What to Do in Dubai | Family-Friendly Attractions, Theme Parks & Activities

Looking for ideas on what to do in Dubai for your next family vacation? Dubai offers warm weather, relaxing beaches, and an impressive number of exhilarating attractions that provide fun and excitement for the entire family. Here are the 10 best family-friendly attractions in Dubai for an adventurous holiday in United Arab Emirates.

What to do in Dubai | Aquaventure Waterpark

Aquaventure Waterpark is one of Dubai‘s most impressive waterparks! Aquaventure Waterpark is a massive theme park built inside the stunning Atlantis, The Palm resort hotel at the apex of The Palm Jumeirah. Aquaventure Waterpark features 30 stimulating, winding water slides that are safe for the kids and still thrilling enough for mom and dad. It also offers guests a luxurious private beach on the Arabian Gulf. Here, you can navigate halls and tunnels underwater, catching a glimpse of marine life in The Lost Chambers Aquarium. Enjoy close encounters with dolphins and sea lions, and even watch sharks get fed!

Price for a 1-Day Super Pass is AED 260 for each child and AED 320 for each adult. You can get a 2-Day Mega Pass for AED 290 each child and AED 350 per adult. If you have children less than two years of age, their entrance is free.

Aquaventure Waterpark is open seven days a week from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. You can buy tickets in advance to make sure admission will be available!

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What to do in Dubai | Museum of Illusions, Dubai

See life in a whole new way at Museum of Illusions, Dubai! Mind-blowing visuals, captivating sensory contortion and educational tidbits on this audiovisual adventure make this museum a great way for the family to really stir things up on vacation. If you want to plan ahead, you can even arrange a special event specific to your family!

If you are visiting Museum of Illusions, Dubai without a special event package, you can get a family discount by purchasing tickets for a family of four (2 adults and 2 children) for AED 210. Otherwise, each adult is AED 75, each child is AED 55, and senior tickets cost AED 65. Children below the age of five get in free! For a child with a birthday, a ticket costs only AED 55 and includes two free entrance tickets for parents. If you want to upgrade to a guided tour, food, and drinks, the price is AED 99. Or if you want to plan a group event for a larger family, the group rate for birthday events is AED 750.

Museum of Illusions, Dubai is located in the neighborhood of Al Seef and is open Wednesday, Sunday, and Monday from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM and all other days of the week from 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM.

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What to do in Dubai | Ski Dubai

Go skiing in the desert at Ski Dubai, a 22,500 square-meter ski resort. Although it’s indoor, it’s quite realistic. It even has snow penguins to snuggle! This winter retreat is kept at a temperature that ranges between -4 and 2 degrees Celcius. It’s located inside Mall of the Emirates – one of the largest shopping malls in the world. Ski Dubai offers much more than skiing! Aside from the slopes where you can also snowboard, you get to roll around in the Zorb Ball – a huge ball that rolls around with a human inside. Ski Dubai also offers sled and other snow rides. And what ski resort would be complete without a chairlift, ski suits and equipment rentals? Pay extra for a meal, hot chocolate and other add-ons.

Ski Dubai is open Sunday through Wednesday from 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM, Thursday from 10:00 AM to midnight, Friday from 9:00 AM to midnight, and Saturday from 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM.

If you and your family just want to hit the slopes for a couple hours, a two-hour slope pass is AED 210 per person. For an all-day adventure on the slopes, it’s AED 310 per person. For AED 340 per person you can upgrade your day of desert snow fun to include the Zorb Ball, unlimited regular rides and the Mountain Thriller Ride. You also get to choose between the snow bullet ride, the penguin encounter, ski/snowboard lessons, or a slope session. The final upgrade is AED 490 and not only includes a meal and hot chocolate, but also the snow bullet ride and a 40-minute penguin encounter, leaving you a choice between ski or snowboard lessons or a slope session.

The only price not yet mentioned, brings us to our next attraction. If you want to visit both Ski Dubai and iFly Dubai, which are both located in Mall of the Emirates, you can buy two hours on the slopes and two flights for AED 305.

