During our previous trip, we had the opportunity to do a stopover in Abu Dhabi, UAE with our 10-month-old, and it turned out to be a fantastic experience.
Now, I’m excited to share some incredible things to do in Dubai, UAE during the Summer Months. In this post, you’ll find a plethora of helpful tips for visiting Dubai with an infant, including information on how to get there, the best spots to visit, and important details about pram friendliness and changing facilities.
Rest assured that everything shared in this post is based on my personal experience, and all the photos included are captured by me. Let’s dive in and discover what this post has in store for you!
What is the best Airline to get to Dubai?
Dubai was named the busiest airport in the world in 2022 for the ninth consecutive year, with 66 million people passing through the airport in 2022. So needless to say there are many airlines that will get you to Dubai. Also see Emirates named among world’s top 10 best airlines and see The best airlines of 2022: Emirates ranked world’s best Economy Class airline.
If you are travelling from for example Australia or Europe, Emirates and Etihad Airways are very popular airlines to travel to Dubai. Prior to having children I travelled with Emirates which was a very smooth and service oriented experience. This time I flew with Etihad Airways with an infant, which was more affordable, but it was very noticeable in the lack of service (more about that in a different blog post).
There are pro’s and con’s for travelling with Etihad airways, so make sure you do your research about the airline, the restrictions and rules on travelling with an infant (for example, if you book a bassinet for your baby , they cannot be heavier than 11kgs, plus if the airline staff on the day feel that it’s not safe for your baby to be in the bassinet, you wont’ be given a bassinet). Also read how this family experienced flying with a baby on Etihad (read: Do not fly with Etihad if you have a toddler).
Expert tip: If you’re flying economy class, you’re better off the change your little one in the toilets at the end of the plane or if you have a Boeing 777-3000 you can best change them in cubicle nearest the windows as the are larger. It’s tough gig changing little one in a toilet the size of a closet, and there is no soft padding or safety strap on the changing table so to make it easy, when you change your little one just grab one nappy, a few wet wipes and a soft thick blanket to place your little one on during changing.
Where To Stay in Dubai with an Infant?
Depending on the type of stay you are after, you can go as budget or expensive as you like. There are many popular hotel chains including Marriot, Pullman, IHG, etc etc.
We decided to stay in the Marina precinct as this was recommended by friends, plus we thought it would be a nice area to walk around at night (which is just doable, but very very hot during summer, see the next paragraph).
When you book your room, ensure you advice prior to arrival that you are travelling with an infant and that you require a cot. Even if you co sleep with your infant, I would still recommend getting a cot as it is a safe spot to place your infant in case you have to go to the bathroom and you are alone without anyone else to look after your little one (this happened to me whilst my husband was training in the gym, I was able to safely place my little one in the cot so she would not hurt herself and I was able to go to the bathroom but we co slept in the big bed).
Expert tip: Check with your hotel whether their pool is in the sun or shade in the early morning and afternoon as the summer sun is really too hot to swim with baby, even if you go at 7am or 5pm. We were lucky that our pool was located in the shade in the AM and PM.
Can you visit Dubai with an infant during summer?
The summer temperatures in Dubai can reach up to 42+ degrees Celsius which is extremely hot, however this city is very much built for the heat:
- During the Summer Months you don’t spend much time outside in Dubai, literally only to get in and out of the car, or you can spend time outside in the early morning or later afternoon / early evening when the temperatures drop to around 35+ degrees Celsius.
- Most activities are indoors (as you’ll find out further below in this article).
- If you use public transport, all stops are enclosed airconditioned shelters with ample room to accommodate waiting passengers (although most people in Dubai use cars to get around).
- Next time I would prefer to visit Dubai during the cooler months, as I personally enjoy spending lots of time outside, and going for a nice walk a long the Marina for example and spend time at the beach. During the summer months it is too hot to do either of these activities and you literally either spend time in the hotel room, mall, indoor activities or in the car.
Is Dubai Child Friendly?
