7-Day Kid-Friendly Holiday Guide to the UAE
BabyMoon, before your second child arrives, is so different than the first one. Before our elder daughter was born and before the COVID pandemic hit, we sneaked in a few days in the Maldives to relax, reconnect, and enjoy the calm of just being the two of us. However, we didn’t have that luxury this time around, so we chose a destination that can keep a child busy yet feel relaxing. The UAE was perfect in that sense as we enjoyed some desert camping, ate good food, relaxed in the pool, and explored slowly while keeping our kiddo busy. We then stopped over in Romania for another week before heading back home. This 7-Day Holiday Guide to the UAE is not only kid-friendly but also babymoon-friendly.
7 Days Kids Friendly Holiday Guide to the UAE
In the UAE, we split our days between Dubai, an overnight at a desert camp, and then a night in Abu Dhabi. Our days were filled with activities to keep the kiddo busy and entertained. This Kid-Friendly Holiday Guide to the UAE will help you plan a relaxed 7-day trip.
Here are things to do in and around Dubai, UAE.
1. Go to the top of the world’s tallest building – Burj Khalifa
When you think of Dubai, that’s the first thing that comes to your mind. Burj Khalifa is one of those check-list items that you need to do, even in real life, it is not as impressive as you would have expected it to be. On one side, it’s super cool that you are inside the tallest building and can go to the glass viewing platform on the 124th floor. The engineering of this building will blow your mind. But on the other end, that’s about it. There are a few photo spots there at the 124th and 125th floors, and you need to pay extra to buy a copy, but that is all.
If you plan to go inside the Burj Khalifa, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- If you hate crowds, try to book an 8.30 am slot. Everyone wants to visit during sunrise or sunset, and the ticket prices are higher as well. At 8.30 am, there were only a handful of people, and the crowd started building up as we were leaving.
- Book from the official website rather than a third party. You will save on the additional fees that the third-party websites sometimes add.
- Don’t wear flowy dresses as it can be windy on the 124th floor.
- Entry will be from inside the Dubai Mall, so keep a little buffer to navigate the mall.
Our kiddo kept calling the Burj Khalifa an ‘injection building’! You can’t skip this experience from your kid-friendly UAE holiday itinerary, as it would mesmerise them to no end.
2. Explore and shop at one of the world’s largest malls
While you are in that area, it’s best to club it with a day of shopping and dining at the Dubai Mall. The mall itself is so huge, with 1200 shops, that you could get lost exploring and walking inside. While in Dubai, we went to the mall several times for one reason or another, as the location is very central and handy. Some of the major highlights worth mentioning are:
- The mall has a huge indoor Aquarium and Underwater Zoo located on the second floor. The aquarium is free to view from the outside, and you can see loads of sea animals like schools of fish, sharks, and stingrays. However, if you want to step inside, the tickets start from 199 AED. You can book directly on their official website. Booking on the spot is also available, and we didn’t see any queue at the counter. My daughter was mesmerised!
- Another famous location is the waterfall art installation inside the mall. Super cool and beautiful.
You can spend the entire day exploring the mall as there is so much to see, eat, and shop.
3. Admire the world’s largest choreographed fountain show
When you take the central exit on the lower floor of the Dubai Mall, you will be greeted by the world’s largest choreographed fountain show. This beautiful music-and-light fountain show is one of a kind, taking place on the Burj Lake. The fountain is huge and shoots up to 140 meters. The best time to enjoy the fountain show is at night. That way, you would also get to see the Burj Khalifa lit up in sync with the background music.
Dubai Fountain Timings:
- Afternoon Shows (Except Friday): 1:00 PM & 1:30 PM
- Evening Shows (Every 30 minutes): 6:00 PM – 11:30 PM
- Friday Shows: 2:00 PM & 2:30 PM
There would usually be a huge crowd standing all around the Burj Lake to enjoy the show. So, our recommendation is to find a cosy restaurant with a nice view to relax and enjoy away from the crowd. We were able to get a table at Thiptara without a reservation; the food was delicious, enjoyed along with a front-row seat to the fountain show.
4. Walk on the glass platform at the Sky View Observatory
Sky View Observatory was a super cool experience. We took a glass elevator up to the 52nd floor to view the city beneath our feet via a glass floor. Talk about the adrenaline rush for a 5-year-old! Our kid absolutely enjoyed the experience and didn’t want to step away. The Observatory also has a glass slide ride (included in the ticket) from the 53rd to the 52nd floor, which was super cool but also got over before it started.