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What to do in Dubai | iFly Dubai

iFly Dubai offers breathtaking exhilaration in the safety of air tunnels that propel you four meters into the air. When you visit Dubai, you get to experience the rush of skydiving without actually jumping out of a plane! Instructors and trainers prioritize your safety and are not only skilled flyers, but also fun and effective instructors. You can even add a virtual reality element to your iFly Dubai adventure! With actual skydiving simulation, you completely perceive the act of rolling out of the plane to launch your free fall. Packages vary and are outlined below.

iFLY Dubai First-Time Flyer Program

The first-time flyer program is ideal for those who are new to indoor flying. The First-Time Flyer Package costs AED 220 and includes:

• Training session
• One-on-one with a skilled personal instructor
• Necessary flight gear
• Two flights
• Flying certificate

iFLY Dubai Experienced Flyers Package

This is a great package for those who have experienced indoor flying and want to expand their flight skills. The Experienced Flyers Package costs AED 750 and includes:

• Flight gear
• One-on-one personal instructor
• Ten minutes of flight training that can be used cumulatively over multiple flights

iFLY Dubai Return Flyer Package

This package is for individuals who have already experienced indoor flying at iFly Dubai and want to return to that location to perfect their indoor flying skills. The Return Flyer Package costs AED 150 and includes:

• Training session
• One-on-one personal instructor
• Two (1-minute) flights
• Flight gear
• Flying certificate

iFLY Dubai Gift Packages

This is for anybody who wants to offer the gift of indoor flight to others. The gift package costs AED 220 and includes:

• Training session
• One-on-one personal instructor
• Flight gear
• Two flights
• Flying certificate

iFLY Dubai 15-Minute Introduction to Indoor Skydiving Package

This package is for those who are either new to indoor flying or who want to hone their skills and spend up to 15 minutes on air tunnel flights. This introduction package costs AED 1085 and includes:

• One-on-one personal instructor
• Flight gear
• 15 total minutes of flying that can be accumulated over multiple flights

iFLY Dubai 30-Minute and 60-Minute Flying Packages

These packages are for those who want even more time in the air. They offer the same features as the 15 minute introductory package with more time in the wind tunnels honing your indoor flight skills.

• 30-Minute Package costs AED 1875
• 60-Minute Package costs AED 3360

iFLY Dubai Ultimate Packages

These packages are for those who are new to indoor flying who want to learn the basics and choose between either four minutes or five minutes in the air. The packages each cost AED 380, are available as gift packages for the same price, and include:

• Training session
• One-on-one personal instructor
• Flight gear
• Variable flying time – check with iFLY Dubai for each plan’s details
• Flying certificate

iFLY Dubai VR (Virtual Reality) Package

This is the best package available if your goal is to add the exciting element of virtual reality to your indoor flying experience. The iFLY Dubai VR Package costs AED 450 and includes:

• Training session
• One-on-one personal instructor
• Four flights
• Flight gear
• Virtual reality skydiving simulated view
• Flying certificate

iFLY Dubai is located on the third floor of Mall of the Emirates and is open Sunday through Thursday from 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM and Friday and Saturday from 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM.

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What to do in Dubai | The Green Planet by Meraas

The Green Planet by Meraas is a biodome in Dubai that encompasses a tropical rain forest and provides a home to over 3,000 tropical plants and animals. Located next to City Walk by Meraas shopping mall, The Green Planet by Meraas features an eclectic mix of equatorial life from piranhas and other exotic fish, reptiles, and amphibians to sloths, monkeys, birds and everything between. Parking at City Walk by Meraas is free, and you can choose from a variety of packages to navigate The Green Planet by Meraas.

The Green Planet Day Pass

The Day Pass for The Green Planet by Meraas in Dubai costs AED 110 if you buy online in advance and AED 120 if you buy at the door. Children under 3 years old get in free. The standard day pass grants you access to the Australian Walkabout and each of the four levels of this 46 meter high, vertical enclosed paradise. Those levels include, from the bottom up:

• Flooded Rain Forest
• The Forest Floor
• Mid-Story
• Canopy

Standard operating hours are between 10:00 AM and 7:00 PM, seven days a week.

