Dubai is well-known as one of the most universally appealing destinations for tourists, so there is no surprise it is a common choice for family vacations. To make the most out of your Dubai family trip, however, you will need to perform some proper preparations.
But don’t worry – we’ve got you covered. We will list some of the best places to visit in Dubai with family, share some budgeting and traveling tips, and discuss the most convenient options to get around the emirate.
Places to Visit in Dubai with Family
The UAE welcomes visitors with kids, and it is virtually impossible to list all Dubai places to visit with family, as there are simply too many of them. We will cover three categories of events you could visit and destinations you could set, and we will list the most popular options for each of them. In case you wish to explore one of the activities even further, you can easily find more corresponding venues in Dubai and its neighboring emirates.
Thrilling Adventures
Thanks to the diversity of environments, the city offers almost any thrilling activity you could imagine. You can enhance your Dubai family vacation by going on a desert safari, enjoy a plethora of water sports, or even go skiing to the artificial indoor slope in the Mall of the Emirates.
Alternatively, you can climb some impressive heights for breath-taking views. Perhaps the most obvious option within the city is Burj Khalifa with its multiple viewpoints above the rest of the skyline. If you’re more about nature, you can visit Jebel Jais to hike in the mountains and ride adrenaline-spiking ziplines.
Speaking of extreme sports, there are dozens of options available for thrillseekers. The list includes skydiving, bungee jumping, and even shark dives, although these activities are only for adult members of your Dubai family trip.
Cultural Immersions
Exploring the culture is also a common choice among the visitors of the emirate, and there are many places to visit in Dubai with family in this category. You can immerse into the history of the city in the Al Fahidi neighborhood that has been preserved for centuries and offers a glance into the old life of locals here.
If you prefer more condensed experiences, you can visit one of the many museums and cultural expos that operate in the city. The Dubai Museum is the most obvious option here, but if you happen to visit the neighboring emirate, make sure to visit the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization. Those who love art galleries should also consider coming to Abu Dhabi and attending its Louvre.
To get a better understanding of local religion, you could admire some of the most beautiful mosques in the United Arab Emirates. The list includes the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Mosque in Dubai, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, the Al Noor Mosque in Sharjah, and the Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi Mosque in Ajman.
Family-Friendly Activities
Most places we have listed so far are already family-friendly, but in case you are looking for ideas that every participant of the journey would love, there are some options for that too. Resorts and beaches are great for a chill Dubai family trip, but to add some thrill, you could visit waterparks and theme parks as well.
Miracle Garden is a great option to admire installations made of flowers, while visiting the Dubai Zoo and taking one of the safaris there will definitely leave a strong memory for every family member. Going for a small cruise is also a universally appealing activity, as it allows you to enjoy foods and beverages, admire views of the city from water, swim, and go fishing for barracudas.
Family Holidays in Dubai
You can have perfect Dubai family holidays as long as you properly plan for it in advance. Making decisions on the spot is never a good idea, as some activities have to be booked prior to your visit, while selecting the best venue for others will drain the precious time of your Dubai family trip.
We recommend preparing as much as you can in advance or at least drawing up more or less specific plans for each day of your visit. As for bookings, it is especially beneficial for car rentals and all places that require tickets to enter. Finding a car company requires some research, while queues for popular attractions might get fairly long during the peak tourist season. If you’re worried about crowds of other visitors, check out our article on the best time to visit Dubai.
Budgeting for a Family Trip
Even though the emirate is known for its luxurious resorts, gold markets, and sports cars, it is still possible to have a Dubai family vacation without going bankrupt. In this section, we will share some tips and tricks on how to save funds and make the most out of your visit.
Setting a Realistic Budget
First things first, it is vital to understand your budget. Knowing how much spare funds you have is necessary to determine which activities are suitable for you, and which destinations you will be able to visit.
Those who are especially tight on cash can check out our list of free things to do in Dubai. Otherwise, the best approach is to:
- Select the destinations you really want to visit.
- Approximately calculate the remaining funds.
- Try to schedule as many other activities as possible within the remaining budget.
