18 Best Things to Do in Dubai with Kids
Dubai is a city that’s great to visit with the whole family. Dubai with kids can be a place full of adventure, with plenty of things to do and see, including theme parks, ziplines, and dune buggies. The city also has plenty of year-round sunshine, making it the ideal location for a beach vacation as well if you wish.
I’ve been to Dubai a lot alone, but visiting Dubai with kids needed slightly more planning and finding new activities, BUT everyone had fun! I highly recommend visiting Dubai with toddlers, babies, and older kids. My kids were almost 2 and almost 4 when we went and they’ve been eager to return.
All of the activities listed in this article are also something adults can enjoy. There’s nothing like going on a vacation where the whole family can enjoy themselves!
Practical Info for Visiting Dubai with Kids: Is Dubai A Good Place To Visit With Kids?
There are plenty of things to do and everyone is accommodating to children of any age.
I recommend staying near most of the attractions you want to see because many people underestimate the distances and traffic in Dubai.
For example, Atlantis the Palm might seem like a great family-friendly hotel (and it is!), but it makes zero sense to stay there if most of the things you want to do are downtown. On the other hand, Atlantis can be a great option is you want to relax, enjoy the beach and mostly hang on the Palm.
I opted for staying near Dubai Mall due to its proximity to the obvious mall with many restaurants, and kids’ attractions. It was nice having an option to take a break there. We stayed at Pullman Dubai Downtown (photo of the pool below).
Do you need a car seat in Dubai?
Dubai has some public transportation and you can get around with a monorail, but not everywhere. We knew we needed to use taxis in Dubai.
I was very worried because unlike in most places around the world, taxis and Uber aren’t exempt from the car seat rule and officially children require car seats. We weren’t able to bring our own car seats as we weren’t allowed to bring any on our small planes in the Maldives where we headed next.
You can use the Careem app on which you can preschedule your taxi with a car seat, but otherwise, you’ll be waiting a long time. Plus, they are unable to provide more than one car seat per car, so it also didn’t work for us with two children.
In reality, things weren’t strict with car seats and in fact, most taxis didn’t have car seats nor care if you used them with children. There were some car seats lying around by the airport for you to grab for your taxi and during our stay one taxi installed a car seat he had in his trunk, but for short rides, all the kids we encountered were just using standard seatbelts.
Best Things to Do in Dubai with Kids
1. Visit The Tallest Building In the World: Burj Khalifa
The Burj Khalifa, which stands 830 meters ( a little over 2700 feet) above the ground, is the tallest building in the world. A ticket to the Burj Khalifa will allow you to visit both platforms and take a ride on the world’s fastest elevator. You can also explore the interactive exhibit At The Top, which is a glimpse of the building’s history.
During a clear day, you can see up to 95 kilometers (nearly 60 miles) in each direction. The building’s 148th floor also features Sky Level, home to the world’s highest outdoor terrace.
For the best value, combine a ticket with the Burj Khalifa, the Dubai Aquarium, and the Underwater Zoo.
You must get a ticket in advance because it all sells out, often a few days in advance. I only recommend getting VIP tickets to the highest floor with kids because otherwise you’ll be stuck in line at the top despite the timeslot ticket.
Our kids were going insane after 30 minutes of waiting for the elevator down (and we were told it was at least another hour to go), so the staff escorted us through the backdoor to a different elevator, but honestly – even without kids I would recommend the option of including the top deck without crowds.
2. See the Fish at Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo
The Aquarium and Underwater Zoo offer a variety of experiences for visitors, such as behind-the-scenes tours and a chance to enjoy feeding the animals.
The Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo feature some of the largest suspended aquariums in the world. You can explore the underwater world by taking a boat ride or trying your hand at cage snorkeling.
The Underwater Zoo and Aquarium in Dubai is a popular tourist attraction that features over 300 species of marine life. It’s also home to the most extensive collection of sand tiger sharks worldwide.
My kids absolutely loved the aquarium and it was their favorite attraction in Dubai. You can indeed see a glimpse of it without paying to get in as it’s part of the mall, but there’s just so much more inside.
