Dubai was something that hadn’t really appealed to me before now, but this February half term I was TIRED and wanted a nice hotel experience. My husband was there for work so my two daughters and I flew to meet him. We took the overnight flight and arrived early in the morning around 7:45am. We were super tired, but excited! It’s such a futuristic place so when we were driving from the airport to the hotel, the girls’ heads were spinning. We only had 4 days but we crammed a lot in… here’s my take on where to go with kids in Dubai.
Where to stay in Dubai with Kids
We checked into our hotel Jumeirah Al Naseem, which was one of the nicest hotels I’ve ever stayed in. It was so accommodating for kids – it even had baby purees on the room service menu. The girls were delighted with really lovely welcome kits, and we loved our nice lunch at Rockfish restaurant, which was part of the complex.
More Hotels for Kids in Dubai
- Atlantis – The Royal: They have a kids club, splash pad and family watersports
- JA The Resort: Amazing kids clubs, 7 pools to choose from and 25 restaurants for picky eaters
- Jumeriah Beach Hotel: Home of the 120-meter drop Jumeirah Sceirah slide – for adventurous kids only!
A 4-Day Itinerary for Kids in Dubai
Day 1: After checking in, we had a nap, explored the grounds, then that night went to a VR park at Dubai Mall. Malls are something that I try to avoid with the kids (growing up in Florida I’m way too familiar with wandering around malls) but this is no ordinary mall! The aquarium is here, along with the Immersive ARTE installation.
We had a lovely dinner overlooking the world’s biggest skyscraper, Burj Khalifa, and watched the water and light show, which is pretty impressive.
Day 2: The girls wanted to go to the nearby Wild Wadi water park for the morning so we went for a few hours. Admission was included with our hotel but you can also buy tickets and a transfer easily. That night, we got picked up from the hotel and went ‘dune bashing’ in the desert, which was quite thrilling and the girls loved it! Afterwards we had dinner in a magically lit up restaurant, Sonara, with a dinner show.
Day 3: Another day, another super fun activity for the kids: today was IMG Worlds of Adventure, the world’s biggest indoor theme park. Later in the day we chilled by the pool and had dinner in Al Nafoorah in our hotel, for delicious Lebanese food.
Day 4: My husband had to leave early for work, so it was just me and the girls. We tried to get tickets to the Futures Museum, which was highly recommended by trusted friends. We were really disappointed that it was sold out – another reminder to get more organized and book early! For somebody who runs a travel company, I should be better at trip planning but I often leave things too late. We are launching an amazing new travel planning service and I will be the first customer!
Instead of the Futures Museum, we took an Abra Boat Tour which was low key and fun, and walked along the beach promenade and had ice-cream. That night, we went to an amazing VIP movie experience at the hotel, where you sit in reclining chairs and they bring you dinner. My daughters literally squealed in delight.
More Things to do in Dubai with Kids
Here are some of the other big tourist attractions to see in Dubai if you’re on vacation with the kids:
- Dubai Butterfly Garden – a colorful assault on the senses
- Burj Khalifa – visit the observation deck on the 125th floor
- Dubai Safari Park – the first of its kind in UAE
- Motiongate – Dubai’s Hollywood-inspired theme park
- Legoland – Always a must-visit for kids under 12
- Museum of Candy – Weird and wonderful!
Tips for Family Vacations to Dubai
We combined our trip with a stop off in London – there are regular connecting flights to London with Air Emirates so it’s a great multi-stop tour if you’re in Europe or the Middle East.
Our final morning was an early flight back, where we stayed for 2 nights at the Marylebone Lane Residence, which is a really pretty part of the city. Sunday we went to a matinee showing of Wicked, which my 8-year-old daughter has been obsessed with. We had a pre-theatre brunch at Harry’s, which was delicious and just across the street.
You’re not allowed to drink in public in Dubai, but it’s fine in licensed hotels and restaurants. Check out the Visit Dubai guide for practical information and etiquette guidelines when visiting Dubai.
Book a Family Trip to Dubai
Choose from the 10 Best Family Hotels in Dubai on Booking.com or browse the top family-friendly hotels in Dubai on Expedia.