The Best Toy Stores In Dubai

Kids love toys – and we love indulging them – but when it comes to forking out our hard-earned dirhams on playthings, we want to know we are buying the best out there! So get ready to say goodbye to less-than-fabulous plastic toys with our round up of The Best Toy Stores in Dubai. Brimming with educational, entertaining, and most importantly, good quality toys, it’s time to get inspired, mama!

Bookworm
Ok, this is not exactly a toy store BUT in addition to the best range of kiddies books by a long mile, Bookworm also stocks some super cool playthings. From finger puppets to slinky wooden snakes (very popular with the boys), dressing up costumes to ant farms- there are pretty little things to fill playroom shelves with and quirky trinkets for all ages. And with a selection of beautiful wrapping paper and birthday cards this is the ideal one-stop-shop for birthday presents (they’ll even wrap your gift on site mamas!)

Park & Shop complex,
Al Wasl Road, Jumeirah Tel: (+971) (0) 4394 5770 
Meadows Town Centre Tel: (+971) (0) 4 368 9822
www.facebook.com/bookwormdubai Bubs Boutique
Avoid the shopping crowds and let your fingers do the walking instead at the ‘play’ section of this fab online baby store. Expect items like beautiful wooden toys from Le Toy Van including the Honeybee oven and hob set and pretend food for your budding Chefs and an absolutely delightful pale blue and cream market stall set featuring two shelves, a yellow bell and a red stripe awning complete with a crate of apples and pears (other produce also available). With lots of toys to encourage role-play and imagination and hardly any coloured plastic in sight – browse by gender or activity and spend AED 250 for free next day delivery.

www.bubsboutique.com

Bumble Bee
A one-stop baby store, toys are only part of what’s on offer here and there are some lovely high quality and unique options that are guaranteed to inspire young minds. We’re particularly besotted with their gorgeous wooden barn set (complete with teeny tiny animals, crops, tractor and farmer), wooden building blocks, train sets and handmade puppets. Spend AED 300 online (easily done when you browse the selection mamas!) and you’ll qualify for free shipping within the UAE.

Dubai Mall Second Floor (Between the ice rink and the waterfall atrium)
Tel: (+971) (0) 4 3308160  

Dubai Festival City Ground Floor, Kids fashion zone
Tel: (+971) (0) 4 2329110
www.bumblebee-me.com

The Change Initiative
A Sassy Mama favourite, The Change Initiative is all about sustainable living through a ‘Live Good, Feel Good, Do Good’ ethos that also very much applies to the toy and kids section of the store. Budding Einsteins will love the huge range of 4M Kids Lab Green Science packs and there’s a fab choice of natural wooden toys and playthings crafted from sustainable materials. The recycled cardboard houses make an awesome little playroom den for little designers to paint and decorate (the only time we’ll allow them to draw on the walls right mamas?!) With a gorgeous little café onsite plus a children’s play area, prepare for some stress free shopping. Yes please!

Sheikh Zayed Road Dubai (near The Greens)
Tel: (+971) (0) 800-TCI (824)
www.thechangeinitiative.com

The Early Learning Centre
A regular go-to for something new, The Early Learning Centre is an international brand that carries a collection of the best toys for the newborn to six years old set – cloth toys, building blocks, farms, dollhouses and garages plus outdoor toys and arts and crafts. Everything is designed to foster creativity and imagination and help develop cognitive and motor skills. Some of the stores have play areas for kids to try before they buy and for mamas to get inspired!

Various locations across Dubai
www.elc.com

Hamleys
This famous British toy store never fails to deliver – with over 100,000 toys the toddlers, tweens and teens are bound to find something to keep them well entertained.  From much loved brands to unusual treasures and a Hamleys Own Brand range that is surprisingly affordable, the Hamleys experience includes entertainment with toy demonstrators, magicians and activities galore. If you bring the kiddos along, expect to stay a while as they explore and play – and prepare to leave the store far from empty handed. Regular ‘meet the character’ events offer the opportunity for the littles to meet their favourite super heros and life-sized toys.

