Top Ten Things to Do with Kids in Dubai

The rules of the game

Dubai is a paradise for families with kids. If you want to have fun and are willing to pay for it, you’re definitely in the right place. Don’t go any further:)

Dubai offers a ton of incredible things for kids. You’ll find excellent activities for both the smallest members of the family and the demanding teenagers who want to do something very cool (rest assured, they’ll have plenty to brag about after visiting Dubai). In a way, Dubai reminds me of Orlando which is another goldmine of fun family activities.

A big advantage of Dubai is that many activities are located indoors. You don’t need to worry about being outside when it’s too hot (which is essentially 6 months of the year). At the same time, when the weather is nice, you can also take advantage of that and enjoy the fresh air. For example, if you come to Dubai for Christmas and New Year, you are guaranteed to have lovely weather (it might get a little hot during the day, but quickly cools off).

In terms of disadvantages, keep in mind that popular attractions are VERY crowded, especially during high tourist season. If you are looking for a place to spend a few quiet days away from crowds, Dubai is not the right place for you to go.

Dubai is also quite expensive. If you want to have fun, it’s not going to be free:) Essentially, you’ll have to pay for everything you do. Get ready to take out your credit card multiple times a day (especially if your kids are as demanding as mine). Dubai is not Paris where you can take it easy and spend a day at a park for free, just enjoying the scenery. Even public parks are not free in Dubai (fee is small, but still it adds up if you have a large family). This is also not a place like Washington DC where public museums are free. So far, we have not found any free museums in Dubai.

Many popular activities in Dubai will cost you a lot of money. Expect to pay at least $40-$50 per person pretty much for everything you do (and then there will be a bunch of add-ons you can get for extra price). I feel some of the activities are greatly overpriced for what you get, so I prefer focusing on activities which provide a good value and entertainment for at least several hours, rather than just waste money.

We’ve tried many activities in Dubai and found some of them good quality/value, while others less so. Especially if you have limited time on your hands, it’s better to focus on the most interesting activities.

The list below is ranked in terms of value you get for the money. I hope it will be helpful for your family.

Best things to do for families in Dubai

Dubai Safari Park

In my view, visiting the Dubai Safari Park is one of the best things to do with kids in Dubai. The entrance fee is not outrageously expensive and you get a lot of value for the money you pay.

Dubai Safari Park is a wonderful park to visit, especially during the cooler part of the year. If you’ve been to Disney’s Animal Kingdom park, this experience will be quite similar, but you will pay less. Dubai’s park is not as huge as Animal Kingdom and won’t have enormous crowds of tourists, but it has a lot of animals and safari rides which will appeal to both adults and kids. No need for any fast lane passes here – with a few exceptions, you are not likely to encounter long lines.

Similar to Disney’s park, you will need a full day to explore everything in the Dubai Safari Park. It’s best to come in the morning when the park opens (10 am) and stay till 4 or 5 pm.

Ticket prices vary based on what package you choose. As I describe below, Safari Bundle is a great option. It would cost 125 dirhams for adults and 95 dirhams for kids. If you just get the cheapest option, it’s a complete bargain: 75 dirhams for adults and 45 dirhams for kids.

Main activities

The safari park in Dubai comprises of 6 zones (African village, Asian village, Explorer village, Kids Farm, the Arabian Desert, and Alwadi). The park is not super large, but quite spacious, so I recommend buying a ticket which includes the use of a tram. It’s slightly more expensive, but it’s definitely worth it. Most people in the park use it.

All the zones are interesting to explore. The African village is my favorite zone as it houses a large variety of animals. In this zone you will be able to check out enclosures with chimpanzees, tortoises, monkeys, elephants, hippos, zebras, a pavilion with many reptiles (lots of varieties of pythons, vipers, lizards and spiders), as well as visit the grand aviary where you can interact with a lot of birds. We had a nice conversation with a gray parrot who immediately flew to us and sat down on a branch.

The Explorer village is another zone where you will spend lots of time. This is where you will take an Explorer Safari ride to see a lot of different animals.

The Explorer Safari ride is less crowded than in the Disney World and you will likely not wait too long to get on the Safari car. If you come in the morning, you’ll probably wait for 10 minutes, if that. In the afternoon, the line gets longer, but still, you won’t wait too long.

Unlike in Animal Kingdom, the ride here is in a fully closed car. You get less of an experience, but at the same time you are better protected and also not hot. The ride lasts about 30 minutes and you get to see a lot of animals, some very close. For example, we got really close to two huge sleeping lions.

