9 Family-Friendly Things To Do in Dubai

If your kids are into sci-fi vibes, look no further—the world’s tallest building has them in spades. Just the sight of the Burj Khalifa's 2,717-foot (828-meter) summit will wow youngsters, as will its bird’s-eye observatories. Choose from various admission tickets, including skip-the-line options, to visit its Level 124–125 or Level 148 SKY viewing decks—the latter has an outdoor terrace—or go higher to The Lounge, on Levels 152–154. Visits are included on many Dubai tours and you can combine entry with the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, which is also located in Dubai Mall, just steps away.

The Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo is so close to Burj Khalifa that it makes the perfect one-two of things to do with kids in Dubai—to find it, just go up a floor in Dubai Mall after descending the Burj. The Aquarium houses more than 33,000 aquatic animals, as well as a see-through underwater tunnel surrounded by sharks plus three zoo zones showcasing giant crocodiles, seahorses, spider crabs, and myriad other species.

Standard admission includes entry to the tunnel and zoo, while different upgrade options let you add on penguin encounters and snorkel experiences.

One of the top Dubai activities for children, Aquaventure Waterpark neighbors the Atlantis, The Palm hotel on the Palm Jumeirah and boasts more than 105 rides, pools, and other splashy attractions. Conquer the 90-foot (27.5-meter) Leap of Faith slide, let the crew loose on bucket-filled Splash Mountain, and chill out at the park's beach and restaurants.

For a change of scenery, you can head next door to Atlantis’ The Lost Chambers Aquarium to see a world of marine creatures in lagoon tanks. Prebook Aquaventure day passes—some incorporate handy transfers—or go for the full shebang with a park-and-aquarium ticket combo.

Dubai boasts fabulous public and private hotel beaches, all with silky sands and assorted amenities and water sports. (Most also feature lifeguards and designated swimming zones for extra reassurance.) Soak up the rays as the kids play and paddle, and take time out at the shops and restaurants that line most sands: the beach at Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR), for instance, lines the lively JBR Walk boulevard. Getting to JBR and other popular beaches, such as Palm Jumeirah’s Palm West, is easy, too: Ride a tram, metro train, cab, or one of the hop-on hop-off buses that stop in both areas.

Kick-start an evening out with a free Dubai Fountain show. Embedded in the Burj Lake beneath the Burj Khalifa, this choreographed fountain display happens at 30-minute intervals every night between 6–11pm. All the family will love watching the illuminated jets swaying to music. To make things extra magical, buy tickets for the Fountain Boardwalk or an abra (wooden boat) ride to get right up-close to the cascades. Taking a Dubai nighttime tour that showcases the fountain and wider city lights is ideal if you’re on a tight schedule, especially if it includes Burj Khalifa tickets.

No trip to Dubai is complete without experiencing its desert. Composed of orange-red dunes and huge plains, it blends Bedouin mystique with tons of outdoor fun. Most families experience desert beauty and adventures on action-packed safaris that include dune bashing, camel riding, and sandboarding followed by dinner and shows at a Bedouin-style camp. Alternatives include standalone desert all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and dune buggy adventures—with many offering minimum driver ages of 15 or 16. Alternatively, move things up a notch with premium experiences that include sunrise hot air balloon flights, private dining, or wildlife-spotting in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve (DDCR).

Kid-friendly Dubai activities don’t come much better than Ski Dubai, an indoor snow wonderland in the Mall of the Emirates that will thrill the whole family while also offering respite from Dubai’s heat. Little ones aged 2 and over will adore the fun and games of the Snow Park zone—think snowballs, tubes, and zorb balls—while parents with kids between ages 3–14 can choose from a variety of packages that grant access to the ski and snowboard slopes. All tickets and options include snow wear and equipment, so you can simply rock up and dive in.

For fun things for kids in Dubai, it’s hard to beat the city’s theme parks. Visit IMG Worlds of Adventure, an indoor extravaganza offering the advantage of air-conditioned cool. Prebook tickets to save time and skip lines; and hit its Marvel-, Cartoon Network-, and dinosaur-themed rides, coasters, cinema domes, and play zones. Or, head for the vast Dubai Parks and Resorts, home to LEGOLAND® Dubai, LEGOLAND Water Park, a movie-inspired Motiongate park, and shops, restaurants, and shows. Numerous 1- and 2-park passes and ticket-and-transfer packages make it easy to visit this mega-park in the best way for you.

Some of the best family attractions in Dubai aren’t immediately obvious, and the old town is definitely one of them. Leave the modern city behind to introduce the family to more traditional Dubai. They’ll get a true sense of old Arabia on an old town tour that covers the 19th-century Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood and allows you to take in Dubai Creek.

If the kids are older, with more adventurous tastes, try a culinary tour that takes you around Dubai’s eateries to taste traditional souk staples, such as stuffed falafel and chocolate-coated dates.