Family Holiday in the UAE

The Emirates are a popular choice for families from Uzbekistan during the autumn and winter school holidays. The flight is relatively short, hotels offer a high standard of service, and there’s so much for children to do that the real challenge is not to overload the schedule. The secret to a good trip is the right emirate and a sensible pace.

Which Emirate to Choose

Dubai

Dubai suits families who want an active holiday: water parks, the aquarium, indoor parks, waterfronts and shopping. It’s convenient to stay by the sea in a hotel with its own beach, so you don’t have to travel to public beaches every day. Bear in mind that distances in the city are long and rush-hour traffic is real.

Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi has a calmer atmosphere, and Yas Island is home to major theme parks. If your children love rides, you can stay on the island or nearby and devote several days to the parks. Another plus is the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, which is well worth showing to school-age children.

Ras Al Khaimah

Ras Al Khaimah is for those who want a quiet beach holiday. It has resort hotels with large grounds, beaches and pools, and Dubai is close enough for a day trip.

What to Look for in a Hotel

• A private beach. With children it makes the day much easier: breakfast, then straight to the sea.
• A kids’ pool and club. Heated pools are useful in winter when the sea is cooler.
• Meal plan. Many city hotels in Dubai offer breakfast only. With young children, half board or all-inclusive is more convenient if available.
• Family rooms. Connecting rooms or apartments let everyone get a good night’s sleep.
• Distance to the parks. If you plan lots of rides, choose a hotel close to them.

How to Plan Your Days

Children need time to recover after busy days. A good approach is to alternate: a day at the sea and pool, then a day at a park or on an excursion. Schedule the main activities for the morning, when it’s cooler and less crowded. Give theme parks a full day and don’t try to combine them with other plans.

Desert safaris are popular, but dune bashing isn’t for everyone: for young children and pregnant women a gentler version without extreme driving is usually offered. Check this in advance.

When to Go

November to March is ideal. In December and January the sea is cooler, but the air is pleasant for walking. April is good too, although it gets hot by the end of the month. Summer in the Emirates is tough with children: even short walks outside are tiring.

Practical Tips

• Bring a light jumper: air conditioning is strong in malls, taxis and planes.
• Protect children from the sun even in winter: a hat, sunscreen and water on hand.
• Strollers are handy in malls, but not on every street.
• Get medical insurance for every family member.

Documents and Flights

A UAE visa is issued for every traveller, including infants. The process is described in our guide to the UAE visa. Flights from Tashkent are available both direct and with connections, and our manager will find a departure time that works for your family.

How Many Days to Plan

For a family with children, 6–8 nights is ideal. That’s enough to adjust to the climate, visit two or three parks and not rush. If you want to combine Dubai and Abu Dhabi, you can split your stay between two hotels to avoid travelling back and forth every day. With little ones, it’s better to choose one base and make short trips.

Food for Children

Hotels and malls in the Emirates have plenty of cafés with familiar kids’ food, so feeding children is easy. Restaurants usually have high chairs. If your child has an allergy, let the hotel know in advance.

Tell us your children’s ages and what you’re looking for. Send a request or message us on Telegram @GlobalDestination1, or call +998 99 760-82-88. Our manager will suggest an emirate, hotels and a programme with enough time for both fun and rest.