UAE Family Travel Guide 2025 | Dubai & Abu Dhabi with Kids

Experience the magic of Dubai and Abu Dhabi with your family,  from desert adventures to world-class theme parks in the heart of the UAE.

For families planning a UAE family vacation, both Dubai and Abu Dhabi with kids offer unbeatable experiences. From theme parks like Legoland and Warner Bros. to natural escapes in the desert and mangroves, there’s no shortage of things to do in the UAE for families. Whether you’re crafting a Dubai family travel itinerary or exploring the best attractions in Abu Dhabi for kids, this guide ensures you make the most of every moment. If you’re looking for safe family travel in the Middle East, want to enjoy halal food with kids, or experience cultural travel with children, the UAE should be on your 2025 travel radar.

Introduction: Why the UAE is a Family Oasis (From a Parent Who’s Been There)

Why Our Family Fell in Love with the UAE

What makes the UAE truly special for families isn’t just the scale of the attractions, it’s the effortless luxury of it all. The joy of stepping from 40°C heat into a perfectly air-conditioned metro that glides you to another world of fun. It’s the comfort of knowing that every mall has a fantastic kids’ play area, every restaurant has a menu for picky eaters, and that you’re always safe. It’s a destination built to cater to families in every single detail.

My Must-Visit Places: An Insider’s Perspective

1. The Desert Safari – Choosing the Right One

This is a must-do, but not all safaris are created equal for families.

• Go Premium for Comfort: Avoid the cheapest, large-group tours. Book a private or premium small-group safari with a company like Platinum Heritage or Arabian Adventures. They use safer, less bumpy Land Cruisers, have expert guides, and offer more authentic experiences at a quieter, family-friendly desert camp.

• Timing is Everything: The evening safari is classic, but consider a morning safari. It’s cooler, less crowded, and often includes falconry displays and wildlife spotting (like oryx and gazelles) that you miss in the dark.

2. Yas Island, Abu Dhabi – Conquering the Theme Parks

Tackling Yas Island requires a strategy.

• Warner Bros. World First: For families with younger kids (12 and under), start here. It’s entirely indoors and perfectly air-conditioned, making it ideal for the hottest part of the day.

• Ferrari World Strategy: Head straight to the flying rollercoaster, Flying Aces, and Formula Rossa as soon as the park opens. The lines for these get very long very quickly.

• Stay on Yas Island: To maximize your time, book a night at the W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island. It’s built over the F1 track and offers easy, free shuttle access to all the parks.

3. Dubai’s Beaches – Beyond the Sand

• JBR Beach Alternative: While JBR is great, for a more resort-like feel with younger children, head to La Mer or Kite Beach. They have cleaner facilities, more shaded areas, splash pads, and a better selection of casual family eateries right on the beachfront.

• The Ultimate Pool Day: For a special treat, book a day pass to a resort like Atlantis The Palm or Jumeirah Beach Hotel. You get access to incredible pools, waterparks, and private beaches, making for a unforgettable day of luxury.

Our Family’s 7-Day UAE Itinerary (Tested and Approved)

This itinerary balances iconic sights with downtime to avoid burnout.

Adventure Travel in the UAE: Thrills for the Whole Family

The UAE isn’t just about luxury shopping and skyscrapers, it’s also a paradise for family-friendly adventure travel. In Dubai, soar above the desert in a hot air balloon or ride the golden dunes on an exhilarating 4×4 desert safari. Families with older kids can try sandboarding or ziplining at Jebel Jais, the UAE’s highest peak in Ras Al Khaimah. Abu Dhabi offers adrenaline-packed options too, like kayaking through the mangroves or indoor skydiving at CLYMB. These action-packed activities make the Emirates a top choice for adventure travel in the Middle East, blending excitement with stunning scenery and safety for all ages.

Where to Stay with Family in UAE

• Dubai: Atlantis The Palm – Unbeatable for its incredible waterpark and aquarium access, meaning the fun starts the moment you step out of your room, Rove Downtown, JA Lake View Hotel
  
• Abu Dhabi: The WB Abu Dhabi on Yas Island – The ultimate choice for theme park fans, with character meet-and-greets in the lobby and free shuttle access to the parks, Park Rotana, Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan
  

Choose hotels with family suites, kids’ clubs, and pools to make downtime just as fun as sightseeing.

Essential Travel Tips from Our Experience

• • The App You Need: Careem is the Uber of the Middle East. Download it before you go for easy, cashless taxi rides. It’s often cheaper and more reliable than hailing cabs on the street.

  • Clothing Hack: While modesty is important at mosques, it’s very liberal elsewhere. Pack light, breathable fabrics that cover the shoulders and knees for everyone. This makes entering places like malls (which are fiercely air-conditioned) and religious sites easy without needing to constantly change.

  • Stay Hydrated, Differently: The dry heat dehydrates you quickly. Our family lived on fresh fruit juices and Laban (a salty yogurt drink) from convenience stores. They’re incredibly refreshing and help replace electrolytes.

  • Book Everything Online: Pre-book absolutely everything: Burj Khalifa tickets, theme park passes, desert safaris. You’ll save money, skip enormous ticket lines, and guarantee your spot.

Conclusion: Your Family’s Unforgettable Arabian Adventure Awaits

A trip to the UAE is more than a vacation; it’s a journey into the future, a dive into deep culture, and a non-stop adventure. It’s the shared thrill of cresting a desert dune, the quiet awe under the grand dome of a mosque, and the pure joy on your child’s face meeting their favorite cartoon character. It’s the one holiday that truly has it all, leaving your family with stories that will be told for years to come.

Start planning your 2025 Arabian adventure now. The magic of the UAE is waiting.