Dubai with kids: 9 kid-friendly activities parents will love too

A trip to Dubai might conjure images of luxury shopping sprees, resorts that are as high end as they are high rise, and gourmet restaurants packed with Instagrammers. But Dubai—the Travelers’ Choice 2023 winner for the most popular city in the world—is also incredibly kid friendly, with everything from enormous water slides and ultramodern theme parks to exhilarating desert adventures. Read on for a roster of Dubai activities that are both child and parent approved.

Escape the hustle and bustle of the city with a visit to Sonara Camp, a family-friendly base camp with activities like desert safaris, dune bashing (off-roading over sand dunes), sandboarding, camel riding, archery, and falconry on offer. After an adventure-filled day, settle in for a Bedouin-style dinner under the stars, complete with fire dancers. The camp restaurant even has a kids’ area with a special buffet, s’mores, movies, and toys, so parents can enjoy some downtime while their little ones play.

Dubai is home to some of the most impressive water parks in the world—and they're not just for kids. Wild Wadi and Atlantis Aquaventure offer fun for the whole family with water coasters, lazy rivers, wave pools, and thrilling rides (Atlantis alone has 105 different slides). When you need a break from the water, both parks have a wide range of restaurants, shops, and entertainment, including an extraordinary aquarium at Atlantis with over 65,000 sea creatures.

Just as Dubai’s water parks aren’t only for children, its shopping malls aren’t just for grownups. Alongside designer boutiques, The Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, and Ibn Battuta Mall all boast family-friendly amenities like ice-skating rinks and movie theaters, plus shops like the LEGO Store, Build-A-Bear Workshop, and more. The Dubai Mall is also home to the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, where you can see sharks, stingrays, and other fascinating marine life, and the Dubai Fountain, a dazzling display of water jets and lights that dance to music. And at the Mall of Emirates, you can shop for the perfect getup then hit the slopes at indoor ski resort Ski Dubai.

Dubai’s beautiful beaches feature so much more than just sunbathing and swimming. At spots like Jumeirah Beach and Kite Beach, the whole family can stay active with water sports like kite surfing and paddleboarding. Kite Beach even has a ropes course with elements for both kids and adults, from an “entry-level” obstacle course for little ones to a bungee toss and 130-foot-long Zip line.

The luxurious Madinat Jumeirah resort already stands out for its wealth of upscale restaurants, shops, and entertainment, but what really sets it apart is its network of waterways, which are reminiscent of Venice, Italy. Take a traditional abra boat ride through the canals and stop for lunch or dinner at one of the many waterfront restaurants, like Mexican spot Tortuga. If you go during the cooler months, you can also look forward to live music and street performances along the waterways that only add to the magical atmosphere.

The Dubai Miracle Garden is the world’s largest flower garden, with over 150 million blooms arranged in stunning displays and patterns. The colorful, 72,000-square-mile space features endless family photo ops, as well as whimsical attractions like the brand-new Smurf Village and the larger-than-life Teddy Bear covered entirely in flowers. Walk around to take it all in, then grab a bite to eat at one of the many food stalls.

No trip to Dubai is complete without a visit to the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. Take the elevator to the observation deck on the 124th floor for breathtaking views of the city, or continue up to the 148th floor to enjoy a cup of tea, pastries, or a glass of Champagne at the Sky Lounge (and bragging rights for reaching the very top of the tower).

Dubai Parks and Resorts is a theme park complex with a range of diversions, including the Hollywood-inspired Motiongate Dubai (with rides dedicated to Shrek, Madagascar, Ghostbusters, and other family-friendly blockbusters) and LEGOLAND Dubai (with rides, shows, and 15,000 LEGO model structures). To make it easier to visit with kids, each of the parks offers amenities like stroller rentals, locker facilities, and kids’ meals.

Ain Dubai, the world's largest Ferris wheel, isn’t your average carnival ride. Passengers on the 820-foot-high attraction can indulge in a variety of high-end experiences during their ride, including a private, five-course dinner and butler service in a luxury cabin. Children will love the thrill of going high up in the air, parents can savor some VIP treatment, and everyone will get a kick out of the dazzling views of the Dubai skyline. (Note: the wheel is currently closed for enhancements, but is scheduled to reopen later this year.)