Dubai is one of the easiest long-haul family destinations, because almost everything is air-conditioned, clean and built for crowds. The hard part is choosing. This guide sorts the best family attractions by age band, adds a full Abu Dhabi day, and covers where to stay, how to get around with a stroller, the heat and what a week actually costs. For the wider city picture, see our Dubai city guide.
When to Go and How to Handle the Heat
November to March is the sweet spot: daytime highs of roughly 24-32°C, pleasant evenings and every seasonal attraction open. April and October are manageable with a midday break. From June to September, daytime highs go above 40°C, humidity rises and outdoor time between about 11:00 and 17:00 is miserable for small children. Our August in the UAE guide explains how to work around it.
A few habits make a big difference with kids:
- Schedule outdoor sights for before 10:00 or after 16:00, and use malls, aquariums and water parks in between.
- Carry water everywhere and top up often. Every mall and attraction has drinking fountains or cheap bottled water.
- Use high-SPF, water-resistant sunscreen and hats even in winter. The sun is strong all year.
- Expect cold air conditioning indoors. A light layer for each child avoids shivering after a hot walk.
- Hot car seats and metal playground slides can burn skin in summer. Check before sitting small children down.
Toddlers and Under-5s
Little ones need shade, water and short outings. Dubai has plenty of all three.
Beaches and splash zones. Public beaches along Jumeirah are free and have showers, lifeguards and kids’ play areas. Kite Beach in Umm Suqeim is the family favourite: wide sand, a jogging track, shaded play areas, food trucks and the sight of kitesurfers overhead. Go in the late afternoon in winter. For a calmer option with a view, the beach at JBR (see below) has a promenade and a children’s splash area close by.
Aquaventure’s Splashers zone. Atlantis Aquaventure has a dedicated zone of shallow pools and mini-slides for children under 1.2 metres. Children under 2 enter free as of 2026, and tickets for older children are approximately AED 275. Book a dated ticket in advance through Klook for Aquaventure to avoid ticket-desk queues.
Legoland’s young-child zones. The smallest children are best served by the dedicated young-child zones at Legoland, covered in our Dubai Parks and Resorts guide. Many rides there have no height limit or a very low one, and under-1.05-metre children are free at the gate as of 2026.
Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo. Inside Dubai Mall, the huge glass tank is a safe, cool, stroller-friendly outing that holds toddlers’ attention far longer than most museums. Allow 1.5-2 hours, and check current ticket prices on the official site before you buy.
Ages 5-8: First Big Rides
This age group is the sweet spot for water parks and character parks, because most rides open at 1.05-1.2 metres.
- Legoland Dubai and Motiongate. The two most family-friendly parks in the Dubai Parks and Resorts complex. Many rides at Motiongate start at 1.05 metres, so a six-year-old can ride a lot. Single-park day tickets start from approximately AED 250-295 per adult and AED 220-265 per child as of 2026.
- Aquaventure. Children over 1.2 metres can use more of the slides. Heights are strictly checked at each ride.
- Dubai Miracle Garden. A calm flower garden with character installations, open from about November to May. Easy walking, plenty of photo stops and a good half-day. Adult tickets are approximately AED 55 as of 2026, with under-3s free. Book Miracle Garden tickets on Klook and read our Miracle Garden guide for the season dates.
- Dubai Frame. A short, cheap outing at approximately AED 50 for adults. The glass-floor sky bridge thrills kids, and the walk through Zabeel Park beforehand burns energy. Reserve via Klook for Dubai Frame and see our Dubai Frame guide.
- Abra ride on Dubai Creek. A wooden abra crossing costs AED 1 per person on the public route and takes only a few minutes, but it is the cheapest “boat adventure” in the city. Pair it with the Gold and Spice Souks in Deira. See the Dubai Creek guide for the route.
Ages 9-12: Thrills and Hands-On Fun
Children this age can ride most big attractions. Priorities:
- iFly Dubai. An indoor skydiving wind tunnel where children as young as approximately 3 can “fly” with an instructor in short sessions. It is a rare activity that older kids and adults enjoy together. Confirm the current minimum age, weight limits and pricing on the iFly site before booking.
- Ski Dubai and Snow Park. At Mall of the Emirates, Ski Dubai offers real snow indoors. The Snow Park lets children play and sled without skis, while ski lessons suit older kids. A two-hour ski session is approximately AED 200-250 including hire as of 2026. Pack warm socks, since hired clothing is provided but socks are not always included.
- Aquaventure’s big slides. The Leap of Faith and Aquaconda need nerve and a height minimum. See the Aquaventure guide for the ride list and height limits.
- Global Village. A seasonal cultural fair with 90+ country pavilions, rides and shows, open roughly October to April. General admission is approximately AED 25 as of 2026, so it is the cheapest evening out in the city. Rides and food cost extra. Tickets and season tips are in our Global Village guide, or book Global Village tickets on Klook.
- Dhow cruise. A calm evening on the creek or marina with dinner is a good wind-down after a busy park day. See our dhow cruise guide.
