Dubai with Family: A Practical 5 Day Holiday Plan

A Dubai family holiday is one of the easiest international trips you can plan from Kerala. Flights are short and frequent, the city is safe and spotless, and there is something for every age, from the world’s tallest building and desert adventures to water parks, beaches and giant shopping malls.

The challenge is balance. Dubai has so many attractions that families often try to see everything and come home exhausted. In this guide, the Bluewaves Holidays team shares a practical five day plan that mixes city sights, shopping and rest, along with tips for travelling with children and a clear checklist for documents, clothing, transport and reservations.

How to Balance City Attractions, Shopping and Rest

The best Dubai family holiday plans follow a simple rhythm: active mornings, quiet afternoons and exciting evenings. Dubai can be very warm, so it makes sense to see outdoor attractions early, rest indoors or at the pool during the hottest hours, and head out again when the city lights up.

• One big attraction per day: pair it with something gentle, such as a mall visit or beach time.
• Group sights by area: Downtown, Dubai Marina, Old Dubai and the beaches are far apart, so cover one zone each day.
• Plan rest time: children and senior travellers enjoy evenings far more after an afternoon break.
• Book timed tickets: popular attractions use time slots, which helps avoid long queues with children.

Five days is a comfortable length for a first Dubai family holiday. It covers the highlights without rushing and leaves room for a pool afternoon or an extra shopping trip.

Sample 5 Day Dubai Family Holiday Itinerary

Day	Area	Highlights	Evening
Day 1	Arrival and Dubai Marina	Hotel check in, rest, Marina walk	Dhow cruise dinner
Day 2	Downtown Dubai	Burj Khalifa, The Dubai Mall, Aquarium	Dubai Fountain show
Day 3	Desert experience	Miracle Garden or Dubai Frame, pool time	Desert safari with dinner
Day 4	Beaches and family fun	Beach morning, theme or water park	JBR The Walk
Day 5	Old Dubai and departure	Abra ride, souks, last shopping	Flight home

Day 1: Arrival and a Dhow Cruise in Dubai Marina

Flights from Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode and Kannur reach Dubai in around four hours. Dubai is one and a half hours behind India, so morning flights arrive before lunch. Check into your hotel and let everyone rest.

In the evening, enjoy a dinner cruise on a traditional wooden dhow in Dubai Marina. Children love the glittering skyscrapers reflected in the water, and the buffet usually includes Indian dishes. It is a gentle, memorable start to a Dubai family holiday.

Day 2: Downtown Dubai and the Burj Khalifa

Spend the day in Downtown Dubai. Visit the observation decks of the Burj Khalifa for incredible views across the city, desert and sea. Book a morning slot to avoid peak crowds, or a sunset slot if your children are older and happy to wait in a queue.

Next door, The Dubai Mall has the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, an indoor ice rink, KidZania for younger children and countless shops and restaurants. In the evening, watch the Dubai Fountain show from the lakeside promenade. The performances run every half hour after dark and are free to watch.

Day 3: Gardens, Rest and a Desert Safari

In the cooler months, start with the Dubai Miracle Garden, where millions of flowers form hearts, arches and giant sculptures. If it is closed for the season, visit the Dubai Frame for views of old and new Dubai, or the Museum of the Future for older children.

Return to the hotel for lunch and a long rest, because the evening is the highlight of many a Dubai family holiday. Around mid afternoon, your desert safari vehicle collects you for dune drives, sandboarding, camel rides and a sunset photo stop. The evening ends at a desert camp with a barbecue dinner, henna painting and live cultural performances.

Day 4: Beaches and Family Fun

Spend the morning at a family friendly beach such as JBR Beach or Kite Beach, where the water is usually calm and there are showers, play areas and cafes. In the afternoon, choose an adventure that suits your children.