Dubai Mall 2nd Level
Tel: (+971) (0) 4 339 8889

Mirdif City Centre 1^st level
Tel: (+971) (0) 4 284 3336
www.facebook.com/HamleysUAE

Hobby Centre
All boys  go through a miniature motoring faze and Hobby Centre in Dubai is your best bet for picking up any remote controlled vehicle imaginable. From tanks to jet skis or even Formula One race cars, this is one of those shopping excursions that papa might be keen to join – we’re pretty sure he’ll be re-living his childhood and playing alongside the kids if not buying for himself! This is one for the slightly older kids – some of the cars are capable of travelling 20kph – fasten your seatbelts mamas and credit cards at the ready!

Ground Floor,
Business Ave Building,
Sheikh Rashid Road Port Saeed Area,
Opposite Cargo Village
Tel: (+971) (0) 4 294 66 47
www.hobbycentre.ae

Kidz Inc
A dream for any mamas who like good quality old-fashioned toys or who have an aversion to noisy plastic options! Kidz Inc or Innovative Kidz Trading is the distributor of European brands including Haba, Kaethe Kruse, Steiff, Eitech, Micro, Automoblox and many more. It’s not cheap but the toys are durable and guaranteed to last – phew! This is the place for timeless, tasteful toys that are actually fun to play with.

4B Street Al Quoz, next to the Limetree Café
Tel: (+971) (0) 4 328 5775
www.kidzincdubai.com

Little Explorers Toy Store
Find the perfect mix of fun and educational toys at The Little Explorers Toy Store in Playnation Mirdif City Centre – ideal for curious little minds, science buffs and nature enthusiasts. Top selling educational toys for ages 1 and above include construction toys, creative packs and playthings inspired by fab partnerships with National Geographic and the Science Museum in addition to popular favourites including Angry Birds, Dinosaur Train, and Fur Real.

Little Explorers Toy Store is located at Playnation, in Mirdif City Centre (South Entrance)
Tel: (+971) (0) 800 386
www.theplaymania.com/little-explorers

Silver Lake Toys & Hobbies
Need to find cute little party favours or fill a Christmas stocking? Silver Lake stocks everything from mini wind-up toys to sticker books, fancy dress costumes, arts and crafts and unique stationary. We love the old fashioned paint sets and traditional joke shop bits and pieces – a mini pranksters paradise with a candy store feel.

Beach Park Plaza (opposite Jumeirah Beach Park)
Tel: (+971) (0) 4 3855056
www.beachparkplaza.com

Toys R Us
Not exactly a boutique toy store but definitely worthy of a mention for some great bargains plus huge range of kiddie favourites from brands including VTech, Fast Lane and Disney. Many mamas on a mission to find a particular toy rave about this place when all others failed. Toys R Us is home to most of the toys, entertainment and educational accessories your little one would ever need (or want) in Dubers – the shopping experience itself isn’t the best but if you can see past the random layout and garish blue branding you’ll be sure to spot a good deal.

Various locations across Dubai
www.toysrusuae.com

The Toy Store
The GCC’s answer to Hamleys, The Toy Store is home to every possible toy, entertainment and educational accessory your little one could ever need (or want). Stuffed with popular brands like Thomas & Friends for fans of the little blue train, Baby Einstein for the youngest learners, and Playskool for inquisitive littlies, if you shop online before midday you’ll be guaranteed delivery by the next day – woohoo! The Toy Store’s strapline “play before you pay” is at the heart of the customer experience. Children & parents have the chance to experience many of the toys before purchasing and demonstrations happen continuously. We love the talking tree in the book section of the Dubai Mall branch! If you’re not a fan of whining-induced “I want it now” meltdowns we’d definitely recommend leaving the munchkins at home before you head here mama – or shop online instead.

Various locations across Dubai
www.thetoystore.com

Virgin Megastore
If you’ve got older children who prefer something a little more than plastic fantastic for their birthdays, Virgin Megastore is an interesting pit stop. Selling an unusual mix of toys for big kids and adults alike, get your hands on electronic gadgets and accessories, like Zoku ice lolly makers, Aqua Dragons habitats, Squirt Guns, Micro Scooters and Wonderball Wireless Speakers. It’s too cool for school mama!

Various locations across Dubai
www.virginmegastore.me