20 Things To Book For A Great Family Holiday In Dubai

Teens especially will love the Insta-appeal of Aya, an immersive entertainment park where natural beauty meets a mysterious cosmos. Inside, visitors will find ‘vibrant worlds enfolded within its chambers’ as they move between spaces – one is full of stars, another shows gardens blooming in light, and one allows visitors to traverse infinite rivers. We suggest families book a group pass in advance.

Visit Aya-Universe.com

Another tech-centred gallery, Infinity des Lumières opened in 2021 and comprises three immersive, multi-sensory exhibitions designed to activate and engage all the senses, stimulate critical thinking, expand world views and explore different perspectives. Pioneering digital art in the region, InfinityArt was founded with the aim of helping art play an active role in the digital revolution taking place in the cultural sector. An exciting fusion of art, music, architecture, science, state-of-the-art technology and high-tech engineering, in each gallery images come to life through incredible animation, movement, sound and rhythm.

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You won’t miss the Museum of the Future – its landmark new building is a curvaceous counterpoint to the vertical towers that dominate the Dubai skyline. Inside, the museum wrestles with a big question: what will life look like in 2071? Its answers span a space station and a digitally recreated rainforest. There’s also Future Heroes, the museum’s dedicated space for the children. Within an open world of exploration and play, children are encouraged to develop skills that will always be useful down the line. The exhibition’s three main experiences, Imagine, Design and Build, give children the opportunity to play and learn through activities that encourage communication, collaboration and creativity.

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Roll DXB is a fresh roller-skating concept born in Dubai, where the team hosts everything from roller discos to skate jams – plus public and private lessons. The venue lays on daily and nightly roller disco sessions for kids, with live DJs and themed events. If your children haven’t tried roller-skating before, this is the perfect place to give it a go.

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The Ignite Inflatable Water Park is part of the Palm Jumeirah, but is also open to non-residents. The water park is tailored for children and young teens, aged six to 16, and is filled with thrilling bouncy slides and inflatable challenges. In collaboration with SUP Kids, the team also offers an experience at Riva Beach Club. Designed for kids aged six and above, the water sports club takes place each Saturday, and is crammed with outdoor activities and water sports such as open-water kayaking.

Visit IgniteWatersports.com

In the middle of the heritage area at Al Seef, Museum of Illusions is a one-of-a-kind ‘edutainment’ destination where visitors can immerse themselves in a world of illusions. Guests can experience more than 60 visual and educational exhibits featuring holograms, stereograms, optical illusions and immersive rooms that are designed to tease the senses and trick the mind. A variety of exhibits use visual tricks and hands-on interactive displays to create a playful environment that engages visitors of all ages.

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With numerous awards and accolades under its belt – including being named TripAdvisor Traveller’s Choice every year from 2019 to 2023 – Oli Oli invites kids to step into a world of wonder. In a spacious indoor sanctuary where hands-on activities inspire positive play, children are free to wander and discover in spaces designed to foster creativity, curiosity and imagination. All ages are welcome, but we think this is an especially great place for those with younger children.

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This is another spot where fast-track passes are essential. Aventura Parks in Mushrif Park is the largest adventure park with a zipline in Dubai, spanning 35,000sq m of Ghaf tree forest – and encompassing 1,640 different games. Families can navigate five circuit-style obstacle courses and 24 ziplines, or head out on a nature walk showcasing the flora and fauna of the UAE. The Discovery Play Area is a beautifully designed kids play area based on the pyramid of learning. This outdoor playground is packed with interesting activities for toddlers and kids up to 1.25m tall.

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Bab Al Shams offers the best of both worlds. Just a short drive outside the city, it is surrounded by sand dunes and feels secluded and private – ideal for a family getaway in the desert. Plus, the resort recently had an extensive renovation with the addition of new restaurant. After entering the resort through tall wooden arches, you’ll find three large swimming pools with desert views. The rooms and suites are inspired by traditional Arabian villages – expect plush furnishings, Persian rugs and neutral colours. Elsewhere, there’s an open-air Middle Eastern restaurant with belly dancers, as well as all-day eateries and a pool bar for snacks and cocktails. One of the best parts? The range of guest experiences – think desert drive tours, horse riding, camelback trekking, falconry and private hot air balloon rides.

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Nara offers another way to see the desert that lies just beyond Dubai’s city limits. It has a private camp within the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, surrounded by gazelles and other wildlife. Luxury tents that blend harmoniously with the sand dunes are the highlight of a stay at Sonara Desert Camp on the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, which is a 40-minute drive from the city. Enjoy the tranquillity of desert life at The Nest – 14 tents designed by award-winning architect Gianni Ranaulo. An array of modern and traditional activities helps guests immerse themselves in Bedouin heritage. Look up and learn about the stars with a trained astronomer on a sky safari; take a camel or a horse for a ride; go up in a hot air balloon; take to the dunes on a nature walk, or speed things up by dune bashing in a buggy. The beauty of this sustainable resort is the solace it offers, but if you crave some night-time activity, the main Sonara Camp nearby offers falcon shows, buffet dinners, live music and after-dark movie screenings. 

Visit Nara.ae

This eco-friendly boutique hotel in Umm Al Quwain on the Arabian Gulf offers a luxury getaway, with each of its bungalows thoughtfully designed to blend into the surrounding mangrove forests – and offer those all-important views of the sea. Away from their private pools, guests can discover a range of activities aimed at all interests and levels of adventure, from kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding to kite surfing and trips on a traditional African boat.

Visit CasaMikoko.ae

The Jebel Jais mountain peak is part of the spectacular Hajar range. The mountains extend from Ras Al Khaimah on the eastern side of the UAE to the Musandam Peninsula on the north-eastern side of Oman. These dramatic mountainscapes are home to the Jebel Jais Adventure Park, which offers adrenaline-pumping, cloud-piercing experiences. These include the Jais Flight, the world’s longest zipline, the Jais Sky Zipline Tour, or an overnight stay at the Bear Grylls Explorers Camp. Whichever you pick, make sure to book a table at 1484 By Puro, the highest restaurant in the UAE.

Visit VisitJebelJais.com