What Should I Expect Taking a Baby to Dubai?

What are the most important things you should really know before taking a baby or young child to Dubai?

Our Editor, Keri, has been a UAE resident for over a decade, raising her 3 kids and shares her on-the-ground insights into how best to prepare for your first trip to Dubai and the UAE if you are travelling with young children.

• If you are visiting Dubai with a toddler, READ THIS POST!

Is Dubai Family-Friendly?

The first thing you should know outright is that it’s an INCREDIBLY family-friendly place to visit. 

There might be a few little (or large) differences to your home country to be aware of, especially if you have not visited a Muslim country before, but there is nothing that adventurous family travellers cannot tackle.  We think Dubai makes a great introduction to visiting the Middle East region.

Where exactly is Dubai? Don’t worry if you still can’t place it properly on a map or have no idea whether it’s a country of a city! We have a detailed guide to exactly WHAT IS DUBAI you should read here before you dig any further into your travel plans. 

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Traffic Safety in Dubai & Car Seats

I think this quite often this is one of the city’s biggest concerns for family visitors. Dubai is a big busy city with huge multi-lane freeways, and cars move FAST! Driving is not as bad as in some Middle East countries we have visited, but nonetheless, expect frequent braking at high speeds, sudden lane swaps without indicators and poor road manners – albeit ever-improving.

I would NEVER travel in Dubai without some sort of restraint for your child.

Dubai car sat laws now stipulate that all children under the age of 4 must use a car seat.  That said, enforcement of the law seems scant to non-existent.

There are a few ways you can tackle the issue of keeping infants safe in car seats in Dubai:

• BYO car seat (recommended)
• If you are renting a car, add a car seat to your hire car order
• Use a baby car seat hire company such as Skytots or the Stroller Spa (they do rental strollers & car seats)
• Use family-centric hire car service such as Careem Kids  instead of hailing a taxi

Standard taxis from the airport are also able to borrow at no extra charge a pooled car seat from DXB to return later. We have not personally tried this service as we always take our own, but confirming as at 2023 the service is definitely still there!

You can read more about how to get around in Dubai here.

Is Dubai Stroller friendly?

Unless you are used to carrying your baby a lot, I would say yes, you’ll want a baby stroller in Dubai.  Make sure it’s a compact stroller for ease of getting in and out of taxis and public transport.  Even just walking around the giant malls or along the beachfront promenades can involve quite a lot of walking.

Many more surfaces around the city now can handle stroller wheels.  However, if you are visiting “Old Dubai”, you may not find the streets are as suitable and a few high or non-existent footpaths to contend with.

Bear in mind if you prefer just to baby carry the impact of heat and sweat – more on the weather in Dubai and how that might affect baby below!

If you are just flying through or only making a really brief stop in Dubai, DXB airport does have courtesy strollers, though I wouldn’t absolutely guarantee their availability every time.

Using the Metro in Dubai with a baby

The Dubai Metro is a convenient way to get around town, but do remember it’s still a busy working city, not JUST there for the tourists! So if you travel at peak times of day the Metro will inevitably be very crowded.

You will want a stroller that is capable of collapsing in peak times.  There are lifts at stations from ground level to platforms so it does make for a convenient way for families to get about some of the cities main attractions. Children under 5 are free and there are women and children-only carriages available.

Is Dubai desert safari safe for infants?

It is very popular to take a desert safari tour when you are visiting Dubai, but be very careful about what you are signing up for! Whilst families are welcome, some tours involve a “Dune Bashing” element in 4WDs to get you to your camp.  Most companies restrict this to children of at least 4 to 5 years of age+, and no expectant mothers.

There is most likely an alternative option given where families can go directly to the camp for evening activities but check the fine print. 

We suggest if you book tours through a trusted app such as Get Your Guide, they give good details on what you can expect, any age or health restrictions and also include a good cancellation policy up to 24 hours in advance if you decide once you’re in the UAE it won’t be the right thing for you.

This is not to discourage you from heading out into the desert with your kids. Unless you have an exceptionally bad weather day where it is windy, kids love to get some sand in their toes and your toddlers and older kids are sure to remember their first camel ride! 

