Whether you’re travelling for work or leisure, Dubai, with its exhilarating theme parks, artsy playscapes, and Bedouin-style hospitality, is the perfect destination to take your family! Here are some premier edutainment hotspots in this opulent oasis.
1. The Dubai Fountain
Home to iconic sky-high landmarks, heritage-infused desert escapades, show-stopping museums, and world-class recreation arenas, Dubai is a high-end haven for hyperactive kids, hard-to-impress teens, and authenticity-seekers of every age! If you’re looking for a sensational place to start, the Dubai Mall is an immersive goldmine of fun, family-friendly experiences. These include virtually battling zombies or climbing down the Burj Khalifah at Play DXB, journeying under the sea and meeting unique marine creatures like Sand Tiger Sharks and Sugar Gliders at the Dubai Aquarium, and treating your little tribe to kid-sized ‘real world’ roles at Kidzania. However, the nearby Dubai Fountain, with its stunningly choreographed water and light show and Burj Khalifa backdrop, is a sight to behold, especially in the evenings at half-hour intervals between 6:00 pm and 11:00 pm.
2. The Green Planet
Dubai has no shortage of interactive art galleries like the Arte Museum, eccentric House of Hype-style digital escapes, and innovative, hands-on edutainment venues like the thematic enclaves at OliOli. However, if you want to give your kids a break from VR-enabled hijinks and creative tinkering indoors, refreshing outdoor spaces are equally abundant in this oasis city. For a strikingly realistic Amazonian rainforest, located conveniently close to downtown Dubai, head straight to The Green Planet. In this lush tropical ecosystem, you can get acquainted with a variety of fascinating animals like toucans, sloths, monkeys, echidnas, chameleons, pythons, and flying foxes. Activities include exploring the magical bio-dome, encountering wallabies at the Australian Walkabout, witnessing a simulated thunderstorm, and snorkelling with piranhas. For a truly exclusive experience, sign your child up to be a zookeeper for the day and enjoy unforgettable behind-the-scenes experiences of caring for these animals.
3. Atlantis Aquaventure
From taking a Leap of Faith as you plunge down a near-vertical slide through a shark-infested lagoon and feeling your stomach drop to your toes on the wave-ridden Odyssey of Terror to kayaking with dolphins and sea lions and safely snorkelling with sharks, stingrays, and reef fish, adrenaline-high splashes await at Aquaventure! Tiny tots have tipping buckets and interactive water features at Splashers Island, siblings can compete on duelling water slides like Slitherine and Hydra Racer, and seasoned adventurers can enjoy surfing, zip-lining, paddleboarding, and intimate encounters with marine creatures. Suppose you’re looking for well-heeled family accommodation in Dubai close to captivating city centre attractions. In that case, Staycae gives you access to airy bespoke villas fitted with modern conveniences.
4. Dubai Miracle Garden
A winter visit to Dubai necessitates dropping in at the one-of-a-kind Dubai Miracle Garden. Wander through vibrantly blooming walkways, marvelling at life-sized floral sculptures like giant teddy bears, fairy tale castles, the Insta-famous Airbus A380, and the whimsical Flower Clock. After enjoying the blossoming colours and fragrances, and taking photos with the stunning backdrops, head to the Butterfly Garden nextdoor. Here, you can immerse yourselves in the ethereal beauty of thousands of fluttering wings and gain deeper insight into the lifecycle of this beautiful insect.
5. Kite Beach
With its inflatable water park right on the Gulf, thrilling water sports like jet skiing, kitesurfing, and windsurfing with state-of-the-art equipment, and numerous cafes, food trucks, and land-based activities, Kite Beach hosts something for everyone!
