Travelling with kids can be tough. They quickly bore of castles and museums, and not all of them see the point of hiking up Machu Picchu just to see the view.
To ensure a wonderful holiday is had by all, we recommend you try Dubai, known as the friendliest city in the whole of the United Arab Emirates.
Not only is Dubai friendly, it is 100% geared towards families, offering an array of activities and outings – from horse riding in the desert to skating on an indoor ice rink, and is also home to some of the world’s most amazing theme parks.
Here’s our rundown of great activities for kids in Dubai
- Motiongate at Dubai Parks and Resorts
Motiongate at Dubai Parks and Resorts is the Middle East’s largest Hollywood themed park and opens its doors to the public in December. Kids can enjoy the rides, simulators and other attractions based on films such as The Hunger Games, Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, The Green Hornet and Hotel Transylvania.
There are also loads of souvenir shops, live events and restaurants to visit, making a visit to Motiongate truly unforgettable.
- Swim with dolphins at Atlantis, the Palm
The Atlantis, The Palm resort hotel is situated on the unique man-made island, called The Palm, in the Arabian Gulf. The resort offers a host of fun activities for kids, including the awesome rides at the Aquaventure Water Park, the massive Aquarium, and the entertaining and educational activities at the Kids Zone.
But what they will probably remember most is a swim with dolphins in the Ambassador Lagoon. The dolphin encounter is open to all ages and limited to just 10 guests per dolphin at any given time. Kids can kiss and hug the intelligent animals, learn about them through educators and splash around the safe, shallow water with them.
- Ice skating in the desert
Dubai’s Olympic-sized ice skating rink is situated in the world-famous Dubai Mall, which means parents can do some shopping while the kids play around at the rink.
The Dubai Ice Rink Skating Academy (DIRSA) offers a full programme of coaching – from basic learning to skate to advanced figure skating. The kids will love the cool D.J. nights and live entertainment and when they’re hungry, there are loads of cafes and restaurants to cater to everyone.
While in the Dubai Mall, also don’t miss SEGA Republic, the city’s largest indoor theme park, and KidZania, an ‘edutainment’ complex complete with paved streets, buildings and a functioning economy.
- Horse riding across the dunes
Kids love horse riding and to get a true taste of Arab life outside of the city, head over to Al Sahra Desert Resort Equestrian Centre where they offer horse riding, livery, riding lessons and culture tours.
Riders of all abilities can go out into the natural Dubai desert, accompanied by a member of the riding team. Visitors can combine horse riding with an Arabian Culture Tour that explains the development of the Bedouin lifestyle, including Arabian horses, camels and date palms.
And for the truly adventurous, they also offer camel rides which is sure to be a hit with everyone.
- Go surf a kite at kite beach
Kite Beach is legendary in Dubai, especially among the large kite surfing crowd. Water sport operators line the beach where you can rent equipment and get personal instruction.
Parents can relax at the beach and take in the great view of the Burj Al Arab while kids can practice kite surfing or take part in the many other activities such as standup paddling, football and volleyball. There’s even a children’s play area for little ones.
There are many other fun places to visit, such as the Wild Wadi Water Park, the jungle-themed Rainforest Café and the Dubai miracle garden, so be sure to allow plenty of time for your visit. The city is also really easy to get to, with all major airlines servicing it’s airport, and it being only a few hours from just about anywhere in the world.
