You can have a great vacation in Dubai with kids. There are lots of activities to do in Dubai with kids and it is very much a safe destination. Dubai is also often the stopover for families to another faraway destination. This way you can easily incorporate a few days of Dubai into your trip and admire all the highlights of this metropolis. We visited this city for over a week with our daughter and list all the kids activities in this blog.
What to do in Dubai with kids
#1 Kite Beach and Jumeirah Beach
One advantage of a city break to Dubai with kids is that you can also spend a day at the beach. Kite Beach and Jumeirah Beach are wonderful Western beaches, where there is lots of entertainment for kids. At Kite Beach you have outdoor trampolines for the kids and the delicious and famous restaurant Salt where they sell fries with burgers.
By the way, there are several food trucks on Kite Beach where it is very easy to get something to eat, especially with kids. You get here by taking the subway to Noor Bank station and from there it’s about another 10 minutes by cab.
The other beach that is fun to visit in Dubai with kids is Jumeirah Beach (also referred to as the beach at the Dubai Marina walk on many websites). The boulevard here is famous for the many expensive cars that drive by here. What makes it especially fun for kids is that there are many playgrounds around the promenade.
For lunch or dinner, there are also quite a few nice and affordable restaurants. You get to Jumeirah Beach by taking the subway to Jumeirah Lake Towers and from there it’s about a 10-minute walk.
#2 Burj Khalifa
You can also visit the world’s tallest building in Dubai with kids. The Burj Khalifa is 828 meters high and the absolute highlight of the Dubai skyline. From the outside this building already looks impressive and in many places in Dubai you can see the tower from the outside.
In addition, it is possible to visit the famous tower in Dubai with kids. You cannot visit many of the floors in the tower, since there are many apartments in the tower and also a hotel in it, but on the 124/125th and 148th floors you have a viewing platform, where you have a very nice view of the city.
The cheapest tickets are for the 124/125th floor and these tickets are already quite pricey. For the 148th floor, you have a VIP platform and thus pay extra. You don’t have to do this for the view, as you are already high enough on the 124/125th floor to have a nice view of Dubai with the family. We ourselves did not visit the tower with our daughter. Check online for tickets to the Burj Khalifa.
#3 Dubai Mall
It is also definitely fun to visit a shopping mall in Dubai with kids. Even if you are not into shopping. Most shopping malls are huge and there are all kinds of things for kids to do in the mall itself. The Dubai Mall is the largest shopping mall in the world and also has the largest aquarium in the world.
This aquarium is fun to check out with kids and you don’t pay an entrance fee. In fact, the aquarium is located in the middle of the mall. If you want to see the rest of the aquarium and also visit the underwater tunnel, you do pay an entrance fee.
There is also a Kidszania in the Dubai Mall where kids can do all kinds of professions (price for kids is 40 euros and for parents 16 euros). Kidszania is in several places around the world and we have already visited several branches of Kidszania there.
It is definitely a fun activity if you are visiting the city with young kids. There is also a nice restaurant in this mall, the Rainforest Café, where we ourselves ate at this chain with our daughter in Canada once.
Starting at 6 p.m. every day at the Dubai Mall, there is a fountain show (Dubai Fountain) that takes place every 30 minutes. This is the largest fountain show in the world. This is another fun and free activity you can do in Dubai with kids.
You also have in the Dubai Mall a huge cinema, ice rink and go-kart track, where you can go with kids. Other attractions in the mall include the Waterfall waterfall and the Dubai Dino that you can check out. Near the Dubai Mall is also the Burj Khalifa, making it great to combine these two attractions.
#4 Mall of the Emirates
The Mall of the Emirates is the second mall you can visit in Dubai with kids and this mall is known for the large indoor ski slope they have with 5 different runs, where you can see penguins through the window if you are lucky. It’s great to spend a few hours skiing or snowboarding here in Dubai with kids.
There is also an extensive food court in the mall where you can eat cheaply with the family and where there is always something tasty for the kids. In total, there are more than 100 restaurants in this mall and you can also shop at more than 500 stores. Other activities you can do in this mall with the family is go gaming at Magic Planet or watch a movie at the VOX movie theater.
We ourselves took a quick look at the ski run and then did some shopping at the large Carrefour supermarket for a picnic at the All Barsha Pond park which is next to the Mall. Of course, these two large shopping malls are also a great alternative if, for example, the weather is not so good in Dubai one day and you still want to do something in Dubai with kids. You can also cool off in these malls on hot days.
#5 Zabeel Park
It’s great to escape the hustle and bustle of the city in Dubai with kids in one of the several city parks. Dubai has several parks in the city, where it is great to spend a few hours, especially with kids. For example, we were total fans of Zabeel Park, where you have a huge number of playgrounds and where our daughter played tremendously well.
The entrance fee for this park is 5 dirhams, about 1.25 euros. It is located next to the Al Jafilia metro station and especially on weekends it is very busy here. During the week this is not the case and you have the huge park almost alone for your family. We did spend a few hours almost every day here hanging out in the many playgrounds, and there are small stalls where you can buy some food (don’t expect an elaborate meal).
