Dubai is one of those places I have always wanted to go to. The weather looks fabulous and the shopping sounds amazing! Plenty of my friends have been there on holiday or have worked for a while over there so I know how great it is for grown ups, but recently I've been thinking about taking a family holiday so thought I would research if there was enough for the children to do there.ld
I found so many things that the children would enjoy there (and I would too!). It has made me REALLY REALLY want to visit soon! I am sure the whole family would have a really amazing and memorable holiday there. So today I'm sharing my findings...5 things to do in Dubai when you are 5!
A Desert Safari
Just the other day as we were going around a zoo I was reading about desert animals and looking at pictures of the vast sand. "Will we ever see the desert?" I asked my husband. I'd hate the thought of not seeing something so spectacular in real life to not get ticked off my bucket list. Turns out that Dubai is the perfect place to head for a desert safari. The minimum age is 4 years old and you get to ride around in a 4x4 with a guide, ride a camel, surf a sandboard down the dunes and enjoy a barbecue dinner under the stars while watching traditional folk dancing. This sounds like so much fun, and something that the whole family would enjoy.
Visit the Aquaventure Waterpark
I think the title and picture says it all. This looks like an EPIC waterpark and it was actually voted Best Waterpark in the Middle East 2015 by Tripadvisor. Again this looks like something to be enjoyed by the whole family. Little ones can float around in the lazy river and play in the Splashers Play area while more adventurous older ones can brave the steep Poseidon’s Revenge and other rides. You can even get in for free if you visit during your birthday week!
Cool Down at Ski Dubai
If all the hot weather gets too much you can always spend a day at Ski Dubai. There is plenty to do for 5 year olds, and cold-proof clothes and a helmet for under 13's are provided. Ski Dubai is the world's largest indoor snow park and I know that my 5 year old would love to be surrounded by that much snow, as we don't get too much where we live as we are by the sea. You can watch real penguins march across the snow and go tobogganing too!
Relax for free at the beach!
Sometimes it is nice to just chill out and relax - and best of all it is free! Spend a day building sandcastles and playing on the beach. Sounds perfect!
Learn something - visit a museum
There are several museums in Dubai which are free to visit which is great if you are on a budget. Have a look in the Al Fahidi Historical District where they have a coin museum, camel museum, coffee museum and horse museum all within walking distance of each other. Plenty to keep a 5 year old entertained and educated! The Dubai museum is another one to visit, although it isn't free but entry is really cheap at 3 dirham (60p).
So there you have it - there is plenty to do in Dubai with children - I could have written so much more! If you want any more ideas you can check out Visit Dubai for some great inspiration.
This post is an entry in to the Tots100/Dubai Dreams blogger challenge, and I'd love to be able to win my family a fantastic holiday in this amazing place. You could be in with a chance of winning too as if I was lucky enough to win, they would also choose one of my lovely readers to win a family holiday to Dubai too. All you have to do is share your Dubai Dreams in a comment below and keep your fingers crossed for both of us! Read more about this competition and read the terms and conditions here.
Mummy Fever says
I think the main problem with Dubai is how to fit in all the amazing things there are to do. We'd have to have a ski as we love to ski but a trip to the beach would also be a must as the children love nothing more than pottering on the beach, except where we live they are normally in their wellies and waterproof suits!
We'd love to swim with dolphins and see the stunning turtles and of course the amazing fountains which can be seen from space!
Good luck with your entry x
Abby may says
My little girl loved just riding the metro and going on the beach the whole time. However that have amazing places like kidzania and sea life to keep them entertained
Erica Price says
We are off to Qatar soon, but I'm wondering if we should take in Dubai too.
juliette says
I would love to swim with the dolphins in Dubai and visit the 7 star hotel just to see what makes it so special
Catherine Okey says
I'd love to swim with dolphins
Steph oakes says
Dubai has been at the top of my bucket list for many years now and reading you post has made me want to visit so much more!
Souks, skyscrapers, sand and sea, Dubai really has something for all the family and the possibility of visiting this incredible city is making me super excited.
I'd love the opportunity to win our perfect family holiday in Dubai; a holiday for the four of us, that combines unlimited opportunities for fun and adventure. We'd be able to
escape the ‘day to day’, making memories and recharging our batteries. And it would give us the chance to simply spend our days together as a family, enjoying each other’s company before Jack starts school in September.
There are so many amazing adventures we'd like to experience, but our top 3 would have to be:
1// A day of aquatic fun at Atlantis’ Aquaventure Waterpark to cool off in the Dubai heat. Aquaventure caters for all the family with its record-breaking rides and slides for thrill seekers and the Splashers’ Children’s Play Area, which is a haven for little ones with water cannons, slides and climbing frames.
2 // A once-in-a-lifetime experience at Dolphin Bay. As there’s no age limit, we could enjoy this amazing experience as a family and I can only imagine the joy on the children’s faces when they get up close to these amazing creatures!
3 // Experience the heady heights of Burj Khalifa. We couldn’t visit Dubai without venturing up the tallest building in the World, and although I'm afraid of heights, I’d still feel compelled to visit the observation deck on the 144th floor. As long as I don’t stand too close to the edge, nor look vertically down, I think I’d actually enjoy it.
I'm now off to spend the day daydreaming about Dubai and all it has to offer...
Best of luck with your entry!
Verily Victoria Vocalises says
I think this is all so very true
Dubai would be perfect - it is for me too
Good luck with your entry and, if you win
Make room in your case, and please fit me in!
