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If you are heading to Dubai on a family vacation, chances are a swimming pool, and outdoor leisure are ranking as a pretty important part of your trip.
But with so many incredible family resorts in Dubai, how do you really set them apart? Which represents the best value for money with inclusions, and which has that little something extra that the kids will fall in love with?
We are on the lookout not only for hotels that grant you complimentary access to their attached water parks but also hotels in Dubai with excellent facilities within their grounds that include slides, lazy rivers and a little something extra they’ll be talking about for years after!
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Dubai hotels with water park access
Families staying at the following hotels will get access to one of Dubai’s three largest water parks. These can be a great value when you factor in the cost of a single day at a water park + accommodation and transport costs within the city.
However, consider how much value you will get from staying at one of these attached hotels; of course, the complimentary ticket cost is included in your nightly rate. If you plan to do plenty of things other than just the water park on a trip to Dubai, you may lose some of the value of staying at an attached property for a premium.
We won’t provide exact pricing for each hotel and waterpark ticket, as it changes frequently – you will often find special package offers, particularly during the summer low season.
Atlantis the Palm – Aquaventure
Guests at Atlantis the Palm not only get access to the hotel’s two enormous swimming pools, an expansive private beach and entry to Lost Chambers aquarium, but they also get complimentary access to Aquaventure water park – up there as one of the leading water parks in the world, including the longest lazy river in the Middle East, highest water tower, longest family tube ride and many more record-breaking features.
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Alternatively, if you are considering only a day trip to Atlantis, check ticket our single pricing here, or consider the value you will get from purchasing the Dubai Pass.
Jumeirah Group Hotels – Wild Wadi
Wild Wadi Waterpark is attached to the iconic Jumeirah Beach Hotel. However, guests at any of the Jumeirah group hotels in Dubai can take advantage of a free ticket to Wild Wadi. This includes guests staying beachside at:
As well as their city properties Jumeirah Creekside Hotel and Jumeirah Emirates Towers. Each of these hotels is exquisite, but they come with a hefty price tag, too (and not all have brilliant room configurations for families without upgrading to much larger suites).
Of all the Jumeirah group hotels, we’d generally recommend Jumeirah Beach Hotel for its incredibly extensive family facilities.
Our next favourite pick for family facilities is Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, located on the outer frond of the Palm Jumeirah. The poolside facilities here are excellent and include a mini water park feature with several slides.
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NB – Wild Wadi has been closed for quite some time for renovations but has reopened in the Spring of 2023 ONLY to Jumeirah’s guests. We await news when Wild Wadi will publicly re-open.
6 Dubai Hotels With Water Parks and Slides
So you’ve decided you’d rather enjoy a pool and play within your own hotel rather than tackle Dubai’s water park giants?
These are the best of the best in hotels in Dubai, offering far more than just a shaded toddler pool to get the kids excited about your upcoming Dubai travel plans.
Al Habtoor Grand Resort, Autograph Collection
Sitting at the eastern end of JBR Beach, Al Habtoor Grand Resort, Autograph Collection is a lush beachside oasis bursting with surprises. As well as the three family swimming pools and a kids’ playground, you will find a small waterfall and two incredible slides.
Grand Hyatt Dubai
Not often thought about, as it does not sit along the Arabian Gulf beachfront like most, the Grand Hyatt certainly delivers on family entertainment. Nestled on Dubai Creek, it is conveniently close to the airport, making it an excellent choice for short stopover and fly-through guests who want to enjoy a bit of the Dubai weather en route.
You can expect to find three swimming pools – including one of the largest pools in Dubai, an indoor pool, and a kids-only pool with a giant splash playground and slides. Plenty of flexible room layouts accommodate family-sized groups and offer a choice of 10 restaurants.
Important note in 2025: They are massively expanding the pool and family facilities here to include a complete water park. Great news for future stays, but this means presently the main kids’ pool is shut for renovations. Please bear this in mind before booking this resort!
Centara Mirage Dubai
What can we say about Centara?! Arguably THE Dubai hotel is entirely built with families in mind. You’ll find not just a mini water park with slides in this Deira Islands hotel but a lazy river, ropes course and a water obstacle course set out on the beachfront.
The family-friendliness of this Dubai resort doesn’t stop there; many rooms are fitted with bunk beds to fit all the family in one room, 5 on-site restaurants to choose from, a family spa where kids are welcome, and elusive all-inclusive packages are available.
Le Meridien & the Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi
A beachfront offering that will blow the kids away. Here you will find an incredible 1.2km long beachfront, a lush garden setting with five swimming pools – two dedicated to families and access to Club Mina with a sensational range of recreational sports on offer and Kids Club.
A new addition sees Jungle Bay Water Park at Mina Seyahi enter the lineup. The Lighthouse, Whizzard and Body Slides are perfect for junior thrill-seekers or try Family Waves, a pneumatic wave pool, along with Aquapla, perfect for kids of all ages.
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We include these two together as although they are separate hotels; they enjoy the use of the same facilities (and we frankly think the Westin makes for the best value for money!)
Sofitel Dubai The Palm
The Sofitel is a superb example of an all-in-one family resort in Dubai. You could easily settle in for a week here and still not get bored with the range of entertainment on offer.
A Polynesian-styled resort, families can enjoy the three swimming pools, as well as the Amura Kids Club and extensive beach frontage on the Palm. Kids will love the addition of a slide into the main swimming pool, and there are plenty of flexible room options and villas (some even with private pools) to suit different family sizes.
Dukes The Palm, A Royal Hideaway
This hotel isn’t huge, but it has a few features families will love, not just one of the most incredible infinity pools that look back over to JBR but a meandering lazy river in the shaded gardens. This one won’t break the bank either, so well worth having on your “something special” list for kids in Dubai if the idea of staying at one of the larger resorts doesn’t appeal.
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Have you got a favourite Dubai family resort you think we have missed? We will cover more family accommodation choices in the next in our Dubai accommodation series for those looking for more central, apartment or budget accommodation choices in Dubai.
Before you go… More important things you should know when planning a trip to Dubai
Take me back to the top family attractions & things to do in Dubai
Please note we are not a travel agency. This site is a travel blog to help newcomers to the UAE and transit passengers self plan their trip, we cannot book your flights, hotels, visas or connections for you. We may make a small commission if you click on any of our recommendation links.
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