What to do in Dubai with kids

Dubai’s architectural expansion has not been only in terms of glass towers, city-sized shopping arcades and cloud high buildings alone. It is an inspirational place with many adventures for the kids. Beaches, theme parks, open air parks and outdoor sports are part of the city’s fabric. Dubai is well known for kid-friendly sightseeing spots and restaurants, making it one of the top destinations for a family holiday. Wondering what to do in Dubai with kids? We’ve got the top five suggestions for you.

Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo

Discover the depths of the Persian Gulf and its fascinating habitants without even wetting your toes. The Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo is the one of the world's largest indoor aquariums that keep the kids gripped for hours. The 10 million litre Dubai Aquarium tank is located on the Ground Level of The Dubai Mall with over 140 species and thousands of aquatic creatures. It has the largest collection of sand tiger sharks in the world. Plan a trip to stroll through the 48m tunnel with the aquarium looping overhead and around, with sand tiger sharks and stingrays swimming around. Guests can snorkel with instructors.

Ski Dubai

Even if it’s 45°C outside, you can take the kids to a winter wonderland where ski lifts dominate the white snowy slopes. The unique entertainment spot open doors in 2005 to offer visitors and locals a taste of the alpine weather and activities. Even though the ski hill is not a patch on the actual alpine hills, it is good enough to have five ski runs and a Freestyle Zone with jumps, rails and a 90m-long halfpipe which can be accessed by a chairlift. The indoor skiing destination offers all equipment, including socks and skis. The instructor led place is safe and fun, both for newbies and the slightly seasoned skiers. When everyone is sapped from the heat and sightseeing trawling, this is one of the best things to do in Dubai.

Day trip to Abu Dhabi

Have luxury on your mind? An exciting day trip to Abu Dhabi can check the boxes on many things. Sign up for a day tour with the Seawings personalised charter seaplane for an otherworldly view of the city from the top, a memorable take-off and landing from the water and plenty of photo-ops while you’re on the flight. On the other side of the flight lies a luxury pick up to Ferrari World, an amusement park on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. It is the first Ferrari-branded theme park with heart thumping adventures, ideal for older children. Formula Rossa, the world's fastest roller coaster, is also located here. Driving experience, flight simulators, 4D rides, game shows and roller coasters are part of the day. Time dependent, you can add Sir Bani Yas Island  wildlife park to the trip. 
 

Adventure in the sand

Sandy adventures await not too far from the main city. If you want the day to morph into one with high adrenalin, then head to the dunes for quad biking, sand boarding, dune bashing and safaris. Older kids are likely to enjoy the high-octane adventures, but there is ample for the younger ones as well. Camel watching and slow quad bikes can keep them occupied. This is one of the best picks for a family-friendly holiday in Dubai. The day ends with a dinner under the skies at a typical Bedouin tent with music, dance and local food.

Burj Khalifa

One of the most iconic buildings in Dubai, the Burj Khalifa can be spotted from anywhere in the city. It boasts of being the tallest tower in the world at 2717 feet. If statistics are not enough to get the kids excited, the views from the Observatory deck sure will be. Book ahead to get a place at the 148th or the 124th floor to look down at the city below. This is a stunning location, perfect for photo opportunities. You can gaze at the city lights, the coastline and even see the shore of Iran on a clear day. Don’t forget to visit the Dubai fountain outside the tower, another fascinating place to keep the kids engaged. The 275 feet high fountain is lit by 6,600 lights and 50 coloured projectors.