Plan a holiday the kids will never forget to unbelievable Dubai
Looking at a short stopover with kids or a family holiday to Dubai? Dubai offers visitors an exceptional range of family hotels and resorts, from all-inclusive beach escapes to handy city apartments to use as your site-seeing base.
In this Dubai accommodation guide, we’re going to take you through all of our favourite Dubai hotels for families, from the incredible Atlantis the Palm to surprisingly cheap and convenient spots near Dubai Mall, as well as unique desert options and some new kids on the block with fabulous water park and all-inclusive options you definitely won’t want to miss!
You will quickly see why Dubai is one of the best family destinations in the world!
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Best Dubai Family Hotels for 2023
We’ve summarised our favourites here, or read below for more details on each of our favourite family hotels in Dubai – tried and tested by our writing team (all parents!) here in the UAE.
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All our favourite Dubai hotels for families – the details
Atlantis, the Palm
Atlantis, The Palm is hard to top if you’re scouring for the best hotels in Dubai for kids. The endless experiences on offer make the 5-star resort feel like a playground for families, with new levels of fun.
Spectacularly situated at the end of Palm Jumeirah, the hotel’s Aquaventure waterpark (free to visit as a hotel guest) is a must for families visiting Dubai; it even features a slide through a shark tank!
Their ‘Lost Chambers’ aquarium invites kids and adults alike into an underwater world, and Wavehouse provides hours of entertainment with 50+ arcade games, a bowling alley and the Surf’s Up wave rider.
Very young children are in good hands with the in-room babysitting, allowing parents to enjoy a choice of 23 restaurants. Teens can also hang out, socialize and dance at The Zone, a safe and adult-free space dedicated just to them.
The two-bedroom Suites category ensures families can sleep together at this mega-resort hotel, which is truly one of the most special experiences families can enjoy in Dubai.
Read TripAdvisor Reviews | Check current deals on Expedia
Jumeirah Beach Hotel
Jumeirah Beach Hotel is one of the best hotels in Dubai for families with children, who make up the majority of the clientele. The 5-star hotel has a private stretch of beach along the Arabian Gulf and over a dozen restaurants and bars offering international cuisine.
Rooms and suites are spacious and include floor-to-ceiling, ocean-view windows with studio-style family rooms and family two-bedroom suites available. All guests receive complimentary and unlimited access to the very nearby Wild Wadi Waterpark, a favourite with kids.
Another nice feature for younger children is the on-site activity centre set up with a climbing wall, musical instruments and the kid’s club featuring a water play area.
Jumeirah Al Naseem Madinat Jumeirah
The best Dubai hotels for families include Jumeirah Al Naseem, the newest and most modern hotel within the huge Madinat Jumeirah complex. There’s direct beach access, upmarket dining and spa facilities, and fancy rooms, including family setups and interconnecting rooms.
The Wild Wadi Waterpark is under a 10-minute walk away, and tickets are included with every guest’s stay. Jumeirah Al Naseem also runs a Kid’s Club with indoor and outdoor playgrounds and fun activities. A free shuttle service from DXB aids a stress-free arrival and departure, which is wonderful when travelling as a family.
Grand Hyatt Dubai
Unlike most of Dubai’s resort hotels which line Dubai’s beachfront, the Grand Hyatt Dubai has a central location at the edge of the city’s historic creek and overlooks the sparkling Dubai skyline. The hotel has an exclusive feel about it yet has features to cater to all ages, qualifying it as one of the best family hotels in Dubai.
The elegant accommodations with Arabic details include options for family suites and interconnecting rooms, with babysitting services available if adults fancy slipping out for dinner at one of over a dozen on-site restaurants on offer.
Kids will also love the free popsicles that are routinely handed out by staff. The Kid’s Club and outdoor pools for kids and adults provide plenty of daytime entertainment, plus there’s the interesting inclusion of an atrium. Children will love exploring the streams and bridges of this tropical indoor garden with their parents.
The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina
The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi is a 5-star luxury resort with its own 550-yard private beach nearby and views of Palm Jumeirah. As with many of the best hotels in Dubai for families, The Westin is located close to the exciting Wild Wadi Waterpark, though in-house guests can now enjoy the incredible new Jungle Bay Water Park within the hotel grounds!
The hotel is adjacent to Le Meridien and shares many of the excellent facilities of Club Mina. Families can avail the kid’s pool and kid’s club, with daily beach games to get involved in.
Chic Deluxe rooms with 2 Queen beds and Family Suite Sea View Rooms can comfortably accommodate families. A choice of 8 restaurants makes family mealtimes easy, with special menus included for children. Jumeirah Beach Walk is just 5 minutes away by car for family strolls and further dining and entertainment options.
