{"id":11875,"date":"2018-03-29T19:48:36","date_gmt":"2018-03-29T17:48:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.miles-around.de\/?p=11875"},"modified":"2026-03-03T21:08:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T20:08:06","slug":"united-arab-emirates-with-toddler-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.miles-around.de\/en\/reiseziele\/asien\/vereinigte-arabische-emirate\/vereinigte-arabische-emirate-mit-kleinkind\/","title":{"rendered":"Family holiday in the United Arab Emirates \u2013 Our experiences with a toddler in Dubai & Co."},"content":{"rendered":"

In November, we were craving sunshine instead of dreary weather and decided on our first long-haul holiday with a toddler in the United Arab Emirates. Dubai, beaches, and modern hotels sounded promising \u2013 but how family-friendly are the UAE really? Here we share our honest experiences of Dubai with a child, the heat, hotels, and culture.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contents<\/div><\/div>
  1. United Arab Emirates \u2013 Country & Distances<\/a><\/li>
  2. Traffic in Dubai & Abu Dhabi \u2013 Car rental with a child?<\/a><\/li>
  3. People & Culture \u2013 Experiencing Dubai with a toddler<\/a><\/li>
  4. Weather in the United Arab Emirates \u2013 Best time to travel with a child<\/a><\/li>
  5. Beach holiday in the Emirates \u2013 Suitable for families with children?<\/a><\/li>
  6. Hotels in the United Arab Emirates \u2013 Are they child-friendly?<\/a><\/li>
  7. Shopping in Dubai & the Emirates<\/a><\/li>
  8. Dining in the United Arab Emirates \u2013 Relaxed dining even with a toddler<\/a><\/li>
  9. Animals in the Emirates \u2013 and what you won't find<\/a><\/li>
  10. Conclusion: Family vacation in the United Arab Emirates<\/a><\/li><\/ol><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    United Arab Emirates \u2013 Country & Distances<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The United Arab Emirates are significantly smaller than Germany, but much less densely populated. Everything is spread out. For a family holiday in the UAE, this means one thing above all: distances are long. With a small child, we strongly recommend a rental car, especially if the hotel isn't located directly in Dubai. Alternatively, a hotel shuttle should be provided if you're on a package holiday. While the public transport system is modern and well-developed, including air-conditioned bus stops, it can quickly become tiring with a stroller and the heat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Air-conditioned
    Air-conditioned bus stop<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Green lawns and palm trees are found mainly in cities and hotel complexes. The Emirates are a desert state. Outside the urban areas, sand dominates. Heading towards the Gulf of Oman, one traverses the foothills of the Hajar Mountains with rugged, rocky landscapes reaching altitudes of around 1,500 meters. The scenery is surprisingly diverse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
    \"Desert<\/a>
    Desert as far as the eye can see<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    \"Hajar<\/a>
    Hajar Mountains mountain range<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Traffic in Dubai & Abu Dhabi \u2013 Car rental with a child?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Traffic in Dubai and Abu Dhabi is not for the faint of heart. Especially during rush hour, the highways are packed. The massive interchanges are almost impossible to navigate without a GPS. Refueling, on the other hand, is straightforward: you stay in your car, and they fill it up for you. And this service costs just \u20ac0.50 per liter. When we were last in the UAE in 2014, a liter cost only 1.78 dirhams (approximately \u20ac0.33). Fuel has thus become almost twice as expensive, but it's still cheaper than in Germany. Fuel prices are therefore very low compared to Germany.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Refueling
    Refueling in the United Arab Emirates<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Outside the major cities, things become more relaxed. Kilometers of straight roads wind through the desert. Sand to the left, sand to the right. Driving here is peaceful and stress-free. Speed cameras seem to appear every few meters. We don't know if they're all working \u2013 we certainly drove strictly according to the rules. For families with children: If you drive safely and use a good GPS, you'll have no problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Wide
    Wide highways through the desert<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    People & Culture \u2013 Experiencing Dubai with a toddler<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    We were already 2014<\/a> We visited Dubai without a child and found the people extremely friendly. With a toddler, we experienced the Emirates even more intensely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    People are incredibly fond of children. However, this also means that many want to touch the child without asking. This was particularly unusual for us at the airport at first. Our rather shy son wasn't immediately happy about it. Over time, we understood: it wasn't intrusiveness, but genuine warmth. Children are highly valued. People even asked for photos, especially because of the blond hair and blue eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What struck us most was that no one reacted with annoyance to tantrums. People helped, lifted strollers, and picked up dropped items. A composure we don't always experience in Germany.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The UAE is a Muslim country, but strongly influenced by Western culture. There are many immigrants from India, Pakistan, Malaysia, and several other Asian countries. In the malls, you see abayas next to designer boutiques like Dolce & Gabbana or Victoria's Secret. A fascinating contrast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Locals
    Locals shopping at the souk<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Weather in the United Arab Emirates \u2013 Best time to travel with a child<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    \u201e"Hot, hot," were our son's first words at the airport. Even at 11 p.m., it's warm. However, the heat is dry and therefore more pleasant than in tropical regions. We quickly noticed when it became too much for our son and deliberately took breaks at the hotel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Best time to travel to the UAE with a child: November to April. Temperatures between 25 and 35 degrees Celsius. In January and February, temperatures can drop to around 20 degrees. In summer, however, temperatures can reach 50 degrees. Not recommended for family holidays, even though hotels are cheaper then.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Important:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n