The 5 Best Family Experiences in Dubai

But as any parent will tell you, the best holidays for families are those that recognise the particular needs and wants of children, as well as adults.

So with that in mind we asked the Travel Seen team and some of our famous friends for their parental recommendations from their own Dubai holidays with kids. Here’s what they had to say:

1. Waterparks and waves

As many of the resorts in Dubai – like Atlantis and Jumeirah – offer free access to a waterpark, a day or two with the kids here is a great way to enjoy the outdoors at no extra cost.

Atlantis has its own waterpark within the resort – the world’s largest in fact - which is also home to the new Surf’s Up waverider. “Having the water park next door was just amazing for the kids,” said Kimberley Walsh after she recently stayed at the resort with her three boys aged seven, four and five months.

Free entry to the Wild Wadi Waterpark is unlimited for guests of the Jumeirah Beach Hotel – meaning you can pop there for just a few hours without feeling the need to make the most of a full day’s ticket. Wild Wadi also has plenty for younger kids – like splash areas – for those too little for the waterslides.

2. Family-friendly brunches

Dubai is renowned for its gastronomy and a great way to get the kids involved is at one of the city’s famous brunches.

This style of informal dining where the kids can graze and pick what they like is perfect for a more relaxed dining experience. And to enhance it, many of Dubai’s best family friendly brunch venues include children’s entertainment and kids’ buffets. The Family Brunch at Gordon Ramsey’s Bread Street Kitchen at Atlantis The Palm for example, which puts on cooking classes and activities.

For inspiration and ideas of the best brunch spots for kids in Dubai follow Family Brunch Dubai on Instagram.

3. Under the sea

Dubai has some truly fabulous aquariums; a great activity with kids if the temperatures have peaked and you’re in search of something to do indoors and air conditioned.

Once they’re bored of shopping at The Dubai Mall you can pop into the adjoining Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo. A great activity for all ages, babies can experience the sensory walk through the aquarium’s tunnel while older children spot sand tiger sharks.
Over at the Atlantis there’s an aquarium on site so families can dip in and out to see the sea life. Guests can also get up close to the resort’s marine mammals: “The experience meeting the dolphins was so magical and it was really special to see how much the boys loved learning about marine life and what incredible creatures dolphins are,” Kimberley Walsh said about her family’s dolphin encounter at Atlantis.

4. Children’s play museum

Another idea to beat the heat in Dubai is OliOli. Aimed at primary school aged children it’s an interactive play museum split into eight galleries.

Next to the Oasis Mall and a short transfer from the Palm Jumeirah, there areas are divided into: Air, Water, Toshi’s Net (the highlight for most visitors!), Creative Lab, Future Park, Fort Building, Toddler Gallery and Cars & Ramps. Follow Oli Oli on Instagram for images of this epic kids play place.

5. Into the desert

Finally, it would be crazy to fly all that way and not experience the wonders of the Dubai desert!

Family days out include sandboarding, a desert safari and camel riding, with packages available that include food and kids’ menus. The best way to arrange a family trip into the desert is to ask your hotel’s concierge to book you tickets and arrange transfers; Arabia Adventures is a good provider.

So we hope that’s given you a few ideas of some of the many amazing things there are to do in Dubai with kids… when they’re not in the pool, on the beach or at the kids club that is.