10 Things to See and Do for an unforgettable Family Holiday in Dubai with Kids

Of all the places we have traveled to, Dubai is definitely among the most kid friendly in the world. No other city has so much to offer for children and the possibilities keep growing. To help you make the most out of your vacation in Dubai with Kids, we have put together a list of things to See and Do. Just chose the activities you and your little ones are likely to enjoy the most. Here we go:

Top Things for a great Family Vacation in Dubai with Kids

1. Dubai with Kids – Burj Khalifa – At the Top

 

 

Dubai with Kids

828m tall Burj Khalifa

Going to the top of Burj Khalifa is a must do when visiting Dubai. There’s nowhere else where you have the opportunity to be transported to 465 meters above the ground in a high speed elevator traveling at 10 meters per second. As soon as the door opens on level 124 you have a breathtaking view of Dubai at your feet. The terrace is the perfect place to take plenty of pictures.

You can access level 125 via a spiral flight. On both levels, telescopes enable amazing day and night time views. The touch screen details the buildings and other landmarks. Our kids loved to play around with this gadget. Especially the view from the past Dubai is amazing and not to be missed. It shows you how much Dubai has evolved and changed in a very short period of time.

Dubai with Kids

 

We also enjoyed watching the Dubai Fountain together with the lights and music. It is really worth seeing it from this unique birds perspective. There are two souvenir shops and you can take some fun pictures.

Dubai with Kids

Tips: • buy your tickets in advance so that you can choose your preferred day and time

• it is worth considering the prime hours tickets as you’ll be able to experience both day and night time views

 

 

2. Dubai with Kids – Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo

 

We suggest combining the Burj Khalifa visit with the Dubai Aquarium as both are located inside the Dubai Mall.

Dubai with Kids

The Dubai Aquarium visits starts with the tunnel and oh dear- sharks swimming right above your head. You can literally look inside the sharks mouth and see his teeths. That’s the moment you realize why sharks are that dangerous and that there’s no escaping. Inside the tunnel you’ll also see stingrays and all kinds of fish, big and small.

Dubai with Kids

Next, the visit will take you to Discovery Channel’s Shark Week exhibit. A & C enjoyed learning more about these fascinating creatures thanks to interactive touch screens.

The Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo are a great surprise. We didn’t expect half the animals that you are actually able to see here. Besides fish species there are playful otters, tortoises, hedgehogs, penguins etc. but above all the two massive crocodiles were a big hit with our kids. Here as well, touch screens give you plenty of information about the animals, like where they live, what they eat etc. A fun and educational visit.

Dubai with Kids

 

Tips: • Feeding times: 10am for the Rays, 2pm for the Sharks, 4pm for the crocodiles

 

3. Dubai with Kids – Dubai Fountain Show

 

Dubai with Kids

Dubai with Kids

Our favorite spot to watch the fountain show right outside Dubai Mall

4. Dubai with Kids – Aquaventure (Atlantis Resort Dubai)

 

The ultimate waterpark in Dubai can be found at the far end of Palm Jumeirah. Located at the Atlantis Resort you can buy a day pass or if you are a guest staying at the hotel the entrance to the waterpark in included in your room rate.

We keep going to Aquaventure since the kids are little (2 & 4) and we always have a great time. Of course over the years they can experience more slides as they get older. As toddlers they love to play at the Splasher’s children’s play area and the River with yet some exciting rapids. To access Tower of Poseidon and Neptune children need to be at least 1.2 meters tall. There are several food and drink outlets spread over the areal. And most of all you don’t need to worry for your safety, there are lifeguards every few meters.

 

Tips: • for your birthday you can get a free day pass to Aquaventure. Just register in advance and use it during your birthday week.

 

5. Dubai with Kids – The Lost Chambers Aquarium (Atlantis Resort Dubai)

 

Not to be confused with the Dubai Aquarium, the Lost Chambers is an Aquarium located inside the Atlantis Resort. It is quite different from the first in the sense that you’ll only find sea creatures here. The visit is very easy as you find your way through the 10 different themed Chambers. There are tanks where kids can touch and learn more about the animals from marine experts.

 

6. Dubai with Kids – Al Soufouh or Kite Beach

 

These are public beaches situated on either side of Burj Al Arab. If you are staying in a city hotel and want to spend a day on the beach, these 2 locations are great options. Note that there are more facilities on Kite Beach like food & drink outlets, playgrounds for kids, finding a taxi etc.

Dubai with Kids

Al Soufouh Beach

Dubai with Kids

Kite Beach Trampoline

7. Dubai with Kids – Watersports

 

Whether you like kayaking, parasailing, jetskiing, waterskiing or banana riding you can find all these activities at different locations around Dubai.

 

8. Dubai with Kids – 4×4 Dubai Desert Safari

 

The 4×4 desert Safari is a thrilling experience for kids and adults alike but you better not suffer from car sickness! As you might guess, dune bashing is quite bumpy and we don’t recommend it for kids below 4.

Dubai with Kids

 

9. Dubai with Kids – Dubai Marina Walk

 

At the Dubai Marina you can find numerous outlets and restaurants and breathtaking views especially at night.

Dubai with Kids

10. Kidzania

 

For those of you that are not yet familiar with it, Kidazania is an indoor theme park that allows kids to experience real life role play and earn kidZos money. They can work at the supermarket or fly an airplane and spend the money earned in other activities like the hair salon for example.

Shopping Malls and Kids? Sure!

 

There are 3 huge malls in Dubai were we keep going back: The Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates and Festival City Mall. Each mall has its own special features, Shops, Restaurants and Food Courts and for kids there is a lot to do. The huge toy stores alone can keep children busy for hours. The only challenge for us parents in that case is to drag the little ones out without buying the whole store…but that is another story.

Here the things you can do with Kids listed per mall:

Dubai Mall

• Ice Rink

Dubai with Kids

• Kidzania

• Sega World

• Dubai Aquarium

• At the Top Burj Khalifa

• Dubai Fountains Show

Mall of the Emirates

• Ski Dubai

• Magic Planet

• VOX Cinemas

Festival City Mall

• Fabyland

• NOVO Cinemas

 

If you have any questions about visiting Dubai, please leave a comment below or contact us. Of course, this list of activities is not exhaustive. We only include things we have experienced ourself. For more travel inspiration with Kids follow Letzflyaway on Facebook.