Dubai is often known for its modernization in architecture and technology. It wasn’t only until the discovery of oil in the mid 60s that completely revolutionized the city to the vibrant and opulent city it is today. We wanted a vacation to immerse ourselves with unique engaging experiences, beautiful architecture and of course to see the Arabian desert!
Dubai completely exceeded our expectations. It is such a fun and exciting city to visit and to top it all, very clean and safe. There was so much to see and do in so little time that we truly felt that it deserves a second round someday!
Here are our top 7 places to visit for Families with kids in Dubai:
1. Arabian Desert
You don’t go to Dubai without visiting the beautiful golden sand dunes of the desert. The texture of the Arabic sands are so soft and refined. Quite different from the sands we typically experience at the tropical beaches. This is a MUST experience with your little ones. There are ATV’s available for the more adventurous individuals (min age 6 yrs and up) or the dune buggy’s that can accommodate 4 or more passengers. I also recommended the dune buggy’s for older children as the excursion, and the ride itself is quite bumpy and can easily send young children off the buggy on their own. The day could get really hot during mid-day so I would highly recommend going in the early or later part of the day. Many great photo opportunities abound with your little ones, so bring a cold pack of bottle water with you but snacks and drinks were also available at nearby shops. There are tour companies that offer a variety of Jeep tours that would be safer for younger children to experience.
2. Downtown Dubai
The epicenter of where locals and tourists often collide. You can easily spend the entire day in this area. Three popular landmarks of Dubai are situated within a short radius of each other: The Dubai Mall, Dubai Fountain, and the Burj Khalifa. The Dubai Mall in terms of square footage, is the largest mall in the entire world. A variety of top unique attractions is located within the mall including an underwater aquarium and zoo, an Olympic size skating rink, a large entertainment gaming complex (Sega Republic), a cinema with 22 large screens and comfortable reclining chairs, and an abundance of charming shops and restaurants. When you’ve tired yourself out scouring the largest mall in the world (over 13 million square footage) head outside in the center of the mall is the tallest free standing structure in the world with the second largest choreographed fountain replicating the Bellagio fountain of Vegas. The fountains are best enjoyed at night and light shows start at 6pm and usually lasts 5 minutes a show. Situated behind the Dubai fountain, is the tallest free-stranding structure in the world (standing at 2717 feet in height), The Burj Khalifa. I would highly recommend booking tickets in advance as tickets often sell out and the line-ups for this landmark are quite strenuous and may take up to 1 hour to get to the top even with the line-bypass. Strollers were not permitted, so be prepared to pack light as you will have to hold your little ones in tow. The best time, and also the most popular time is during sunset hour (5pm). Cafes and souvenir shops are available at the top as well as when you exit. At the top of the Burj Khalifa, you can view the distinctive neighborhood’s within the Dubai and learn about the timeline and progression of the city over the decades.
3. Old Dubai
Contrary to what people perceive Dubai to be very modernized, Old Dubai preserves the history from the early beginnings. The Dubai museum and Al Fahidi Neigbourhood are great attractions to understand and learn the history and experience the old streets of Dubai. You can also find gold and traditional market Souks located here and also experience a one of a kind Abra boat (wooden boat ride) across the Dubai creek. In the marketplace, you can find reasonably priced souvenirs and goods that you can bargain with the merchants. Silk, spices, and jewellery are just some popular local goods in Dubai purchased by tourists.
4. Jumeriah (The Palm, Atlantis and surrounding area)
The largest man made island (3 in total; 2 more are expected to be completed in the next few years Palm Deira and Palm Jebel Ali) completely built from scratch of sand and rocks. The Jumeriah Palm stretches 5km in length and 5 km in width.
We visited the Atlantis Lost Chambers Aquarium which is located within the Palm Jumeirah. Atlantis provides a great opportunity for the children to learn about sea life animals including tropical fishes, sharks, manta rays, jellyfishes and corals. Atlantis did a terrific job replicating the ruins of the underwater lost city of Atlantis and had a variety of displays and artifacts displayed throughout the Aquarium. The Atlantis is not as big as the Aquarium in the Dubai Mall but nonetheless a fun and interactive exhibit for the young and old to enjoy. Atlantis is also home to one of the most popular waterparks in the world, the Aquaventure Waterpark. The Tower of Neptune is the top attraction, but only for the bravest. Here you can come up close with the sharks as you slide down a shark filled lagoon. You would have to purchase an admission ticket to enter this attraction.
