Dubai makes a huge, bold, and brash first impression on most people. Between the magnificent azure seas of the Arabian Gulf on one side and huge, pristine desert lands on the other, you witness rows upon rows of towering skyscrapers, endless shopping malls, and larger-than-life creations.
When it comes to family-friendliness, a city like Dubai is hard to surpass. Dubai is overflowing with many indoor and outdoor activities for kids. Your challenge may be how to squeeze them all in, depending on how long you will be in the country.
Visit The World’s Tallest Building
It is difficult to visit Dubai without mentioning the world’s tallest building! Visitors can admire the breathtaking views from the 124th and 125th floors of the Burj Khalifa, which stands at an incredible 830 meters tall.
But be warned: tickets at the door cost nearly four times as much as those purchased in advance, so plan and book your tickets online. Tickets for the sunrise and sunset are in high demand. Expect long lines at peak hours, but the sights are well worth it!
Visit The World’s Largest Mall
How fortunate that the world’s tallest building is connected to one of the world’s largest mall – at least in square footage, if not in the number of stores! However, Dubai Mall is much more than just a shopping mall. It’s a haven for family enjoyment! Inside, there’s a stunning free waterfall, and outdoors, there’s a free water fountain dancing performance.
In the massive Hamley’s and The Toy Store, look for gifts. The Aquarium, KidZania Dubai, Caboodle, and even an Olympic-sized ice skating rink are all available for a fee. Some of these attractions can be paired with Burj Khalifa admission tickets.
Visit The World’s Largest Flower Garden
The Dubai Miracle Garden is a year-round attraction that is open from November to April. Throughout summer, the creative gardening staff works hard to create unique floral displays each year to impress the crowds.
The park is the largest natural flower garden in the world and claims to contain the most blossoms (even though they are almost all a single flower type). A life-size Emirates A380 airplane – made entirely of flowers, took center stage last year. If you wish to spend a day in this part of the town, there is an outstanding butterfly garden right next door. To prevent crowds, arrive early.
Visit The World’s Largest Indoor Theme Park
IMG Worlds of Adventure beat Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi to become the world’s largest indoor theme park when it opened in 2016. There are four zones to explore, including Cartoon Network, Marvel, IMG Boulevard, and Lost World, which are aimed at older children and thrill-seekers. It is the ideal place to visit in the middle of the summer to escape the heat. IMG Worlds of Adventure provides numerous activities for people of all ages but it serves best for kids activities in Dubai.
Visit The World’s Largest Inhabited Artificial Island
It is difficult to imagine a man-made palm-shaped sand archipelago constructed off the coast of Jumeirah: the Palm Jumeirah. It is filled with luxurious apartments, villas, and hotels and is accessible by road or monorail.
Most visitors come to see Atlantis the Palm, which features a water park, a big aquarium, and Dolphin Bay. The 11-kilometer Palm Jumeriah Boardwalk, erected over the breakwater on the palm’s outer crescent, is a brand-new attraction. New food trucks, cafes, and piers are expected to come soon, making it ideal for a family stroll.
Visit The Beaches
Isn’t it necessary to highlight Dubai’s beaches? Despite all of the “world’s largest” attractions, Dubai’s most powerful attraction is its pristine blue waters. There are numerous options, including the ever-popular Umm Suqeim Beach, often known as Sunset Beach. The Beach at JBR is a terrific spot for families, with plenty of kid-friendly amenities and even a splash park! Kite Beach is another popular destination for expat families and sports lovers.
Note that certain park beaches have ladies-only days, so be sure to investigate beach information by weekday. In terms of clothing, some beaches demand you to be practically fully clothed, while others allow you to wear whatever you want as long as you don’t go topless. With so many amazing beaches in the city, consider visiting beaches for your kids’ activities in Dubai.
Visit The Desert
The biggest blunder you can make on your first visit to Dubai is failing to visit the desert! If you simply see skyscrapers in Dubai, you are missing out on the country’s actual spirit. Although a handful of firms provide afternoon and evening safaris, the majority are gimmicky and tacky.
Although we prefer excursions that visit the Dubai Conservation Reserve, there are several possibilities. Look for a tour that will pick you up right at your hotel’s front door. Once you have arrived in the desert, you will be able to participate in activities such as dune bashing, quad biking, sandboarding, and even camel riding.
Visit Dubai Parks and Resorts
Dubai Parks & Resorts is the next larger-than-life show. The first phase of this new development is located slightly outside of town in the Jebel Ali neighborhood. Three theme parks (Legoland, Dubai, Bollywood, and Motiongate), a Legoland water park, and the Polynesian-themed Lapita Resort make up the attraction.
Riverland, a lovely entertainment district designed to seem like a French village, connects these buildings. Motiongate is a family favorite place, with rides based on movies like Dragons, Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, and Ghostbusters! Bollywood Parks is a Bollywood-themed park, while Legoland Dubai and Legoland Dubai Water Park are based on the Lego theme.
Visit The Museums
Beyond the standard guidebook recommendations of “seeing the Dubai Museum and Al FahidiFort, wandering the streets of Bastakiya, and taking a dhow over Dubai Creek to Deira to see the gold and spice souks,” the options are expanding. Of course, if time and energy allow, you should participate in these cultural activities, but they may not inevitably enchant children!
The UAE is still a young country, and Dubai’s transformation from a little fishing village to a megacity has been swift. Arrange a visit to the newly opened Etihad Museum to learn about how the country was founded. You can consider visiting this for your kids’ activities in Dubai.
Dubai Safari Park
Are you an animal lover? If yes, then don’t miss the opportunity to explore the wild attraction of Dubai. It has the capacity of holding almost 50,000 creatures and spreads around five different zones: Asian Village, Explorer Village, African Village, Al Wadi, and Arabian Desert Safari. Admire exotic birds, snakes, horned rhinoceros, haired orangutans, pygmy elephants etc. Ride through the ecosystem and get the chance to witness hippos, giraffes, antelopes, and zebras. Get a breathtaking experience while moving through grassy plains and watching crocodiles, lions, and baboons. Exploring the wildlife makes you hungry, so wander in Al Wadi and taste delicious food in the restaurant and quench your thirst at the cafes.
Conclusion
From the desert and history to the most modern places, Dubai has it all. We discussed the best places for kids’ activities in Dubai. You should not have any doubts in your mind now; visit any of the places discussed in the article and your kids will enjoy it.