Family Trip to Dubai 2022: Travel Report

Dubai, the city of superlatives. In my travel report on Dubai, I'll take you along on our journey to the Orient. Dubai is an ideal travel destination for families, as you have endless possibilities here and there's something for everyone. We had originally planned to stay a bit longer in Australia, but we changed our plans relatively spontaneously. Not because of Dubai, but Dubai happened to be on our way back to Switzerland.

Travel Perth to Dubai

We are flying with Qatar Airways from Perth, Australia, via Doha to Dubai. The first big shock awaits us already in Perth. At check-in, we are told that we are not allowed to fly to Dubai because our PCR test does not have a QR code, which Dubai would not accept. We briefly discuss our options and are then told to fly one or two days later with a valid test. However, we knew that our test might not be accepted. We were already told this at the test tent in Perth. We would need a proper test for $150, not the free one. But since during the pandemic it actually comes down to the person and not the rules, we're taking a gamble again, just like we've done for the last two years.

„Good lady from Qatar Airways, if anyone can help us now, it's you. Only you can get our stranded family, along with two lovely little children, safely to Doha, Qatar today.“

And of course, the lady is flattered, asks us to wait to the side, and makes a phone call to Dubai. She emails our test results to Dubai and makes another call. After about 30 minutes, we get the green light. Our night flight departs on time at 11 PM, and we land in Doha at 6 AM.

By the way, after our test, we won't be asked in Doha, Dubai, or anywhere else. But you just have to play along. Crazy times.

Doha Airport Clinic

The second shock then in Doha. Our daughter broke her wrist a few weeks ago. In Doha, we had her cast briefly examined and cleaned at the clinic. So far, so good.

At the gate, they said the three of us could fly, but our daughter couldn’t. WHAT? You’re telling us this so close to departure? The flight ticket was blocked, but thankfully not canceled. We have to wait until the clearance from the clinic arrives. Since the examination was already 6-7 hours ago, we’re politely applying some pressure.

And tadaaa... One minute before departure, we get our daughter's passport and plane ticket, and we're allowed to fly. Since we're the last family to board, we have plenty of space and can stow our carry-on luggage in peace. So in the end, it had an advantage after all.

Also be sure to check the clearance when you visit an airport clinic. It will save you stress.

Travel Report Dubai with Family – The Adventure Begins

October is an ideal month to visit Dubai. It's no longer as hot, at least not if you're used to the heat. November and December are a few degrees cooler. Right now, it's around 35 degrees Celsius at noon and 31 degrees Celsius in the evening. At night, it cools down to 27 degrees Celsius, just like in Barbados. Perfect.

Our first impression of Dubai: It is the Las Vegas the Emirates, and quite a bit more. Because what the Americans couldn't achieve in Las Vegas was simply laid out, built, or created in Dubai. In my Travel Report Dubai Therefore, I'm also showing you a list of superlatives. Things to do in Dubai, this list includes the tallest building in the world, the largest aquarium in the world, the largest shopping mall in the world, and more.

Burj Khalifa with family

Happy Birthday to me. Right on my birthday, there's a ticket from the famous Burj Khalifa in my nest. 🪺 😀 Perfect, because I've always wanted to see the tallest building in the world. At 2,717 feet tall, the Burj Khalifa is an architectural masterpiece. The sheikhs are crazy enough to pull something like this off and, of course, have the financial means.

Unfortunately, the actual size doesn't come across in photos, but it's very impressive when you stand in front of it. We're going to the Dubai Mall, as that's where the entrance is located. Please remember that you're not allowed to bring sharp objects, laptops, tripods, etc. Your backpack will be scanned immediately after the ticket counter.

Burj Khalifa Tour

The Burj Khalifa Tour starts right in the lobby area. There, the construction is explained using 3D models. You'll see how the Burj Khalifa was built, floor by floor, within a few years.

At about 10 m/s (which is quite fast), you now travel from the ground floor to the 124th floor. This takes about a minute. However, during this minute, you'll be shown a breathtaking projection in the elevator. It feels more like you're riding up the tower inside a television. You won't notice the start and stop of the elevator. You also won't feel the speed. The floors simply flash by on the display. The observation deck on Level 124 is at 452 m and was the highest observation deck in the world until 2011. However, it was then surpassed by the Canton Tower and its Cloud Top at 488 m.