3. Experience a True Desert Safari Overnight
Desert safari tours can last for a couple of days or even hours, depending on your chosen activities. Be aware that some tours, such as those that involve driving dune buggies, do have age restrictions as a safety precaution, so always check this before booking!
We ended up not spending the night as the day before there was a huge rainstorm (yup, it rains in Dubai but usually only when I visit it). Kids loved riding a camel, learning about local traditions, meeting a falcon, and watching a beautiful desert sunset. A desert safari in Dubai is a must-do for any family vacation to the city. It’s a great way to introduce the kids to the local culture and traditions of the Bedouin.
Car seats for kids and more kid-friendly meals can be provided and you’ll have a private car to explore at your own pace. Camel Ride and Falcon was a big hit for the little ones!
4. Capture Beautiful Photos at the Dubai Miracle Garden
The Dubai Miracle Garden is a must-visit for anyone who enjoys nature and in Dubai with kids. It’s open from November through May, and it can get crowded during the peak season, which is from December to February.
The Miracle Garden is a beautiful 72,000-square-meter park that serves as an oasis of flora situated against the backdrop of a desert. Over 150 million flowers have been planted in the Dubai Miracle Garden, which has been one of the region’s most beautiful attractions since it was first established. It’s also one of the most romantic locations in the UAE.
If you’re planning on visiting the city with the kids, check out the Butterfly Garden, home to thousands of free-flying butterflies.
5. Take a Hot Air Balloon Ride Over The City
Family members over 5 years old can enjoy a peaceful and serene view of Dubai as the sun rises with a balloon ride over the city. This experience takes place at an altitude of around 4,000 feet. You and your kiddos will have the opportunity to take in the panoramic views of Palm Jumeirah Island.
Dubai is a city that has a captivating contrast. Its shiny skyscrapers against the red desert and the Gulf’s blue waters are some of the highlights of its beauty. It’s thought to be the perfect way to see Dubai, as it’s not a view that everyone gets!
6. Take a Break at Dubai Mall
To escape from the heat or simply spend a little time exploring this huge destination, head to The Dubai Mall and wander its countless corridors.
There are plenty of little play areas at the mall if you need a little break during shopping, or simply want a place to get the jet-lagged kids’ energy out (like we did!) because the playspots close at 10 pm.
We really liked the play area with some rides and next door’s Krispy Kreme gave them funny hats they cherished until they got destroyed.
7. See the Fountain Show
The fountain show is a standard attraction in Dubai. The Dubai Fountain evening show takes place every 30 minutes from 6 pm to 11 pm daily, every show being slightly different.
It does get crowded around the fountain and you can go on a boat to see the show, but with kids, there’s a better way to do it: book dinner with a view!
Various restaurants at the mall have terraces where you can eat while watching the fountain show. With kids, your best option is Carluccio’s – an Italian place with plenty of options for little picky eaters.
8. Visit IMG Worlds of Adventure For The Best Rollercoasters Around
The world’s largest indoor theme park is an excellent place for families and thrill-seekers, and it features four different adventure zones.
IMG Worlds of Adventure features over two dozen rides and attractions, including multiple types of roller coasters. It also has a variety of dining outlets and a cinema complex. In addition to these, Worlds of Adventure also has a variety of other attractions, such as the Ice Rink, the first indoor ice skating facility in Dubai.
This is the perfect place to come, especially if you have kids who are the complete opposite of each other when it comes to rides! There are rides for those who love heart-stopping, adrenaline-pumping action, and also rides for kids who prefer to take it down a few notches.
I will say that your kids should be at least 4 years old or very tall to enjoy it, so check the height restrictions before heading there.
9. Take Some Photos At The 3D World Selfie Museum
The 3D World Selfie Museum, which is a 20,000-square-foot facility, lets you explore the world and helps feed your imagination. It features various attractions such as art galleries, wall murals, and portraits that utilize trompe-l’œil, a French technique.
This approach combines optical illusion with painted pieces to create three-dimensional images