Dubai through the eyes of kids is one big playground, where every corner holds endless fun and adventures. This kid-approved 10-day itinerary is a mix of exploring the city’s skyscrapers, to its lively beaches and desert adventures.

• Dubai Mall & Burj Khalifa Fountain Show: Begin the day at one of the world’s largest malls. Numerous kid-friendly indoor activities are available, including Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, KidZania (an interactive kid-sized city), Trampo Extreme (a trampoline park), Ice Skating Rink, VR Park (a Virtual Reality Theme Park), and Emirates A380 Flight Simulation. Enjoy lunch at one of the many restaurants overlooking Burj Khalifa Lake (our favorite is Babel or Somewhere). The Dubai Fountain shows start at 6 PM every half an hour until 11 PM. For front-row seats, opt for the Dubai Fountain Lake Ride and avoid the crowd. You can also head to At The Top of Burj Khalifa for amazing views of the city (book tickets in advance).
• Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark: A highlight of the trip! Note that it can get really crowded, so use these tips for a smoother experience:
  • Take a taxi or Uber (avoid the distant car park and long shuttle queues)
  • Purchase tickets online (cheaper & faster)
  • Steer clear of weekends
  • Highly recommend the fast pass for kids over 1.2meter in height
  • Plan the day ahead in order not to miss a specific ride
• Sonara Camp: Another highlight! Pricier than other camps but totally worth the experience. Opt for the Sunset and Dinner Experiences (5:30PM to 9:30PM), and enjoy everything the camp has to offer such as Camel rides, Archery, Sand Surfing, shows and movies under the stars for the little ones.
• Palm Jumeirah Beaches: Book lunch at the many beachfront restaurants at West Beach or Club Vista Mare, where you can enjoy a lively atmosphere while the kids play around in the sand (our favourites are February 30 (live DJ sessions), Ria Restaurant (amazing Seafood), Ibn Al Bahr (Lebanese Seafood) and Limonata (Italian).
• Kite Beach: The most famous public beach in Dubai with many water activities and food trucks. Kids can enjoy an inflatable water park or visit XPark JR (a mini forest park play area with farm animals). If you are a burger lover, make sure to add Salt to your list.
• The Glass Slide at Sky Views Observatory: Glide on glass from the 53rd floor to the 52nd with amazing city views. Its an easy fun-filled morning plan that can be done in less than 1 hour.
• Jungle Bay Waterpark at the Westin & Le Meridien Mina Seyahi: Perfect for a stress-free day at the beach, with a compact sized waterpark and many dining options (book at Fish Taverna if you enjoy seafood or Bussola if you are more of an Italian cuisine lover)
• Motiongate Dubai at Dubai Parks and resorts: Our favourite overall theme park in Dubai. Head there early as it is further out (40 minutes from Downtown Dubai), and you would need to entire day to cover all the rides and attractions.
• Ski Dubai at Mall Of The Emirates: Indoor Ski Resort with a Snow Park and Penguin Encounter. You can book a private or group lesson for kids from the age of 3+ with all the gear included.
• Explore Madinat Jumeirah: Have lunch in one of the restaurants terraces overlooking Burj Al Arab, and take a ride on the wooden boats.
• Museum Of The Future: Dive into the future in this immersive museum suitable for all ages. Book the tickets weeks in advance!
• Ripe Market at Dubais Police Academy: Support home-grown businesses at this super entertaining market, with lots of stalls, food trucks, kids activities and a petting farm. It is open only on weekends from around Mid October to end of April.

Family friendly Restaurants

🍴Taverna at Madinat Jumeirah (authentic Greek)

🍴Salmontini at Mall of The Emirates (Salmon lovers with views of Ski Dubai)

🍴Luigia at Rixos Premium (Italian with a small play area for kids)

🍴Club Vista Mare: Ria Restaurant (seafood) , Ibn Al Bahr (Lebanese Seafoos) or Limonata (Italian)

🍴West Beach: February 30 (live DJ) or Jones The Grocer (casual)

🍴Tashas Jumeirah (casual lunch)

🍴3Fils (contemporary Asian)

🍴Babel Dubai Mall (Lebanese)

🍴Sushi Samba (for lunch and amazing views of The Palm)

🍴Depashika Food Hall at Nakheel Mall

🍴Rockfish at Jumeirah Al Naseem (fresh Seafood)

🍴Fish Taverna at Le Meridien Mina Seyahi (beachfront)

🍴The Meat Co at Madinat Jumeirah (best views on Burj Al Arab)

**Hotel Tip: Dubai is an oasis when it comes to 5-star luxury beachfront resorts. Top recommendations include The Hilton Palm Jumeirah, The Fairmont Palm Jumeirah, and The Westin Mina Seyahi. While Palm Jumeirah has many amazing resorts, I wouldn’t recommend staying in ones that are not on the main ‘trunk’ due to distance and traffic.

If you plan an extended stay, consider furnished apartments like Sonder in Downtown (though not serviced, these apartments are spacious and modern; you can request cleaning for an additional fee) or Adagio Premium The Palm (an aparthotel).