Dubai family holidays
Dubai is the easiest family winter break from Delhi: a short flight, beach resorts, theme parks and a night in the desert. Five nights is ideal, and Abu Dhabi adds culture.
Plan it with usWhat we'd suggest
Season
November to March; Diwali and Christmas weeks book early.
Planning Dubai from India
- When to go
- November to March is warm and pleasant. Summer is very hot, but hotel rates fall and indoor attractions are open.
- Getting there
- Direct flights from Delhi take around three and a half hours.
- Visa & entry
- Indian passport holders need a visa for the UAE. Rules and processing times change, so we confirm the current requirements when you book, prepare the document checklist with you, and help schedule any appointments.
Places worth the time
Burj Khalifa & Downtown
The world's tallest building rises above Downtown Dubai, with observation decks on the 124th, 125th and 148th floors looking out over the desert, the Gulf and the man-made islands offshore. At its foot, the Dubai Fountain sends jets of water some 140 metres high in choreographed shows on the lake each evening.
Al Fahidi & Dubai Creek
The restored Al Fahidi neighbourhood preserves the coral-stone houses and wind towers of old Dubai, with small galleries, cafés and the Dubai Museum nearby. From the creek, wooden abras carry passengers across the water to Deira, as they have for generations.
Gold & Spice Souks, Deira
In Deira's shaded lanes, window after window is hung with gold necklaces and bridal sets, while the spice souk next door is heaped with saffron, frankincense, dried limes, rose buds and dates. Bargaining is part of the ritual, and gold is sold by weight against a rate fixed each day.
Desert conservation reserve
Less than an hour from the city, the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve protects red dunes, ghaf trees and herds of Arabian oryx and gazelles. Vintage Land Rover drives, falconry displays and dinners under the stars offer a quieter experience than the busier dune-bashing camps.
Museum of the Future
A torus-shaped building of stainless steel, its facade cut with Arabic calligraphy from poetry by the ruler of Dubai, the museum stages immersive exhibitions on space travel, ecology and wellbeing set in an imagined future. The building itself is as much a reason to visit as the displays within.
Five days in Dubai: Day 1, Downtown · Arrival · Day 2, Old Dubai · Creek and souks · Day 3, Museum of the Future · The desert · Day 4, Abu Dhabi · The Grand Mosque · Day 5, Palm Jumeirah · Departure. See the day-by-day plan →
Is Dubai good with very young children?
Yes — short flight, family resorts and everything indoors when it is warm.