After Atlantis we headed down the street to spend a nice afternoon and lunch at the exquisite Anantara Hotel. Anantara offers over-water bungalows for couples and a beautiful view of the Atlantis coastline. The girls had a great time playing at the beach and collecting seashells.
5. Dubai Marina
We had the opportunity to visit the Dubai Marina area only at night. During the day there is a public beach (JBR) and a board walk lined with trendy sophisticated shops and café’s in area. Private residential units occupy the area and most within walking distance from the main promenade area. You will also come across many private yachts . Water activities are available to anyone including parasailing, wakeboarding and even camel rides. You may also catch skydivers in the area. In the evening, we enjoyed a unique dining experience on a boat at the Aprons and Hammers restaurant. I would highly recommend to any seafood lovers who don’t mind getting their hands dirty, hence the title of their restaurant. They are known for serving crabs and lobster in a bucket. Aside from the great food and ambiance, the restaurant offers the most amazing backdrop of the Marina. Access to the restaurant is restricted to the public and you would have to make reservations at the restaurant in advance. The marina is also highly intensified at night, as many nightclubs play high energy music in the background.
6. Global Village
How many people can say that they’ve visited the Colosseum, Statute of Liberty, Kremlin, Burj Khalifa, the Taj Mahal, the Great Wall of China and the Pyramids of Giza all in one location! 🙋🙋. Well we had this unforgettable experience at the Global Village in Dubai. We witnessed such an amazing display of creations replicating special landmarks in different countries. Each structure intricately built and designed to a tee. This place especially comes alive at night when all the structures are lit up until the wee hours. A shopping extravaganza for the adults and fun rides and games for the kids. My kids and I especially enjoyed trying a variety of local fresh foods from different countries. Please make note that this attraction is only seasonal and usually runs from November to April.
7. Mina A’Salam Madinat
We ended our jam-pack vacation on a relaxing note and definitely our highlight of our trip was staying at the Jumeriah Mina A’Salam. This hotel definitely takes the prize for the best in our books and highly recommend staying at this hotel! The overall quality and service of the Madinat line was completely exceptional, top notch and very family friendly. If you missed out on the Atlantis Waterpark, this hotel offers complimentary water passes to Wild Wadi Waterpark. On top of that, there are also 40+ food options and restaurants within the property to choose from Persian, Asian, Mexican etc. and prices were comparable to North American standards. A few of the high class restaurants do not allow young children during dinner time, and is best to inquire in advance. As a guest of any of the four hotels of the Jumeriah line — Al Naseem, Al Qasr, Dar Al Masyaf, Mina A’Salam, Malakiya Villas, you are free to access the beach area and enjoy a less crowded environment and admire in the sheer opulence and stunning architecture of the Burj Al Arab — one of the top 7-star hotels in the world! There is also kids club available with their own waterpark and pool area and babysitting services available. Our favorite experience throughout our entire stay was having access to the free abra boat and tour around the madinat. It felt like we were riding the canals of Venice with a modern take. My girls truly enjoyed every boat ride experience!
Within the resort, tourists often come to visit Souk Madinat, a modern re-creation of the traditional Arabian souk style shops. A variety of shops, restaurants and entertainment are available and also many nightlife entertainment offering live music.
This is PIERCHIC — named the most romantic restaurant in all of Dubai! Set on a bedecked pier, far removed from the noise & bustle of Dubai and offering unspoilt views of the Arabian Gulf & the amazing Burj Al Arab.
Tips to know before traveling to Dubai
1. The best time to travel to Dubai is during their cooler weather from November to March (temperatures range on average 25 to 30 C)
2. As Dubai is primarily a Muslim country, PDA -“public displays of affection” are completely frowned upon and is actually illegal.
3. The distribution of alcohol is highly regulated and only usually available at licensed restaurants and hotels. Public intoxication is illegal and be mindful of your consumption.
4. Weekdays are Sunday to Thursday, keep this in mind and avoid traveling during rush hour.
5. Certain establishments may require you to dress ‘conservatively’ (shorts must be of decent length and no tank tops).
As Dubai continues to evolve and progress to becoming even bigger and better to what it offers now, we look forward to coming back to this amazing city. Dubai is definitely worth of a second round in our books and we hope to come back soon!