Dubai with kids: a family guide from Downtown
Dubai is one of the easiest cities in the world to visit with children — if you plan around the heat and choose a base with space. Here is our family guide.
Choose a base with room for everyone
The single best decision for a family trip is the apartment. Two separate bedrooms mean children go to bed at their time while adults stay up, and a kitchen means breakfast in pyjamas and snacks on demand. At DAMAC Maison, most two-bedroom suites pair a king master with a twin-bed second room, and the larger families can look at the three-bedroom layouts — the Three Bedroom Suite Downtown View at Canal Views sleeps six adults and two children under 12. Browse them on our families page.
Indoor days at The Dubai Mall
The Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo is the classic: the huge acrylic panel is visible from the mall's ground floor, and tickets give access to the tunnel and the zoo upstairs. KidZania is an indoor city where school-age children role-play real jobs, earn the city's currency and spend it — a full afternoon for most kids. Add the ice rink and the waterfall atrium and the mall becomes a rainy-day — or rather, a hot-day — plan.
The Green Planet at City Walk
The Green Planet is an indoor tropical rainforest under a glass biodome, with birds, reptiles and a tall living tree at its centre. It is a short drive from Downtown and a good way to show children animals up close in comfortable temperatures.
Beach time: Kite Beach
Kite Beach in Jumeirah has a long stretch of sand, a running track, playgrounds and food trucks, with a view of the Burj Al Arab. Go early in the morning or late afternoon, and pack hats and plenty of water. Guests at Aykon City can use the hotel's complimentary shuttle, which serves Kite Beach among other stops — ask the concierge for times.
Global Village in the cooler months
Global Village is an open-air festival park of pavilions from dozens of countries, with street food, shows and rides. It opens for the cooler season, roughly from autumn to spring, and it comes alive in the evening. Aykon City's shuttle also serves Global Village; from the other hotels, it is a taxi ride.
Pools and kids clubs at the hotel
Some of the best family hours happen without leaving the building. Every DAMAC Maison hotel has a kids' pool. Aykon City has three pools, a kids club with baby-minders, soft play and a mini cinema, and the Level Up gaming hub for older children; Mall Street has the Heads Up kids club; Distinction has a kids club with childminders, so parents can go out for dinner. Kids Club access is complimentary when you book direct.
Tips for the heat
From May to September, plan outdoor activities for early morning and after sunset, and keep the middle of the day for indoor places and the pool. Children dehydrate faster than adults: carry water everywhere, use high-factor sunscreen and hats, and take breaks in air-conditioned spaces. Strollers are welcome in the malls and the metro. From November to March, temperatures are pleasant and outdoor parks and beaches can be enjoyed all day.
A three-day plan for families
Day one: settle in, swim, and visit The Dubai Mall in the afternoon for the aquarium, with the fountain shows after dinner. Day two: an early morning at Kite Beach, lunch and a rest at the hotel, then The Green Planet in the late afternoon. Day three: KidZania or the ice rink in the morning, a quiet afternoon at the kids club, and Global Village in the evening during its season.
Keep one evening free for a dinner without the children: the kids clubs at Distinction and Aykon City have childminders and baby-minders, so you can go out knowing they are cared for.
Booking the right apartment
Check the occupancy of each layout before you book: for example, the Two Bedroom Suite Burj Khalifa View at Distinction sleeps up to five adults, the Aykon City two-bedroom panorama and canal apartments up to six, and the Three Bedroom Panorama View at Aykon City up to seven. Our booking page shows only the apartments that fit your group, and the concierge chat can compare them for you.
What to pack
Light, breathable clothing with sleeves for sun protection, swimwear for every day, a light layer for air-conditioned malls and cinemas, refillable water bottles and children's sunscreen. Modest clothing is appropriate in malls and public places, and a scarf is useful if you plan to visit a mosque. A lightweight stroller is handy for long mall visits.
