Things to do with kids in Dubai

Things to do with kids in Dubai

1. EatJumeirah

   Al Fresco

   Specialized in Italian food with cosy outdoor seating. Business lunch, Family friendly place. Smoking and alcohol is permitted. Try the garlic bruschetta with traditional tomato, the leafy green salad, oozy burrata cheese, tomato, sprinkled with drizzles of balsamic vinegar.

   Closed · opens noon

2. EatSuburbs and Hatta

   Al Mallah

   Amazing food. It is popular for casual dining, juices, sandwiches and fast food. A good place to visit along with family and friends.

3. SeeJumeirah

   Al Safa Park

   A beautiful planned park and one of the oldest parks in Dubai. It is a favourite for sports enthusiasts, and many visitors enjoy playing tennis, volleyball, and soccer. Children love playing games in the video arcade, or riding the Ferris wheel and bumper cars. The park even has a maze to wander through. Barbeques and picnic areas are available for those who want to make a day of it. It has lakes where you can take a boat ride and a hill that offers panoramic views of this beautiful lush green park and the gigantic Dubai skyline. But as of 2017, infrastructure are old disused and it have construction work.

   11:0–23:00·3 dirham

4. DoJumeirah

   Aquaventure Waterpark

   Aquaventure have a lot of water slides, including the extreme slides: Leap of feath and Poseidon's Revenge. It also includes Dolphin encounter, swimming with dolphins. The waterpark also contains the Dubai Balloon, which offers 10min balloon rides up to 300m high for AED 175 (adults) and AED 75 (children).

   10:00–18:00 daily·320 dirham/adults 275 dirham/child under 1.2 m, 40 dirhams for locker, discounts via online booking

5. DoJumeirah

   Atlantis

   Atlantis-themed but Arabian-styled resort on the artificial island of The Palm. Has a huge water park with plenty of thrilling water slides, an aquarium and a large shopping area with plenty of places to eat and drink.

6. SeeJumeirah

   Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo

   Giant aquarium, 51 m long and 11 m high. The visit includes a crossing inside the walk-through water tunnel, behind the scenes, and several other experiences. The Underwater Zoo has 140 fish species, desert animals, penguins and also hosts "King Krok". Animal feeding hours are indicated in the zoo, and it's also possible to participate during feeding.

   Sun–Wed 10:00–23:00, Thu–Sat 10:00–00:00·Researcher Experience for 100 dirham/person, Explorer Experience for 120 dirham/person, VIP for 300 dirham/person

7. SeeJumeirah

   Dubai Marina

   The Dubai Marina is to be the popular nightlife area of Dubai in the future. This multi-billion-dollar development is designed for tourists and water sport. The bars and cafés along the marina are popular gathering points for families and younger people. Most restaurants offer shisha and oriental food but food chains are fast entering too. The "Marina Walk" along the yachts is especially popular on Fridays and Saturdays. Yacht agencies offer services to explore the coastal region and Palm Islands.

8. DoJebel Ali

   Dubai Parks & Resorts

   Dubai Parks and Resorts is the Middle East's largest integrated leisure and theme park destination featuring more than 100 rides and attractions, and consists of three theme parks: Motiongate Dubai, Bollywood Parks Dubai, and Legoland Dubai, and one water park: Legoland Water Park. It also encompasses Riverland Dubai, which is a themed retail and dining destination, as well as the Polynesian-themed family resort, Lapita Hotel Dubai.

   11AM to 7PM

9. DoSuburbs and Hatta

   IMG Worlds of Adventure

   A very large indoor theme park, with 4 universes: Lost Valley, IMG boulverard, Cartoon Network, Marvell. Nice families and adventurers, specially during hot summer months. It has 22 attractions including 3 roller coasters: The Velociraptor (5 inversions), Predator (3 inversions) and Spiderman (turning seats).

   Sun–Wed 11AM–9PM, Thu–Sat 11AM–10PM, Ramadan: Sun–Wed 1–10PM, Thu–Sat 1–11PM·245 dirhams/adults, 225 dirhams/child, free below 1.2 m

10. EatJumeirah

    Jedoudna Restaurant

    A family-run Lebanese restaurant. With outdoor seating and separate shisha area.