World Records Burj Khalifa

• Tallest building in the world
• World's tallest freestanding structure
• Tallest number of floors in the world
• Highest inhabited floor in the world
• Elevator with the longest travel distance in the world
• World's Tallest Freight Elevator

163

According to Wikipedia, the Burj Khalifa has the following 163 floors:

• 01-08: Armani Hotel
• 09-16: Armani Residences
• 17-18: Technical Floor
• 19-37: Armani Residences
• 38-39: Armani Hotel Suites
• 40-42: Technical floor
• 43: Skylobby
• 44-72: Apartments
• 73-75: Technical Floor
• 76: Skylobby
• 77-108: Skylobby
• 109-110: Technical floor
• 111-121: Office Spaces
• 122: Restaurant At.Mosphere
• 123: Sky Lobby
• 124: Observation deck with viewing terrace
• 125: Observation deck WITHOUT observation terrace
• 126-135: Office space
• 136-138: Technical Floor
• 139-147: Office Space
• 148: Viewing platform with outdoor terrace
• 149-154: Office spaces
• 155: Technical floor
• 156-159: Telecommunications
• 160-163: Technical Projectiles

The 10 Tallest Structures in the World (as of October 2022)

Burj Khalifa, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 830 meters
2. Tokyo Skytree, Tokyo, Japan, 634 Meters
3. Shanghai Tower, Shanghai, China, 632 Meters
4. Mecca Royal Clock Tower Hotel, Mecca, Saudi Arabia, 601
5. Canton Tower, Guangzhou, China, 600 meters
6. Ping An International Finance Centre, Shenzhen, China, 599 meters
7. Lotte World Tower, Seoul, South Korea, 555 meters
8. CN Tower, Toronto, Canada, 553 Meters
One World Trade Center, New York, USA, 541 Meters
10. Ostankino Tower, Moscow, Russia, 537 meters

At the Top, Burj Khalifa – Level 124

We had blue skies and absolutely clear visibility. That's not a given. This way, you can look far out to sea or into the desert. Not only are the surrounding skyscrapers, which you now see all from above, impressive. You can also see the artificial islands as they sit enthroned in the sea.

A glance upwards reveals that there are still several floors to go. And indeed, there are also tickets for the 148th and even 154th floors. But while a trip to Level 124 costs just 169 AED, which is about 45 CHF per person, the 148th floor costs 105 CHF per person. In return, instead of At the Top, then also At the Top SKY. You'll have to decide for yourself if it's worth it. We were more than happy with the view from the 124th floor.

The outing is especially exciting with kids. There's so much to discover up there. Plus, there are telescopes you can use to digitally explore the area on a screen. This allows you to zoom in better than with a phone and see details even from far away.

My birthday at the Burj Club

For lunch, we went to the Burj Club. I couldn't tell you exactly how we got there. But as is often the case in Dubai, you just have to ask for directions. The people here are so friendly and accommodating.

We had a menu and could choose the individual courses. It was a great feeling to eat right at the foot of the Burj Khalifa.

Conclusion: Is a visit to the Burj Khalifa worth it?

A report on a trip to Dubai would be incomplete without the Burj Khalifa. Especially if it's your first time in Dubai, a visit to the Burj Khalifa is a must, and the ticket prices are quite reasonable. It's incredibly easy to invest your money poorly in Dubai, so this excursion was more than worth it for us. The view is simply magnificent. Even if you don't truly grasp the proportions and the height, it's a great feeling to be way up there, practically standing on the highest outdoor terrace in the world.

The Dubai Fountain - The Water Fountains

What the Bellagio Fountains are to Las Vegas, the fountains in Burj Park are to Dubai. Except these fountains here are much higher and are even more perfectly synchronized with the music. And the light show is also much better than in Las Vegas. 1-0 for Dubai!

The spectacle takes place every day between 6 PM and 11 PM, every 30 minutes. The installation of these fountains cost nearly $220 million. In return, the water is shot up to 150 meters high, which actually sounds like fireworks. It is clear that these fountains therefore hold the record as the tallest water fountains in the world.

