Why your kids will love Dubai
By Elena Price
Planning a family holiday with the young ones? Why not take them to glittering and modern Dubai, where a long list of family friendly activities and attractions awaits?
There are many reasons why your kids will love this Middle Eastern metropolis.
Want to take your kids on a fun and enjoyable family holiday? The city of Dubai (دبيّ), in the United Arab Emirates, holds plenty to discover.
Children are celebrated in Arab culture, and on a family holiday to Dubai you will discover that the city has an abundance of activities and attractions specifically targeted towards a young crowd. Also, many hotels have first-rate children’s clubs featuring play areas supervised by trained staff, video game arcades, and organized activities.
Here are a few attractions and activities in Dubai that kids are sure to love:
Children’s city
The first of its kind in the United Arab Emirates (دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة), Children’s City is an entire amusement park designed for young people. However, it is more than just a fun play space, it is also a learning centre jam-packed with fun and interactive exhibits which explain the workings of the world to children in a fun way, such as the human body, space exploration, international cultures and natural wonders.
Your kids will have a thrill as they investigate, explore, play, discover and learn about the world in which we live.
Wild Wadi Water Park
One of the best family outings you can have in Dubai is a day spent cooling down from the hot Middle Eastern sun at the huge Wild Wadi Water Park. This massive splash-centre has thirty waterslides to choose from to suit everyone from the doggy-paddling toddler to the hardcore thrill seeker, including the biggest waterslide outside of North America. As well as great waterslides, the park also has a simulated surfing experience which allows you to ride on a body-board or knee board on artificially created waves.
Wild Wadi has a whole section devoted to children, known as Juha’s Lagoon, with over 100 wet and fun activities such as water guns and mini slides.
(Be aware that you are in a Muslim country and conservative dress is the norm, and that the water park’s website states that they reserve the right to “determine whether or not swimwear is appropriate”. This means it is a good idea to skip the tiny bikini and dress a bit more modestly).
Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo
Let your children explore the fascinating world that hides underneath the surface of the sea, at the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo. One of the most popular attractions in the Emirates, it features a large viewing panel where you can glimpse into one of the biggest tanks in the world. Be sure to get there at the right time to catch feeding time for the impressively huge Sand Tiger Sharks and the elegant Stingrays.
Al Nasr Leisureland
If your children have been fidgeting throughout the long flight to Dubai, bring them to this enormous sports complex so that they can burn off some energy. Al Nasr Leisureland offers a chance to try pretty much any sport you can imagine, with an ice rink, swimming pool, tennis court, and a bowling alley. Your kids will also love the go-kart track and rollercoaster.
Beaches
After an exciting day of exploring attractions, it’s nice to spend some time relaxing on one of Dubai’s beautiful beaches.
Kids can build sandcastles and play while the adults chill out and unwind. There are many family friendly beaches throughout Dubai.
These are just a few of the many child-friendly activities available in Dubai. Your kids will absolutely love this exciting city, as a new adventure awaits them every day of your holiday!
NB: And just recently it has been announced that Etihad Airways – the Abu Dhabi-based national airline of the United Arab Emirates – has launched a new service stop for its complimentary luxury coach service, Etihad Express, at the Dubai Marina Mall – an extra service which will help your travel and your visit. This will offer complimentary ground transport for Etihad passengers between Dubai and Abu Dhabi International Airport.
