Why Dubai? A family friendly stop over
I love the heat; even the intense heat is a dry heat that you can enjoy in short bursts... the cosmopolitan feel of a big multi-cultural city that’s growing in confidence? The ambition to do everything on a grand scale and the blending of culture, history and modernity? It’s just a great place.
You won’t find somewhere with more to do if you tried, and although it’s perhaps not the obvious place for a family holiday it is an obvious stop off, and while you’re there you may as well make the most of it.
Number 1 - The Desert Safari
I’ll admit I was cynical on this one and was in Dubai many times before giving it a try, but it’s fun. There are many combinations available, centred around a theme of a) being driven around sand dunes as if it’s a rollercoaster and some sort of top gear test of Toyota land cruiser warranty b) doing various ‘desert’ related Lawrence of Arabia type activities, such as quad biking (ok, I know Lawrence wasn’t great on a quad bike) camel riding, a meal in a desert tent, etc. My son loved this. We did the early sunrise tour and I think that’s a must. We set off from hotel at 4.30am and we’re mid-desert to watch the sunrise. Incredible. There followed lots of rolling down sand dunes (adults included) and general messing about. And all before it got too hot!
Number 2 - The Water Park
It’s hot, the children have too much energy... you’re spoilt for choice in terms of Dubai water park options. The grandfather of water parks (in Dubai terms this means about ten years old) is Wild Wadi, which still provides a great day out. There’s a new Legoland themed waterpark which opened this year and another opening on a ‘new’ leisure island in the JBR part of town, next to, you guessed it, the world’s largest Ferris wheel (not quite open yet).
Our most recent visit took in Atlantis’ Aquaventure water park. Entry is free to Atlantis residents (and I have access to incredibly competitive rates, but that’s another matter) but well worth it for everyone else as well. Not only is it huge, tube rides all interconnect within a large lazy river, and there’s also a water slide that goes upwards, which doesn’t make a lot of sense to me, but was actually really good fun. There must easily be 10-15 rides, making places like Splash Landings look pretty pedestrian. Oh and don’t forget The Lost Chambers aquarium where you can easily sit for hours watching the sharks, rays and fish swim endlessly whilst searching for Nemo and Dory.
Number 3 - Dubai Mall, Fountains and Burj Kalifa
In one of the cleanest, hugest shopping malls I’ve ever come across (and believe you me this is an area of intense research) the Dubai mall has everything; its own ice rink? Obviously... it’s own aquarium? Of course!
A few tips for the Mall are the fantastic sweet shop where they’ll custom make huge lollies for you, the aquarium, which you can pay for, but offers views of sharks, rays etc for everyone in the mall... the cascading walls of water with diving men sticking out. I’m not sure how to explain these but they’re cool although sadly kids aren’t allowed to dive in. Nor use them as a urinal much to my seven-year olds chagrin.
Directly outside the mall (via Five Guys of course!) are the fountains. These are free to watch and take place frequently in the evening as well as a couple of times during the day. At night they’re spectacular, especially set against a glistening Burj Khalifa pumped up with funky lighting like a Disney park light display. Small tour boats weave past the fountains and these, and a zoom up to floor hundred and whatever of the Burj can make a fantastic post-retail evening.
Number - A half - the Friday brunch
I’ll squeeze this one in; tenuously as a child activity. You must experience a Dubai Friday brunch. We most recently visited the Ritz-Carlton’s London Social but there are many more. Think every type of food you can imagine across dozens of food stations, unlimited cocktails, gin, Prosecco, you name it. Total indulgence but must be experienced once. The range of food means no problems for the kids, and our most recent visit included a full, unlimited pick and mix section, everyone leaving with brown paper bags of sweeties, as if we hadn’t already stuffed ourselves to the max!
I hope I’ve started to persuade you here that Dubai isn’t merely an oil-fuelled sanitary desert anomaly, or even the gateway to the East, but a real destination that everyone in the family can enjoy.