• Aquaventure Waterpark at Atlantis: slides, lazy rivers and a large children’s area.
• IMG Worlds of Adventure: an indoor theme park, ideal on hot days.
• Dubai Parks and Resorts: home to LEGOLAND Dubai and several other themed parks.
• The Green Planet or Dubai Dolphinarium: gentler options for younger children.

In the evening, stroll along The Walk at JBR or Bluewaters Island, with plenty of restaurants and street performers. Families with energy left can watch the lights across the water from Bluewaters or simply relax with ice cream by the sea, a perfect slow ending to the busiest day of the trip.

Day 5: Old Dubai, Souks and Departure

On your final morning, visit Old Dubai. Cross Dubai Creek on a traditional abra boat for just a few dirhams, then explore the Gold Souk and Spice Souk, where children enjoy the colours and smells. The Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood shows how Dubai looked before the skyscrapers. Pick up last minute gifts and head to the airport.

Plan each day of your Dubai family holiday around a simple rhythm of cool mornings, restful afternoons and lively evenings, as shown in the sample day plan further below.

Where to Stay on a Dubai Family Holiday

The right area can save hours of travel during a Dubai family holiday. Each neighbourhood has a different feel, so choose based on what your family enjoys most.

• Downtown Dubai: close to the Burj Khalifa, The Dubai Mall and the fountain shows. Ideal for first timers who want landmark sights on their doorstep.
• Dubai Marina and JBR: beaches, promenades, family restaurants and easy access to the dhow cruise. Great for families who want sea views and evening walks.
• Palm Jumeirah: resort hotels with pools, private beaches and water parks. Perfect for a relaxed holiday with young children.
• Deira and Bur Dubai: good value hotels near the souks and the creek, with many Indian restaurants nearby.

For a five day Dubai family holiday, we often suggest one hotel in Downtown or the Marina for the whole stay. Unpacking only once makes life much easier with children.

Food and Dining for Families

Food is rarely a worry on a Dubai family holiday. The city has a large Indian community, so Kerala meals, South Indian breakfasts, North Indian curries and pure vegetarian restaurants are easy to find, especially in Karama, Bur Dubai and Al Barsha.

Malls have huge food courts with familiar brands, and most hotels offer buffet breakfasts with Indian options. Try a few local favourites too, such as shawarma, falafel, grilled meats, fresh juices and luqaimat, a sweet dumpling drizzled with date syrup that children love.

A Sample Day Plan for a Dubai Family Holiday

To show how the balance works in practice, here is how a typical day on a Dubai family holiday might look with young children.

• 8 am: breakfast at the hotel and a short drive to the first attraction.
• 9 am to 12 noon: the main sightseeing stop of the day, while it is still cool.
• 12 noon to 4 pm: lunch, then rest at the hotel or the pool.
• 4 pm to 9 pm: an evening activity such as the fountain show, a dhow cruise or the desert safari.

This simple rhythm keeps children cheerful and parents relaxed, and it is the secret to a Dubai family holiday that everyone enjoys.

Tips for Travelling to Dubai with Children

Dubai is one of the most family friendly cities in the world, but a little planning makes a Dubai family holiday far smoother for parents.

• Travel in the cooler months: November to March has pleasant days and cool evenings. Summer temperatures are very high, so plan mostly indoor activities if you travel then.
• Protect against the heat: carry water bottles, caps, sunscreen and a small fan, and plan outdoor visits for early morning or evening.
• Bring or rent a stroller: distances in malls and attractions are long. Many malls rent strollers at the entrance.
• Keep naps in the plan: an afternoon rest prevents tired, cranky evenings.
• Pack familiar snacks: most restaurants offer Indian food, but your own snacks help on long days.
• Use the Metro wisely: the Dubai Metro has a dedicated women and children carriage, and it avoids road traffic at peak times.
• Choose family rooms: hotels with interconnecting rooms or apartments make life easier with older children.

Before You Go: Dubai Family Holiday Checklist

Use this checklist in the weeks before your trip. It covers the essentials we confirm with every family travelling with Bluewaves Holidays.