Here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Try to book a 10 am slot, i.e., at the opening hour. Even then, the floor was packed with tourists.
- Book from the official website.
- If you are in for an adventure activity, you can also consider booking Edge Walk in addition
- Wear comfortable clothes and shoes to make the experience more enjoyable.
5. Get lost in the souks of Dubai Old Town
The charm of Dubai is felt while strolling through the Old Town. The architecture will take you into the world of the Arabian Nights for sure. You can easily set an entire day to explore the Old Town, if not more, as the area is huge and there are many neighbourhoods to see.
Some of the worth mentioning neighbourhoods are:
- Al Seef: Start your day by exploring this neighbourhood. It is located right next to the Dubai Creek, and very charming to just stroll through. There are several shops here, but we felt the prices were on the higher side. Bargain as much as you can, and don’t be shy to walk away. The Starbucks in this neighbourhood is very photogenic and worth a visit.
- Al Bastakia: It’s one of the prettiest places for photography in Dubai, but when we were there, the area was under maintenance.
- Al Fahidi: While strolling through Al Bastakia, you will likely reach Al Fahidi. One of the highlights of this area is the Bur Dubai Grand Mosque, which is the largest in Dubai. Two very famous cafes or coffee shops you must try are the Coffee Museum and the Arabian Tea House. We didn’t have enough time to visit either of them, but worth your time if you can.
- Dubai Creek: Walk until the Al Fahidi Marine Transport Station and take a traditional Abra Boat to the other side of Old Dubai. The tickets are very cheap, and you get to explore other Souks like Gold Souk, Spice Souk, etc., on the other side of the creek.
6. Enjoy Sunset at Dubai Creek Harbour
One of my favorite things to do in Dubai was to take a sunset stroll along the Harbour and walk the skyline featuring the world’s tallest building. While Dubai Creek is a saltwater creek that is now part of the new Dubai Canal, Dubai Creek Harbour is a specific neighborhood on the shores of Dubai Creek. There are a few restaurants there, but nothing much to do, just a little peaceful walk.
The coordinates for Dubai Creek Harbour Night vision are 25°12’20.4″N 55°20’35.4″E, for those Instagram-famous shots!
7. Spend an afternoon at the beach, chilling
There are many beaches in Dubai, but one of our local friends mentioned that Kite Beach is super kid-friendly. One of the many activities along the beach is AquaParksLeisure, which is a freshwater inflatable water park. The waterpark is suitable for 3 years and above and features 21 activities like monkey bars and slides, etc. The beach itself is clean, has great facilities like toilets, running/walking track, etc., and stretches all the way to Jumeirah Beach. There are many shops and food trucks around as well.
We just spent the afternoon chilling on the beach and letting our kiddo get messy in the sand.
8. Go cafe hopping, as only Dubai can offer the best
There are so many cool and trendy cafes in Dubai that you would be spoilt for choice. I didn’t have many on my list, but the ones I had were very unique. Listing them here, in case you want to add them to your list.
: I would go again here, just for the vibe. If you are craving for an evening away in the desert, with a bonfire, some live music, good food, and a live fire show, this is the place to go. The cafe is located 40 minutes’ drive from central Dubai and is set in the desert. The cafe is a winter pop-up cafe and is usually open from November to May.
Forever Rose Cafe: Visiting a 2D cafe had been on my list for a long time, so we decided to go to one in Dubai. The decor was black and white and would give the impression of a 2D drawing if viewed in a photo. Food was good, and a lovely place to add to your list for a fancy breakfast.
Saya Brasserie Cafe: Another very Instagram-trending cafe, with beautiful decor and very delicious food. Dining there takes on an Alice in Wonderland-tea party sort of vibe. We went for brunch one of the days, and enjoyed the experience.
The only other famous cafe I would add to this list would be the Arabian Tea House, which I have already mentioned above.
9. Spend overnight in the desert, glamping
We have done a few overnight desert camps, like in Morocco and in Jordan. But the one in Dubai was very different and much more comfortable. I must say our experience was very enjoyable, and our kiddo had the best time ever. Highly recommend adding overnight desert glamping to your kid-friendly holiday itinerary in the UAE.