We also went one day to the All Barsha Pond Park which is a short taxi ride from the Mall of the Emirates and where we took to the water in a solar boat. A very fun activity and afterwards we had a picnic in the park with the food we got from the supermarket and our daughter played wonderfully in the playgrounds.
#6 Motiongate
Dubai is pushing to become theme park capital of the world. Therefore, you can go to several amusement parks in Dubai with kids. Our daughter’s birthday was when we were in Dubai, so for her 4th birthday we went to the Motiongate amusement park. This we found to be a very nice park to visit with her.
You have famous attractions here featuring the characters Shrek, the Smurfs and Kung Fu panda. This is a park mainly aimed at young kids and for our 4-year-old daughter this was an ideal park. We thought it was a very fun and beautiful park to visit.
Motiongate is quite a bit by subway and cab, but there are also free buses from various points in the city. We went here by public transportation and it was quite manageable. When we visited the amusement park in March with our daughter, it was not crowded at all. Still, we had a great time here for an entire day with her.
#7 IMG World of Adventure
Another amusement park you can visit in Dubai with kids is IMG World of Adventure. This is the largest indoor amusement park in the United Arab Emirates. The amusement park is quite large and divided into 6 different worlds. Everything at this amusement park revolves around Cartoons and Marvel.
In each world you have different attractions and the amusement park has several spectacular rides for older kids as well as rides that are really aimed at young kids. Big advantage of the amusement park is that it is indoors, which means you can visit the amusement park all year round. There are dozens of catering establishments in the amusement park, which means you can also have a great time here for an entire day in Dubai with kids.
#8 Legoland Dubai
You can also visit Legoland park in Dubai with kids. You have both an amusement park and a water park here that you can visit in Dubai. Both the amusement park and the water park are geared towards young kids. In the amusement park, you have some attractions that are suitable for young kids such as a mini roller coaster, electric cars (made of Lego) and electric airplanes.
In addition, kids can play a lot in this park in Dubai with both Lego and Duplo (for the slightly younger kids). Kids can have a great time here for a whole day in this park and it is also possible to go to the 4d cinema where you can watch a movie dedicated to Lego.
The water park also has several slides that are very suitable for young kids. There are also sections with all kinds of play equipment and of course everything is in Lego style. Most slides require a minimum height of 102 cm. Of course it is possible to buy a combination ticket for both parks of Legoland. For more information, check out Legoland Dubai‘s website.
#9 Old Dubai
If you want to see what Dubai used to look like before all the big buildings were built you can go to the old part of Dubai. For example, it’s fun to take small wooden boats (abras) on Dubai Creek for 0.25 euros and then visit the Gold Souk (get off at Burj Dubai). At times, you feel like you are just in the Efteling‘s Fata Morgana here. Take the metro to Al Ras station and there you will see the boats.
In addition, you can take a ferry from the old part Al Ghubaiba to Dubai Marina three times a day (kids about 11 euros and adults 17 euros). In doing so, you sail past the Dubai skyline. So it’s nice to see that there are big differences in the city. You have huge modern sections in the city with beautiful buildings and also a very traditional section where you really go back in time.
#10 Aquaventure water park
You can go to several water parks in Dubai with kids. The most famous water park is the one of the Atlantis Hotel: Aquaventure Waterpark. The Atlantis Hotel is a 5 star hotel with 1500 rooms, but even if you are not staying at this hotel you can visit the hotel’s water park in Dubai with kids.
You have several slides at this water park for both young and older kids. You can have a great time here for an entire day with the family. Keep in mind that the entrance tickets for this water park are not cheap. The water park also includes a large aquarium, but you have to buy a separate ticket for this. There is also a dolphinarium that you can visit here with the kids.
Other water parks you can visit in Dubai with the family are Wild Wadi Waterpark, Jungle Bay Waterpark and the aforementioned Legoland Waterpark. In short, you have plenty of choice if you want to spend a day swimming in Dubai with the family.
Other children’s activities in Dubai
You see you can easily have a week of fun in Dubai with kids. These are some of the things we did, but there are many more things you can do in Dubai with kids. We list them briefly below.
#11 desert safari: you can also visit the desert from Dubai with kids. These tours cost about 40 euros per person and that includes a bbq. Note that there are varying reviews on the internet about this. You drive from the city to the desert in the afternoon and have a BBQ in the desert with the family.
#12 Dubai Garden Glow: This park is located in the Zabeel park where you can also find the Dubai Frame (great artwork and fun to take a picture). Here you can enjoy four magical themes in one space. You can visit the world’s largest glow-in-the-dark garden, made from millions of low-energy bulbs and recycled luminous material
#13 Day in Abu Dhabi: By cab or rental car, you can get to Abu Dhabi from Dubai in 1.5 hours. Abu Dhabi, of course, is also a big city, where there is plenty to do for families with kids. This way you can combine two world cities during your trip to Dubai with kids. If you want to know more about Abu Dhabi, read our blog Abu Dhabi with kids for more information.
