This post is for anyone who’s looking for things to do in Dubai with kids with insider tips from former Dubai residents. We’ll cover Dubai attractions for kids, places to visit in Dubai with family, kid-friendly restaurants in Dubai, and family friendly hotels in Dubai. Find out the best things to do in Dubai with kids.
During our yearly travels, we always make a pit stop in Dubai. Whether it’s for a week or longer, Dubai was home to me for many, many years. It’s where my husband and I first met (which you can read about here)…before Dubai was on anyone’s radar. We still have dear friends that live in Dubai whom we love to spend time with who let us know that are there are quite a few Dubai attractions for families. With their help, we’ve compiled this list of what to do in Dubai with kids.
Dubai does have a lot of glitz & glam and luxurious things to do. But, if you want to take the kids on your next trip to this fast-growing and every changing Middle Eastern metropolis, don’t worry because there are plenty of kid activities in Dubai and places for kids in Dubai!
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Family-Friendly Hotels in Dubai
If you’re wondering where to stay in Dubai, here’s a list of our favorite family-friendly hotels aka the best family hotels in Dubai.
1. Anantara at the Palm
One of our favorite family hotels in Dubai to stay in when we visit, Anantara at the Palm is a haven for kids! We tend to stay in Lagoon Access rooms because the kids are able to walk right into the lagoon pools located below – such a cool experience!
2. Kempinski Hotel at Mall of the Emirates
Our kids are budding ski enthusiasts and we really like the convenient access staying at the Kempinski Hotel provides because you walk out of your room and very quickly walk straight into Ski Dubai!
Check the latest prices at Kempinski Hotel at MOE – Read Where’s Bel’s first time skiing at Ski Dubai
3. Atlantis at the Palm
Atlantis at the Palm has to be one of the top family hotels in Dubai. There’s so much to do there with the kids that sometimes the thought of exploring the rest of Dubai doesn’t cross your mind. With plenty of water activities – water slides at Aquaventure and more, an impressive aquarium, and 23 restaurants, staying at Atlantis needs to happen on at least one trip to Dubai.
4. Grand Hyatt Dubai
The Grandy Hyatt is the part of Dubai where my husband and I spent most of our time when we lived in the city, and for us, a stay at the hotel brings back plenty of memories. The hotel is kid-friendly, and it makes for a great base if you want to explore Old Dubai, try some deliciously authentic Asian cuisine, and visit the Ras Al Khor wildlife sanctuary.
5. InterContinental Residence Suites
Located in Dubai Festival City, the InterContinental Residence Suites is perfect for larger families visiting Dubai. The hotel is close to the marina, which gives you access to the Dubai Canal (a must thing to do with kids when in Dubai), and is also close to one of Dubai’s popular gold courses, the championship Al Badia Golf Club.
10 Dubai Attractions for Kids
Dubai Canal Boatride
It’s been a year since the Dubai Canal officially opened, and it has changed the city landscape for the better. Our dear friend took our family for a ride on his boat starting at the Palm all the way down the 1.98 miles (3.2km) canal to the Creek in Old Dubai.
A post shared by Wendy Awai-Dakroub (@pintsizegourmets) on Apr 4, 2017 at 11:58am PDT
Our favorite part of the Canal would be the motion-operated waterfall over the Sheikh Zayed Road bridge. There are sensors that detect a boat nearby and shutoff the waterfall…which the kids absolutely loved experiencing! Get your tickets to a 2-hour Dubai Water Canal Dinner cruise.
Get tickets to a Dubai canal cruise
Desert Safari/Overnight Desert Camping
If there’s one thing I recommend not missing when you’re in the UAE, it is a desert safari.If you’re looking to disconnect from the fast-paced city life, heading out into the desert is a great way to do so. Did you know that each emirate (there are seven that make up the UAE) has different color sand?
I remember the good old days where my family, friends, and I would spend our weekend’s out camping in the desert. We’d take our tents, grills, and bbq while watching the incredible daily desert sunsets. If you’re visiting Dubai with kids, I recommended taking a
Sundowner desert safari tour – it includes everything from dune bashing in a 4×4, getting to see the sunset over the dunes, dinner and entertainment at a bedouin-style camp – a worthwhile experience.
Recommended Desert Safari Tours
Head to the Beach
We wouldn’t be beach bums from Hawaii if this wasn’t high on our list of things to do. Dubai is pleasant (except for the summer time temperatures) for a lot of the year, and there are some lovely public beaches to go and soak up the sunshine.