We have found Dubai to be extremely friendly and suitable for infants and young children and have seen many other young families with prams during our stay. Here is why Dubai is child friendly:
- All people we have encountered at hotels, tourist sights, restaurants and shopping malls are extremely focused on children/infants.
- Everyone says hello to the children/infants and at some restaurants we were instantly greeted with a balloon for entertainment.
- All restaurants we have visited offered good quality high chairs for infants.
- During our stay the hotel staff crafted animals out of towels (also known as Towel Art). One day with came into our room and found a 2 meter big crocodile made of towels, and the other day we found a beautiful monkey hanging off a hanger sure to entertain our little one!
- The Gym we used during our stay (not the hotel gym but a gym called Wellfit) offered great child classes although our little one is too young at the moment, we got a peak into the gymnastics area which our little one absolutely loved (see further down this post).
What to wear in Dubai?
Prior to our trip I did the necessary research to ensure I packed appropriate clothing, however I struggled quite a bit as some websites advised to wear clothing that covered over the knees and shoulders, whereas I’ve seen plenty of images and videos on social media displaying the opposite including people wearing very minimal sexy clothing.
Anyway, I opted for
- long breezy dresses (preferably cotton or linen) which covered shoulders and knees.
- A broad rim hat came in handy too as the sun is literally scorching hot outside.
- When visiting holy / religious places and banks, it’s essential to obey the dresscode and definitely wear appropriate clothing that covers shoulders, knees and hair etc.
What is the best clothing for an infant to wear in Dubai?
The summer temperatures get very hot in Dubai (42+ degrees) yet all indoor areas tend to have quite cool airconditioning so we opted for light breezy cotton clothing that did not rub on the skin, and took a cotton cardigan with us, as well as a very thin muslin cloth (pictured above) to use as cover when needed (for example in the vehicle or in the shopping mall). In case you’re wondering we used the Redsbaby Skip 2 stroller which is a yoyo style stroller which also fits into the overhead compartment of the plane (very handy if you’re travelling as a solo parent).
Top things to see and do with an infant during Dubai’s Summer Months
Visiting Dubai Marina with an infant
The Dubai Marina is a lovely area with a man made marina and high rise buildings. There are many hotels and apartments located here as well as a nice walk along the water. During the morning and afternoon this area is VERY hot to walk, however there are many areas of the walk that are indoors. So if you can make it a few 100 meteres without AC, then you’ll soon land in the AC areas which has shops and restaurants.
There is a great grocery shop named “spinneys” which has all your essentials plus more! We used the fresh fruit and salad scoop bar which has plenty of fruit and vege that our little one could eat (at 10 months she’s eating plenty of solids and still gets some milk).
Visiting The Green Planet Dubai with an Infant
The first thing that came to mind when I thought of Dubai, was “Dubai is all artificial and there is no real nature”. On one hand that’s very true as Dubai is located in the desert, however there are so many nature like experiences including The Green Planet, a beautiful immerse indoor rainforest experience.
The Green Planet is pram friendly and due to it being a rainforest, the temperatures are somewhat warmer inside compared to a shopping mall, however still much nicer than 42+ degrees outside during the summer months.
As pictured below, you can easily get around with a travel pram, although it is advised to leave the pram downstairs for older children that can walk to avoid congestion on the narrow paths.
The cafe at the Green Planet is located outside and was definitely too hot for us to use during the summer months.
When visiting The Green Planet, you go up to level 4 in the elevator, and slowly make your way down using the boardwalk which slopes down to ground level.
Overall it was a great experience that I would highly recommend you add to your to do list when visiting Dubai with an infant.
Visiting Lost Chambers Aquarium Dubai with an Infant
Atlantis the Palm can be visited with an infant whether you decide to stay overnight or not. Located at the top of the Palm Island, Atlantis Hotel is probably THE most known landmark of Dubai, and had an extravagant launch in 2008.
Within this resort is an array of things to see in and do, including the Atlantis Aquapark (not suitable for infants) as well as the Lost Chambers Aquarium which is a great indoor activity for adults, children and infants (pictured above). The Lost Chambers aquarium is very pram friendly and the paths are wide enough even during busy times.