Teenagers
Teens usually want speed and spectacle. Hit the big coasters at Motiongate, Aquaventure’s biggest slides, iFly, Ski Dubai and the desert. A Dubai desert safari with dune bashing is a highlight for most teenagers. The Burj Khalifa and the Museum of the Future also work well, because the displays suit teenage curiosity. Give older teens free time at Dubai Mall, which has an indoor ice rink and a huge arcade area.
Where to Stay with Kids
Pick the area first, then the hotel.
- Dubai Marina and JBR. Beach access, a walkable promenade, a tram and Metro nearby, and plenty of family restaurants. Many hotels here have kids’ clubs and shallow pools. See our Dubai Marina guide.
- Palm Jumeirah. Resort-style stays with private beaches and big kids’ clubs. Higher prices, but the easiest “stay put and splash” holiday. See our Palm Jumeirah guide.
- Al Barsha. A good value choice near Mall of the Emirates and Ski Dubai, with Metro access and a mix of apartments and family hotels. You are away from the beach, so you rely on pools.
- Downtown Dubai. Close to Dubai Mall, the Aquarium and the Fountain show, with larger prices. Good for short stays focused on the city.
Apartment hotels with kitchens save money and make early-morning bottle or snack runs easier. Our where to stay in Dubai page compares the areas in detail. Verify any hotel you choose on Booking.com for family rooms and kids’ club age limits before you book.
Abu Dhabi with Kids: A Day on Yas Island
Abu Dhabi suits a day trip from Dubai, or an overnight if you want two parks. Yas Island is about 40 km from central Dubai, around one hour by car, and holds four parks. Our Yas Island guide has the full comparison and multi-park pass prices.
- Yas Waterworld. A water park with slides, a wave pool and a lazy river, best for ages 5 and up, plus a smaller kids’ zone. Book Yas Waterworld on Klook.
- Warner Bros. World. An indoor park, so a good summer pick. Children aged 3-11 pay approximately AED 270 as of 2026. The Looney Tunes and Bedrock zones suit smaller children. Book Warner Bros. World tickets and read our Warner Bros. World guide.
- SeaWorld Abu Dhabi. Marine habitats, shows and rides, all indoors. Tickets are approximately AED 375 per adult as of 2026. Book SeaWorld tickets, and see our SeaWorld Abu Dhabi guide.
- Ferrari World. Better for kids over about 120-140 cm, because the headline rides have height limits. Our Ferrari World guide lists them, and you can book Ferrari World on Klook.
- Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. A free, calm stop on the way, with dress rules for visitors. See the Grand Mosque guide.
For one day, choose one park and arrive at opening, rather than trying to see everything. For visitors without a car, browse Abu Dhabi tours with transport on GetYourGuide. For more on Abu Dhabi as a base, read our Abu Dhabi city guide and our comparison of Dubai vs Abu Dhabi.
Strollers, Metro and Getting Around
- Metro. Strollers are allowed on trains. Use the lifts, not the escalators, and use the women and children carriage in busy periods. You need a Nol card for adults. Full fares and routes are in our Dubai Metro guide, and the official RTA website lists current rules for children.
- Taxis and ride-hailing. Taxis are cheap by Western standards and plentiful. Child seats are not always available in standard taxis, so bring a portable booster or use a family car option in Uber or Careem. Check the current child seat rules on the RTA website.
- Strollers in malls. Malls are fully stroller-friendly, with baby-changing rooms and family prayer rooms. A light, folding stroller with a sun canopy beats a heavy one for outdoor attractions.
- Walking. Outside the Downtown and Marina promenades, distances between sights are long, so skip long walks in summer.
Realistic Costs
Costs add up fast on park days. As of 2026, plan roughly:
| Item | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| Aquaventure, adult / child | AED 345 / AED 275 |
| Legoland or Motiongate, adult / child | AED 250-295 / AED 220-265 |
| Dubai Frame, adult | AED 50 |
| Miracle Garden, adult | AED 55 |
| Global Village entry | AED 25 |
| Abra across the Creek | AED 1 |
| Ski Dubai, two-hour session | AED 200-250 |
| Yas Island park, adult | AED 290-375 |
Money-saving moves: book dated tickets online, take two or three free beach and promenade days between park days, eat at family food courts, and use the Metro. For a broader budget breakdown, see our guide to how much a trip to Dubai costs. Prices change by date and season, so confirm them on the official sites before booking.
A Sample 5-Day Family Plan
- Day 1: Arrive, Kite Beach in the late afternoon, early dinner.
- Day 2: Aquaventure all day.
- Day 3: Dubai Aquarium at Dubai Mall in the morning, Dubai Fountain show in the evening.
- Day 4: Yas Island day trip to one park.
- Day 5: Legoland or Motiongate, or Global Village / Miracle Garden in season.
Add a desert safari or Dubai family tours if you have extra days. For official visitor information, see Visit Dubai and Visit Abu Dhabi.