7 Unmissable Things to Do in Dubai With Your Family

A trip to Dubai is arguably the best way to spend your holidays with the family. This exciting city is known for its luxury shopping scene and extravagant architecture. Family holidays in Dubai are an absolute treat. You can spend time perusing the big city, or lounge on the beaches, lapping up the sun at a five star resort. 

This is bound to be the highlight of everyone’s year. Here are the seven things that you simply must do during your family vacation to Dubai. 

Spend the Day at a Waterpark

Wild Wadi Waterpark is a fun aquatic park located in front of the beautiful Burj Al Arab Jumeirah building. It showcases over 30 rides that the whole family can enjoy. Slipping and sliding your way through the park is a great way to not only bond with your family, but also to catch a fabulous tan.

The rides range from slides and tubing to artificial wave machines. So no matter your family’s interests, there’s aquatic fun to be had by all.

The park has a Juha theme, which is a renowned character from Arabian folklore. If you and your family are staying in any of the Jumeirah hotels, you’ll gain free access to the waterpark, so be sure to take full advantage of this offer.

Spending a day at the waterpark is a great way to remain cool in the intense Dubai heat. As well as keeping your family entertained for hours on end. 

Watching the Dancing Fountains of Dubai

Dubai’s choreographed fountain is located in the center of Downtown Dubai, on the 30 acre Burj Khalifa lake. The fountain is lit by 6600 lights and 50 color projectors. As you can imagine, it’s quite a spectacle. 

The fountain is 275 meters in length and shoots water up to an impressive 152 meters into the air. The show is accompanied by music that ranges from classical to contemporary Arabic tunes. 

The fountain is a fairly new structure, with its official opening happening in May of 2009. This coincided with the opening of The Dubai Mall. 

The shows take place at 1 pm and again at 1:30 pm. They also take place every 30 minutes between 6 pm and 10 pm. These typically last up to 5 minutes long. You can see the performances from anywhere around the lake, as well as from the many surrounding buildings.

A visit to the incredible fountain will leave your whole family awe-inspired and provide you with some perfect photo opportunities so you’ll be able to look back on your family vacation to Dubai with joy. 

Enjoy Views From the Top of the World’s Tallest Building

The Burj Khalifa is the tallest skyscraper in the world and has been since it was built in 2008. It boasts 160 stories and a roof height of 828 meters. As you might presume, it provides spectacular views of the city below, as well as of the magnificent blue sea that encompasses Dubai. 

With such a record-breaking height, it comes with a few other perks. It also has the highest outdoor observation deck in the world, which you can enjoy on your family trip. 

To visit the world’s highest lounge, you’ll spend around $165, but the experience is well worth the cost. This is a truly unmissable experience for your family vacation to Dubai.

See a Traditional Tanoura Dance 

Tanoura is a folklore dance practice, commonly found in Islamic countries. The word ‘Tanoura’ means ‘skirt’ – which is a major part of the dance routine.

A professional Tanoura dancer can spin around for 30 minutes in his multi-colored skirt before stopping. He’ll still show no signs of dizziness. The dance is said to connect the dancer with God. 

Catching a Tanoura dance show while you’re in Dubai is an absolute must. It showcases the city’s vibrant culture in a unique way that can be enjoyed by the whole family.

While there are a few places to see a Tanoura dance, many of them include taking a day trip into the desert. If you’d like a hassle-free viewing of the Tanoura dance, try visiting Al Hadheerah. This restaurant serves fantastic Arabic cuisine and provides Tanoura dancing as entertainment.

Spend a Day on the Beach

With a visit to Dubai often comes incredible heat. You’ll be more than relieved to spend a day at the beach, soaking up the sun and taking dips in the aquamarine water. Jumeirah Beach is one of the best places to take the family.

The beach is lined with juice bars, cafes and burger joints to keep you satisfied all day long. You can also hire inflatable water loungers and head to the Dubai Aqua Park. 

Spend quality time with your family building sandcastles on the beachfront under a colorful beach umbrella, and try out what’s bound to be your new favorite treat. Turkish ice-cream. There are Turkish ice-cream shops all over Dubai, and you’ll find plenty of street vendors selling the delight near the beach during your family vacation to Dubai. 

Take a Camel Ride

You simply cannot visit a desert city without taking a camel ride. Taking a trip out of the city also gives you a very different perception of the area. A camel ride experience is usually accompanied by a desert safari in which you’ll 4×4 through the desert terrain.

You’ll be taken to a bedouin camp where you’ll meet the animals and learn the dos and don’ts of camel riding. The experience is very enjoyable, especially when you’re joined by your family for all the fun.

Try Indoor Snowboarding in the Mall of The Emirates

Ski Dubai has started the very first ski resort in the area, making it a not-to-be-missed activity. It’s located inside the Mall of the Emirates and features a wide range of activities. These range from skiing, snowboarding and tobogganing to zip-lining and snowball fighting. 

Although these are not the kinds of activities you’d expect to be indulging in during your family vacation to Dubai, they really are fun for the whole family. Enter this indoor snowy paradise with great expectations, you won’t be disappointed!

Final Thoughts on Things to Do in Dubai with Your Family

Dubai is an incredible city that strays from the norms and creates otherworldly experiences for locals and tourists alike. It’s the perfect place to visit on a family holiday as there’s much more to do than first meets the eye. So, what are you waiting for? Dubai’s mystical landscape awaits exploration.  Book your family vacation to Dubai right away!