Documents

• Passports valid for at least six months from your travel date for every family member, including infants.
• A UAE tourist visa approved before travel. Indian passport holders usually need a visa in advance. Some travellers with a valid United States visa or green card, or a residence permit from the UK or the European Union, may qualify for a visa on arrival. Our visa services team checks eligibility and handles applications.
• Travel insurance with medical cover, which is commonly required for UAE tourist visas.
• Printed and digital copies of flights, hotel bookings and attraction tickets.
• A copy of any regular prescriptions, carried with medicines in original packaging.

Clothing

• Light, breathable cotton clothes for the day.
• Modest outfits covering shoulders and knees for malls, souks and religious sites.
• A light jacket for air conditioned malls and cool desert evenings in winter.
• Swimwear for hotel pools and beaches, worn only in those areas.
• Comfortable walking shoes and sandals for the beach.

Transport

• Pre book airport transfers, especially when travelling with children and luggage.
• Use a private vehicle for sightseeing days to save time and energy.
• Get a Nol card if you plan to use the Metro, trams or buses.
• Taxis are metered and reliable, and ride apps work well across the city.

Activity Reservations

• Book Burj Khalifa time slots in advance, especially for sunset.
• Reserve the desert safari and dhow cruise with a trusted operator.
• Buy theme park tickets online, often at better prices than at the gate.
• Check seasonal openings for Miracle Garden and Global Village before you travel.

Budget Tips for Your Dubai Family Holiday

Dubai can suit many budgets with smart choices. These tips help families get more value from a Dubai family holiday.

• Travel outside peak dates: Christmas, New Year and Eid holidays push hotel rates up sharply.
• Choose combo tickets: bundles for the Burj Khalifa, aquarium and theme parks often cost less than separate tickets.
• Enjoy the free attractions: the Dubai Fountain, public beaches, the Marina walk and Al Fahidi are all free.
• Pick hotels with breakfast: a good buffet breakfast keeps everyone fuelled until a late lunch.
• Package flights and hotels together: a package often works out cheaper and protects you if a flight changes.

Planning for Grandparents and Senior Travellers

Many families from Kerala travel with parents or grandparents, and a Dubai family holiday can be very comfortable for elders with a few adjustments. Choose hotels with lifts and short walking distances, request wheelchairs at the airport and at major attractions, and avoid dune driving on the desert safari. Malls, the Burj Khalifa and the dhow cruise are all accessible and enjoyable for senior travellers.

Seasonal Events Worth Planning Around

Timing your Dubai family holiday around a seasonal event adds extra excitement. Global Village, a huge cultural park with pavilions from around the world, usually opens from late October to early May and is a favourite with Indian families. The Dubai Shopping Festival in December and January brings sales, fireworks and concerts, while Dubai Miracle Garden blooms through the cooler months.

Adding Abu Dhabi to Your Dubai Family Holiday

With an extra day, many families visit Abu Dhabi, about one and a half hours away by road. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is breathtaking, while Yas Island has Ferrari World, Warner Bros World and Yas Waterworld. A six day Dubai family holiday with one Abu Dhabi day is a wonderful option for families with teenagers.

For seasonal events, shopping festivals and attraction updates, the official Visit Dubai website is a reliable source. You can explore our ready made plans on the Dubai tour packages page, and our flight booking team can find the best fares from your nearest airport.

Why Families Choose Bluewaves for Dubai

Planning a Dubai family holiday involves many moving parts: visas for each family member, flights from Kerala, family rooms, timed tickets and transfers. Our Kottayam team brings all of this together into one package, with a clear quote and support before and during your trip.

We also adjust plans for real families: shorter days for young children, wheelchair friendly options for elders, vegetarian dining suggestions and quiet hotels away from nightlife. That personal attention is why many families return to us for their next holiday.

Frequently Asked Questions