With theme parks, the world’s largest aquarium, indoor skiing and Middle East’s largest waterpark Dubai is the perfect stopover for a entertaining family holidays.
With Qantas decision to move the London Kangaroo Route from flying via Singapore to instead flying via Dubai has opened up great stopover opportunities for families who are looking to experience the fun kids-friendly attractions in Dubai. Qantas is now operating 10 direct daily services from Australia to Dubai from Melbourne (4 flights), Sydney (4 flights) and Brisbane (2 flights).
As most parents know travelling long-haul with young kids can be a tiring exercise for the entire family and many families are looking for stopovers to recharge the batteries, catch-up on sleep and of course keep the kiddies entertained.
Dubai is a perfect destination especially for kids (and parents who are still young at heart) with impressive amusement parks, a world class zoo and aquarium as well as an indoor skiing park which will keep the entire family entertained.
To make your next stopover in Dubai a tad bit easier we’ve listed the top 4 activities you and your family shouldn’t miss out on.
1. Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo
The Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo is situated in the Dubai Mall and features ‘the world’s largest acrylic viewing panel’ (as recorded in the Guinness World Records). The top attractions are the sharks and rays but there are other popular crowd-pleasers such as the pelagic fish and the giant grouper. For the best experience make sure you pay to access the walk-through tunnel.
2. Kidzania
KidZania is located in the world-famous Dubai Mall and is a unique concept which provides kids between the ages of four to sixteen to role-play activities normally done by adults in real life. As the website describes ‘As in the real world, children perform “jobs” and are either paid for their work (as a fireman, doctor, police officer, journalist, beautician, etc.) or pay to shop or to be entertained’.
The KidZania journey begins by “checking-in” at KidZania International Airport and receiving a Boarding Pass, a city map and a cheque for 50 KidZos, the official currency of KidZania. The tickets start at AED 140.
3. Aquaventure Waterpark – Atlantis The Palm
Atlantis The Palm is the largest waterpark in the Middle East at Atlantis The Palm Hotel and Resort on The Palm Jumeirah, an artificial island shaped like a palm tree that covers 25sq km. The waterpark offers adrenaline pumping waterslides through shark filled lagoons, zip lines, tropical beaches and an area called ‘Splashers’ specially designed for the younger kids.
If you combine your visit with a Dolphin Experience in Dolphin Bay the entrance to Aquaventure Waterpark is included in the cost.
4. Ski Dubai
It might seem a little strange to go skiing whilst in sunny Dubai but this amazing 3,000 square meter snow-park won’t disappoint anyone in the family. Get your snowboarding boots on and after a few hours in the slopes why not enjoy a hot chocolate or check out the newest residents – a colony of 20 king and gentoo penguins flown to Dubai in 2012 from SeaWorld in San Diego.
Spoilt with butler service the penguins are fed only restaurant-quality fish imported from Canada in their -4°C habitat only a stone’s throw from the searing sands of the desert.