By Mohammed Rashad Hussain, Managing PartnerPublished 3 min read
Is Dubai good for a family holiday?
Visit Dubai’s family guide calls it one of the best family destinations, and Dubai with kids works because of the variety. The draw is variety: beaches, waterparks, an aquarium and malls with indoor play areas.
The cost is distance and heat. Downtown, the Marina, Palm Jumeirah and the old creek area sit well apart, so a day often means a drive of 20 minutes or more. Pick one base and plan each day around it. Our guide to the best areas in Dubai for families helps you choose.
When is the best time to visit with children?
October to April. Outdoor days work in the morning and after sunset. From June to September, afternoons often pass 40 degrees, and the day becomes indoor attractions and the hotel pool. Read Dubai in summer and the best time to visit Dubai before booking flights.
Flying in: strollers and meeting your driver at DXB
Visit Dubai notes that strollers are available at Dubai International as soon as you arrive. Collect one if you have not brought your own.
Two practical points for a family with bags and a sleeping toddler:
- Your driver waits in the arrivals hall of your terminal after customs, with your name on a board. See where your driver meets you.
- Give each child’s age when you book, so the right seat is in the car. Our airport transfers page lists the airports we serve.
If anyone in the family carries prescribed medicine, read bringing medication into the UAE before you pack.
Getting around with kids: car seats, vans, Metro and taxis
The RTA has published two rules:
- A protection seat is required for children under four.
- A child aged 10 or below, or shorter than 145 cm, may not sit in the front seat.
The law in force is Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2024. Our page on child car seats in the UAE goes through the detail and what to ask a taxi.
Do not assume a street taxi has a child seat. For a family of five or more with luggage and a stroller, a van is usually easier than two saloons. Our van and group transport page and the fleet show the options, and the best car for a family airport transfer compares them. Larger partner vehicles are arranged on request, when available.
The Dubai Metro has a women and children cabin. Fares and pram rules are on the RTA site.
Heat and sun: keeping children safe
- Go outside before 10:00 or after sunset in warm months.
- Carry water and offer it before the child asks.
- Use shade, hats and sunscreen at the beach and pool.
- Never leave a child in a parked car, even for a minute.
For the wider picture, see is Dubai safe for tourists.
Attractions by age
Check each attraction’s official page for current age and height limits before paying. We do not quote them here because they change.
- Babies and toddlers: the aquarium at Dubai Mall, hotel kids’ clubs, shallow beaches with lifeguards.
- Primary age: waterparks, the Dubai Frame, a morning desert experience.
- Teenagers: theme parks on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. See Yas Island theme parks.
Tours with kids
Operators set their own limits. Ask about dune driving, minimum age and what happens with infants before you book.
- Morning desert safari: cooler than an evening start and easier on small children.
- Desert safari: the evening option, with a later finish.
Browse all tours for options. If you need help with a family itinerary, message us on WhatsApp on +971 56 684 8148 and we answer 24/7.
Photos in this guide
Families and a pushchair walking through the shark tunnel at Dubai AquariumLeandro Neumann Ciuffo / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Families on the sand at JBR beach with the Ain Dubai wheel and floating water park behindSaaremees / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
A blue Dubai Metro train approaching along the raised trackShahroozporia / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