This was our favourite activity to do during our stay as the entire complex was indoors and airconditioned, and the attention to detail was incredible! They have tried to recreate the lost city of Atlantis and everything from the walls to the ceilings and the globes, lights flooring and artefacts within the aquarium definitely did not disappoint.
Expert tip: Visit the Lost Chambers Aquarium first thing in the morning (be there before 10am to buy your ticket and take a photo in the “Atlantis Chair”, then enter at 10am when it is not too busy). We entered just before 10am and we enjoyed the aquarium almost to ourselves!
Visiting Dubai Museum of the Future with an infant
The Museum of the Future is a well known sight in Dubai mostly known for its incredible building. The design is very futuristic and you can’t miss it when you drive past. It’s important to book your tickets ahead of time. At the time of writing this post, standard entree was 199AED if you prebook online, however if you show up without a booking you’ll pay 399AED for the “on the day” tickets which gives you access on the day but you obviously pay a lot extra for this.
Expert Tip: Book your tickets online ahead of time to avoid disappointment or expensive tickets!
Visiting Dubai Mall + Dubai Aquarium with an Infant
As you might know by now, Dubai is really setup for the heat (whether it be during summer or winter months) most facilities and activities are setup indoors, with plenty of airconditioning. The Dubai Mall is located adjacent to the Burj Khalifa and within the Dubai mall you will also find the Dubai Aquarium and underwater zoo.
Expert Tip: You don’t need to buy a ticket to view the aquarium. You can see the 20+ meter long ocean display from within the Dubai Shopping mall from groundfloor as well as the first level gives you a great view.
Visiting The Dubai Fountains With an Infant
We visited the Dubai Fountains during the public holiday which was a mistake as it was ridiculously busy – the public holiday was equivalent to Christmas so the mall was just a chaotic mess with ridiculously long lines for toilets, food and shops.
We did however go to see the fountains, only to find out that our little one DID NOT enjoy the music and watershow so we stayed back and watched from a distance.
Visiting Wellfit Gymnastics with an infant
During our stay my husband trained at Wellfit Gym, the largest Gym in Dubai. During his training session we got a tour of the facilities which were incredible. Wellfit is located within the JVC Shopping Mall and has a large gym floor with plenty of equipment, a space for Crossfit and classes, a martial arts studio, plenty of toilet / changing / locker facilities and in a separate are of the building are the gymnastics and kids parkour areas which are equipped very well!
As you can see in the above image, our little one was intrigued by all the gymnastics equipment and absolutely loved to play / crawl on the soft toys.
Example 5 Day Itinerary for Visiting Dubai with an Infant
Day 1: Morning drive to visit The Palm and Lost Chambers Aquarium. Then visit Wellfit gym for a training session for mom or dad, or enjoy tour of their facilities for kids. Enjoy a swim in the afternoon around 5pm when temperatures are just below 40 degrees.
Day 2: Relaxing morning, hotel breakfast, chill by the pool whilst the temperatures are somewhat bearable (37 degrees). Then in the afternoon visit The Green Planet indoors.
Day 3: Relaxing morning, hotel breakfast, chill by the pool. Afternoon visit to Dubai Mall, Dubai Aquarium and Burj Khalifa (make sure you visit Burj Khalifa on a day that’s not dusty from the sandstorms). Or you can choose to spend ALL day in the mall and enjoy Kidzania and the ice skating ring if you have older children as well.
Day 4: Visit the Museum of the future (don’t forget to book tickets).
Day 5: Relaxing day to pack up, enjoy a walk along the Dubai Marina and prepare for your journey onwards.
Summary
I hope you enjoyed the information in this post and that it has helped you for your upcoming journey.
We really enjoyed Dubai and would come back in the cooler months when we can actually enjoy the beaches and outdoor areas (these are things I enjoy more than indoor things as I don’t enjoy shopping or malls etc).
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