Top 10 Things to Do in Dubai with Family (Kids of Every Age)

Dubai might be famous for record-breaking towers and luxury shopping, but it is also one of the most family-friendly cities in the world. It is safe and clean, almost everything is air-conditioned, and the city has invested heavily in attractions designed with children in mind. Whether your kids are toddlers who love animals, school-age children who want rides and adventure, or teenagers who want thrills and photos for their friends, there is something here for them.

The challenge is choosing. With so many options, it is easy to overpack your days or spend money on attractions that do not suit your children’s ages. In this guide, our team picks the 10 best things to do in Dubai with family, explains which ages each suits, how long to allow, what it costs and how to combine them. At the end you will find a sample four-day family itinerary and practical tips for travelling with kids in the UAE.

Quick overview

Children’s prices are lower for most activities, and very young children often go free. Check each tour page for the exact child price.

1. Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo

Inside Dubai Mall is one of the largest suspended aquariums in the world, a huge wall of water filled with sharks, rays, groupers and thousands of fish. You can see it for free from the mall, but the ticketed experience is much better. You walk through a tunnel beneath the tank with sharks swimming over your head, then head upstairs to the Underwater Zoo to see penguins, otters, crocodiles, piranhas and more.

Why families love it: it works for every age. Toddlers are fascinated by the colours and movement, older children love the sharks and the feeding sessions, and it is all indoors and air-conditioned.

Good to know: visit in the morning on a weekday to avoid crowds. Combine it with the Burj Khalifa, which is in the same mall. A glass-bottom boat ride over the tank is available as an upgrade.

Book: Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo.

2. Evening desert safari

No family trip to Dubai is complete without a trip into the desert. The evening safari includes dune bashing in a 4×4, a sunset photo stop, camel rides, sandboarding, henna painting, a barbecue dinner and live shows including tanoura dancing and a fire show.

Why families love it: children talk about the camel rides and sandboarding for weeks, and the shows keep everyone entertained during dinner.

Good to know: children under 3 usually join free. Dune bashing is not recommended for babies or pregnant guests, but we can arrange a direct transfer to the camp so everyone enjoys the evening. A private 4×4 is a great option for families because you can ask the driver to keep the dune driving gentle. Read our complete desert safari guide and our comparison of evening, morning and overnight safaris.

Book: Evening Desert Safari with BBQ Dinner.

3. Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark

On Palm Jumeirah, Aquaventure is one of the biggest water parks in the world, with record-breaking slides, a long lazy river, wave pools, a large kids’ play area and access to a private beach. Entry usually includes the Lost Chambers Aquarium too.

Why families love it: there is something for every level of bravery, from gentle splash zones for little ones to near-vertical drops for teenagers and adventurous parents.

Good to know: arrive at opening time to enjoy the big slides before the queues build. Height restrictions apply on some rides, so check before you promise anything to younger children. Bring swim shirts and sunscreen; in summer, the slides and paths get very hot by the afternoon.

Book: Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark.

4. Ski Dubai Snow Park

Real snow in the desert never stops being surprising. Inside Mall of the Emirates, Ski Dubai’s Snow Park has sledding, tubing, a chairlift, snowball areas and, with the premium ticket, the chance to meet the resident penguins. Warm jackets, trousers, boots and gloves are included.

Why families love it: for children from hot countries, this is often their first time seeing snow. It is also a perfect escape from the summer heat.

Good to know: bring your own hats and thick socks or buy them there. Allow about three hours including changing time. The penguin encounter sells out, so book ahead.

Book: Ski Dubai Snow Park.

5. LEGOLAND Dubai

Part of Dubai Parks and Resorts, LEGOLAND Dubai is designed for children aged roughly 2 to 12. It has gentle rides, a driving school where children “drive” little cars, building zones and Miniland, where famous Dubai and Middle Eastern landmarks are recreated from millions of bricks. LEGOLAND Water Park next door is ideal for younger children.

Why families love it: everything is designed at child height and pace, so younger kids can do almost every ride.

Good to know: it is about 45 minutes from central Dubai, so add a return transfer. In the hotter months, visit in the late afternoon. Teenagers may find it too young; consider IMG Worlds or Motiongate for them.

Book: LEGOLAND Dubai. Also nearby: Motiongate Dubai.

6. Burj Khalifa At the Top

Going up the world’s tallest building is a must, and children usually find the high-speed elevator almost as exciting as the view. At the Top takes you to levels 124 and 125, with an outdoor terrace and floor-to-ceiling windows.

Why families love it: the sense of height is incredible, and you can spot the Dubai Fountain, the desert and the sea from the top.

