Dubai with Teens: 7 Days of Extreme Thrills, Sights & Shopping

Flights coming direct from the US will arrive in the evening. As you are driven to your hotel, take in the surreal illuminated skyline rising up from the desert.

Tip: Many hotels have hammams/spas with steam rooms, saunas and thermal pools. This is a great way to unwind your first night and counter a jet-lagged sleepless night.

Get to know the downtown area and sights with a photo tour from a professional photographer. This is one of my favorite ways to see a new city, and a sneaky way to add in some factual knowledge while scouting out unique viewpoints in this city of contrasts. My teens appreciated the tips and tricks for getting the most out of their iPhone cameras.

Next, head over to the Dubai Mall for lunch, shopping and ample people watching. The mall is a hub of activity and in addition to having stores of every international and luxury brand you can imagine, you can also find an indoor skating rink, aquarium, VR Theme Park and over 200 eateries from fast-food (but elevated) to gourmet dining. My sons love buying new Nikes in flagship city stores and the one in the Dubai Mall has a customization lab where you can personalize any purchased Nike gear for a truly one-of-a-kind look.

Outside the mall as the sun sets, the must-see is the Burj Khalifa evening light show. A spectacular visual experience where the world’s tallest building comes to life with colorful light projections and synchronized music. This nightly show features dynamic lighting sequences that transform the tower’s exterior, creating a mesmerizing spectacle visible from downtown Dubai.

Tip: Book a dinner reservation for 7/7:30pm at a terrace dining restaurant around the fountains for dinner with a view. We dined at URLA and had a fantastic view of the light show.

Today will be a day of extremes. A visit to Deep Dive Dubai where divers can scuba, snorkel or free dive in the world’s deepest indoor pool. The structure is a 197-foot deep sunken city where divers have an interactive experience exploring this multilevel glass pool. Both my beginner level teens and advanced certification husband had an incredible time. Divers come from all over the world for this experience and they have depths and challenges for all levels of experience. I didn’t dive but loved that the entire pool is glass and you can watch from three different levels including a cafe where I spent most of the time. The building itself is gorgeous and mesmerizing walking around the circular glass and well-lit submerged city.

After the diving experience, travel to the Marina area to fly. Xline Dubai is the world’s longest urban zipline providing amazing views and a thrilling experience. Climbing up to the tower provides views out across The Palm. The launch is unique from any other zipline I’ve experienced as you’re positioned headfirst and pushed off a ramp to literally fly superman style between the towering buildings lining the marina.

While Dubai is known for its futuristic skyline, Old Town Dubai offers a fascinating contrast — taking visitors back in time to the city’s rich cultural and trading past. Nestled along Dubai Creek, this historic district is home to bustling souks, restored heritage neighborhoods and museums, giving a glimpse into traditional Emirati life before the skyscrapers. With gems hidden behind vine covered courtyards and a vibrant souk market, this area is best explored with a local to help navigate through this step back in time. Our group was hosted to Arabic coffee in an old historic home where we learned more about the beautiful subtleties of the culture. Then crossing Dubai Creek we entered the Souks known for gold, gems and spices. I loaded up on the most vibrant saffron and Dubai chocolate (Yes, it’s worth the hype!) The other popular shopping item in this area is the custom perfumes, using oil-based scents the perfumeries blend custom fragrances which is part of a deep-rooted perfume culture.

To contrast the past, pair with a visit to Dubai’s Museum of the Future. The museum is an immersive, interactive space that explores AI, space, climate, health and future cities through cutting-edge exhibits. Its iconic torus-shaped design, engraved with Arabic calligraphy, symbolizes human innovation and knowledge.

Plentiful empty desert roads and a mecca for exotic performance cars make Dubai an ideal destination for a thrilling supercar driving experience. We chose to work with JNKD Supercar Events. The experience starts with a tour of their hanger full of exotic cars where you select your car of choice. Next, following a lead car into an area of deserted roads you’ll be coached into perfecting your launch starts and have unobstructed roads to test the full limits of these performance cars. My older teen claims getting to launch start a Lamborghini was his absolute highlight of the entire trip. The experience also comes with a professionally edited video which is stunning and fun to rewatch.

A trip to Dubai isn’t complete without experiencing the vast, golden dunes of the desert. The Arabian sands are full of thrilling adventures and cultural experiences. Dune bashing, sandboarding and ATV rides provide a full day of active options. There’s typically also a visit to a Bedouin-style camp with an Arabian BBQ and entertainment. If time allows this is a great day to spend an overnight in a desert oasis resort.

Tip: Make sure to save your receipts for larger shopping purchases. At the airport there are kiosks for validating your purchases for VAT refunds.