We booked a Bedouin tent at the Al Khayma Camp via booking.com. The camp had several activities to keep us busy throughout the afternoon and night, like camel rides, stargazing, a dance program, Falcon Experience, Heena, an Emirati dining experience, etc. The Bedouin tent itself was huge and super comfortable with AC and other amenities. They allowed us to check out a little later in the day, which felt relaxing, unlike in Morocco, where the camp kicked us out at 6 am.
You could get additional Sanddune-bashing experience through them, but since I was pregnant, we skipped that.
10. Take a road trip to Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi can definitely be done as a day trip from Dubai, on your Kid-Friendly Holiday to the UAE, as the drive is only 1.5 hours one way. However, we recommend staying overnight. Since I was pregnant and we had a small kiddo with us, staying overnight made a huge difference as we didn’t feel rushed. Our time in Abu Dhabi was pretty chilled as we did minimal sightseeing and spent time savouring Indian food.
Here are some of the things you can do in Abu Dhabi:
Sheikh Zayed Mosque: People drive all the way to Abu Dhabi, mainly to visit the mosque. It is the UAE’s largest mosque and is renowned for its intricate design, architecture, and grandeur. The beautiful marble mosaic design, stunning interior, and detailed gold leaf spires will mesmerise you to no end. The mosque is free for everyone to enter, but ladies, please take note of the dress code. Your arms, legs, and shoulders should be completely covered; otherwise, you would be denied entry. There are a few shops at the entrance that sell an abaya, but if you come prepared, you won’t need to purchase one. Try to avoid Fridays if possible, as the mosque will be very crowded.
Wahat Al Karama: Right opposite the Sheikh Zayed Mosque lies Wahat Al Karama. It is a war memorial that is now becoming popular amongst photographers and Instagrammers. Go around sunset and blue hour, and witness the mosque lit up in sync with the lunar cycle.
Louvre Museum Abu Dhabi: Louvre Abu Dhabi is an art museum located on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi. We skipped the museum, but if you have more time, try to add it to our itinerary.
Finally, one of the best ways to relax would be by going for a sunset tea lounge experience at Shangri-La Abu Dhabi.
Where to stay in the UAE
In Dubai, we decided to stay in a central location near the Burj Khalifa, as we were planning on taking cabs for the first few days. We stayed at the Millennium Atria Business Bay, Dubai. Our room got upgraded at checkin and the stay was fabulous. The pool also had a jacuzzi with the view of the Burj Khalifa.
In Abu Dhabi, we stayed at Royal Rose Hotel Abu Dhabi, Curio Collection by Hilton. What a beautiful hotel and such well decorated rooms. Our room again got upgraded during the stay!
Do you need a car in UAE?
Yes, we would absolutely recommend renting a car, if you plan on taking trips outside Dubai downtown. We rented a car on the last three days, as we had plans for overnight desert camping, visiting Abu Dhabi, the Hidden Cafe and also Dubai Creek Harbour.
The roads and the exits are bit crazy in Dubai though, and we missed so many exits during our short driving experience. It can get a little stressful. Abu Dhabi is much easier to drive in as you won’t find 8 lanes and numerous exits all around.
There are many companies you can rent your car from. In fact the company through which we had rented a car originally, cancelled the booking last minute. Raga was able to find another car rental at a pretty short notice of half day and at similar price range as well. The company will drop and pick up the car from your hotel, so its very convenient.
Also Read:
Overall, our babymoon trip to the UAE was very enjoyable and very doable with a small kid. Hope you find this 7-Day Kid-Friendly Holiday Guide to the UAE helpful in planning your travels.
We are listing some of our other articles that might interest you. Feel free to take a look.
Romania: We spent the next leg of our Babymoon in Romania, and you can read about our experience here.
Korea: We took our 4-month-old baby on her first big trip to Korea.
Japan: One of our favorite countries in the world, and we would go back there in a heartbeat.
- 6 Unique Temples & Shrines to Experience in Kyoto, Japan
- 11 Instagram Viral Desserts & Cafes to Try in Kyoto
Qatar: While in the UAE, you can plan to combine your trip with the nearby countries.
Jordan: Another fabulous destination.
- 1 week Itinerary for Jordan
- Martian Landscape of Wadi Rum
- Floating in the Dead Sea
- Exploring the Lost City of Petra
Pin Us for Later:
