Dubai, after being crowned as shopping capital of the world, may not seem like the ideal place to visit for your kids vacations, as not much is known about the children’s entertainment here. However, looking at the list of kids attractions detailed below, you will realize that there are actually plenty that Dubai can offer your kids in the form of fun, education, sports and entertainment.
From water parks to theme parks, to playgrounds and beaches, Dubai can cater to the likings of just about any child. However, the time of the year which you choose to travel with kids may also be vital. The best time to go outing and sight-seeing here with kids would be during the period November to February, when the weather is not too hot.
Dubai is a very safe and friendly place for children. Even during peak summer, when you cannot take kids for outdoor activities, and choose to take them with you for shopping to shopping malls, most of the malls have children play areas and nurseries, and what’s more, the world’s largest shopping mall, namely the Dubai Mall, also has the indoor SEGA theme park, and children’s edutainment centre – KidZania, all of which can keep kids entertained. All the kids attractions detailed here can be enjoyed by adults too.
Al Nasr is also popularly called Leisureland, although the terms actually means "The Victory", and is a popular venue to all those appreciating the pleasures of leisure.
This is another great water park found on the grounds of the Atlantis Hotel. Access to the park is free for hotel guests, but, when visiting the park as a visitor, you may have to pre-book tickets. Set amidst beautiful waterfalls, this fantastic 42-acre water park has many water-based rides, including rivers, rapids and speed slide, water coasters, tidal river, dramatic wave surges and Splashers children’s play area, the largest of its kind in the region, apart from a private beach and tropical landscapes.
The Children's City is located near the Dubai Creek Park, about four miles south-west of Downtown Dubai, and is designed so as to appeal to children of age group 2 to 15. The Dubai-based Children’s City is the first educational city in the UAE for children in this age group, wherein they can investigate, play, learn and explore about the world in which they live.
Dolphin Bay at Atlantis
Dolphin bay is located at Atlantis, The Palm, along the Crescent Road on the Palm Island. At Dolphin Bay, you can swim and interact with live dolphins in a tropical setting that resembles the live natural habitat of dolphins. Dolphin Bay in Atlantis is also one of the most sophisticated dolphin habitats in the world.
Located in the Dubai Mall, the Dubai Aquarium is the largest suspended aquarium in the world, hosting thousands of species of sea life, found no-where else in the world. It is also one of the most popular attractions in the UAE for children.
Dubai Creekside Park
The Dubai Creekside Park is a great place for families and kids to enjoy while on holiday, given its botanical gardens, a 18-hole mini golf course, picnic locations with barbecue equipment, an amphitheatre with capacity to accommodate 5000 people, mini train, roller skating, and children's play area.
Designed by California-based WET, the creators of the Fountains of Bellagio in Las Vegas, the Dubai Dancing Fountain is located on the 30-acre Burj Khalifa Lake, and shoots water jet at a height of 500ft, equivalent to that of a 50-storey building. The Fountain is 900 ft long and has five circles of varying sizes and two central arcs.
The Dubai Dolphinarium is the first fully air-conditioned indoor dolphinarium in the Middle East region, with habitat of dolphins and seals, offering visitors an opportunity to interact with the gentle aquatic mammals and watch their performance. There are also live dolphin shows and photo sessions.
The Dubai Ice Rink is located on the ground level of "The Dubai Mall". The Olympic-size ice rink includes world-class facilities and is a destination of endless fun for all, be it first-timers or those who wish to master their skills.
KidZania is a unique family edutainment centre for toddlers to 16 year olds. Here kids can have fun and at the same time learn more about the world they live, and mimic traditional adult activities to get to know what it is like being an adult.
'LEGOLAND Dubai' and 'LEGOLAND Water Park', which form part of Dubai Parks and Resorts, will open in October 2016, as the ultimate destination in the Middle East for families with children of ages 2 to 12. Both Legoland Dubai and Legoland Water Park offer hands-on experience for families to enjoy the Lego themed adventures through various interactive rides, water slides, models and building experiences.
Magic Planet is a huge arcade full of games, draws and rides, with more than a million Dirham worth of machinery, and is a place where you can be assured that kids will not get bored.
Developed by Emaar Retail, together with Japan-based SEGA Corporation, one of the global pioneers in high-tech entertainment, SEGA Republic is an indoor theme park for family outing, offering thrilling experiences for the entire family.
There are many malls in Dubai, one number counts 20, but perhaps the most unusual and unique in the world is The Mall of Emirates for its 1-degree Celsius, 22,500 square meter indoor ski resort, known as Ski Dubai. In fact, Ski Dubai is the first ski resort in the Middle East!
It's wet! It's wild! It's Wild Wadi - the wildest waterpark ever! It's 12 acres of pure fun with 23 adrenalin-pumping rides and attractions that leave you gasping for more. Situated between Burj Al Arab and The Jumeirah Beach Hotel in Dubai, it's just a 20-minute drive from the city centre. Get there and go wild!.
A huge indoor air-conditioned centre with over 100 rides, arcade games, video games and a whole lot more. There's also a place for mum and dad to sit and relax whilst enjoying a tasty meal from Mithu's Nest café which is situated inside the centre.
