Because Dubai is a great place for a family vacation.
Westerners are programed to be nervous about Dubai. When you Google Dubai, articles and videos telling how to “not get arrested” in Dubai flood the feed. Rules, Restrictions and Warnings about travel in Dubai are common headlines. And by no means do I suggest you don’t follow the law. But, even though there may be more laws than many westerners want to abide by at home, those rules and restrictions actually make Dubai a perfect family vacation spot.
Yep – and awesome family vaca loca.
Let’s talk quickly about the “why” – then we will go for the “what to do.”
The restrictions are generally on things that family vacationers don’t do anyway. We don’t usually get drunk in public on a family vacation. We don’t normally wear our thong bikini to the mall. We don’t usually make out in public with someone that we are not married to (heck, on our family vacations, we don’t even get to make out with someone we are married to). Those are all things many parents try to shield their children from anyway. Also, 90% the population are expats – in Dubai to work, not citizens. The laws allowing them to stay in Dubai encourage full employment and low crime. You break the law, you get deported. To top it off, the tremendous growth is relatively new – and very focused on tourism. The people in Dubai are focused on tourism – so the safety and enjoyment of tourists is a top priority. Overall, despite all of my fretting and wondering what to wear and how to act, we did not modify our usual fun and respectful vacation behavior in the least.
So, what is there to do in Dubai for a family?
Let’s start with it was the cleanest and safest feeling city I have ever been in. The people were very friendly and English was spoken freely. Credit cards were widely accepted. ATMs were readily available. And children were welcomed with friendly warmth. It was different enough to be interesting - even exotic; but westernized enough to be easy for traveling.
Dubai is big on Big. And kids are impressed with bigness.
Don’t miss the World’s Largest Water Laser Show in front of the world’s tallest building (Burj Khalifa). The choreography is stunning and the sidewalks are open for a lovely night air stroll after dinner.
It is just outside the World’s largest mall – The Dubai Mall. Retail therapy abounds, and stores are neatly organized by product. The hall of shoes was pure heaven. If your guys are not into shopping – no worries! It also houses the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, as well as several virtual reality parks. For once, the boys were the last ones to arrive at the meeting point!
Trying to beat the heat of the desert? Head over to the World’s Largest Indoor Ski Resort at the Mall of the Emirates. This ski resort has ski slopes, bobsledding and Après Ski opportunities. Even with the cold weather clothing rental, the cost is not that bad for an afternoon of fun in the . . . snow. It is also a hot spot (hahaha) for celebrities. Who knows who you may meet on those slopes!
Our kids loved the immenseness of The Global Village. This is a seasonal attraction that can best be described as the Epcot of the Middle East. So many countries around the World were represented with shops and restaurants, as well as entertainment. We enjoyed cruising the shops to see the subtle differences in the countries, representative gifts and also to bargain with the friendly shop keepers. The Iranian Pistachios were spot on like the ones my friend brings be from Iran . . . that I love . . . and I only serve at very special occasions (mainly when I’m home alone and don’t have to share).
The World’s largest Topiary Structure is found at Dubai’s Miracle Garden, a botanic garden designed around Disney characters given life and color by bloom. You will believe you are in Snow White’s beautiful blooming cottage that fills the air with an aroma leaves no doubt you are surrounded by flowers. It also houses a to-scale Emirates airplane topiary. It is mind boggling. (Caution – if you have allergies, take your blocker before you go – the aroma is beautifully overwhelming).
The World’s Largest Gold Ring in found in the Gold Souk district. Then meander through the gold and other souks to enjoy the old town feel and the opportunity for your kids to hone their negotiation skills for fun souvenirs. The Souks straddle The Creek – and you will definitely want the boat ride across for a quarter.
There are other attractions that are not based on size.
The City Walk was a lovely outdoor mall that had many restaurants, coffee shops, desert options and cute shops that were open after dinner. Many families were out late enjoying the evening air and a chance to let the kids play and chatter along the waterway. It is a perfect people watching spot.
The beaches are well worth at least a morning stroll if not more time. We stayed near Kite Beach – where the days were filled with Kite Surfers, beach gyms, playgrounds, book exchanges and food trucks. Water sports abound - right in the city. Rentals and lessons are easy to find along the beachfront. The sand is white and the water warm.
One of our favorite visits was to the Fish Market at the Marina near Kite Beach. We loved choosing our lunch time delight fresh from the iced pans of “fresh catch”. Some of the sea creatures were familiar - some, not so much. We each made a selection then made our way to the building behind to watch it being “prepared” and cooked to order. The market people were particularly friendly (Hi, Islam!). We waited, but you can also drop off and come back later. So you could choose your catch, enjoy the beach and swing by on your way back to the room. We really enjoyed a picnic of fruits of the sea on our hotel balcony overlooking the Persian Gulf.