    Closed · opens 7 am·About 100 dirham

11. SeeJumeirah

    Majlis Ghorfat Umm Al Sheif

    A restored traditional Emirati-style two story building used as a summer residence by Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, one of the founders of UAE, and father of the present ruler of Dubai.

    Sun-Thu 07:30-14:30·1 dirham for adults and children over 6 years

12. BuyJumeirah

    Mall of the Emirates

    It was largest shopping mall outside of North America until the Dubai Mall opened in 2008. Over 200 shops, cinemas, plus the Ski Centre. Has many international high street chains as well as luxury brand stores, including Harvey Nichols. Many restaurants and cafés, though cafés tend to be much more crowded than at other malls. It's attached to a Kempinski hotel, which has restaurants licensed to serve alcohol that are accessible from the mall. Very large Carrefour hypermarket attached, next to the Kempinski Hotel. Arabian/Middle Eastern souvenir shops upstairs. It's known for Ski Dubai and it other spectacular attractions. There are all High Street shops around and is very popular with families.

    Outside Ramadan: Sun–Wed 10:00–22:00, Thu–Sat 10:00–00:00; Ramadan: daily 10:00-01:00

13. SeeSuburbs and Hatta

    Mushrif Park

    Mushrif Park is 5.25-km² (1300-acre) desert-like park. It is in the eastern part of the city (near the suburb of Khawaneej), about 16 km (10 mi) from the traditional center of Dubai. The park was created in early 1980 by Dubai Municipality and was hugely expanded and refurbished in 1989.

    Daily 8AM-11PM·entrance fee 10 dirhams per car; to use the swimming pool, adults pay 10 dirhams and children pay 5 dirhams

14. SeeBur Dubai

    Sheikh Obaid bin Thani House

    a historic building home to royal family members built in 1916 and now converted into a museum. It provides good glimpse to old infrastructure of Dubai.

15. BuyJumeirah

    The Dubai Mall

    The largest mall in the world, it opened in 2008. It has over 1,200 shops of brand names from all over the world. It contains an indoor ice rink and indoor aquarium. It is right next door to the Burj Khalifah, and the visitors' entrance to the Burj Khalifa is located at the lower ground floor of the Mall. It houses the Dubai Aquarium (which you can dive tours in) and 1,200 shops for everything. The food court on the lower floor is spectacular in its variety. It's a good place to watch the water games of the Dubai fountain, which plays at night. It is breathtaking, so take time and pick your points of interest.

    Sun–Wed 10:00–23:00, Thu–Sat 10:00–00:00

16. SeeJumeirah

    The Lost Chambers Aquarium and Ambassador Lagoon

    An Atlantis-themed aquarium with a lot of fish species and jellyfishes. Don't miss the giant chamber with numerous sharks and rays. Shark feeding 10:15 and 15:45, ray feeding at 09:30 and 15:15. Possibilities to dive or do the "Aqua Trek" in the Ambassador Lagoon.

    Daily 10:00-22:00·110 dirhams/adult, 80 dirham/child below 11, discounts for UAE residents, 30 dirham for Ambassador Lagoon only

17. DoJumeirah

    Wild Wadi Waterpark

    The perfect place for the entire family to spend a day as well as being a great way to beat the heat and enjoy the day away from the bustle of the city. Located close to the hotels and resorts of Jumeriah Beach, the park has water rides, slides, and a lagoon that is hidden away. You'll enjoy waterfalls, out of the way swimming holes, and a tidal pool.

    10:00–19:00 daily, sometimes closes at 18:00 for private events·295 dirhams/adult, 245 dirhams/child below 1.1 m

18. EatBur Dubai Not mapped

    Manhattan Grill

    Fine dining restaurant with New York-inspired cuisine, specialising in steak. A suitable venue for romantic dinners and family gatherings.

    30-300 AED

19. DoJebel Ali Not mapped

    Peekaboo!

    An ideal place for children below 7 years, for entertaining and creative activities. There is a variety of play equipment, toys and classes for kids.

20. DoJebel Ali Not mapped

    Switch Bowling

    A multi-lane bowling section, one of the perfect indoor entertainment venue for families and kids. In addition, it has billiards section, video gaming areas, toddlers' play area and restaurants.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Dubai (CC BY-SA 4.0).