Gorgeous, vibrant, diverse Dubai is the perfect destination for an active family vacation. Here you do not need to think about what to do and entertain the child: there are many opportunities to organize leisure time and have fun together.
1. Dubai Parks and Resorts (DPR)
Dubai Parks and Resorts is a grandiose complex of adventure parks built on the western outskirts of the city – in the Jebel Ali harbor area. It covers an area of 285 hectares.
It has a classic Legoland of six interactive thematic zones. With children’s attractions and playgrounds, the atmosphere of an eastern city and the Miniland exhibition.
Next to Legoland is the Legoland Water Park. It is also decorated in a LEGO style and is aimed at children up to 12 years old. The rides are mostly calm – there are no “adrenaline” slides.
There are two more amusement parks here. One of them, Motiongate Dubai , has a Hollywood theme. And the other, Bollywood Parks , is all about Indian Bollywood. It is interesting to visit both.
2. Aquaventure water park
Aquaventure Water Park is a true paradise for water lovers. It is located on the territory of the five-star Atlantis hotel and is considered one of the largest water parks in the world. The Aquaventure complex includes two towers – Neptune and Poseidon. From their peaks, grandiose descents begin. Dozens of rides have been installed, there is a children’s Splashers area, a relaxation area and a private beach, the longest Aquakonda slope with a length of 210 meters has been laid. Water labyrinths, tunnels, spirals, pools and waterfalls have been built.
In addition to the water park, this complex also houses the Lost Chambers Oceanarium. It consists of 20 rooms, 10 aquariums and several contact pools. The Dolphin Bay Dolphinarium operates – there visitors are offered live communication sessions with sea animals, both upstairs – in the pool, and at depth – with scuba diving.
3. Dubai Mall Aquarium
This is a luxurious oceanarium with a water zoo on the territory of the Dubai Mall. It has the world’s largest monolithic viewing glass – a transparent acrylic plate measuring 33 × 8.5 m. An observation tunnel with a length of 48 m runs through the entire aquarium. Visitors are simultaneously surrounded by 300 sharks and rays. In total, 140 species of marine fauna (33,000 specimens) are represented in the aquarium.
Guests of the Underwater Zoo are offered exotic entertainment: go under the water with sharks in a rugged cage or swim on the surface of a pool inhabited by giant fish in a boat with a transparent viewing bottom.
4. Botanical Garden “Green Planet”
This is the Dubai Botanical Gardens with a mini zoo. The Green Planet Nature Museum is open in a futuristic building with transparent curved facades. The center of the entire exhibition is a giant artificial tree, almost indistinguishable from the real one.
Walking around the Green Planet, you can meet sloths, toucans, parrots of all kinds of colors and sizes. Stingrays swim in the pools, and bats doze inside the dark grotto. Beetles, pythons, exotic lizards and frogs live in transparent containers and aviaries. Some of the inhabitants of the garden can be touched, photographed.
5. Children’s City
The educational and entertainment center is located on the territory of the large coastal park Creek Park. The three-story Children’s City building has three interactive science, nature and culture themed zones. Also on the territory of the Children’s City there is a planetarium with a full effect of presence. There are rides, slides and a dry pool for kids.
6. Dubai Garden Miracle
The Miracle Park of Flowers, which is sometimes compared with the Dutch Keukenhof, or with the Istanbul Emirgan , is the magnificent kingdom of Flora, a colorful oasis in the middle of a sultry desert.
The Garden Miracle exhibits 150 million flowers. They are planted not only on lawns, borders and flower beds: gardeners form fancy small forms and topiary from flowering plants, build arches, houses, castles – whole streets. Here you can see flower mills, vintage cars and even a life-size airliner decorated with hundreds of thousands of white flowers (this installation is included in the Guinness Book).
7. Ferrari World Park
From Dubai you can go to the Ferrari World Abu Dhabi theme park. Ferrari World is located in Abu Dhabi with a shuttle bus between the two cities. The park was built on Yas Island. Shows are held under the huge roof of Ferrari World, and 20 attractions work.
Junior driving schools are open for young tourists, there is a soft playground with radio-controlled Ferrari models, and a 4D racing simulator Speed of Magic. You can ride the fastest Formula Rossa pneumatic slide or the Tire Twist carousel or take a mini-cruise along an artificial canal inside a stylized Ferrari Fiorano engine.
And adults who also love to drive can take advantage of supercar rental in Dubai. Children’s joy is guaranteed.
8. Warner Brothers Park. World
During your trip to the entertainment island of Yas, you can visit the UAE’s newest adventure park dedicated to cinematography and animation, Warner Bros. World™ Abu Dhabi. The wonderful world of Hollywood bestsellers and cult American cartoons will open before you.
From the main square of this park, symbolic portals open to five worlds – five thematic zones. Here you can meet the primitive inhabitants of Bedrock, test yourself in the Dynamite Gorge, ride in a van of the mysteries of Scooby Doo, solve puzzling mysteries of Gotham and feel like a superhero in Metropolis.
Qasr Al Watan
Qasr Al Watan, i.e., Palace of the Nation, is an architectural marvel. The magnificent structure is constructed out of white granite and limestone, which is both visually impactful and practical in the desert heat.
From the exterior to the interior, from the stunning domes to the grand halls, intricate geometric patterns, and book-matched marble floors and walls, it is a testament to the skill of Arab artisans and the beauty of Arabian architecture. Its school program tours and exhibits also showcase the Arab world’s rich heritage, literature, and contributions to human knowledge.
Whatever you do, don’t miss the Palace in Motion show at sundown!
CLYMB Abu Dhabi
CLYMB Abu Dhabi is an adventure hub. Its indoor skydiving flight chamber is the world’s largest at a record-breaking height of 104 ft (32 m) and a diameter of 32 ft (9.7 m). Its indoor multi-pitch climbing wall, the first in the world, has five levels.
- The Boulder: 9.8 ft (3 m)
- The Beginner: 18 ft (5.5 m)
- The Intermediate: 33 ft (10 m)
- The Advanced: 722 ft (22 m)
- The SUMMYT™: 138 ft (42 m), the tallest in the Middle East
Indoor skydiving is for children as young as three, while indoor climbing is for children as young as four.
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi
A mega-waterpark with over 40 rides, slides and experiences, Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi is one of the best theme parks in UAE. It features exhilarating water slides, such as the Liwa Loop freefall drop waterslide (the first in the Middle East), the Dawwama six-person tornado water coaster (the world’s largest) and the Hamlool’s Humps three-humped 10-story slide. Its Bubbles Barrel flow boarding ride, with the world’s largest sheet wave, is also a must-try.
Younger children have many other options, such as the Bandit Bomber suspended rollercoaster, Tot’s Playground, Al Raha River, and Amwaj.
SeaWorld Abu Dhabi
A state-of-the-art marine-life theme park set to open in 2023, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi will have the world’s largest aquarium. This will contain 25 million litres of water and host more than 68,0000 marine animals, including schools of fish, sea turtles, sharks, and manta rays.
The park will have five indoor levels and provide a variety of attractions, including rides, marine animal encounters, and immersive experiences. It will also have dedicated marine habitats and ecosystems.
One of its planned highlights is the Endless Vista, a 20-meter-tall, multi-level vertical glass window that will give visitors sweeping aquatic views.
Summary
It is comfortable to relax in Dubai with both adults and young children. The hotels generally have a separate breakfast area for children, kids clubs and playrooms. And in the city and beyond, there are many places equipped that provide incredibly interesting entertainment for children on attractions, in water parks, entertainment, and educational complexes, zoos, and gardens for outdoor walks.