The Green Planet Zookeeper for the Day

If you have children between the ages of 9 and 16, the Zookeeper for the Day Pass presents the opportunity for an unforgettable experience of enjoyable education. Participants get to feed schools of piranhas, explore Bat Cave, and get hands on experience caring for and transferring animals. Children will be inside real laboratories and become aware of how to care for the planet’s endangered species. They will get the chance to help with all the preparatory components that enable zookeepers to deliver new and returning animals to the biodome. They will help prepare meals for the animals and feed them, as well.

The Zookeeper for the Day program begins at 8:00 AM and concludes at 1:30 PM. Lunch is provided. If you buy the Zookeeper for the Day ticket online in advance, the cost is AED 870. If you wait and buy at the door, it will be AED 950.

The Green Planet Animal Encounter Packages

There are four additional packages available that include the same full access to The Green Planet by Meraas that is included in the Day Pass but also offer 20 or 30 minutes of interaction with specific classes of animals. Aside from animal classes and duration of encounter, other variables in these programs include time of day, price, and the maximum number of participants allowed.

• Bird Encounter at 11:00 AM. 20 minutes, six participants only, once each day. AED 283 in advance/AED 299 at the door
• Reptile Encounter at 12:30 PM. 20 minutes, twelve participants only, once each day. AED 283 in advance/AED 299 at the door.
• Sloth Encounter at 2:30 PM. 30 minutes, ten participants only, once each day. AED 334 in advance/AED 350 at the door.
• Sugar Glider Encounter at 3:30 PM. 20 minutes, six participants only, once each day. AED 283 in advance/AED 299 at the door.

The Green Planet TGP Academy 10-Week Program

The Green Planet by Meraas in Dubai offers an awesome 10-week educational retreat for youth who are animal lovers and/or aspiring biologists, scientists, veterinarians, and zookeepers. Children between the ages of 7 and 14 learn about birds, bugs, fish, reptiles, mammals, plants, bugs, and reptiles in a live setting, experiencing close interaction with a wide range of animals. Children also gain insight to the basics of becoming a vet through activities such as creating projects, feeding, and caring for endangered wildlife. Children will learn the importance of beach clean up and become involved with a beach cleaning adventure and even plant a tree.

The Green Planet by Meraas will award graduates a TGP Academy graduate diploma and extend professional recognition as an official Junior Biologist. If you’re interested in this program, contact The Green Planet by Meraas to find out the date of the next scheduled group experience. The current cost is AED 1500.

Check In to Hilton Dubai The Walk Hotel, Step Out to City Walk by Meraas

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What to do in Dubai | Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo

Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo is the largest suspended aquarium in the world and occupies the ground floor of The Dubai Mall. The most basic entry package to Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo costs AED 145. It includes access to the Aquarium Tunnel, Aquarium Glass Bottom Boat, Submersible Simulator, Underwater Observatory, Underwater Zoo, and a ‘Behind the Scenes’ tour. You can choose from multiple packages that offer varied levels of access to different aspects of the Aquarium and Zoo. You can meet otters, feed stingrays, dive with sharks, see King Croc in the flesh, and embark upon a list of other aquatic journeys. You can also enroll your children in educational programs that vary in length or set up a group experience for a field day, a child’s birthday party, or any other group event.

Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo is open seven days a week between 10:00 AM and 12:00 AM.

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What to do in Dubai | IMG Worlds of Adventure

IMG Worlds of Adventure is a gigantic theme park in Dubai on Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road. It is divided into five zones. Two of the zones are proprietary creations of IMG. They are IMG Boulevard and Lost Valley Dinosaur Adventure. The next two zones are themed around two very well-known brands. They are Cartoon Network and Marvel. The final zone is also a separate brand, Novo Cinema. IMG Worlds of Adventure and Novo Cinema offer guests 12 Multiplex screens with additional outlets for shopping and dining.