#14 Global Village: this park is located just outside Dubai about half an hour away by car from downtown. This park is open from November to March and you have all kinds of eateries and other activities from more than 75 countries.
#15 The Green Planet: You can also go to an animal park in Dubai with kids. The Green Planet is an indoor animal park, where they have recreated an entire tropical jungle. You can walk through the jungle here with the family and kids can get extremely close to some of the animals.
Family-friendly hotel Dubai
We slept at the Rose Garden Hotel Dubai which we were very satisfied with. The apartment had a room for us and our daughter, a kitchen and living room and it was close to the metro and shopping mall.
This shopping mall had a large supermarket and a food court, so we could always get something to eat quickly. It is also centrally located. We had an excellent week here and always started the day on the balcony in the pool. Breakfast was included in the price. Check online for more information about the Rose Garden Hotel in Dubai.
Of course, you have plenty of other family-friendly accommodations in Dubai. We list some of the best-reviewed accommodations in Dubai below. Click on the blue link for more information.
Budget accommodation: Premier Inn Dubai Dragon Mart
Mid-range accommodation: Sunday Hotel Holiday international Dubai
Luxury accommodation: Pullman Dubai Downtown
Also check out the entire list of family-friendly accommodations in Dubai.
Package tour Dubai
You can also book a package tour for a trip to Dubai with kids. This means that you then book a flight including a hotel. Some package tours then include food and drink. You have some wonderful hotels where you can stay in Dubai with your family. We list some of these package tours in Dubai below. Press the blue link for more information.
Sofitel Dubai The Palm: The Palm is a well-known landmark in Dubai and you can also stay here in a family-friendly hotel. You have a wonderful pool here for kids and in that respect, this really is a wonderful hotel for a relaxing vacation in Dubai.
RIU Dubai: If you are looking for a hotel where you can be all inclusive in Dubai then this hotel is a nice option. We think RIU’s hotels are always top notch and many Dutch people book a hotel through this hotel chain. The hotel has several pools (including one for kids), a playground and a mini-club for younger kids.
Atlantis the Palm: We mention the water park at Atlantis the Palm in this blog as one of the activities to do in Dubai with kids. Guests staying at this beautiful hotel have free access to this water park.
Tips Dubai with kids
Best travel time Dubai with kids
The best travel time to visit Dubai with kids is from October to April. Then the temperatures are the lowest and you can visit the city just fine. In the other months, temperatures regularly exceed 30 degrees and then it can be too hot. In the other months, the temperature is between 20 and 30 degrees.
There is some rain during this period, but it is usually not many days. Besides, you have plenty of children’s activities that take place indoors, so you don’t have to be bothered by it that much when you visit the city. The period from October to April is also high season in the city and then certain hotels may be booked up a little faster.
Also, always check when exactly Ramadan is, as it is a lot harder to eat and drink in the city during the day then. If you can avoid this period, we would definitely recommend it.
Transportation to and in Dubai
The majority of families with kids visiting Dubai come to Dubai by plane. Dubai is a destination to which a huge number of airlines fly, and the Dubai airport is one of the largest airports in the world. This makes the city easily accessible from several countries.
If you’re visiting Dubai with kids, it’s fine to rent a car. Some of the activities in this list are difficult to visit without a car. The roads in Dubai are great to drive on, making it easy to rent a car in Dubai. You can rent a car in Dubai from the company Sunny Cars.
We usually (when we can) book a car through Sunny Cars, because we find that this company has the most comprehensive insurance package and the best service. As a result, we never have to worry about our rental car abroad. Therefore, look online for car rental at Dubai airport.
You can actually walk around Dubai with kids everywhere just fine. The city is safe to visit, so you don’t really have to fear crime. To travel around Dubai with kids, you can use public transportation just fine.
In Dubai, you have 2 metro lines, a streetcar line and numerous bus connections that you can use in the city. We used the metro a lot with our daughter. We found this to be a convenient system. You then purchase a Nol card at the various metro stations.
Dubai City Pass
You can purchase several passes during a city break to Dubai with kids. Most passes give you free entry to various attractions and can also save you money as a family. It is therefore advisable to check what you want to do in Dubai with kids and which passes are advantageous to buy.
For example, you have the Dubai City Pass (Turbopass) that you can order, which includes several attractions in the price such as the The View at The Palm, Dubai Frame, Atlantis Aquaventure, IMG Worlds of Adventure and Dubai Garden Glow. It also includes the Hop on Hop off bus. If you order this pass for one day then it is quite pricey, but for multiple days the pass becomes more and more affordable.
Another pass you can purchase in Dubai with kids is the iVenture Card Dubai. With this pass, you get to choose 3 different attractions from 3 different categories that you can then visit for free in Dubai. Yet another card is the Dubai Explorer Pass, where you can choose from 3, 5 or 7 attractions to visit for 60 days after activation.
And then there are several other cards and variants. It can therefore save a lot of money for families with kids to take a moment to figure out which card, if any, offers benefits during a city trip to Dubai with kids. Take a look online for an overview of the different Dubai City Passes.
If you want more tips for your trip to Dubai with kids, also read the blog Dubai tips.