The Dubai Mall – You Can't Shop More

Unchanged over all the years, my love for shopping has remained. I've already seen some huge shopping malls in the United States of America visited, but none of them were even close to the size of the largest shopping mall in the world. Of course, this is located in Business Bay in Dubai. Therefore, I don't want to withhold this destination from you in this Dubai travelogue either. Family outing to a shopping mall? Yes, exactly, and you should definitely check out this mall too.

1200 shops and a sales area of 350,000 square meters

You'll find what you're looking for at the Dubai Mall. No matter what it is. My wife had been looking for a makeup pencil for a year and hadn't found it in Switzerland, Germany, Curacao, Amsterdam, or Perth, Australia. The saleswoman at the Dubai Mall casually pulled open a drawer and said, „Would you like to buy one, or several?“
Ed. note: Since Man a pen was purchased. 😀

On a total of 4 floors, you'll find around 200 luxury brands, major designer brands, the biggest Swiss watch brands (yippeeeee, I love it), as well as numerous well-known fashion and sports stores.

Even shops like Sprüngli and Ladurée are on board. We walk half a floor and need several hours for it because we can't stop being amazed. There are even taxis in the mall that you can book. They take you from shop to shop.

Dubai Mall for Families

For kids, here is the world's largest toy store. More precisely, it's Hamleys and Hamleys has in London the biggest shop, but the shop at the Dubai Mall also has pretty much everything a child's heart desires. We spend a good two hours in the shop and buy a single pair of sunglasses for our oldest. Daddy is happy, but later finds out that Mommy still bought two gifts for the kids. But still, all in all, we get out of the store cheaply.

Reel Cinemas

This was a highlight for us as a family, as we don't go to the movies often. But here at the Dubai Mall, it was just fitting. We watched Barbie Mermaid, of course, with two girls in tow 🙂

The prices here are still moderate. For a show in 2022, it will cost approximately 12 CHF/EUR per person in the normal category. However, for popcorn, chocolate, and drinks for everyone, it will cost an additional approximately 50-60 CHF, meaning you'll have to budget around 100 CHF in total.

So far, this sounds like a normal cinema. However, it wouldn't be in Dubai, but perhaps just in a large German city. Of course, you can also watch any movie here in a Platinum Suite to avoid the common folk 🙂 That would cost 180 CHF for four people. But then the cinema only has 25 seats, and the rustling of popcorn bags is correspondingly quieter. Oh, and popcorn is of course not included. So it's better to budget around 230 CHF/EUR for the screening.

Dubai Dine-In Cinema

Not in the mood for popcorn? No problem. At Dine-In, you can simply order a complete dinner and be served. This also costs „only“ 180 CHF/EUR for 4 people. Honestly, I'd prefer that over the Platinum Suite. Only about 30 people sit in the cinema here too. But for the same price, you practically get dinner included. How convenient.

As ordinary folk, we naturally visited the regular cinema, including the rustling of popcorn bags. That's how it should be!

Dubai Aquarium

I really wouldn't have expected this in a mall. The Dubai Aquarium has the largest glass panel in the world and offers a colorful underwater world in its over 10,000 cubic meter saltwater aquarium. You can see rays, sharks, and the most beautiful fish here. Every now and then, a diver comes down and feeds the sharks and rays. Luckily, we got to watch it directly from the mall.

But you can also pay admission here and then walk through the large aquarium. Through a tunnel, of course. Then behind that, there are a few more tanks, and you'll even see penguins and a crocodile. We didn't do that, so I can't tell you much else about the aquarium.

A hidden tip on the side: You can already see a large part of the aquarium for free at the Dubai Mall. For us, the entrance fee was therefore not worth it. The all-access pass costs around 380 CHF/EUR for 4 people in 2022, including penguins and the crocodile. Entry to the aquarium alone is about 220 CHF, always calculated per family. So per person, just divide by 4 =).

Dubai Mall Waterfall

There are no natural waterfalls in Dubai, as is typical for a desert. Therefore, whenever a travelogue mentions a Dubai waterfall, it is referring to the waterfall in the Dubai Mall.

It is, however, much more of an art object. The 30 m wide and 24 m high waterfall spans across 3 floors in the Dubai Mall. The fiberglass sculptures depicting men diving into the waterfall together are a real eye-catcher.

