Dadu Gardens, Al Bidda Park
The open-air first phase of Dadu, Children's Museum of Qatar: a seasonal garden of mud kitchens, planting and play for under-12s in Al Bidda Park.
Dadu, Children's Museum of Qatar, Al Bidda Park, Doha
Overview
Dadu Gardens is the outdoor first chapter of Dadu, Children’s Museum of Qatar, the Qatar Museums project being built at the edge of Al Bidda Park, just inland from the Doha Corniche. While the main museum building is still under construction, the gardens around it are already welcoming families: 14,500 square metres of planting beds, mud kitchens, meadows, an amphitheatre and play spaces designed for children up to the age of 12 and the adults who bring them.
It is not a playground in the usual sense. The idea is learning through open-ended play, so children dig, plant, cook, paint, splash and explore at their own pace, with drop-in activities and workshops run by the Dadu team. Dadu means “play” in Arabic, and that is the whole point.
Two things are worth knowing before you plan a visit. First, the gardens open in seasons, usually through the cooler months, and close over the summer. Second, the museum building itself was described by Visit Qatar as “set to open in 2026”, but as of early October 2026 no confirmed opening date had been announced. This guide covers what you can actually visit, and how to check what’s on before you go.
The story behind Dadu
Dadu is Qatar Museums’ dedicated children’s museum, led by director Essa Al Mannai since 2019. Its finished home, designed by the Dutch architecture studio UNStudio, is planned as a ring of cube-like blocks set around a central covered foyer, with galleries, activity rooms, cafés and restaurants. The gardens wrap around the building’s eastern side, separated from the rest of Al Bidda Park by a dense hedge.
Qatar Museums opened the gardens first, on 21 November 2022, at the start of the FIFA World Cup, with a programme of family activities running through the tournament. A group of corporate supporters known as the Dadu Founding Family, including ConocoPhillips, Shell, ExxonMobil and Ooredoo, contributed at least QAR 3.65 million to the project. To mark the opening, the American artist KAWS installed his sculpture The Promise, which shows a parent and child gazing at a globe.
A year later Al Bidda Park hosted the International Horticultural Expo 2023 Doha, and in November 2023 Dadu Gardens reopened as a permanent part of the park, staying on after the Expo closed. Since then it has run in seasons. The most recent, which began with a preview day on 1 November 2025, ran through April 2026 with workshops, puppet shows, nature play and themed days such as National Sport Day in February.
What to see and do
Kashta: mud kitchens and sensory play
Kashta is the hands-dirty heart of the gardens, built around mud kitchens and sensory play. Expect children to mix “soups” from soil and water, pour, scoop and squelch. This is the zone that reliably sends families home with muddy clothes, so plan for it.
The Edible and Community Gardens
In the Edible Garden children plant seeds and help tend crops, learning where food comes from. The Community Garden alongside it is designed for shared growing. Seasonal activities have included a plant-matching game with picture cards and guided gardening sessions.
Garden Atelier: cooking and workshops
The Garden Atelier is an indoor-outdoor kitchen and studio used for farm-to-table cooking and creative workshops. Recent seasons have featured recycled art workshops here and around the gardens. Dadu has urged families to book tickets early for popular dates, so check the programme on the Qatar Museums calendar before you go.
The Permaculture Showcase
Qatar Museums describes the Permaculture Showcase as the beginning of what will become Doha’s first city-centre food forest. It is a quieter corner where older children and parents can see how layered planting works in a hot, dry climate.
Al Marj, the Amphitheatre and the Events Plateau
Al Marj is the meadow area, with room to run and explore. The Amphitheatre and Events Plateau host puppet shows, performances and special-day programmes. A highlight of the 2025–26 season was a car painting and washing activity, where children painted and then washed a full-size car.
Promise Plaza and KAWS’s The Promise
The Promise, the KAWS sculpture installed for the gardens’ opening, gives Promise Plaza its name. Its theme of care, protection and hope suits the setting, and it is a popular family photo spot.
Opening times and tickets
Dadu Gardens does not open year-round. Recent seasons have run through the cooler months, roughly November to April, on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from the afternoon into the early evening. Earlier seasons opened from 4pm to 8pm; listings for the 2025–26 season showed 3pm to 8pm on Thursdays and Fridays and 12pm to 8pm on Saturdays.
Entry is by ticket, booked through the Qatar Museums ticketing site. Event listings put recent prices at around QAR 15 to 20, and some special days have been free with a ticket. The gardens can take more than 300 families a day, but popular dates do fill up.