Good to know: sunset slots are popular and cost more. For families with young children, a morning slot is usually calmer and cheaper. Combine with the aquarium and the Dubai Fountain show in the evening, which is free to watch outside Dubai Mall. Read our full Burj Khalifa At the Top guide.

Book: Burj Khalifa At the Top.

7. Dhow cruise dinner

A dhow is a traditional wooden boat. A dinner cruise takes you along Dubai Creek or around Dubai Marina for about two hours, with a buffet dinner and a tanoura show on board.

Why families love it: it is relaxed and easy. Children can watch the lights and boats, adults can enjoy a calm dinner, and nobody has to walk far.

Good to know: the Creek cruise is cheaper and shows old Dubai. The Marina cruise has the modern skyline. Our article on Dubai Marina vs Creek dhow cruises compares them in detail.

Book: Dubai Creek Dhow Cruise Dinner or Dubai Marina Dhow Cruise Dinner.

8. Dubai Miracle Garden

Open in the cooler months, the Miracle Garden displays millions of flowers arranged into hearts, castles, giant animals and even a life-size aircraft. Right next door, the Butterfly Garden has thousands of butterflies in climate-controlled domes.

Why families love it: it is colourful, photogenic and easy to walk around, even with a pushchair.

Good to know: the garden is seasonal, usually open from around October or November to May. Visit in the late afternoon for softer light and cooler temperatures.

Book: Dubai Miracle Garden and Dubai Butterfly Garden.

9. Global Village

Global Village is a huge seasonal festival park with pavilions representing dozens of countries, each selling food, crafts and goods from home. There are rides, stage shows, a floating market and fireworks on some nights.

Why families love it: it is lively, affordable and full of food from around the world. Children enjoy the rides and shows, and adults enjoy browsing the stalls.

Good to know: it opens in the evening and runs from around October to May. Weekends are very busy. Bring comfortable shoes, as there is a lot of walking.

Book: Global Village Entry.

10. IMG Worlds of Adventure

IMG Worlds of Adventure is one of the largest indoor theme parks in the world, with zones themed on Marvel superheroes, Cartoon Network characters and dinosaurs. There are thrill rides for teens and gentler rides for younger children.

Why families love it: it is fully indoors and air-conditioned, which makes it ideal for the hottest days.

Good to know: weekdays are quieter. Allow a full day. Height limits apply on the bigger rides.

Book: IMG Worlds of Adventure.

Honourable mentions

If you have more time, these are also excellent with children:

• The View at The Palm: see the full shape of Palm Jumeirah from above.
• Dubai Frame: a glass-floored bridge 150 metres up, with views of old and new Dubai.
• Museum of the Future: an interactive journey into the future, with a dedicated children’s zone.
• Dubai Crocodile Park: Nile crocodiles and live feeding sessions.
• Dubai Ice Rink: an easy, fun hour inside Dubai Mall.
• Banana boat ride: a splashy 15 minutes for older kids.
• Ferrari World and SeaWorld Abu Dhabi: worth a day trip to Abu Dhabi. See our Abu Dhabi day trip guide.

Activities by age group

Babies and toddlers (0 to 3)

Dubai Aquarium, Dubai Miracle Garden, Butterfly Garden, the Dubai Fountain, a dhow cruise and beach days are all easy with very young children. Most attractions have baby-changing facilities and lifts for pushchairs. For the desert, choose a camp transfer instead of dune bashing.

Young children (4 to 8)

LEGOLAND, Ski Dubai, the aquarium, the evening safari (with gentle dune driving), Global Village and Aquaventure’s kids’ area are all big hits.

Older children (9 to 12)

Aquaventure, IMG Worlds, Ski Dubai, the desert safari with sandboarding and the Burj Khalifa are perfect. A jet ski ride with a parent is also popular at this age.

Teenagers

Thrill rides at IMG Worlds and Ferrari World, a dune buggy session, flyboarding, the XLine zipline and plenty of photo spots at the Museum of the Future and the Dubai Frame.

Rainy-day and hot-day backups

Even the best plans change. If a day turns out too hot, too windy or simply too tiring for an outdoor activity, these indoor options save the day:

• Dubai Mall: the aquarium, the ice rink, a cinema, an indoor play centre and hundreds of restaurants all under one roof.
• Mall of the Emirates: Ski Dubai, play areas and a large food court.
• Museum of the Future: interactive floors and a children’s zone where kids can explore ideas about the future.
• IMG Worlds: a whole day of rides without stepping outside.
• Indoor play centres: most big malls have soft play and trampoline areas for younger children.

Having one or two of these in mind takes the pressure off and keeps everyone happy.

