My thirty-fifth birthday was coming up and I didn't have to think twice about where I wanted to celebrate it. With a teenager of 10 years, a toddler of almost 4 years and a baby of 6 months, I just wanted a child-friendly destination that is also fun for mom and dad. Because it was my birthday, my mother and my brother and his girlfriend also went along. It was a really fun trip! Let me take you through our highlights 🫶🏽.
10 highlights of a week in Dubai!
1. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque 🕌
About an hour and a half drive from Dubai, you will find this beautiful mosque in Abu Dhabi. Entrance is free, but you can register your visit in the mall next to the mosque. Both men and women must dress appropriately (see the dress code here). We bought traditional clothing for 50 dirhams per person, but it is also possible to rent clothes in the mall.
There is plenty of opportunity to take photos in the mosque itself. Security is strict; you are not allowed to touch each other and constant attention is paid to whether you stick to the dress code rules.
It was a nice day trip! We rented cars, but you can also book an excursion.
2. A good four or five star hotel 🏨
I think this is such a nice start of the holiday; a nice bed, a good shower, breakfast buffet and top service. This year we booked the Holiday Inn Dubai Science Park, which has a very good price-quality ratio, but the previous time we stayed at the Marriot Marquis which is such a nice hotel. Nevertheless, plenty of choice in Dubai when it comes to good hotels. In terms of location, I recommend JBR the Walk, Al Barsha, or Business Bay.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi
Small fair at JBR the Walk
3. Beach clubs 🏖️
A hotel near the beach on a good location is quite pricey. We therefore usually choose a hotel with a swimming pool and then occasionally go to a beach club. We love coming to the Double Tree by Hilton Jumeirah Beach and Fairmont the Palm. These beach clubs are child-friendly (there are also beach clubs where children are not allowed) and the big advantage is that you can spend the amount you pay for entrance on food and drinks. You'll get a beach towel and there are also showers for after your beach day. Ohh and the Fairmont also has free unlimited ice cold water!
4. JBR the Walk 🎡
Another advantage of the Double Tree by Hilton beach club, is that it is located on JBR the Walk. This is a long boulevard, with a number of shops, but especially many restaurants. In the evening you have a view of the illuminated ferris wheel and there is a small fair for the children. So what we usually do -> buy a day pass at the Double Tree for a day at the beach (you can also park your car here for free), have a shower there and then go straight to the boulevard to have diner👌🏽.
5. Wild Wadi water park 💦
I know three major water parks in Dubai; Aquaventure at the Atlantis hotel, Wild Wadi park and Lego water park. The difference is that Lego is especially fun for small children, Aquaventure is beautiful but pricey and Wild Wadi is affordable. By affordable I mean about 70 euros per ticket, but hey, that's Dubai 💸
6. The Dubai Mall 🛍️
I think anyone who has been to Dubai will agree with this; If you don't go to the Dubai Mall during your trip, you will simply miss out on 50% of your Dubai experience. Yes, this mall is exceptional. In addition to hundreds of shops, there is a large aquarium, a dancing fountain, the Burj Khalifa, a cinema, and an ice skating rink. It is impossible to see the entire mall in a few days, which is why you will probably come here more often during your holiday.
The downside of the Dubai mall is that it is very busy. If you don't feel like walking through a crowd of people, you can also spend time in, for example, the Mall of the Emirates, or the Dubai Hills Mall (or one of the other dozens of malls..😉).
7. The Dubai Frame 🖼️
The Dubai Frame is literally a large photo frame, transformed into an attraction. Upon entering you will receive a piece of history about the construction of Dubai. Once you take the elevator up, you can walk on a see-through floor, which is very cool! Furthermore, from above you'll have a view of the entire city and if you then take the elevator back down, you'll get a preview of Dubai in 2050.
The Dubai Frame
Diner at EatGreek
8. Global Village 🥙
Global Village is a highlight for both locals and tourists. Different cultures come together here and you will find many street food stalls and shops. There is a fair for the children and there are also live performances. It's a really fun night out. Definitely recommended!
My favorite snack I tried there? Mango Sticky Rice at the Thai area. Finger licking good!! 😋
9. Kid-friendly restaurants 👨👩👧👦
I must say that many restaurants are child-friendly, except for the very fancy ones, where the 'see and be seen' policy is in place. Of course, with our three children we wouldn't go there anyway 😉. This time we chose Time Out Market, the Cheesecake Factory, EatGreek, P.F. Changs and Bosphorus. Read this blog for my top 20 child-friendly restaurants in Dubai!
10. Sky bar 🌌
The great thing of taking your mother with you, is that you have a babysitter in the evening if you want to go out! I personally enjoy a nice sky bar more than actual clubbing, so we had a drink at the Treehouse in the Taj hotel. Unfortunately, the experience wasn't good, so I wouldn't recommend it, but other nice sky bars that I would recommend are; Level 43, Cé La Vi and Asia Asia. Read this blog if you're going to Dubai without children for even more going out tips!
When we came back I said to my boyfriend; Okay, this will be the last time for a while. “I don't believe that for a second,” he said.
He knows me too well; I love Dubai ♥️.
Salaam,
Nathalie
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