As of 1 October 2026 we could not find an announcement for the 2026–27 season. Based on past years a reopening in late autumn is likely, but that is not confirmed, so check the official Dadu Gardens page and the Qatar Museums calendar before you set off.
Who can enter: the gardens are for children up to 12 and their families. Every adult must come with a child under 12, and every child must be with an adult aged 18 or over, so this isn’t a stop for adults on their own.
How to get there
By car: Dadu sits in Al Bidda Park, west of Corniche metro station and a short drive from West Bay, Souq Waqif and the Corniche. Qatar Museums has pointed visitors to the Wadi Al Sail South car park. Within central Doha, allow 10 to 20 minutes depending on traffic; any car will do.
By metro: take the Red Line to Corniche station and use Exit 3, which Qatar Museums recommends for Dadu. From there it is roughly a 10-minute walk west.
By taxi: ask for Dadu Gardens in Al Bidda Park. Drivers may know Al Bidda Park or the Corniche better than the museum, so have the map pin ready.
Best time to visit
Come during the season, which in recent years has meant roughly November to April. Winter afternoons are mild and comfortable for outdoor play; by late March and April the sun can be strong, so arrive later in the session when the shade lengthens. In the 2025–26 season Saturdays had the longest opening hours, which gives more flexibility around naps. School holidays and themed days are the busiest.
Tips for your visit
- Book tickets in advance on the Qatar Museums site, especially for weekends and special days.
- Dress children in clothes you don’t mind getting muddy or wet, and pack a full change.
- Remember the entry rule: adults only with a child under 12, and children only with an adult over 18.
- Check the programme before you go; workshops and shows change through the season.
- Combine with Al Bidda Park’s free playgrounds and lawns, which stay open when the gardens are closed.
- Hats and sunscreen are still wise on bright winter afternoons.
- Follow Dadu’s official channels for news of the next season and the museum’s opening.
What to bring
- Your booking confirmation
- A full change of clothes and a towel for each child
- Water bottles
- Sun hats and sunscreen
- Wet wipes and a bag for muddy clothes
Combine it with nearby places
Al Bidda Park surrounds the gardens, with free playgrounds, long cycling and running tracks and lawns for a picnic. It is the natural place to continue once your Dadu session ends, and an alternative for days when the gardens are closed.
Fire Station: Artist in Residence, the Qatar Museums art space in a converted civil defence building, is on the edge of Al Bidda Park, a short drive away. Its galleries and café make an easy cultural add-on for parents.
Museum of Islamic Art is about ten minutes’ drive east along the Corniche. Its waterfront MIA Park, with lawns, a playground and skyline views, is good with children before or after the galleries.
The Dhow Harbour on the Corniche is where the wooden boats moor opposite the West Bay skyline. Children enjoy seeing the dhows up close, and short boat trips leave from here.
For more ideas, see our guides to Qatar with kids and museums in Qatar.
Frequently asked questions
Is Dadu, Children’s Museum of Qatar open?
Not the main building yet. Visit Qatar has described the museum as set to open in 2026, but as of early October 2026 no opening date had been confirmed. The outdoor Dadu Gardens in Al Bidda Park are the part you can visit, during their seasonal opening periods.
When are Dadu Gardens open?
The gardens open in seasons, recently from around November to April, on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from the afternoon to 8pm. They close over the summer. Check the Qatar Museums website for the current season’s dates and hours.
How much are tickets for Dadu Gardens?
Tickets are sold through the Qatar Museums ticketing site. Recent seasons have been listed at around QAR 15 to 20, and some special days have been free with a booked ticket. Confirm the current price when you book.
Can adults visit Dadu Gardens without children?
No. Every adult must be accompanied by a child under 12, and every child must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or over.
What age is Dadu Gardens for?
The activities are designed for children from babies up to 12 years old, with the mud kitchen, gardening and nature play especially popular with toddlers and primary-age children.
Where is Dadu Gardens and which metro station is closest?
The gardens are in Al Bidda Park, inland from the Doha Corniche. The nearest metro station is Corniche on the Red Line; Qatar Museums recommends Exit 3, followed by a walk of roughly 10 minutes.
Last checked October 2026. Hours, fees and access can change, so confirm with the official source before you go.
More places nearby
All places →
Run a tour, café or stay near Dadu Gardens, Al Bidda Park?
List your business free on Companies in Qatar, or get featured on Qatar Unseen in front of people planning their trip.