Please note that you need to buy a special package to include the Explorer Safari ride (Safari bundle). A regular ticket does not include an explorer safari tour (just a short Arabian desert safari which is very different).

The Arabian desert safari ride is normally not crowded at all and you can take this short ride multiple times during your visit. It’s a 15 minute ride around a desert area where you will see lots of antelopes, camels and other other animals. Nothing too special but kids will enjoy the ride.

Another great place you don’t want to miss is the kids farm. You will find cows, sheep, chickens and other farm animals there. There is a petting zoo area where kids can interact with the animals, and it’s quite fun.

Feeding animals

You can sign up to feed a lot of different kids of animals (giraffe, tortoise, farm animals etc.) for an extra fee (about $10 per person). If a child is signed up, then the adult has to sign up as well. It’s better to get a feeding ticket right when you enter the park and buy admission tickets (otherwise, you will have to look for a place to pay, which might not be obvious).

We signed up to feed giraffe and tortoise and greatly enjoyed the experience. This was our favorite part of visiting the park for sure.

Keep in mind that feeding will take place at a specific time (say 2:00 pm) and you need to be in the right place about 30 minutes ahead of time, as the line starts forming early. A lot of people sign up for these feedings. You will likely have to wait in the hot sun, as there is limited shade in those areas.

The Dubai Fountain Show and Burj Khalifa

These are some of the most iconic sites in Dubai, and you can find them one next to the other. Not surprisingly, I have included them in my list of best activities to do with kids in Dubai.

The Dubai Fountain

The Dubai Fountain show is one of the few free activities in Dubai, and it’s definitely a must see one. Everyone who comes to Dubai goes to this show, and for a good reason. The Dubai Fountain represents the largest choreographed fountain system in the whole world. It’s so incredibly impressive that large crowds gather to watch it every time.

You can watch the show in the afternoon at 1:00 pm to 1:30 pm, or in the evening. The first evening show starts at 6:00 pm and goes on every half an hour till 11 pm. The evening show is more interesting as you will see the lights.

I recommend arriving at least 30-40 minutes early because many people come and you will not be able to get too close to the fountain. If you have flexibility, don’t come for the 6:00 pm show but rather for a later one (7:00 pm for instance). The first show is always the most crowded. The fountain show is quite short and music and performance differs every time. If you want to get really close to the fountains and take better pictures, there is an opportunity to get on a boat for about $20. But you don’t particularly need that, as long as you arrive early. You can pick a good spot with a good view.

Burj Khalifa

Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world. You will be standing right next to it when watching the fountain show. It’s sort of the Eiffel Tower of Dubai. You want to take some pictures with it and also go to the top.

Going to the top of Burj Khalifa and looking down at the incredible view of Dubai is quite an experience. There are multiple packages available. The regular ticket, which costs around $50, allows you to go half way. A premium ticket of $100+ will take you to the top. In both cases you will be taking an elevator. Then you will exit and enjoy the stunning views from the top. Very similar experience to the Eiffel Tower.

Burj Khalifa is open 24 hours but there are always a lot of tourists at this attraction. Booking online ahead of time is highly recommended. Premium tickets are available most of the time, but you will have trouble getting regular tickets unless you book online in advance.

One thing to keep in mind is that it’s not easy to get a taxi in that area. Taxis are not allowed to pick up passengers in front of the fountains and you’d have to get a taxi in the back of the mall. If you can, it’s better to take the red line metro which is right there at Dubai Mall.

The Beach, JBR (Jumeirah Beach Residence)

Most kids like the beach and Dubai has some nice beaches. So, going to the beach is one of the best activities to do with kids in Dubai.

The Jumeirah Beach is a great place. A big advantage is that the beach is accessible by metro. You will need to take the red line to the Dubai Marina stop. There is an opportunity to transfer to a tram there, or you can walk to the beach through the mall and do some shopping on the way.

The beach itself is nice, sandy and quite long. There is a good selection water sports, boat rides and various activities for kids like a bouncy house. You’ll find plenty of nice sea shells on the beach (this will be of interest to the little shell collectors). There is a boardwalk with lots of shops and restaurants (you will find many familiar brands like PF Chang’s, McDonalds, Subway, Chipotle, Cheesecake Factory and others).

If you’d like to simply relax on your own towel, there is no fee for using the beach or public restrooms. This is a great advantage if you want to save some money.

However, let’s face it: it’s going to be hot and sunny most of the time and keeping young kids out in the hot sun is not a great idea. Also, the “free” part of the beach gets quite crowded when the weather is nice.

