Dubai Family-friendly activities

Family-friendly activities: Things to do in Dubai with kids

Discover incredible things to do in Dubai with kids. Help them create their own real-life Arabian tale. Treat the family to a desert adventure, complete with camel rides and sandboarding. Or take to the skies over the golden sands with a hot air balloon or a falconry show. There are marvels modern and ancient to enchant young minds. Visit the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa, or the vast souks, and markets, filled with spices, fabrics, and gold. Or just go for exhilarating fun at Ferrari World’s tracks and Bounce’s trampolines.

Ski Dubai: Frolic in the snow in the middle of the desert

Escape to a wintry wonderland during any season. Everyone can enjoy the snow at Ski Dubai. Little ones can build a snowman or sled down a hill. Older kids and adults can take to the slopes for skiing and snowboarding. And it’s okay if they’ve never hit the slopes before – there are lessons available for all ages. Then, hang out with the penguins or check out the ice caverns. Or sip hot chocolate at a chalet and marvel that all of this is inside a mall, surrounded by desert. See the shoppers walking by outside the windows!

Children aged two and older are welcome, although you should check age and height limits for the various rides. Entry fee includes all the snow gear everyone needs. There are lockers for rent, and strollers are welcome and also available for rent. There are restaurants onsite (and in the mall), and baby changing facilities available.

Atlantis Aquaventure: Explore life under the sea 

Atlantis is no longer a mysterious lost continent: it is an epic waterpark. Anyone can buy a ticket for the splashing fun at the Atlantis Palm Hotel. Your adrenaline lovers can test themselves on rides like the Leap of Faith – a water slide almost 100-feet high that includes a long tube through the aquarium. Or the whole family can take a raft down Lazy River and enjoy a ride together.

The park welcomes the entire family, but you should check the age and height limits for the various activities. Strollers are allowed and recommended, and there are locker facilities. You can only bring baby food and water inside, but there are plenty of restaurants throughout the park.

OliOli: Everyone in the family can join the fun

Release the children for playful learning. Designed for kids, OliOli lets everyone join in. Toddlers can play with bubbles and puzzles with parents. Older kids can climb through Toshi’s Net and play up above, safely. They can learn about the forces of air and water with balloons and cannons. Watch their eyes light up as they see a hurricane in action or race little cars, they made themselves! Check the schedule for special activities, like constructing a musical bench or hunting for dinosaur fossils.

This is geared towards toddlers to pre-teens, although older children may also enjoy the activities. If you are traveling with babies, you’ll be relieved to know that there are baby changing and breast-feeding stations available. Strollers are welcome, although there is a storage area if needed. Considering the water activities, you may want to bring a change of clothing. You can bring food and drink or buy some at the café.

City Walk: Enjoy some of the city’s best shopping

Take shopping to the streets with the family. City Walk is an open-air shopping complex with more than just designer fashions. Check the calendar for events like artist performances and cooking competitions in the main area. However, the stores themselves offer kid-tastic entertainments. Geek Nations sells comic and pop culture merchandise and they also have a state-of-the-art gaming area to watch and play. Mattel Play! Town brings Bob the Builder, Angelina Ballerina, Barney, and friends to life for imaginative play with little ones.

Strollers are welcome and available for rent, and baby changing facilities are widely available. There’s also free Wi-Fi throughout the site and a first aid station.

Kite Beach: Enjoy a day of sand and surf

Dubai’s sands are more than desert. There are miles of shoreline to check out. Kite Beach brings family fun to the shores of the Persian Gulf. Active kids can try their hand at kite surfing, wakeboarding, and stand-up paddleboarding. There are playgrounds for the younger kids to build sandcastles, as well as amusement areas with kid-friendly ziplines and obstacle courses. And there are shops along the beach if you forget sunscreen or beachwear.

Strollers are welcome, and there are rentals for towels, beach chairs, and umbrellas. There are plenty of restaurants along the beach, in addition to restroom and shower facilities.

Read our complete guide to Dubai, or discover the city's best experiences.