One&Only Royal Mirage
The One&Only Royal Mirage is one of the best Dubai hotel for families seeking an ultra-luxury 5-star stay. The property stretches along a pristine length of Jumeirah Beach and is made up of three gorgeous hotels; Arabian Count, The Palace and the Residences & Spa.
The immaculate gardens, dramatic Arabesque architecture and decorative Arabian details are stunning. Impeccable facilities include four swimming pools, a spa with a hammam, Kid’s Club and two playgrounds.
The Palace also provides children’s swimming, tennis and waterskiing lessons. Interleading rooms are available upon request for families – an unbeatable luxury favourite for families if the budget allows.
Read TripAdvisor Reviews | Check current deals on Expedia
There are several more incredible 5* family resorts along Jumeirah beach also worthy of a mention including the Ritz Carlton, Le Royal Meridient and Habtoor Grand – see all our favourite resorts on the beach in Dubai here
Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm
Another of the best hotels in Dubai for kids is the elegant Waldorf Astoria, situated at Palm Jumeirah’s eastern crescent. Families can enjoy 200 meters of palm-peppered private beach and a range of dining options from Arabian to International.
A shuttle runs for easy visits to nearby attractions; the much-loved Aquaventure Waterpark is popular and only five minutes away. The brilliant facilities for youngsters include a kid’s pool, Coco’s Kid’s Club and babysitting services. Family Deluxe Suites and Deluxe rooms with 2 Queen beds both boast sea views.
Read TripAdvisor Reviews | Check current deals on Expedia
There simply isn’t enough room to include all the incredible resorts on Palm Jumeirah; Sofitel, Anantara, Fairmont, Rixos to name but a few would all make incredible family resort choices – see all the best Palm Jumeirah hotels over here
Kempinski Mall of the Emirates
Kempinski Hotel, located within the Mall of the Emirates, is the best hotel in Dubai for families who like a bit of adventure with their vacations. It’s the venue of indoor snow and ski resort, Ski Dubai and located roughly halfway between the Dubai Marina area and Burj Khalifa for family exploring.
Enjoy the rooftop infinity pool within the hotel, and check out the Chalet Lodge rooms that overlook the slopes of Ski Dubai!
In the connected Mall of the Emirates, families will find plenty of indoor entertainment to beat the heat, including ‘Magic Planet’, which includes brilliant family facilities like amusement rides, a bowling alley. The hotel itself has a kids’ pool, video games and a soft play area for little ones.
Full board plans are available to take the pressure off at mealtimes, and the ‘We Are Family’ package includes discounted entry to the kids’ activities in Dubai.
Roda al Murooj Residences
Roda al Murooj Residences is the best Dubai hotel for kids and parents looking for a more independent stay, with apartments of up to three bedrooms, immediately adjacent to Dubai Mall.
Each unit is self-catered with a kitchen including a fridge and oven, and the facilities of a hotel such as a 24-hour front desk, fitness centre, sauna and hot tub.
A buffet breakfast and a car rental counter for family trips out are also available. Kids will love the garden, year-round outdoor pool and children’s playground – the good news for parents is they stay for free. Complimentary cots and infant beds are available.
Read TripAdvisor Reviews | Check current deals on Expedia
InterContinental Dubai Festival City
Intercontinental Dubai Festival City is set up to be one of the best hotels for kids in Dubai. It’s located around 15 minutes out of Downtown Dubai and only 10 minutes from Dubai International Airport – a superb option if you are only on a short stopover to Dubai and want to stay near DXB Airport.
The hotel offers exclusive access to the Dubai Festival City Mall which has over 500 retail stores for family shopping, and the eye-catching IMAGINE water, laser, light and fire spectacle that will have kids’ eyes goggling (as well as Fontana Circus this winter).
The 30-yard outdoor pool is a highlight for kids, with panoramic views of Dubai Creek. A children’s pool and babysitting or childcare service will also allow parents to sneak in a spa session. Don’t miss one amazing feature- if you dare! – an entirely glass infinity pool that dangles over the edge of the hotel!
Doubletree by Hilton Jumeirah Beach
Doubletree has a great location on Jumeirah Beach’s ”The Walk’ waterfront promenade. Spacious one, two, and three-bedroom suites come with private balconies, and some have fully equipped kitchens and sea views.
Kids will be won over early on with the welcome DoubleTree Chocolate Chip Cookie upon arrival, not to mention the children’s pool, private sandy beach and kid-friendly menus in a choice of restaurants.
Doubletree is one of the last high-rise hotels along The Beach waterfront of JBR, which puts it right next to the bridge over to Bluewater Island and all the eateries and entertainment on offer (including the soon-to-reopen Ain Dubai Ferris wheel). For convenience and facilities, this makes it one of the best beachfront hotels in Dubai for families.