Sharon Parry says
So what do you do when it's 45 degrees in the shade - go skiing of course! This is what makes Dubai so fantastically unique and special for kids. The contrasts will not be wasted on them. This is a holiday that they will definitely never forget - they will notice that you are enjoying it just as much as them. Become a big kid in Dubai! Good luck 🙂
Leanne says
I visited Dubai over Christmas as my Sister in Law lives over there. We went to a multicultral breakfast which was SO interesting! I highly recommend that if anyone is reading the comments!
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy says
I would have to go to that waterpark - it looks like SO much fun.
Zoe says
Wow the Dubai fountain looks absolutely amazing! I would love to go to Dubai just to see that yet there is so much more all in one place – it is almost too hard to imagine so I will have to go there to find out for myself The beautiful beach beckons me, incredible concerts and entertainment, retail heaven and then relax and unwind by trying out traditional spa therapies at the hammam! The food in Dubai looks divine and I bet it is delicious. My husband would love the adventure sports, golf courses and falconry. There is something here for everyone. Dubai is my dream destination.
Louise Fairweather says
Great choices that a 5 year old would love. We look our just turned 5 year old along with our 3 and 7 year old. They often talk about going up the Burj Khalifa. They loved aqua adventure and the beach as well. Oh and the food. Such amazing fresh food. We didn't make it on a desert safari unfortunately as there just weren't enough hours in the day. That would be top of my list if we went back. We did get a quick ride on a camel at the beach instead which was an experience in itself.
lisa prince says
as long as there is a beach and sun and icecream little ones will be happy , i cant remember any holidays until i was 10 x
Rhian Westbury says
The waterpark looks absolutely amazing. I've been debating about booking Dubai for my new years trip but I just don't think I'll have the amount of time to do it. I definitely want to go one day though x
Jessica McDonnell says
I'd love to swim with dolphins and do the desert safari. I really need to book a holiday to Dubai.
Renna says
One day I'd like to go to Dubai, but it won't be happening for many years. Looks amazing.
Rebecca Beesley says
A desert safari would be a must for me too. I love that there is so much in the way of culture and history too and that holds huge appeal for a holiday destination as I have never been satisfied just with sun, sea and sand. I need more and Dubai seems to hold the keys to my dream holiday. Perfect food, paradise beaches, so much to see and learn, the mosques, museums and architecture, the sights, sounds and smells. Somewhere unforgettable and somewhere I want to experience soon!
Francesca Gott says
My dream is for me and my family to swim with Dolphins in Dubai (it makes me tear up at the thought!). I would love to do it in a much more natural setting than in a swimming pool and I have heard there are some amazing places to swim with them! I would love to visit Atlantis too as it would be a brilliant day for everyone (and I am a big kid). I also wouldn't mind chilling on the beach with my boys, building sandcastles too. Just heaven!
Donna Billson says
I have seen so many of these fabulous Dubai posts but as I have an "almost" 5 year old, this has to be my favourite! I will bookmark it and wish you all the best in the competition!
Fashion and Style Police says
Dubai is the best place to visit ever in my opinion. Love that place.
Jess @ Catch A Single Thought says
Good luck with your entry. We were lucky enough to go on a sunset desert trip when we were in Egypt and it truly is an amazing experience. We've never been to Dubai and I am literally amazed at how much there is for families to see and do. I'm so impressed. We'd love to do a lot of the things you've mentioned in your post plus a visit to the souks (the writer in me is dying to get in there and absorb the atmosphere, the Instagrammer in me in dying to get in and capture the stunning colours!) as well as a visit to the turtle rehabilitation centre for my daughter who wants to be a marine biologist when she grows up. But really, the list could just go on and on couldn't it? I'm fairly confident that if we were lucky enough to go we'd fall head over heels and probably never want to leave again!
Olivia Thristan says
That waterpark looks insane and the water on the beach looks gorgeous, I can't wait to one day visit. Long time wanderlust on my list! x
Harriet from Toby & Roo says
Oh my! It looks positively amazing! I've never been to Dubai, but this is something I would love to do 🙂
Kira says
I'd love to do these at any age! Dubai is such an amazing place, I've never been but hopefully one day I'll be able to go!
Miss Kitty Kaos says
museums are always great places to take kids they take in so much as well even as little as 5 x
Liz Mays says
I didn't realize that there were some fun things for kids to do in Dubai. It would be great for a family trip.
Rachel says
That aqua park looks absolutely amazing, not to mention massive, wow!
nicol says
i would actually visit these places myself. dubai has always been on my to visit list. ive only transited there
Tara | C&CO. says
This is a great, unique post! I loved aqua parks as a kid.
WhatLauraLoves says
I'm going to Dubai for the first time later on this year and I'm so excited! I would go to many of the places here too! xxx
Anosa says
It would be a dream come true to see Dubai more than just through the airport windows. The waterpark looks really fun especially for kids but for me I think I would love to visit the desert.
Melanie Edjourian says
Wow I didn't realise Dubai was so child friendly, it sounds like a great family holiday not at all the adult focused holiday location I thought it was.
Lucy Melissa Smith (Hello Beautiful Bear) says
Best of luck with your entry and I love the way you have centred this around your children, it's very well put together and extremely useful to anyone planning to visit Dubai in the near future on a family holiday.
What you've described is our dream holiday. Dubai is so lavish, luxurious and completely beautiful. We'd love to visit the aquapark and the beach but the highlight would probably be the museums for us. I'd love to learn about the history of the country and its culture.
Lucy
X X
Laura H says
That waterpark looks insane!! Dubai is definitely on my bucket list, but I'm saving it for when I have a lot more money!