Middle East Family Holidays

Fun for all the family? Surely not - isn’t there always at least one who’s unimpressed, tired or just plain pernickety? Well, prepare to be amazed when you head to the desert playgrounds of the Middle East on a family holiday, where state-of-the-art attractions (including a ski-slope and man-made islands that can be seen from space) sit alongside traditional gold souks and incredible natural scenery to create a destination that truly has something for everyone.

Midsummer heat in Middle Eastern countries such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Oman can be very intense, so for a beach holiday with little ones we recommend you travel between mid-October and mid-April as the temperatures are cooler and most favourable for families with young children. So, if you’re looking for a great mid-haul location for a Christmas or Easter holiday, this region is more than worth considering. That said, with great value to be had, excellent air-conditioning in all hotels and incredible attractions such as vast waterparks and the indoor Ski Dubai, there’s plenty to recommend a Middle East family holiday in summer too.

Flying to the Middle East

There are many direct flights to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Oman which fly out of London and regional airports including Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow and Edinburgh with esteemed airline partners such as Etihad, Emirates and Qatar Airways. Each airline has impressive children’s provision, with Etihad’s ‘Flying Nanny’ service in every cabin class being a real standout feature. These glittering states make fantastic standalone destinations or with the Indian Ocean only a short onward flight away, you could combine your city break with an escape to the Seychelles, the Maldives, or even India and the Far East.