LEGOLAND® Hotel Dubai
Tell us a youngster who wouldn’t love staying in a themed room at Legoland with tickets to their favourite theme park? Newly opened in 2022, Legoland® Dubai Hotel is the third hotel to open as part of the Dubai Parks & Resorts complex in Jebel Ali, to the west of Dubai city centre.
The 250 colourfully decorated rooms come in five different Lego themes and can sleep families of up to five in one room. A swimming pool and splash pad can be enjoyed on site, along with plenty of character meet and greets and themed activities.
This is one of the best family-friendly hotels in Dubai for young guests; broadly, your 4-year-old to 10-year-old age group would benefit the most.
Read TripAdvisor Reviews | Check current deals on Expedia
Also consider: If staying in the Lego-themed rooms isn’t a priority for your youngsters, the other two options for Dubai Parks & Resorts are the excellent value Rove at the Park with a shuttle to the theme parks, or our favourite is Lapita, Autograph Collection, the Polynesian themed resort with excellent pools and lazy river
Centara Mirage Beach Resort Dubai
This Thai-inspired hotel recently opened in Deira Islands, a sensational new family resort option to consider on your trip to Dubai. Included in your stay kids will have access to the onsite waterpark and adventure park with slides and rope courses, or why not indulge in the family spa?
You honestly won’t want to leave your hotel as you’re spoilt with three swimming pools and five on-site restaurants, not to mention many of the 600+ rooms that come fitted with bunk beds! We love that they offer meal plans and even all-inclusive packages.
Deira Islands is one of the latest areas of Dubai to be developed; you’re not far from DXB Airport and the Dubai Creek Area, whilst Downtown is also easy to access by taxi.
JA The Resort
A less obvious choice for visitors to Dubai is to head west of the city’s main hotel and resort areas to the coastal resort complex JA The Resort. This sprawling complex at Jebel Ali Beach comprises three hotel resorts and is packed full of family activities. You can book family suites and meal packages through to all-inclusive for the perfect relaxing family vacation on the Arabian Gulf.
Activities on offer vary from water skiing and water sports to horse riding; indulge in a round of golf, try your shooting skills, have a hit on the tennis courts or simply relax at one of the 25 bars and restaurants. It’s one of our top recommended resorts for older children who love their holiday activities.
The only disadvantage we would note is that the resort is more remote than others we’ve listed here, so you are not connected to the public transport system in Dubai and will be looking at a decent taxi or Careem/Uber fare wherever you’re headed.
If it’s a resort with everything your family could desire in one location, though and simply enjoying the abundant sunshine of Dubai, this could be the best value family resort choice in Dubai.
Bab al Shams Desert Resort
Please note that this desert resort is currently undergoing significant renovations and should reopen in early 2023.
Bab al Shams is a little different and the best hotel in Dubai for families craving a luxurious Middle East escape. The hotel is constructed around an oasis, encircled by natural landscapes and 50 minutes from the bustle of Downtown Dubai in Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve.
Despite a more remote location, there’s still plenty to do at this unique resort; three outdoor pools, a kid’s pool, the Aladin’s Kid’s Club (ages 4-12), and an adventure playground.
Children under 12 stay for free, and younger kids can enjoy Sinbad’s Kids’ Club and a separate shaded pool. Families can have an adventure exploring the surrounding desert by jeep, horse or camel. Cribs, rollaway beds and connecting rooms are available upon request.
Read TripAdvisor Reviews | Check current deals on Expedia
Whether its luxury resorts or glamping under the stars, we have a detailed guide to staying in the desert in Dubai here if you’re after a more unique family experience in the UAE.
Other family accommodation ideas in Dubai
If you are still not sure if a hotel is the right choice for your Dubai family vacation, we also recommend you check out:
Airbnb or VRBO can also work out to be a surprisingly affordable and convenient option for families staying in Dubai. We strongly recommend you take a look and see what value for money you can get before deciding on the best type of accommodation for your family trip to Dubai.
You can plot out the best places in Dubai from our map below!
Or check out this interactive map to hone in on some of the best current deals across the city – we’ve started you in the popular JBR/Marina area but zoom out for more options.
Want more Dubai hotel & resort ideas, or still not sure of which area will be best to stay in? Check out our complete guide on where to stay in Dubai
Before you go… More important things you should know when planning a trip to Dubai
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Please note we are not a travel agency. This site is a travel blog to help newcomers to the UAE and transit passengers self plan their trip, we cannot book your flights, hotels, visas or connections for you. We may make a small commission if you click on any of our recommendation links.
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