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The Dubai Marina area is another great place to visit. It has beachfront walkways as well as many restaurants and shops to entertain you well into the evening. This area blends beach activities, yachting and water sports, shopping, nightlife and high rises seamlessly into a beachfront vacation with all the style of a modern urban weekend.
For the adrenalin based adventure, there are plenty of desert excursions with Four Wheeling, Sand Boarding and Dune Bashing in the Arabian Desert. Our driver played Arabian Disco Mix during the thrilling ride, which added a real element of “what is going on here?” The excursions are usually paired with a camel ride and dinner at a Bedouin camp with belly dancing and other traditional entertainment. The vehicles were clean, the activities fun, but the dinner a little contrived touristy. Overall it made for a fun afternoon that you would not want to miss.
There is also, of course, sky diving. It’s the bomb diggedy. John got to make the jump and reported it was the most beautiful spot he could imagine for jumping out of a plane. You jump over the Jumeirah Palm and everything from the flight up to the much quicker trip down is breathtaking. Whit and my jump was canceled because of wind. Rescheduling was not an option on short notice — partially because spots are limited - but possibly because Willow Smith was in town for her birthday, and I’m sure took our spots!!
There are also numerous water parks and adventure parks for the park-lover crowd. You have LegoLand (theme and water parks), Motiongate (a movie themed park), IMG Worlds of Adventure (also movie themed and all indoors so weatherproof), and Bollywood (a park themed around Indian movies with bright colors, lots of singing, and dancing). LegoLand, Motiongate and Bollywood are all in the same area connected by an entertainment district called Riverwalk that is similar to Universal’s City Walk in Orlando. Riverwalk features a French Village in an area called Riverland which gives a nice old world feel in what is anything but. None of these parks are exactly for thrill seekers as they skew young with most rides aimed at kids in the 5-10 range, but there is plenty to see. Dubai houses plenty of water parks which are going to be pretty much your only outdoor options with kids during the hotter months. The lines are long, though, so make sure you give yourself enough time and set expectations accordingly.
There seems to be no end to the beautiful buildings in Dubai. Each skyscraper is more impressive than the last. And the skyscrapers are only the beginning of the stunning architecture you will encounter. One of the most gorgeous is the Dubai Opera House. Check in advance for tickets and don't fail to visit whether you are able to make a show or not.
I’m really just scratching the surface on all there is to do, see, and experience. But, I don’t want to drag on.
Here are some short Tips and Tricks to make your trip enjoyable:
Money: Credit cards are widely accepted. Run your card in Dirhams for the best exchange rate. Some tourist activities ask for cash while you are on the adventure – be sure to clarify in advance.
Getting around: Cabs tend to ask for cash at the end as well, but Uber is widely available and the drivers seem to know the town better anyway. We took Uber over cabs. Public transportation is available, fun and reasonably priced. If you have time to ride, that is a great option.
Packing - Nothing unusual for daily life. You will need a sleeve for the evening and light weight clothes for the day. You do not have to cover your head for non-religious excursions or daily life. But throw in a scarf for your shoulders if you feel self-conscious, get cool in the evening, or just want to add a little pizazz to your outfit. Good walking shoes are a must. You will want to stroll along the miles of walking trails on the beach, or enjoy the social scene on the sidewalks after dinner.
Daily schedule - When we were there in late October, the mornings were nice, the afternoons hot and the evenings divine. Our mornings are made for the beach, afternoons for the mall, and evenings for the great outdoors. Best time to travel is November through April when daily temperatures are relatively pleasant.
Public Restrooms – generally available, clean and well equipped.
“Free Wifi” – free to residents, not tourists. Be prepared to pay, or bring your hot spot, or get an international plan.
Food – Dubai represents a delectable fusion of people and so does the local food reflect a fusion of cultures. Seafood also abundant. Western comfort food also abound. Ihop, Cheesecake Factory, P.F. Changs, Texas Road House, and Starbucks are just a few chains that are easy to find.
Language – English is widely spoken, on menus and on signage.
Where to stay- there is no shortage of hotels with the full range of price points, including Hilton, The Ritz, etc. The Burj Al-Arab is the most famous high end hotel. If you stay there, let us know how it is! If you want a sneak peek without fully committing to the stay, make reservations for a happy hour with an amazing view.
There is also the Atlantis for hustle and bustle water park action. We really liked the Arabian Resort of Dubai near the Souk Madinat Jumeirah, a charming quiet mall. It was like a private oasis in the middle of the busy desert city.
Www.jumeirah.com.
Dubai is preparing for Expo 2020 – so each day brings a new, bigger, better, more fabulous attraction. The city is full of adventure and nice people. The whole city is set up to be an Instagram post. Plan on 2020 if you cannot get there this year. It is worth the trip.
https://www.expo2020dubai.com/
Dubai was a great winter get away for the family. With lovely weather, friendly people, reasonable pricing and an endless bucket of adventure, cultural, or relaxing activities, it is the perfect spot for a family vacation.