If you decide to rent a chair with an umbrella or a cabana, you will have to pay a relatively high price (125 dirhams for a single chair with umbrella, 600 dirhams for a cabana). Towels are included in price but they require a cash deposit of 50 dirhams. If you are like us and do not normally carry cash, you will need to bring your own towels. You can also take a shower, it’s included in price. No free shower facilities at this beach.

If you’d like to see Dubai Marina, Jumeirah beach and a few other Dubai sites, you can check out our video below:

Dubai Dolphin & Seal Show at the Creek Park

Creek park is a great place to spend a morning or an afternoon. You can have a picnic on the grass, play badminton, ride a bike (there is bike rental at the park), play with your kids at the playground or watch a show. While it’s a public park, you still need to pay an entrance fee (10 dirhams). There are lots of food places where you can grab some snacks or lunch.

You will find various entertainment options at the Creek Park, one of them being the Dubai Dolphinarium. It offers great shows several times a day. The earliest starts at 11:00 am. You can buy tickets either online or at the ticket counter.

The Dolphin & Seal show they offer is wonderful and will greatly appeal to kids. It lasts about 45 minutes. I personally enjoyed this show more than the one they have at SeaWorld in Orlando. Not surprisingly, I’m including this activity as one of the best things to do with kids in Dubai.

As with any show in Dubai, it’s always safer to buy a ticket ahead of time. Adult tickets are 98 dirhams and children’s are 49 dirhams. Not very expensive (compared to lots of other activities).

Make sure to come at least 30 minutes before the show starts. This is when they start letting visitors in and you can get good seats. 

There is also an exotic bird show at the Creek Park. It’s not as impressive as the Dolphin & Seal show, but kids will find it quite interesting. The show lasts 30 minutes. Tickets are 50 dirhams for adults and 30 dirhams for kids.

If you want to check out a few fun moments from the dolphin & seal show, as well as the exotic bird show, have a look at our video below.

The Dubai Miracle Garden

If you are in Dubai during the cooler part of the year, you must go see the Miracle Garden. This is the largest natural flower garden in the world, so definitely worth visiting. A flower garden is always a great place to take your kids. Not surprisingly, I’ve included the Miracle Garden among the top 10 activities to do with kids in Dubai.

Just think about these incredible statistics: the Miracle Garden has more than 150,000 blooming flowers located on a 72,000 square meter territory. This is a great place to go and take stunning pictures with flowers all around you. The garden is not open during the hot months (as flowers need cooler weather). In 2024, it opened its doors in October.

The garden is highly popular. You can expect to see large crowds walking around, taking pictures and admiring the flowers. If you want to have a better chance of taking nice photos, it’s better to come in the morning. The garden normally opens its doors at 9 am and closes at 9 pm, but double-check the times as they might vary depending on holidays etc. If case you want to grab a bite, there are plenty of places to eat.

The garden is accessible by metro and bus. You will need to take red line metro to Mall of the Emirates station and then bus 105 for 15-20 minutes all the way to the garden.

Prices are not cheap, but affordable. The adult ticket will cost you 100 dirhams and the children’s ticket – 85 dirhams. Infants come free. There is also a beautiful mini golf course (18 holes) in the garden. Playing there will cost you extra 50 dirhams.

Check out the video from our visit to the Miracle Garden.

The Dubai Candy Museum

The Dubai Candy Museum is a fun museum in Dubai which just opened in November 2024. It’s not particularly large, but it’s very beautiful and obviously will appeal to most of the kids due to the an opportunity of getting some candy in every room. The staff are very friendly and will go out of their way to make it a fun experience for kids.

The way your visit is structured is as follows. At the entrance, you will receive a candy passport and you will need to get a stamp in every room after doing some fun activities. This will involve trying some ice cream or some cotton candy, or playing a game of ping pong, or throwing a ball in the hoop, or something else. Each room is beautifully decorated, so Instagram worthy shots are guaranteed. I’m also pretty sure no kid will leave this museum disappointed.

Since the rooms are quite small, my advice is to come early in the morning before there are a lot of visitors. This will help you to avoid the wait and spend less time waiting and more time enjoying the exhibits. Adult tickets will cost you 119 dirhams each, and children’s tickets (3-9 years old) – 99 dirhams.

Our family has really enjoyed the experience at the Dubai Candy Museum, so we are definitely including it among the top things to do with kids in Dubai.

Check out the video from our visit to the Dubai Candy Museum below.

The Museum of the Future

This is a very unique museum which will appeal to the whole family, but especially those who are interested in science. You cannot miss it if you are driving by – its silver color and torus shape are unmistakable.

