Travel to Dubai with Kids
Discover tons of adventures and places to explore when you travel to Dubai with your kids with Neha Singh’s travel tips and insider advice.
Guest post by Neha Singh
Dubai is a fascinating city that is filled with breathtaking architecture, luxurious shopping malls, interesting culture, and vast deserts.
Over the years, Dubai has put itself on the global map by boasting of various attractions and activities for people of all age groups. Be it grandparents, parents, or children, Dubai has something to offer to everyone.
Thousands of visitors are traveling to this glamorous city every year. If you are planning a vacation to Dubai with kids, then this article is a perfect read for you.
Tips for your trip to Dubai with kids
Dubai is a very kid-friendly place.
The following tips will come in handy when you are traveling to Dubai with kids.
- October to March is the best period to visit Dubai
- The locals are very warm and welcoming, especially towards children, in Dubai
- The beaches in Dubai are extremely clean and safe where kids can indulge in a lot of activities
- Dubai is a hot city so make sure your kids are well hydrated
- Carry a good amount of sunscreen to protect them from sunburns
- Deserts can get a little cold in the evening, so it is advisable to pack a light jacket
- Many medicines can be purchased over the counter without a prescription, but it is advisable to carry necessary medications for the kids
- Dressing modestly in Dubai is good for adults though it is okay for kids to wear what they please
- Carry games, puzzles, and toys to keep them engaged while traveling
- It is highly recommended to carry snacks and other food for munching if they tend to get hungry
- Carry baby wipes and tissues as they may come in handy at all times
- Dubai has good transport facilities. Buses, metros, taxis trams, etc. are very children-friendly
- Most of the tourist attractions have stroller access for infants
- Dubai has plenty of theme parks, water parks, and amusement parks, so there are innumerable options to keep the kids entertained
What should you see or do while you’re in Dubai?
Dubai Dolphinarium: A visit to the Dubai Dolphinarium is a complete family experience. It is home to 6 bottle-nose dolphins, seals, and more than 20 species of parrots.
Experience the dolphin and seal show in which these delightful and intelligent creatures display their excellent skills and talent. Watch them dance, play, juggle, and dive, their frolics are surely going to bring a big smile on your faces. You can also swim and interact with the friendly dolphins.
Desert Safari: No trip to Dubai is complete without a visit to the famous deserts of the city. Drive across the golden dunes in a 4×4 vehicle. Enjoy thrilling activities such as dune bashing, sandboarding, and quad biking. The entire family will enjoy these activities.
After that retire to the Bedouin camps where you can ride a camel, watch the sunset, click pictures in traditional Arabic clothes, and women can get henna tattooing done on their hands.
Enjoy some cultural performances such as Tanura Dance Show, Belly Dancing, and Fire Show. Relish a delicious BBQ dinner which consists of both local and international cuisine. This is certainly an unforgettable experience for you and your family.
IMG Worlds of Adventure: One of the most entertaining amusement parks in the world, IMG Worlds of Adventure brings you face to face with all your favorite characters from Marvel Comics and Cartoon Network.
Get up close and personal with your favorite superheroes such as Spiderman, Superman, Thor, Iron Man and Hulk at the Marvel Zone. Enjoy exciting rides based on them. In the Cartoon Network Zone, you encounter The Powerpuff Girls and Ben 10. Explore the Lost Valley Zone, where you can experience rides based on the gigantic dinosaurs. Some of the popular rides are The Velociraptor, Dino Carousel, and Forbidden Territory.
Aquaventure Waterpark: One of the best waterparks in Dubai, Aquaventure Waterpark is located at the iconic Hotel Atlantis, the Palm. It is home to more than 30 exciting rides and waterslides. Battle with the King of the Sea at the Tower of Poseidon or enjoy the thrilling twisted water tunnel Anaconda.
They also have a private beach and Dubai’s longest river, the Lazy River. All you animal lovers can head to The Lost Chambers Aquarium to get a sneak-peek into the exotic marine life. It houses more than 65,000 marine life and you can watch sharks, stingrays, dolphins, and an array of fishes.
Ski Dubai: Do you want some respite from the sweltering heat of Dubai? A visit to Ski Dubai is the best way to do that. It is an indoor ski resort right in the middle of the city.
The park maintains a temperature of around -4C degrees throughout the year. It boasts of a plethora of activities such as tobogganing, skiing, and snowboarding. There is an ice cave and a high mountain with different levels of slope. There is a chair lift and loads of other interesting snow activities. The cherry on the cake is the March of the Penguins where you get to witness these delightful creatures performing antics that are sure to leave you amazed.
Kidzania: Kidzania Dubai is surely an offbeat experience for kids as it mixes fun and learning. It is an indoor activity center that combines education and entertainment. Your kids can role-play adult professions such as doctors, teachers, policemen, firefighters, journalists, and the likes.
Kidzania is built like a tiny city where the streets are dotted with restaurants, offices, hospitals, fire stations, and a bank. It also allows children to imagine what their dream career may be like.
There are more than 80 activities for the kids to explore and they are paid in Kidzania currency which they can use at the different shops. It is an excellent way for children to experience adult life.
Dubai Creek: To get a feel of old Dubai, ride an Abra, which is the traditional wooden boat, across this saltwater creek for just AED 1. Take in the sights on both sides of the creek. Also, check out the colorful souks, which are the traditional markets of Dubai, on both sides of the creek.
You can pick up a lot of souvenirs such as spices, herbs, footwear, essential oils, teas, and other trinkets. Alternatively, you can book a Dhow Dinner Cruise on the creek. Dhows are wooden boats that are refurbished with all the latest amenities. Set sail on this two-hour cruise and enjoy the stunning views all around you.
Enjoy some Arabian hospitality through cultural performances and end your evening with a delectable buffet dinner.
Places to Eat
There are plenty of your usual global restaurant chains such as KFC, Pizza Hut, Burger King, Starbucks, and subway for kids who are fussy eaters.
Most of the hotels also offer a kid-friendly menu.
Some other options are Rainforest Cafe, The Noodle House, Black Tap restaurant, The Social House, Cafe Ceramique, Sumo Sushi & Bento, Bookmunch, Markette, The Lime Tree Cafe and Kitchen, Wagamama, Chili’s, Eggspectation, and 77 Veggieboutique to name a few. These restaurants have great food options for kids.
Layover with kids in Dubai
If you have a layover in Dubai for around 10-12 hours then there are many attractions to keep you busy the whole time.
Visit Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, and Dubai Fountain: Head over to the Observation Deck of the stunning Burj Khalifa for a birds-eye view of the entire city. The tallest building in the world will surely take your breath away and is a must in your Dubai itinerary.
After that, you can visit the famous Dubai Mall which is one of the largest shopping malls in the world. Home to over 1200 stores, this mall is heaven for shoppers.
It also has plenty of restaurants, a movie theatre and a vast array of entertainment options such as an ice rink, Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, a human waterfall, and the beautifully choreographed Dubai Fountain.
All these attractions are located in one place, so you don’t have to waste your time in commute. You can easily spend an entire day here.
Other attractions that you can visit are the Palm Islands, Hotel Burj Al Arab, Wild Wadi Waterpark, Legoland, Dubai Miracle Garden, and the Al Bastakiya Quarter. You can pick and choose the attractions based on the time available.
In summary…
Dubai offers diverse forms of entertainment options for kids. Be it games, rides, beaches, adventure sports, or learning, there is no dearth of activities here.
With a little bit of planning and organizing, you can have a memorable vacation with your kids in Dubai.