Conclusion: Visiting the Dubai Mall

Really cool for families, but of course also great for couples. Plan a full day to see the entire mall. If you Aquarium or the many other attractions like the Dubai Ice Rink or even that KidZania If you want to visit, you can stay busy here for several days.

Dubai Dolphinarium

To be honest, I don't really find dolphin shows that thrilling. But our daughters are very excited about them. Dolphins are practically always among children's favorite animals, so we set off one Sunday to watch the dolphin show at the Dubai Dolphinarium. It takes about 20 minutes to get there from Downtown.

We are greeted warmly and shown to our seats. The show starts on time and is opened by a funny seal. It claps, dances, and even sings. Whether all of this is voluntary, I dare to doubt. But the arena there is sold out and everyone is having fun.

Dubai with Family – Dolphin Show

Afterward, two dolphins get to showcase their tricks. The show lasts 45 minutes in total. The kids are having fun, but I'm rather bored. I'd rather pet kangaroos that visit us during our picnic in the woods. It feels so much more natural.

Conclusion

For a family outing, shows like these are ideal. However, if I were traveling to Dubai with my family again, I wouldn't come here a second time. Unlike the dolphin show in Curacao, Compared to where we were allowed to watch the outdoor baking training, everything here looks very cramped and small. Also, it's in the middle of the desert.

Al Seef - Old Town Dubai, or not?

„Old Dubai“ was built in 2017 and opened in early 2018. It is intended to showcase the beginnings of Dubai Creek as a famous pearl diving base on the coast of Dubai. What initially gives the impression of an old and traditional district, turns out to be more of a „museum“ on closer inspection. Between the „old“ walls, there are always modern elevators and escalators. This allows you to quickly reach the ancient Dubai Metro. 😀

Charm of a small harbor town

Nevertheless, Dubai Al Seef is a beautiful change of pace from the new city. There are no skyscrapers, and life here seems to be slowed down. All the shops and restaurants are air-conditioned and offer a lavish selection of delicious dishes. There is also a Starbucks in Al Seef. We spent a few lovely hours here and therefore, this excursion tip must not be missing from my Dubai travel report.

Dubai Desert Safari and Desert Camp

The Dubai Desert Safari is one of the highlights of my Dubai travelogue. Especially if you're staying in Dubai for more than a few days, a desert safari should be on your agenda. What would a desert city be without a desert safari, which doesn't even take place far outside of Dubai.

There are countless providers offering a Dubai desert safari. Be sure to check the prices. We paid 95 CHF for all four of us for our tour, while other providers offered the exact same tour for over 300 CHF. So, it's worth comparing prices here. The itinerary for the 6-7 hour tour hardly differs among providers. Some may drive through the dunes for an extra 10 minutes.

Dubai Desert Safari

We will be picked up at home around 3 PM and drive for just under an hour out of the city. The desert we are visiting is called Al Badayer. It may not be the largest desert, but it has red sand and the most beautiful dunes. By the way, the largest sand desert in the world is Rub Al Khali, which covers almost the entire United Arab Emirates.

Shortly before the Omani border, we stop at a gathering point. Both all the tour operators meet here, and you can also rent quad bikes and buggies. We're not doing that, as it's purely an upsell event and it's also quite hot. So, we enjoy a grilled corn on the cob in the shade. 😎

Drive over the dunes

Most tour operators go out with multiple vehicles. However, we booked a private tour, so we're going with the driver who picked us up at home. It also seems to be his own car, some kind of Toyota with an aftermarket roll cage. Practical and comfortable. Without warning, however, we „shred“ out onto the dunes, which is an incredible feeling and partly resembles riding a roller coaster. I didn't quite understand the physics of the ride. I saw us rolling down the high dunes several times, but the driver knows what he's doing. Afterward, we also learned that these drivers have to re-qualify for their dune driving permits once a year. With this information beforehand, the ride would have been much less action-packed. But I think you'd want to have this information beforehand, so I'm mentioning it here. Thank me later 😉

Desert sunset

We stop on a high dune and watch the sunset. After about half an hour, we head back to the road. Here, however, we stop again immediately and have to get out. Lesson of the day: Before you drive into sand, let out a good amount of air from your tires so you don't get stuck. Nevertheless, I wouldn't advise you to drive in the desert without experience. We were going down the dunes at what felt like freefall at times.