The museum, which consists of 7 floors, explores the future of science and technology and has a lot of futuristic exhibits which will take you to the world of the future. It only opened its doors in 2022, so it’s a relatively new attraction in Dubai.

One important word of caution: it’s recommended to buy tickets to this museum at least 2-3 weeks in advance. Depending on the season, regular tickets (priced at about $40) can sell out quickly. You can still get premium tickets, but these are very expensive ($100+ per person). If you don’t want to pay such a high price, book online early!

The museum is accessible by metro (red line, Emirates Towers stop).

Arte Museum Dubai

Arte Museum Dubai was a surprising find for us. I originally through an art museum would be a bit boring for a young child like mine and we’d be out in less than an hour, but I was totally wrong. We spent over 2 hours there. As the result, I decided to include it on my list of top ten things to do with kids in Dubai.

Arte Museum Dubai is not an ordinary art museum, but a modern and highly interactive one. You will have an opportunity to experience 9 immersive exhibits which will appeal even to the youngest members of the family.

Two exhibits will be particularly entertaining for your kids. The first one is with the sea creatures. Kids will have an opportunity to color various types of fish, octopuses, rays, etc. of their choice. Then they will scan their drawing and it will be projected on the screen for everyone to see. Another exhibit is quite similar and has land animals as opposed to sea creatures. My daughter absolutely loved the experience.

An important advantage is that the art museum is located inside the Dubai Mall, so you can eat a good lunch and do some shopping there. Also, tickets are not outrageously expensive and we got one adult and one children’s ticket for under $50 total. Very well spent money.

The Green Planet

If your family is into animals (the way ours is), you can try one more interesting place in Dubai. It’s nowhere near the experience of safari which I discussed earlier, but it’s also worth visiting. Adult ticket prices are 155 dirhams and kids’ tickets are 135 dirhams for non-residents. As you can tell, a visit to Green Planet will cost you more than the Dubai Safari Park. But if you’ve already visited the Dubai Safari Park and are looking for more animal activities, this is a good option.

The Green Planet offers a nice outside playground for kids and a lovely indoor area which is designed as a rainforest. Various birds and animals roam there freely and your kids will have an opportunity to observe them very close. You can also buy extra activities, such as encounters with various animals.

Some of the animals which you will see at the Green Planet include toucans, parrots, echidna, lemurs, snakes, lizards, a dwarf alligator, chameleons, flying foxes, sloths, porcupines and some other animals. Please note that all the dangerous animals are in cages, so nothing to worry about.

Expect to spend a couple of hours in this place. You’ll find a nice gift shop and some food places. There is also a large mall located right next to Green Planet with good cafes and restaurants in case food choices on the premises do not suit you.

Some of the nearby metro stations include Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall and Financial Center on the red line.

Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo

The Dubai Aquarium, which houses 140 different species, is located inside the Dubai Mall. You can use maps on your phone or signs within the mall to find it.

The aquarium is located on two floors. One has an enormous 10,000 liter tank with lots of different kids of fish, rays, and sharks. You can actually look at this tank even without buying a ticket (you just have to stand behind the fence). The other floor has more things to see and you will need to have a ticket to enter. You’ll find many exhibits with different creatures there. My favorite ones were the penguin exhibit and also two giant crocodiles. In addition to checking out all the regular exhibits, you can also book encounters with various animals for an extra fee.

The price of a visit to the aquarium is a bit expensive, in my view (199 dirhams per person for a basic pass), and you will spend 2-3 hours there at most. I personally prefer Abu Dhabi Aquarium which is more impressive,. If you have some extra time on your hands, you can go to Abu Dhabi and visit the aquarium there.

For the Dubai aquarium, it’s highly recommended to check for deals online. Sometimes, there are cheaper tickets available if you book online.

The Final Word

This list of top things to do with kids in Dubai is definitely not exhaustive. There are plenty of other things you can do there with your family, like visiting various amusement parks, for example. But this list worked for our family the best, as these activities were located not very far and offered a good value.

Hope you have a great trip to Dubai with tour family! I’m sure that no matter what you do, you won’t be disappointed.

If you are interested in more things to do in UAE, check out my blog posts:

Five Things to Do and See in Abu Dhabi

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi

And if you’d like to visit Orlando, Paris or Washington DC, other cities which offer a lot of entertainment for kids, I have you covered as well.

7 Day Ultimate Orlando Itinerary for Families

5 Day Washington DC Itinerary: History, Hiking, Art and Culture

Top Ten Things to Do in Paris with Kids