Every year there are many new reasons to visit Dubai.
It’s one of the world’s fastest evolving destinations, with so many new developments grabbing our attention.
October to April is the time to travel, to exchange the cold of home for guaranteed sunshine, languid beach days and a thousand different things to do. But you already knew that. You probably already have your preferred favourites in Dubai.
For this year’s Dubai recommendations we focus on families, exploring what’s new and what’s the best right now for a Dubai holiday with kids.
New Malakiya Villas at Madinat Jumeirah
A private villa experience within a family-friendly resort? It’s the norm in the Maldives but near impossible to find in Dubai. That’s why we love these new Malakiya villas at Madinat Jumeirah complex.
Malakiya Villas are homes away from home, a private villa experience at the heart of the best equipped holiday complex in all of Dubai.
Madinat Jumeirah has always been one of top Dubai recommendations for families. Primarily because of the great beach and all the amazing things to do. Like the Wild Wadi Waterpark, shopping in Souk Madinat Jumeirah, and an almost endless variety of sport and leisure activities. Plus the good quality of the complex’s resorts like Al Naseem and Mina A’Salam.
Very few resorts globally can rival the variety and quality of the facilities and activities at Madinat Jumeirah. It’s paradise for families with active kids. It’s paradise for anybody seeking a resort-based holiday.
There are over 20 restaurants, over 20 pools, everything from rock climbing to a beach cabana. But of course, the usual downside of a large resort complex is a lack of privacy and personal space.
In fact, that’s often the downside of most holidays in Dubai. The hotels are big and there’s always been a lack of private villa options. That’s why we really welcome this new option.
The seven Malakiya Villas are part of Jumeirah Dar Al Masyaf and have been designed in a modern Arabian style. Each is unique, especially in terms of layout. We like the flexibility this creates for families.
For example, you may prefer the Royal Malakiya Villa because of its enormous top floor sun terrace. The two-bedroom Villa Zahra is all on one ground floor, while three-bedroom Villa Tala has a romantic top-floor bedroom and terrace for parents. Villa Ayla has two bedrooms upstairs and large social areas downstairs, plus a third bedroom.
All these two- and three-bedroom villas have a fully equipped kitchen and small en-suite bedroom for service staff. A beach cabana is a complimentary inclusion too.
We especially like the in-villa amenities, like breakfast and afternoon tea served in the villa as standard. You can easily forget you’re in a large resort. Then you have a private abra station, so you can go anywhere in the resort on one of the traditional Arabian abra boats.
Malakiya Villas now provide heightened exclusivity and private space, within a large resort. They’re our top Dubai recommendation for this 2023-2024 season.
Rixos the Palm
Unlike Malakiya, Rixos the Palm is not an ultra luxury option. But sometimes, families with small kids don’t need or want ultra luxury.
Convenience is more important. Rixos the Palm is the only all inclusive Dubai resort we recommend. It’s incredibly family friendly.
Family suites range from two to five bedrooms, with the larger four- and five-bedroom suites featuring private pools.
Rixos is not somewhere we would recommend to the majority of our clients. But for families with small kids demanding ease and comfort, it’s a good value option.
Atlantis The Palm vs. Atlantis The Royal
Atlantis, The Palm has long been the best known family hotel in Dubai. It’s like a lunar park, an incredibly vast complex with thousands of guests, plus thousands more who come to use the Atlantis facililtes.
EliteVoyage CEO stayed at the new Atlantis The Royal when it opened in February 2023. He said:
The new Atlantis is very different. It’s so much calmer and far more exclusive, a playground that’s mostly reserved for hotel guests.
This exclusivity is a key reason why Stepan Borovec also preferred The Royal over The Palm on his recent visit.
Both these hotels are welcoming children. The atmosphere at Atlantis The Royal is more grown up and some areas are adults only, like the iconic Cloud 22 infinity pool.
However, The Royal is fresher and much more interesting design-wise. You have complimentary access to the facilities of Atlantis The Palm, plus the Aquaventure Waterpark next door.
Atlantis The Palm is more budget friendly and the entire hotel has a more obvious family atmosphere and focus. For something unique, try one night in an underwater suite. It accommodates two adults plus two children under the age of 14. One night is enough for the experience!
Both Atlantis properties offer guaranteed interconnecting rooms to make up a two-bedroom suite. The Sky Pool Villas are a favourite of ours, but not all the signature suites and penthouses are suitable for families, so we will advise you on the best options for your family. For inspiration, check out the best suites at Atlantis The Royal.
A Family Holiday Experience in Dubai
A private desert safari. A trip to Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi. A day at Legoland or the Motiongate theme park. Cruising past the Palm in a private yacht.
Or how about a hot air balloon ride over the dunes, great for children aged between 5 and 11 (younger kids aren’t permitted and older kids are charged as adults).
The many diverse holiday experiences are a key reason why Dubai is so popular with families. Did we already mention guaranteed sun and languid days on the beach?
Dubai isn’t a new destination. Almost all our clients have visited Dubai before. It’s a destination where our recommendations change year by year, based on our personal visits to inspect hotels and experiences.
We create every holiday individually and we’ll always give you personal recommendations, relevant to the here and now.
Every holiday should be different. What’s yours?