General park admission is AED 299. Children below the height of 1.05 meters get in free. VIP package is available for AED 5245. Hours of operation are Thursday through Saturday 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM and Sunday through Wednesday from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM.

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What to do in Dubai | Dubai Miracle Garden

Dubai Miracle Garden is a 72,000 square-meter wonderland of blooming flowers and elaborate landscape designs. Located in Dubailand, the garden bears more than 250 million plants and over 50 million flowers. Dubai Miracle Garden is the largest natural flower garden in the entire world. Gorgeous landscape designs include Big Teddy Bear, Emirates A380 Floral Plane, Floral Clock, Floral Castle, Mickey Mouse, Hearts Passage, Lake Park, and Lost Paradise.

Regular admission price is AED 55 for adults and children who are age 12 or above, AED 40 for children who are between the ages of 3 and 12, and children below the age of three and people of determination get in for free. Operating hours are Thursday through Saturday, 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM and Sunday through Wednesday, 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM.

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What to do in Dubai | 1 Day 2 Parks Hopper at Dubai Parks & Resorts

For the last two destinations on the list of what to do in Dubai for a family vacation, two actually becomes four when you consider your options. You can take advantage of the 1 Day 2 Parks Hopper at Dubai Parks & Resorts deal. This package grants you access to two theme parks in Dubai that are in walking distance of each other. You will have unlimited availability of rides and attractions at each of the theme parks you choose.

The most basic pass for unlimited rides and attractions at two theme parks costs AED 295. You can get an annual pass for AED 495 or an annual pass for all four of the theme parks included for AED 695. There are other package deals offered at Go Dubai that not only include unlimited access to two of the following four theme parks, but a variety of perks and discounts to other attractions in Dubai, as well.

Your options include:

• Legoland® Dubai
• Legoland Water Park
• MOTIONGATE™ Dubai
• Bollywood Parks Dubai

Details of each of these theme parks in Dubai are provided below.

Legoland® Dubai

Legoland® Dubai is a theme park modeled after the original Legoland® brand. Legoland® Dubai was the first Legoland® themepark in the Middle East. However, it was the seventh Legoland® across the globe. Legoland® Dubai Resort offers two Legoland® experiences: Legoland® Dubai with more than 20 rides and attractions and Legoland® Water Park with over 20 water slides and attractions. Attractions include interactive zones where you can build Lego® structures and meet your favorite Lego® characters!

There is a separate cost for tickets to each of these. The ticket price for each location is 275. Children below the age of three get in free. You can also buy annual passes for AED 345.
Hours of operation are Thursday and Friday, 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM and Saturday through Wednesday, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

MOTIONGATE™ Dubai

MOTIONGATE™ Dubai is a theme park inspired by Hollywood. The rides and attractions featured at MOTIONGATE™ Dubai include themes that are consistent with a variety of Hollywood brands, including Columbia Pictures, DreamWorks Animation, Lionsgate, and Sony Pictures. Traditional theme park rides and water rides include themes from Ghostbusters, How to Train Your Dragon, Hunger Games, Madagascar, The Smurfs, and more.

Admission into MOTIONGATE™ Dubai is AED 275 for this park only. Operating hours are Thursday and Friday, 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and Saturday through Wednesday, 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

Bollywood Parks Dubai

BOLLYWOOD PARKS™ Dubai is a mesmerizing world of thrilling rides and live entertainment spanning across nearly 158,000 square meters of themed park adventure. With more than 15 rides themed around the most iconic films produced by Mumbai’s film industry, you get to explore a world full of action, adventure, comedy, AND romance! Treat yourself to authentic Indian snacks and cuisines.

General admission to Bollywood Parks Dubai is AED 175. Theme park hours are 1:00 PM to 10:00 PM, seven days a week. Dining hours vary. but restaurants typically serve guests from 2:00 PM to 10:30 PM.

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