Saving Strategies
The most obvious option to make your Dubai family holidays cheaper is to book everything as early as possible. Hotels and flights get more expensive the closer you are to the desired date, so purchasing tickets a couple of months in advance will definitely save you a lot of cash.
The same rule applies to some other venues, as many companies are willing to provide discounts to early birds. And while you will need to spend the funds earlier, the total cost of your Dubai family vacation will be significantly more affordable.
Choose The Right Accommodation
Selecting the right place to stay is also very important, and the choice should be made with all the personal preferences in mind. For active tourists who are planning on visiting natural sites and the neighboring emirates, it makes sense to look for a cheaper accommodation option that will serve as a good starting point for further trips.
In contrast, visitors who intend to have a chill Dubai family trip by the Persian Gulf and are not planning to leave the hotel frequently should reasonably look for a better resort. Of course, it is also great to have an idea about the destinations you wish to visit before selecting a hotel, as it will enable you to choose the best location.
Travel Tips for Families
We have already discussed the main Dubai places to visit with family, but we still have some more tips for improving the journey. Let us discuss them one by one in the sections below.
Cultural norms and dress codes
While many visitors are eager to learn about local culture when they arrive, it is also important to have some basic knowledge when you arrive. As many of you know, social norms for behaving in public are stricter in the United Arab Emirates than they are in the West, so it is better to discover them in advance and start acting accordingly from day one.
This is especially true for dress codes in public places. The general rule of thumb here is that shoulders and knees should be covered everywhere you will encounter other people, although there are some exceptions. The good news is that these rules do not normally apply to kids.
Another important thing is to keep in mind the month of Ramadan, which is a significant cultural event among locals. Tourists do not need to follow all the rules and participate in celebrating it, but violating the rules we have mentioned above is considered doubly-offensive during this time.
Travel insurance
Many visitors neglect travel insurance, but it is really worth the extra spend, especially if you’re traveling in a large group. The chances of something going wrong grow exponentially with every added person, and to have a worry-free Dubai family vacation, it is better to know you are covered.
Of course, it does not mean you should behave irresponsibly after purchasing an insurance, as resolving unpredicted situations will still drain time from your Dubai family trip even if the financial losses will be eventually reimbursed.
Car Rental Considerations
Renting a car is much more beneficial than paying for tours to get to every destination you want. It allows you to be fully flexible and free, and thanks to the well-developed infrastructure, the ride will be a sheer pleasure. But much like with every point we have already covered, there are some things you should know before embarking on your Dubai family trip.
Advantages of Renting a Car
As mentioned, renting a car will most commonly be a more affordable and convenient option than booking transfers or using public transport. Dubai driving rulesare also similar to the ones in the West, so you won’t need to adjust your style too much. Although we recommend learning more about parking in Dubai before your journey, as the zones and areas might be confusing at first.
The main advantage of renting a vehicle is the freedom it grants. You can get to any destination we have mentioned today by car, and all the required infrastructure is in place. It will open a ton of new opportunities, as you will be able to visit attractions located in remote parts of the city or even in its neighboring emirates.
7-Seater and 8-Seater Options
Dubai’s rental market is extremely diverse. You can easily find SUVs, sports cars, luxury sedans for business, and some 7-seater or 8-seater options for large families. The options are very customizable and come with a variety of additional services to make your Dubai family holidays perfect. As we have mentioned, it is beneficial to book a vehicle in advance, as it will save you time and money, compared to doing it on the spot. Read more about family-friendly car rental tips in our previous article.
Choose the Right Rental Company
Speaking of choosing the right rental company, there are some tips we would like to share in this regard. Similarly to picking the accommodation option for your Dubai family trip, the choice of a rental brand should be based on personal needs and preferences of your group. The criteria to keep in mind when comparing different offers are:
- ratings on Trustpilot and other independent review platforms;
- prices on rentals;
- ranges of available types of vehicles, manufacturer brands, and exact models;
- available packages;
- additional services.
Learning and following these parameters will make it easier for you to find the best option according to your budget and get the most out of your visit to the United Arab Emirates.