A post shared by Wendy Awai-Dakroub (@pintsizegourmets) on Apr 2, 2017 at 4:30am PDT
One of our favorites is Kite Beach but there are plenty of others to check out.
Spend the day Taking a Culinary Class
Since Lou Lou and Jaf are homeschooled with an emphasis placed on culinary worldschooling, I’m always on the lookout for cooking classes or food tours to teach them more about the place they’re visiting.
Dubai has a number of culinary classes for kids, but the one we loved that had a hands-on learning experience was with
SCAFA (School of Culinary and Finishing Arts) which you can read all about here. Because Dubai is so diverse the cooking classes Lou Lou and Jaf had included cooking styles from Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. While the kids get their culinary education less, parents why not sign up for this Japanese Master Cooking Class at Nobu?!
Create Your Own Food Tour
Dubai is seriously under appreciated when it comes to its diverse dining options. No matter what cuisine you’re looking for, and at your price point, you can find it in Dubai.
Since we’re so food-focused, we make it a point to try new restaurants and hole-in-the-wall spots when we’re in Dubai, and thanks to our local friends, we have a never-ending list of places to try and end up making our own custom food tours as we explore the different areas of Dubai. Wondering where to dine in Dubai? Check out our 2015 and 2016 list of kid-friendly restaurants in Dubai.
Or, take a guided food tour of Dubai
Dubai Miracle Garden
Ever wondered where the world’s largest flower garden is located? Well, I have your answer…it’s in Dubai! Dubai’s Miracle Garden is home to more than 45 million blooming flowers, all displayed in a variety of unique sculptures and designs.
A post shared by Dubai Miracle Garden (@dubaimiraclegarden) on Nov 21, 2017 at 12:11am PST
The kids really enjoyed looking at the impressive floral designs – they saw a gigantic floral plane, how cool is that?! And, for anyone that wants to up their Instagram game, this place is an Instagram lovers dream! Click here to get your tickets to Dubai Miracle Garden.
Get Snowy at Ski Dubai
The kids love skiing (we’ve been going to Whistler every ski season for the past couple of years) and have skied in both Canada and Japan, and couldn’t wait to try it in Dubai…of all places.
Did you know that the world’s largest (it’s a theme) indoor ski slope is located in Dubai at the Mall of the Emirates. If you want to learn how to ski and don’t have access to snowy weather in the winter, then we can’t recommend Ski Dubai enough. The conditions are perfect for first timers learning the basics of skiing – read Christabel of Where’s Bel’s experience of learning how to ski at Ski Dubai.
Unleash Your Creativity at the Jam Jar
I remember when I used to go paint at The Jam Jar back when I used to live in Dubai. It was a great way to relax from a stressful day at work, unleash my creativity on canvas, and meet other art-enthusiasts.
A post shared by thejamjar (@thejamjardubai) on Sep 14, 2017 at 4:45am PDT
My kids love to be creative, and since they’re homeschooled, we love exploring their passions, one of them being art. The Jam Jar is a community art space in Dubai that offers art workshops, DIY painting spaces, and a year round calendar of events and exhibitions that your kids are guaranteed to enjoy.
Watch Wildlife in Ras Al Khor
I remember seeing the flamingoes at the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary during the winter months when I’d be driving home from work on Sheikh Zayed Road. Thousands of birds use these wetlands during their migration period and the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area that’s right outside the bustling city.
A post shared by Visit Dubai (@visit.dubai) on Jan 21, 2017 at 10:32pm PST
Even though the sanctuary is only 3.7 miles, it’s extremely diverse featuring mudflats, mangroves, lagoons, salt flats and is home to more than 20,000 birds. Spotting and counting the various birds makes for a great kid-friendly (and educational) activity – click here now to book a visit to Ras Al Khor Sanctuary.
Jump Around at Bounce
We try to avoid spending time in Dubai during the summer months – we all know how brutal they can be, but if that’s not possible, we stay indoors as much as possible and have to get creative with the how the kids spend their days.
A post shared by ?click Here? (@bounce_dubai) on Oct 14, 2014 at 11:55am PDT
Which is where Bounce aka the biggest trampoline park in the UAE comes in. They offer a ton of activities and after-school programs and camps for all ages – perfect for kids with tons of energy to burn!
Tours You Might Also Like…
And, there you have it – some of the kid-friendly things that we do when we’re in Dubai.
Do you live in Dubai and have kids? Let us know in the comments below what you like to do with them.
Headed to Dubai? Check out our kid-friendly restaurant guide. For more Dubai posts, check out our UAE archives section.
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