United Arab Emirates Family Holidays

Family Dubai Holidays

Dubai is one of those places where weather forecasting is not the most challenging task. Sunshine is all but guaranteed, making it a great destination for some winter sun within reasonable flying distance of the UK.

Just 45 minutes from Dubai's state-of-the-art airport, there are oases in the form of luxury desert resorts. These offer a number of excellent activities, to give children a glimpse into desert life, such as camel rides, desert drive excursions and the Sinbad's Kids club means plenty of R&R potential for parents, too.

After a desert experience the ideal combination is a few days in a family friendly resort on Dubai's gulf coast. As well as this Dubai has Wild Wadi Water World, which may be your idea of hell, but children (and fans of alliteration) will love it.

Family Abu Dhabi Holidays

The action for families centres around the various islands - all natural - dotted along the coastline, with Yas Island particularly alluring for children. For any parents with budding Top Gear presenters for children, the Formula One Grand Prix circuit and Ferrari World theme park on the island will keep them busy, while Yas Waterworld is a 40 acre water park with 43 slides and rides that waterbabies will adore.

Further from the capital city itself is an island resort where families can go on safari to see rare Arabian Oryx and even hyenas, giraffes and cheetahs in a huge wildlife reserve, all without the hassle of malaria prevention that makes an African safari that bit more difficult with children.

Finally, the icing on the cake is the Empty Quarter with its magnificent sea of sand dunes and excellent family resorts. Here your children (and most dads, if we're honest) can indulge their inner Beau Geste on camel rides and dune bashing trips in 4x4s, and see expert falconers in action with their beautiful birds of prey.

All pretty perfect for adventurous children, and the hotels we recommend all have excellent kids' clubs, facilities for younger children, and also plenty to keep the grown-ups happy too.