Desert camping in Dubai

After this Dubai desert safari action, we head to a Bedouin camp. Here, there's an Arabic BBQ with belly dancing and a fire show. We're naturally in a huge tourist trap here, but we're also equally experienced with this kind of thing. Normally, I avoid exactly these kinds of events, but these safaris are truly an experience. Therefore, I don't buy any magic lamps or bottles filled with sand for the equivalent of 20 EUR. And no, that's not a great souvenir, but just unnecessary baggage. 😛

Before the camp and right upon arrival, two dromedaries await us, taking us for a ride for a few minutes through the desert landscape, which has now cooled down nicely. I had only ridden a camel once before, but on the side with a seat. Here we sit directly on top, and it's darn high if you're not used to it. But the kids like it, and Daddy too.

A beautiful evening in the desert camp

Food and drink are included in the camp price. Surprisingly, there are really fresh and delicious things. We enjoy the relaxed atmosphere, occasionally fend off vendors, and treat ourselves to a Barbados rum at the end of the day. Yummy!

The dance performance and the fire show didn't blow me away. But that's a matter of taste.

Conclusion Dubai Desert Safari

We had a wonderful day. There was something for the whole family, and at 95 CHF including transportation from Dubai, off-road driving, food, and shows, it was truly affordable. Throughout the day, however, we could have invested another good 400 to 500 CHF in buggy rides and sandboarding. The tour was impeccably organized, and we arrived back at our apartment safely around 10 PM.

A well-intentioned piece of advice at the end here: There are Bedouins walking around everywhere with a falcon. You can hold this on your arm and take photos and selfies. I would not support something like this. The animals sometimes have their eyes covered so they don't fly away, and they are anything but well. So please do not support something like this, neither on the Dubai desert safari nor in other places.
Many thanks!

Dubai Miracle Garden

My Dubai travelogue wouldn't be complete without including at least one botanical garden. Especially if you're visiting Dubai with family, in my opinion, such gardens are ideal. There's an incredible amount for the kids to discover, and they'll be delighted by the colorful flowers and plants.

About a 25-minute drive from Dubai Downtown lies the largest flower garden in the world. A fascinating green oasis in the middle of the desert. Covering an area of over 72,000 square meters, you'll find more than 150 million flowers and plants of all colors and shapes here.

Miracle Garden Dubai Entrance

Admission in 2022 costs approximately 17 CHF/EUR. Children pay the same price as adults but also get their money's worth.

From beginning to end, there are numerous attractions and sculptures to admire. From a lovingly furnished Smurf village, to oversized trumpeting elephants and horses, to a „life-sized“ Emirates A380 Airbus.

A plane made of flowers

The Miracle Garden is not only the largest flower garden in the world, but it also holds the record for the largest flower sculpture in the world. The Airbus A380 is covered with over 500,000 fresh plants and flowers. 200 people worked on it for almost half a year.

It was built in collaboration with Emirates in 2016. Incidentally, Emirates owns the most A380 aircraft. Who would have thought = )

But besides this main attraction (at least for me as an aviation fan), there is much more to discover. You will be amazed here even if you are not a hobby botanist. As with everything in Dubai, everything at Miracle Garden is also oversized, lovingly designed, and super well-maintained.

Dubai Butterfly Garden

Directly next to the Miracle Garden is the Dubai Butterfly Garden, the butterfly house. Over 15,000 butterflies await you there. It is the largest covered butterfly garden in the world. It is made up of ten different domes. In each dome, you will find more than 1000 butterflies fluttering curiously around you.

Interestingly, you can discover the butterflies here in every phase of metamorphosis. Due to the huge number of butterflies, there is always one that is just hatching or pupating. There are approximately 45 different species here in the garden.

Butterflies love to land on you

For our kids, the last dome was the most exciting. That's where the butterflies land on you and want to cuddle. If you sit or stand still, you'll have many small and large butterflies on you within a few minutes.

Conclusion Dubai Miracle Garden & Dubai Butterfly Garden

You'll need about 3-4 hours for both attractions. In between, we took a taxi to Dubai Hills Mall. To cool down and refuel.

However, the gardens also feature restaurants and bistros. There's even a Starbucks in the Butterfly House.

