Kuwait is bursting with beautiful landscapes, vibrant cultural attractions and exciting activities for all the family. From shark-spotting to paintballing to practising for their future careers, here are some of the best ways to entertain and delight kids in Kuwait.

Visit the Middle East’s second-largest Aquarium

Located inside Kuwait Scientific Center is The Aquarium. It’s easy to spend a half day here, admiring colourful sealife native to the Arabian Gulf gliding through ceiling-to-floor tanks and learning about their habits and habitats in the wild. Time your visit right and you may even get to see a brave diver feed the sharks. For a full day out, combine The Aquarium with a visit to Discovery Place or the IMAX theatre, both adjacent.

Meet the animals at Kuwait Zoo

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Set in Omariya on Kuwait’s outskirts, Kuwait Zoo will be a big hit with animal lovers. Housing over 1,800 species, many endangered, it’s a full day of discovery. Marvel at giant beasts including the Asiatic Black Bear, Angolan Python and Nile crocodiles; see playful monkeys, shy Korean Water Deer and sly vultures and make sure to save the best for last — the big cat enclosures, home to graceful cheetahs, tigers and lions.

Act out your dreams at KidZania

Let children indulge their dreams for the future at KidZania, an indoor, children-sized city packed with role-playing stations. Whether your child’s a budding flight attendant, radio host, bank teller or interested in one of almost 100 other careers, they’ll get to dress up and learn the basics in a fun, friendly environment.

Soak up the sights and smells of Souk Al-Mubarakiya

From fragrant spices to colourful cloth to children’s toys, there’s nothing that can’t be found at Souk Al-Mubarakiya. One of Kuwait’s oldest markets, where locals have haggled for over 200 years, a visit here is a feast for all the senses. Children will be fascinated by the sheer variety of colours, scents and flavours, and can sample new foods along the way. A pretty play area serves as a great place to stop for a rest on your way round.

Get your adrenaline fix at Aqua Park

Conveniently located next to Kuwait Towers, Aqua Park is a fun-packed trip for kids of all ages. Little ones will love pirate-themed areas, gentle slides and the tiny tots pool, whilst older children and teenagers will likely head straight for steeper slides, a frothing wave pool and a lazy river. Aside from water-based fun and games, there’s plenty to do on dry land, too. Go-Karting, volleyball and even paintballing provide active kids with plenty of entertainment.

Choose Jumeirah Messilah Beach Resort & Spa for your family escape to discover all the beautiful country has to offer guests of all ages.