I would only advise, like many things in the UAE don’t attempt this with a baby in the peak of summer; the heat and humidity, even in the evenings, are probably too much for a young child.

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Pregnancy, breastfeeding and baby care in Dubai

Breastfeeding in Dubai

Breastfeeding is encouraged for new mothers in the UAE.  Coming from overseas, though, you may find the Arab ladies are MUCH more discreet in how they go about it. If you are breast feeding in Dubai out in public, it is courteous to use a breastfeeding cover and find yourself a discreet corner.

If you are not feeling comfortable and confident in a public place, breastfeeding mums are welcome to use the ladies’ prayer rooms, usually located adjacent to bathroom facilities in malls and public places.  Within mall toilets, you may also find a mother’s resting area where you can feed quietly.

Bottle feeding in Dubai

You will have no issue getting hold of baby formula, but you may not get the exact brand your baby is used to so suggest you bring your own supplies.  Tap water is definitely drinkable after boiling, though I personally find it still leaves a slight chlorine taste so I prefer bottled water for myself and when feeding my children.  You should have no problem using cooled boiled water and steriliser tablets to sterilise your bottles. Some resorts and hotels may even offer this service for you.

Changing tables in Dubai

One of Dubai’s big downfalls is the lack of baby change rooms accessible to all. You will find culturally, this is still very much seen as a woman’s job, and almost all change tables are located in the female bathrooms. Very occasionally, you might find a family bathroom.

Pregnant Mums

You should have no issue getting treated with courtesy and respect as an expectant mother.  Note that if you are visiting during Ramadan, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers are exempt from fasting.  You are still advised to be discreet and conscious of those around you who may be fasting.  You can learn more about Ramadan etiquette for visitors here.

Baby products in Dubai

If you need any emergency clothing or equipment supplies, you will find baby shops in all the large malls stocking all the best baby products in Dubai. Many online shops also deliver and have express services, such as Mumzworld, the Baby Shop, Mothercare and First Cry.

I would suggest if your child fusses when not given the exact product that they are used to, you may want to bring these supplies with you. While supermarkets are plentiful, there’s no guarantee they will stock the exact brand you need.

You can find a comprehensive guide to the best baby gear to pack here.

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Dining out with a baby and young kids in Dubai

Unless you are dining at the most high-end, trendy restaurants, you will have no trouble finding a restaurant that will allow you to dine with your child at the table, and provide you with a high chair.  You can luck out that some restaurants are so busy they run out of highchairs, but it’s not a location I would suggest it’s essential to bring your own.

A lot of restaurants are attached either to the large shopping malls, or to hotels.  Our top tip is to download the Entertainer App and purchase the Dubai product.  It’s a small investment to make but has a HUGE number of 2-4-1 dining vouchers and other savings that will come in really handy during a Dubai trip.

And don’t worry about jet-lag either.  You will find this is a very late night culture so it’s not unusual at all to see families out at midnight still enjoying dinner!

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Dealing with sun safety and the heat

Just a quick recap on the weather in Dubai in case you’d not picked up on it before, it’s HOT!!!!

OK, it’s not stinking hot ALL the time, but for a good 6 months of the year temperatures are over 30c – hitting peaks up to 50c in mid-Summer.  The winters comparatively are mild and pleasant and perfect for outdoor exploration.

From late November through to March you should have no issue. The shoulder seasons around October to November and April though to May can be too hot for peak day time activities but pleasant enough in the early mornings and evenings.  From June through to September, only your most ardent heat lovers will find it pleasant outside.

So with this in mind and travelling with a baby, how can you best prepare for the Dubai weather?

• Drink lots of water. Bring your own water bottle with a filter is best for children & adults. Water is drinkable in Dubai but may not be to everyone’s taste.
• Small infants still on milk only or breastfeeding, do factor in if you’ve been outside you may need more regular feeds and if they are weaning, supplement with water too.
• Children over 6 months can wear a high protection sunscreen. Under 6 months infants should be kept in the shade completely.
• It is best to keep skin as covered as possible – both for modesty and sun protection – you can see more clothing advice for the UAE here.