Dubai with Kids
A walk-through shark tunnel, a sandboarding dune, and an indoor ski slope, the version of Dubai that actually works with children in tow.
Dubai consistently ranks among the most family-friendly destinations anywhere, water parks, hands-on museums and desert adventures sit alongside the malls and skyscrapers. Here’s how to spend the time on what actually works with kids.
The Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo
Right inside Dubai Mall, sharks, rays and a walk-through tunnel that puts kids in the middle of one of the largest suspended aquariums in the world. A properly reliable favourite for younger and older kids alike, and you can peek at part of it for free even without paying for full entry.
Wild Wadi Waterpark or Aquaventure
Wild Wadi, Dubai’s original water park, sits beside the Burj Al Arab with 30 slides and rides, well suited to a full family day. Aquaventure at Atlantis The Palm goes bigger still, with Splashers Island for younger kids and a dolphin encounter alongside the thrill rides for braver family members.
A family-friendly desert safari
Camel riding, sandboarding, and a Bedouin camp dinner under the stars, a properly different, cultural side of Dubai away from the malls and skyscrapers. Check age restrictions before booking, dune buggy driving in particular often carries a minimum age for safety.
LEGOLAND Dubai
Best suited to under-12s, colourful themed areas and gentle rides that work well for younger kids without the intensity of a full thrill park. LEGOLAND Water Park sits right next door, an easy add-on if the heat calls for a splash alongside the rides.
An abra ride across Dubai Creek
A traditional wooden water taxi, genuinely one of the cheapest and most authentic experiences in the city, costing barely more than a dirham per ride. It’s a proper glimpse of Old Dubai’s history, back when the creek was the centre of the city’s commerce, worth pairing with a walk through the nearby souks.
If the heat gets too much
Ski Dubai, the world’s third-largest indoor ski slope inside Mall of the Emirates, offers a genuinely surreal way to cool off regardless of the desert heat outside. VR Park and Kidzania, both inside Dubai Mall, provide reliable indoor backups too, one for older kids chasing a thrill, the other for younger ones who love role play.
Eating with kids
Dubai Mall alone holds an enormous range of family-friendly dining, and City Walk offers a genuinely kid-friendly outdoor alternative with play areas built into the district itself. Most restaurants across the city are used to accommodating kids without much fuss, worth checking ahead only for the more upscale spots.
A few practical notes
Taxis remain the most practical way to get around with kids, reasonably priced and considerably easier than renting a car and separately sourcing child seats. Dubai consistently ranks among the cleanest, safest cities for family travel, worth remembering if the scale of the city feels daunting at first.
That’s everything I’ve got.
A note before you plan around this: prices, opening hours, booking requirements and admission details in this guide were correct at the time of writing, but venues change these often and sometimes without notice. Always check directly with the attraction or its official website before you travel or build a schedule around a specific time or price.
Before travelling to any destination featured on this site, please also check your government’s latest travel advice, as safety situations, entry requirements and travel warnings can change.
