holidays are quieter than Fridays, Saturdays and public holidays. Our guide to Dubai in summer lists indoor alternatives, and the month-by-month guide has the temperatures.
Opening hours, event days and tickets
Most visitor sources give closing times of about 8 PM from Sunday to Thursday and 9 PM on Friday and Saturday, with rides stopping about 30 minutes before the park closes. Hours change with the season and for events, so check the official calendar for your date.
Listing sites report that the UNTOLD music festival takes place at Dubai Parks and Resorts from 5 to 8 November 2026, as of 29 October. If your dates fall in that window, check whether park hours, parking or crowds change before you buy.
Motiongate, Legoland Dubai and the Legoland Water Park each require their own admission ticket or annual pass, according to Legoland's official FAQ. Legoland gives a discount for booking online at least one day ahead, and it is worth checking whether Motiongate has a similar online fare. Rides close for maintenance at every park, so expect one or two to be closed on the day.
A sensible order for the day
Pick your top three rides before you arrive, and go to them first. Queues are shortest in the first hour and grow through the afternoon, so the rides you would hate to miss belong at the start, not at 5 PM. Look at the park map on the website the night before, and tell children which zone you are heading to first so the day has a shape.
Use the indoor zone for the middle of the day. In the hot months that is when outdoor queues are worst, and a cool, shaded ride with a short wait gives everyone a rest. Eat a late lunch rather than a noon one, because restaurants fill at midday, and keep water bottles topped up through the afternoon.
Leave the family rides for the last hours, when children are tired and the heat has eased. Remember that rides stop about 30 minutes before closing, so the last queue is earlier than the park's closing time, and the car park or the bus back to Ibn Battuta fills at the same moment.
Getting to Motiongate by Metro, bus, taxi or car
Dubai Parks and Resorts is in Jebel Ali South, off Sheikh Zayed Road (E11), between Dubai and Abu Dhabi. By car, Legoland's directions give about 20 minutes from Dubai Marina, 25 from Palm Jumeirah, 35 from Downtown, 45 from Dubai International Airport and about 60 from Abu Dhabi.
By public transport, take the Red Line to Ibn Battuta station and connect to RTA route DPR1, which runs 26 trips a day from about 7:00 AM to 11:15 PM. Check the last bus before you ride the last rides, and keep a taxi as the back-up. Our Metro guide explains Nol cards and fares, and the guide to getting around Dubai covers taxis and apps.
The three parks are connected by Riverland Dubai, a walkway of shops, restaurants and entertainment, and the complex has hotels on site, including the Lapita Hotel and the Legoland Hotel. A park day with an overnight stay is easier for families with small children, though it costs more than a taxi.
Pair it with the sea or the desert on another day
Motiongate is a day of noise and queues. A calmer second plan helps. The Marina is about 20 minutes away, and our 1-hour shared yacht tour is from $32 per person, with views of Dubai Marina, JBR and Bluewaters and a photo stop at the Ain Dubai wheel. Full prepayment secures the slot, and you check in 20 minutes before departure.
For the desert, the full-day desert safari is from $45 per person for 7 hours, with hotel pickup in Dubai, Sharjah or Ajman and no prepayment. It is not recommended for infants under 3, pregnant women or anyone with back or heart problems. For teenagers who want a faster desert, the evening quad bike safari is from $70; solo riders must be 16 to 55, and under-16s ride only with an adult. Do not put a safari on a Motiongate day. Best things to do in Dubai with kids lays out how to alternate big days with easy ones.
FAQ
How long does Motiongate take?
Plan one full day, about six to eight hours, for the main rides. A family with young children may see fewer zones and stay a shorter time. The park closes about 8 PM on weekdays and 9 PM at weekends, with rides stopping about 30 minutes earlier.
How far is Motiongate from Dubai Marina?
About 20 minutes by car, according to Legoland's directions for Dubai Parks and Resorts. It is 35 minutes from Downtown, 45 from Dubai International Airport and about 60 from Abu Dhabi.
Can I get to Motiongate by Metro?
Yes, partly. Take the Red Line to Ibn Battuta station and then RTA route DPR1, which runs 26 trips a day from about 7:00 AM to 11:15 PM. Check the last bus before you leave, and have a taxi as the back-up.
Does one ticket cover Motiongate and Legoland?
No. Motiongate, Legoland Dubai and the Legoland Water Park each need their own ticket or annual pass, according to Legoland's FAQ. Plan separate days for each, or accept that you will see only part of a second park.
Is Motiongate indoors or outdoors?
Both. The DreamWorks zone is reported to be fully indoors, and the rest of the park mixes indoor rides with outdoor queues and walkways. For a fully indoor park in summer, IMG Worlds of Adventure is the safer choice.
Is Motiongate good for toddlers?
It has gentle rides, especially in Smurfs Village, but Legoland is built for ages 2 to 12 and has many rides from 80 cm. Check the height rule at each Motiongate ride before you queue with a small child.
What is the best time of day to go?
Arrive for opening, do your top three rides in the first hour and use the indoor zone at midday. In the hot months, evenings are cooler for the outdoor rides, but the park closes about 8 PM on weekdays and 9 PM at weekends, with rides stopping 30 minutes earlier.
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Photos: The Smurfs Village Express family roller coaster running above the mushroom houses and Smurf figures in the Smurfs' Village zone at Motiongate Dubai — Jeremy Thompson, CC BY 2.0, Legoland Dubai across Riverland — Sarion, CC BY-SA 4.0, IMG Worlds for a summer day — Jeremy Thompson, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons).