(Here are some of the best in our opinion!!)
We are lucky enough to live in a holiday destination like Dubai which makes staying in beautiful hotels easy. It is easy to drive a short distance and get a break from normality. We have tried out lots of the best family hotels Dubai for a staycation UAE.
We definitely haven’t been everywhere – our list is never-ending and we are always adding new Dubai resorts to our list. Here are our favourite kid friendly staycation UAE experiences. Dubai resorts as well as in some of the other Emirates (Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Abu Dhabi).
Please note that we are aware there are MANY other hotels with excellent reputations, ratings and popularity. This is based on our tried and tested stays.
Best Staycation in Dubai
1. Rixos the Palm
If you’re looking for the best hotel resort Dubai then look no further than Rixos the Palm. A stunning, sprawling resort on Palm Jumeirah Dubai. It is one of few all inclusive hotels in Dubai and it does all inclusive very well! With a few restaurants to choose from, waiters on rollerskates, huge kids club, beach, football area and a few pools as well as fruit and ice cream carts. We loved our stay here.
Tip: Pay a bit extra for the seaview room, the balcony is huge as is the room. Plenty big enough for a family of 4.
Rixos does also have other hotels in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah that would be worth checking out. Although we haven’t stayed in them we have heard great things. Particularly about Rixos Saadiyat Island for an Abu Dhabi All Inclusive family resort.
- Rixos JBR
- Rixos Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi
- Rixos Marina, Abu Dhabi
- Rixos RAK
2. Anantara The Palm
Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort is incredible, it really does make you feel like you have jumped on a plane to Thailand. Situated on Palm Jumeirah it is definitely one of the best family hotels in the UAE.
Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort is full of lagoons and swimming pools whilst also being on the beach. It has a kids clubs and many other activities too. There are some stunning looking water villas on the beach too. The hotel has many restaurants which are popular with Dubai Residents too. We have been to the Saturday brunch at Crescendo here many times as well as eaten in the Thai and Steak Restaurant. The swim up bar, pool fountains and the longtail boat handing out ice lollies was a hit. Totally recommend trying to stay at Anantara The Palm Dubai for a staycation UAE.
Tip: Pay the extra for the lagoon access room, we were very jealous of the other guests going in for a night swim after dinner.
Booking.com3. JA The Resort
JA Beach Hotel The Resort is part of 3 hotels including JA Lake View and JA Palm Tree Court which are all adjacent to each other. It is located on the beach and also has a popular golf course on site (Phil plays here often!). They have tennis courts, a marina, splash park, a number of pools, kids club and mini golf. Watch out for the friendly peacocks roaming the resort too. There are 25 bars and restaurants across the 3 hotels offering plenty of choice for your stay in Dubai.
JA Palm Tree Court has individual villas which make for the perfect kid friendly hotel in Dubai. With JA The Resort offering plenty of sea facing rooms with a balcony. We love that it is a little out of the city so feels like a real escape. Even if you are visiting Dubai for a holiday it is worth being a little way out for all the amenities and the hotel resort Dubai feeling. Definitely earns its top spot for a staycation UAE.
Tip: Make sure you eat at the White Orchid Restaurant and try the salmon curry! Incredible. Also check out the happy hours in the sports bar overlooking the marina. Perfect sundowners spot.
4. Grand Hyatt Dubai
This resort has been included as a more budget friendly option for a staycation Dubai. We know how expensive Dubai can be! This resort can feel a bit dated, because of the constant opening of new, shiny hotels in Dubai. However, it is getting a big makeover for 2024.
The Grand Hyatt Dubai has a great swimming pool area with splash park and slides which we struggled to get the boys away from. The hotel rooms are big with views overlooking Dubai Creek. The restaurants are all in an atrium area – indoors in a kind of green conservatory. There is an artificial stream running through and the restaurants are around the edge.
Grand Hyatt Dubai is one of the best family hotels in Dubai based on facilities and what you get for your money. A perfect option for a cheap staycation Dubai. We would return here again for sure!
Tip: Check if a drinks package during dinner can be added to your stay.
5. Fairmont The Palm – Dubai
Fairmont The Palm Jumeirah is located on the every popular and trendy Palm West Dubai. It has a very traditional Arabic feel with a big grand reception area looking out to the pool and beach.
The family room was a decent size, with 2 double beds and a small balcony. Fairmont The Palm Jumeirah has 4 swimming pools, 1 is adults only which is great to escape to for an hours peace! The family pool is shallow but no shade. There is a great kids club and a splash park which the boys loved – always a bonus. We also used the gym which was big enough and not too busy.
Fairmont The Palm is on the West Palm boardwalk so there is access to other restaurants and the popular Koko Bay Beach Club just outside. We ate in Little Miss India on the half-board deal which we thoroughly enjoyed, they bring a kids menu so the kids could still have their usual beige food – pizzas/burgers whilst we enjoyed the curries. Breakfast was great, sat outside with a peaceful green view. The only slight issue we found was that it was BUSY and felt crowded round the pool. It is a popular daycation hotel for Dubai residents and families. However, a great family friendly hotel in Dubai for a staycation UAE.
Tip: Book into the kids club when you arrive incase they get busy to ensure your slot.
6. St Regis The Palm Dubai
St Regis The Palm is located as you enter The Palm Jumeirah in The Palm Tower. It is conveniently situated adjacent to Nakheel Mall. As well as being in the same building as The View at The Palm an incredible rooftop viewpoint over The Palm Jumeirah. Also home to the popular Aura Skypool Dubai which is an experience in itself also Sushisamba a fantastic restaurant that is worth heading to for dinner.
If you are yet to experience a stay at a St Regis Hotel then we could not recommend them more. A total luxurious experience. From the grand lobby, impeccable service even going as far as having your own butler which you can even Whatsapp for requests such as coffee or room service. The St Regis Palm Dubai has 2 swimming pools, one is adults only and a few restaurants. It is a city hotel not a resort hotel so it does not have a beach but Palm West beach is nearby.
The rooms are spacious and luxurious, we loved the giant bath and the fluffy bath robes. The breakfast was a particular highlight with everything on offer that you could possibly imagine. This hotel was a real treat for us, particularly as we stayed for Phil’s 40th celebration and the hotel went above and beyond to make it feel special. We also sneaked away without the kids for a night! Could not recommend the St Regis Hotel Palm Dubai more for a staycation UAE.
Hotels in RAK – Ras Al Khaimah
7. Hilton Beach and Resort – Ras Al Khaimah
The Hilton Beach and Resort RAK is a large hotel resort. It is spread out over a long beach with a hotel on one side and more private villas on another. The main pool is sea-water so make sure you have goggles for the kids. There is a great, shallow kids pool and a separate water slide with a shaded pool for when it gets too hot. Also an adult only pool which is great for escaping to when the kids are in the kids club! The kids club at Hilton Beach and Resort RAK is quite small but the staff are amazing and play and get involved with activities with the kids, making sure they don’t get bored too quickly so you get an hour or two of peace.
We highly recommend opting for the All Inclusive option. The buffet restaurant is ample for breakfast, lunch and dinner with more than enough to choose from. There is the chance to top up and eat at one of the a la carte restaurants on site too whilst on the all inclusive package.
Service, drinks options, food options, kids club and pools make the Hilton Beach and Resort a fantastic family friendly hotel resort that we will continue to return to. A perfect hotel in RAK for a staycation UAE.
Tip: The All Inclusive deal runs the next day until 3pm so plan to spend the following day there before driving home.
8. Long Beach Campground – Ras Al Khaimah
If you’re looking for glamping Dubai then Long Beach Campground RAK is a great option. There are many glamping options; from the basic tent with camp beds up to the dome suite with it’s own bathroom. We opted for a safari tent with an extra bed for the boys, meaning we slept in actual beds but shared a bathroom which was fine for us.
Longbeach Campground RAK is right on the beach, has a kids pool, a petting zoo, games and activities during the day on the beach for the kids and 2 restaurants. We had the half-board option with a great buffet style BBQ dinner and 3 hours of drinks included. It is full of families which meant the boys had a great time making friends and we had peace and quiet. A great alternative to the usual Dubai resort hotels.
Tip: Get involved in the organised kids games on the beach, there’s ice lollies and they’ll let you know when the petting zoo is open.
9. Double-Tree Hilton RAK
This resort is aimed completely at families, from the cookies at check in to the family rooms with 2 double beds and the amazing kids facilities with the splash park. The Double Tree Hilton RAK is big beach resort on Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah. There are inflatable water slides at the beach and 3 great swimming pools with pool bars.
We opted for the half-board option, breakfast was great. We ate dinner at the Italian restaurant where there was a singer and a wine package if you weren’t on all inclusive. The rooms were a decent size with a nice balcony and it is lovely and green everywhere. The service was great, we loved the little buggies to take us around if we needed them. The Double Tree Hilton RAK is a great staycation UAE option.
Tip: Get a seat early near the splash park where you can keep an eye on the kids and still get in the pool.
Hotels in Fujairah
10. Intercontinental Resort Fujairah
Al Aqah beach in Fujairah is about a 2 hour drive to the East coast of UAE through the mountains. Fujairah is a popular choice for a staycation UAE especially in the hotter months as the weather can be a few degrees cooler than Dubai. The Intercontinental Resort Fujairah is ideal, a big resort with lots of green space and 2 swimming pools on the beach.
The pools are gloriously cold in summer months or heated in winter months. Watch out for the waves at the beach during summer, although it offers a lot of fun! The Intercontinental Resort Fujairah offers a great all inclusive option. Breakfast, lunch and dinner is at the same buffet style restaurant but the food was different each night and there was a kids section with copious choice. The drinks selection was good and service fantastic.
There isn’t the extra facilities for kids like a kids club, slides or park area but is still a family-friendly resort with lots of green space, kids pool and a beach for running around. A great escape for a staycation UAE.
Tip: Book the superior room with the sofa area and larger balcony, especially if staying for a few days for more space.
Booking.com11. Radisson Blu Resort – Dibba, Fujairah
A little further up the coast from the popular Al Aqah beach towards the Oman border you will find Dibba beach. This beach in Fujairah offers some more affordable hotels for a staycation UAE. Our favourite here is the Radisson Blu Resort. This hotels offers a fantastic all inclusive option with a different menu each night. We loved the pool and swim up bar for drinks throughout the day.
There are 5 different swimming pools, watersports, a kids club and indoor games room to escape the sun. The Radisson Blu Resort Dibba also has a mini golf area and organised beach activities. We opted for the romantic dinner option on our first night which was really an evening to remember. A secluded pagoda set up for the 4 of us – romantic but we still took the kids! As the sun set we were treated to an incredible dinner and wine whilst watching the sunset, the moon rise and fish jump in the ocean.
They offer big family rooms with a balcony overlooking the sea and Dibba rock. For more information check out our post the Best Family Hotel in Fujairah.
12. The Cove Rotana – Ras Al Khaimah
We stayed at Cove Rotana RAK on an All Inclusive package and stayed in the hotel part on the opposite side of the road but still part of the resort. The room was a decent size with a balcony and there was some great kids pools on this side with water slides which kept the boys occupied all day. There is a kids club but we didn’t use it.
Cove Rotana RAK has golf buggies that take you around to the other pools on the opposite side and down to the beach. There is a stunning infinity style pool to watch the sunset, although you can’t use the all inclusive in all the bars. The drinks selection is good and we ate in the restaurant close to the our room which was decent, buffet style with plenty of choice. Service was great! We would like to return here to one of the rooms on the other side or one of the private villas. The resort is stunning with incredible views and great service. The Cove Rotana is ideal option for a staycation UAE.
Tip: Ask to stay in a room away from the main bar as it doesn’t close until 3am and we were woken up all the noise and drunken singing going on til all hours!
Hotels in Abu Dhabi
13. Rotana – Yas Island Abu Dhabi
We spent a weekend in Abu Dhabi for the Abu Dhabi golf championship so we were just looking for a bed and breakfast deal as we wouldn’t be spending much time in the hotel. This was a great, cheap option for us at 700dhs for 2 nights B&B.
The hotel was ideal, there were 2 shaded swimming pools and a kids club with PlayStations which the boys loved. The room was plenty big enough with an extra bed for the kids and a small seating area and big windows looking out over Yas Island, no balcony though.
The breakfast was great and we ate in the Indian restaurant and the sports bar for dinner when we were there, using Entertainer vouchers. The Rotana Yas Island is a great option if you’re looking for a budget friendly Abu Dhabi option. A ideal budget friendly Dubai and Abu Dhabi family hotel.
Tip – Kids Club goes by height restriction not age, so be wary if you have shorter kids like ours that even if they are 2 years older than some of the other kids there they will not let you leave them unaccompanied if not tall enough.
*We will be updating this post continually as we explore more hotels in the UAE*
Booking.comIf you enjoyed reading this post on the best hotels for a staycation UAE then check out our page on everything you need to know about Dubai. Here you can find free things to do in Dubai and 50 Activities around the UAE. The best coffee places in the UAE and an Old Dubai Tour. Also check out best places to watch the sunset in Dubai.
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