Best Family-Friendly Activities to do in Dubai

[Madhura Vaishampayan]

From a desert city in the United Arab Emirates to the biggest family destination in the Middle East, Dubai stands as a prime example of how a city can transform itself into a family destination. From visiting the world’s tallest buildings to shopping in world’s largest shopping malls, there are many things to do in Dubai with family. Dubai is a melting pot of various cultures. It sees a multitude of tourists who come here for leisure, sightseeing and shopping. There are so many things to do that it can get confusing. Therefore, here’s a list of things to do in Dubai with family when you visit this amazing city.

Visit to the Burj Khalifa

A trip to Dubai is incomplete without a visit to the Burj Khalifa. This modern-day architectural marvel is the tallest skyscraper in the world. It stands at a massive 2,722 ft. in height (829.8 m). The building has 2 separate viewing decks; one on the 124th floor, and the other on the 148th floor. Both provide stunning views of the city. Rumor has it that the view is so wide and expansive, that you can also see the curvature of the earth. Always jam-packed, it is advisable to book your tour online in advance. The Burj Khalifa is a manmade marvel, and stands as a symbol of beauty of this wonderful city.

Shopping at Dubai Mall

Dubai is a shoppers’ paradise. Where in the world would you find ATM machines that dispense solid Gold bars? Not surprisingly, Dubai is also home to the biggest mall in the world, the Dubai Mall. Though it is a mall, it wouldn’t be too far-fetched to consider it as a shopping city. With close to 1200 stores of the best brands in the world, shopping at the Dubai Mall is a compulsory activity. If shopping is not your cup of tea, then there are a host of other leisure activities you can indulge in. The Dubai Mall is so huge that it hosts an indoor theme park that is perfect for some family fun. There’s also a massive aquarium full of rare sea life from around the world. At the Dubai Mall, you are guaranteed of never having a dull moment.

Desert Safari Tour in Dubai

The Desert Safari is one of the most popular activities in Dubai. Touted to be an experience of a lifetime, the desert safari is highly popular with tourists. These safari tours are well-organised by professional companies, and include a host of activities. The most popular of them is Dune Driving, where you are seated in 4X4 SUVs, and driven around the beautiful sand dunes in the desert. You also get to ride camels, Sand Surf, witness a gorgeous sunset, watch belly dancing, enjoy a delicious meals, and so much more. It is a complete day’s activity which can be enjoyed by families. Therefore, if you are visiting Dubai, a desert safari tour is a must for your family to have a great time.

Aquaventure Water Park

Everything in Dubai defies logic and nature. This city was once a water-starved city. Therefore, the citizens of the city love to go against the norm, and create something not expected of them. A prime example of this are the waterparks. Dubai is home to one of the best waterparks in the world. The Aquaventure Waterpark boasts of having world record setting slides and rides that will get your adrenaline pumping. Perfect for families, this massive water park also has a 700 metre wide private beach where you can relax and rejuvenate. At Aquaventure, you can also get close to rays and sharks and see them up close like never before. Therefore, to make memories of a lifetime, a visit to the Aquaventure Waterpark is highly recommended.

The Dubai Fountain

Have you ever seen water dance like fire? if not then you have to visit The Dubai Fountain. This fountain is set atop the 24-acre wide Burj Lake. The fountain heads are spread across 900 feet, and shoot water jets as high as 450 ft., which is equivalent to a 45 storey high building. With over 6600 Superlights, and 25 colour projectors, the fountain can create over a 1000 abstract and creative formations. In fact, the light beams created by the fountains are so bright and beautiful, that they can be seen from 20 miles afar, and are also visible from space. The fountain performs on close to 35 songs daily. Thousands of tourists gather around to witness this spectacle every day, and are mesmerised by the rhythmic performance.

Ski Dubai

As we know, Dubai takes pride in defying nature. One of the city’s biggest achievements is Ski Dubai. This indoor ski resort, spread across 22,500 square metres, is a part of the Mall of the Emirates, and has a 85 metre tall snow covered mountain. The mountain has 5 different ski slopes that provide skiers with different levels of fun and difficulty. This wonderful architectural feat attracts thousands of tourists, and gives them the opportunity to experience snow, and skiing which would have been impossible in a desert city like Dubai.

Dubai Museum

Your Dubai vacation would not be complete without experiencing its culture, and the best place to experience culture is the Dubai Museum. The museum is located in the Al Fahidi Fort. The museum lets you witness the lifestyle of 1800s - the pre-oil era when this city was just a small trade city. Here, you can soak in the history of this wonderful city and witness galleries, antiques and artifacts of a long lost era. A visit to the Dubai Museum will leave you educated about the cultures of the Middle East.

Dubai is wonderful city that is a modern-day marvel. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. The city is a melting pot of various cultures, and tourists from around the world can feel perfectly at home here. There’s so much to do here for everyone in the family. Plan a vacation, and visit Dubai as it is the place where and your family are guaranteed of making lifelong memories.