Expat Travel Mom

Ever wonder where you can take kids to get up close and personal with nature in the UAE? We're surrounded by sand, but hidden gems exist throughout the country, and Al Tamimi Stables is one of them worth knowing about. The stables have built a strong focus on community and local economic development, and along the way, found a genuinely brilliant way to involve and educate children through their programs, growing kids' knowledge of environmentalism while familiarizing them with the UAE.

Family Fun Day

I had the pleasure of taking my family to one of their Family Fun Days, and I was surprised by the turnout, mostly surprised because I'd never even heard of the place before. Turns out it was right in our own backyard, in Sharjah. The grounds are the first thing you notice, trees, grass, clean communal spaces, genuinely expansive. There's a lovely cafe at the heart of the creativity area with delicious organic, healthy food options, much of it baked locally by Dubai boutique eateries. Look around and you'll spot an adorable petting farm, camels included, a large sports pitch and courts, stables housing gorgeous horses, and a nature trail guiding you past animals from around the world. Try your hand at recycled arts and crafts, belly dancing, healthy cooking, or planting a flower while you're there.

The Heroes Programme

The best feature at Al Tamimi Stables is their Heroes Programme. Kids receive a passport and get encouraged to explore learning activities tied to animal care, environmental care, creativity, sports, and equestrian skills. Complete a task, earn a stamp. My kids loved it, diving into the activities and lighting up every time they got a new stamp. The stamps felt like the reward in the moment, but the real reward was everything they picked up about the world around them and how to take care of it.

Next time you're looking for a quiet, beautiful spot to meet up with friends or spend a day as a family, think Al Tamimi Stables. Schools and businesses take note too, they run field trips and team-building events worth looking into.

Coming back to update: Al Tamimi Stables is still open and operating as a working farm and education center in Sharjah, with recent visitor reviews confirming it's active today. I couldn't independently confirm whether the specific Heroes Programme and passport-stamp system are still running under that exact name, worth asking directly when booking a visit.