The best family hotels in Dubai for a fuss-free holiday
Few destinations keep children as enthralled as Dubai does. The family-friendly hotels here go above and beyond with mini check-in desks, vast kids’ clubs and all manner of immersive activities to win over even the most tricky-to-impress youngsters.
If your children love an adventure, take them for a spin on Ain Dubai – the world’s tallest observation wheel, which offers awe-inspiring views. They'll be able to peer out across dazzling Dubai Marina and spot that from above, the silhouette of AquaFun – a huge inflatable water park floating in the Arabian Sea – spells out ‘I [heart] Dubai’.
Jumeirah’s oasis-like Wild Wadi is a must for water-loving youngsters, and you'll struggle to tear them away from Atlantis, The Palm’s Aquaventure World. Other big-ticket family attractions include theme parks dedicated to comic book heroes, cartoon characters and Lego, and the whole brood can enjoy year-round snow at Ski Dubai, with its 85-metre ski slope and chairlift. From affordable all-inclusive resorts to no-expense-spared luxury stays, here's our pick of the best family-friendly hotels in Dubai.
How we review
Every hotel in this curated list has been visited by one of our expert reviewers, who are usually hosted on a complimentary basis. They stay for a minimum of one night, test at least one meal and trial other experiences that the hotel might have to offer.
At a glance, the best family hotels in Dubai
Best value family hotel in Dubai – Lapita
Best luxury family hotel in Dubai - The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai
Best all-inclusive family hotel in Dubai – Rixos The Palm Dubai Hotel & Suites
Best family hotel in Dubai for location – Jumeirah Beach Hotel
Cleverly designed so all rooms have sea and Burj Khalifa views, this is one of Dubai’s original beach hotels. Guests get complimentary access to Wild Wadi Waterpark, the excellent fun zone next door (where an 18-metre waterfall flows every 10 minutes), plus there are watersports, tennis and squash courts, and a climbing wall. It is an easy and relaxing place for children – the kids' club is a large building with various shaded play areas and it's open (without a charge) from 8am to 8pm for guests aged two to 12. Families may prefer to stay in the spacious ground-floor garden suites, with their own kitchenettes and child-safe locks on the sliding doors.What could be perceived as gaudy to the grown-up eye, must seem glorious to a child: Atlantis’ tower-topped, red-brick façade recalls Disney fairy tales, its iconic central arch hinting at gateways to mythical kingdoms, and inside, every detail seems exaggerated. There are shops selling toys, art, perfume, clothes, jewellery and souvenirs, and guests get free access to Aquaventure World water park and The Lost Chambers Aquarium. With so many guests losing themselves in the avenues, enduringly polite staff must feel as though they’re forever herding cats, but they never show it. Besides Disneyland, there probably isn’t a more magical resort for children, and all the family-friendly facilities and services you'd expect (from babysitting to fun-filled activities for all ages) are available.
One of Dubai's most-sought after stretches of sand is occupied by this expansive low-level property – home to eight restaurants and six pools. A week is hardly long enough to experience it all. Two of the pools are for families, with another two reserved just for children; if splashing about gets old, the Ritz Kids club offers a programme of daily activities and a dedicated playroom. Some of the accommodation interconnects, cots are complimentary for infants up to two years old and a rollaway bed can be provided. Dubai Marina, with its impressive mall, zipwire and yacht-lined waters, is just a few blocks away, too.This affordable all-inclusive beachfront retreat is wonderfully family-focused with a great kids' club, a playground and a small water park to keep youngsters occupied. For grown-ups, there’s a spa, gym and a selection of bars, including two swim-up options and one with a terrace overlooking the coastline. Tagged on arrival, guests must wear their armbands at all times to access the all-inclusive facilities. It’s a bit like a festival, only with buffet restaurants instead of food trucks, and the live bands are likely to be ABBA tribute acts.
With a string of low-rise buildings set among gardens with streams, waterfalls and a pride of peacocks, this resort feels incredibly relaxing. All suites can accommodate two adults and two children under 16. There are two shaded children’s pools, a kids’ club (four to 11 years) and teens’ club and camel rides. For even more activity, guests can opt for the Wibit inflatable waterpark, donut rides and watersports. Adults can try the challenging nine-hole golf course, which has hosted the likes of Tiger Woods and Nick Faldo.This family-oriented, Polynesian-themed resort – a little odd in the Emirates, but nevertheless stylishly done – is located within walking distance of Dubai's theme park complex (Motiongate, Legoland and Bollywood Parks), and the buildings are set around lagoon-style pools and a lazy river. There are two children's clubs for different ages with climbing walls and activities such as henna painting, while parents can escape to the spa that offers massages and traditional hammam treatments. Interconnecting rooms, cots and rollaway beds make stays comfortable for all ages and family-friendly events include the Friday brunch.
This palatial property features neoclassical architecture, muted desert tones andsophisticated interiors, but despite the grandeur is social and fun, as well as family-friendly. There’s Jungle Bay water park with looping slides and a wave pool, a shaded children’s pool and the huge kids’ club (free for children aged over four). Playground and daily activities include soft archery, sensory games and face painting. For little ones, there are high chairs and children's menus in the restaurants; cots, bottle warmers, sterilisers and baby bath amenities in rooms; and babysitting services. The resort has its own watersports centre for water skiing, windsurfing and wakeboarding.
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• The best luxury hotels in Dubai
This impressive family-friendly resort is located at the heart of the vast Madinat Jumeirah complex, arranged around Venetian-style waterways and on a private stretch of beach. The complimentary Sinbad’s Kids Club has play areas and pools with activities such as face painting and crafts, restaurants cater to young guests with children’s menus and highchairs, and cots and interconnecting rooms can be arranged. Free unlimited access to Wild Wadi Water Park next door and rides around the resort on the abras will banish boredom. The Mall of the Emirates is also a 10-minute drive away (home to a bizarre indoor ski slope).
• The best all-inclusive Dubai hotels
Rixos may lack the architectural pizzazz typical of many of The Palm’s hotels but scores big for its fabulous kids’ club (not to mention authentic Turkish hammam and great restaurants). There are two outdoor pools, a separate kids’ pool, motorised and non-motorised water sports, basketball and tennis courts, and staff members are friendly and attentive without being overbearing. While parents indulge in a treatment using products by spa brand Alissi Brontë, younger guests are occupied with a full schedule of activities. The hotel is one of Dubai’s few properties to offer all-inclusive packages.
Contributions by Jenny Johnson & Lara Brunt.