We had a wonderfully beautiful day here, so I can highly recommend a family outing to the botanical garden and the butterfly house. Oh yes, speaking of warm. Please remember that Miracle Garden is entirely outdoors. While there are shaded areas, it was still quite warm there in October.

The Palm Jumeirah

We set off early in the morning and drive towards Dubai Marina. About a 20-minute drive from Downtown Dubai and past the famous Burj Al Arab hotel, we reach the palm island. The Palm Jumeirah, an island that could hardly be more artificial. My first impression: Wow, how big it all is. I didn't even notice that we were already driving on the island.

Origin of the Island

Basically, you only need an excavator, a couple of trucks, and enough sand and stones. Oh yes, a very large ship to bring the sand to the location is also advantageous. Then, enough sand was simply shoveled there, mixed repeatedly with large stones from a nearby quarry, and within a few years, this island was created. The sheikh who had it built mentioned in an interview that he always enjoyed building sandcastles on the beach. I used to do that too, by the way. So, watch out for what's coming in the future 🙂

The View at the Palm

Our first goal today is „The View At The Palm“. You'll find access to this skyscraper in Nakheel Mall. The first thing we read there is the following quote

WE DO NOT WAIT FOR THINGS TO HAPPEN; INSTEAD, WE MAKE THEM HAPPEN.

^{His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum}

This quote says it all. Because that’s exactly how it is in Dubai.

We are driving to level 52 and have a great view of the Palm Jumeirah from 240 meters up. October, as mentioned earlier in my Dubai travel report, is a time when you very often have clear visibility in Dubai. Therefore, from up here, we can see not only the legendary Atlantis Hotel but also the Burj Al Arab, the famous 7-star hotel with a helipad. By the way, this hotel is only a few meters smaller than the Eiffel Tower. Fun fact: The helicopter is available to every hotel guest for excursions. Now that's service. So if you want to experience Dubai with your family, the kids will love this action 🙂

Atlantis Hotel Dubai with family

Next stop: Atlantis. We're taking the Monorail from Nakheel Mall to Atlantis. This hotel is crazy. There are countless restaurants, stores, events, bars, and even the world's largest water park. My Dubai travelogue would be incomplete if I didn't mention this hotel. We're happy we made the trip. As usual, everything here is artificial, of course. But it's beautifully decorated and it's fun to be able to walk through a small, public part of the hotel.

Aquarium The Lost Chamber

You can dive into Atlantis by visiting the aquarium. As a model dad, I'm buying four tickets right away for a mere 105 CHF/EUR. Oops... I didn't look at the prices beforehand. When I asked how long it would take to see everything, the lady told us, „Oh, you'll be done in 15 minutes, easily.“ WHAAAAT?

So, we head towards the entrance with our golden tickets and are amazed at how cool everything looks here. The aquarium is beautifully designed. In fact, the furnishings and decorations make you feel like you're in an underwater world, just like Atlantis. Typically European, we walk through the facility a total of two times (half price, right?).

We'll then eat a pizza for about the same amount, go broke but happy, and then head home.

Conclusion The Palm Jumeirah

Whether you're in Dubai with family or not, you should plan a trip to this island. Even though its creation is somewhat controversial and the island also has negative environmental impacts, it is still an exciting excursion. The view of the island, the Burj Al Arab, and the Dubai Marina from 240 meters is breathtaking. On our way home, we see the world's largest Ferris wheel illuminated, and everything here is blinking and shining anyway.

We just wouldn't go to the aquarium a second time and buy golden tickets. Because, actually, we've already been there twice (as mentioned above) 😊

Conclusion Dubai with family

WOW! Dubai is a fascinating city. Far more artificial than I had imagined. It's amazing that people can build something like this. Las Vegas already made a similar impression, but Dubai surpasses the desert city from Nevada in every aspect. We spent two fantastic weeks in Dubai. There were countless exciting things for everyone.

Especially if you're in Dubai for the first time, perhaps plan two weeks of vacation afterward. Below, as usual, you'll find a gallery with many impressions. None of the photos convey the emotions you'll actually feel, for example, when standing in front of an 830 m tall building.

Have fun looking at the photos, and let me know in the comments below if you've ever been to Dubai or if my Dubai travel report is now inspiring you to plan a trip there soon.

Photo Gallery