How to save time in queues

Popular attractions can have long queues in peak season and on weekends. A few habits help:

1. Book tickets in advance rather than at the gate. Many of our tickets arrive on WhatsApp as e-tickets.
2. Arrive at opening time for theme parks and water parks.
3. Visit big attractions on weekdays where possible.
4. Avoid the busiest hours at the Burj Khalifa around sunset unless the view is important to you.
5. Eat early or late to avoid lunchtime crowds in food courts.

A sample 4-day family itinerary

Day 1: Arrive, airport pickup, relax at the hotel pool. Evening at the Dubai Fountain.

Day 2: Morning at the Dubai Aquarium and Burj Khalifa. Afternoon rest. Evening Creek dhow cruise.

Day 3: Morning at the hotel or beach. Afternoon evening desert safari with a private 4×4.

Day 4: Full day at Atlantis Aquaventure or LEGOLAND, depending on your children’s ages.

If you would like this planned for you, our Dubai 4 Nights Holiday Package includes the hotel, airport transfers, a city tour, a desert safari, a dhow dinner and the Burj Khalifa, and we can swap activities to suit your family.

Practical tips for travelling with kids in Dubai

Getting around

Taxis and ride-hailing apps are widely available, and the Dubai Metro is clean and safe, though not every attraction is near a station. For families, a private car with driver for a full day can be easier and more comfortable, especially with pushchairs and car seats. Child seats are available on our airport transfers on request.

Heat

From May to September, plan outdoor activities for early morning or evening and spend the middle of the day indoors. Keep children hydrated, use high-factor sunscreen and cover their heads. Read our guide to things to do in Dubai in summer for indoor ideas.

Food

Dubai has food for every taste, from familiar international chains to Arabic, Indian and Asian restaurants. Malls have large food courts, which are easy with fussy eaters. Supermarkets sell baby food, formula and nappies.

Facilities

Malls and major attractions have clean toilets, baby-changing rooms and prayer rooms. Many have family rooms and stroller rental.

Where to stay with children

Your choice of area makes a big difference to how easy the trip feels.

• Downtown Dubai: walking distance to Dubai Mall, the aquarium, the Burj Khalifa and the fountain. Great for a short first visit, though there is no beach.
• Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) and Dubai Marina: a long public beach, a beachfront walk with cafés and play areas, and easy access to boat trips and water sports. Very popular with families.
• Palm Jumeirah: resort hotels with big pools and private beaches, close to Aquaventure. Ideal if you want resort-style days.
• Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim: quieter beach areas with views of Burj Al Arab, close to Wild Wadi and Kite Beach.
• Deira and Bur Dubai: more affordable hotels, close to the old souks and the Creek, with good metro links.

Many hotels offer family rooms, interconnecting rooms, kids’ clubs and babysitting. If you are booking a package with us, tell us the children’s ages and we will suggest suitable hotels.

Beaches for families

Dubai’s public beaches are clean and free. JBR Beach has lifeguards, showers, toilets and plenty of cafés nearby. Kite Beach in Umm Suqeim has a long promenade, play areas and views of Burj Al Arab. La Mer, near Jumeirah, has shallow water, splash areas and a waterpark. Swim only in areas with lifeguards and observe the flags. In summer, the water can feel very warm and the sand gets hot, so mornings and late afternoons are best.

Health and safety

Dubai is one of the safest cities in the world for families. Tap water is safe but most people drink bottled water. Pharmacies are everywhere and many are open 24 hours. Hospitals and clinics are of a high standard, so travel insurance with good medical cover is strongly recommended.

The biggest health risk for children is the heat. Watch for signs of dehydration or overheating, such as tiredness, headaches or very red skin, and move into the shade or air-conditioning straight away. Make sure children drink water regularly, even when they say they are not thirsty.

Cultural tips for families

Dubai is very welcoming to families. A few small customs help you fit in: dress modestly in malls and markets (swimwear is fine at the beach and pool), avoid eating or drinking in public during daylight hours in Ramadan, and keep noise down in quiet areas such as mosques. Children are greeted warmly almost everywhere you go.

Budget tips

• Children’s tickets are cheaper and under-3s are often free.
• Free activities include the Dubai Fountain, public beaches and walks along the Marina and the Creek.
• Combining activities in a package is usually cheaper than booking separately.

How we can help your family

Planning a family trip involves a lot of small decisions: which hotel, which tickets, how to get between places and how to fit everything around nap times and meals. Our team in Al Satwa does this every day. Tell us your dates, your children’s ages and the kind of trip you want, and we will put together a plan with tickets, private transfers and a desert safari arranged around your family’s pace. You can message us on WhatsApp at +971 56 291 2168 or visit our contact page.

Frequently asked questions