In a city where superlatives are not uncommon, it's not surprising that Dubai tops many world-best lists.
This week, the emirate was named the world's number one destination for family holidays in a survey by travel insurance comparison site InsureMyTrip.
The data encompassed the quality of family hotels, attractions and beaches, general safety and even the strength of the ocean currents, and Dubai was given a rating of 7.42 out of 10, followed by Colombo, Turks & Caicos, Barbados and Corfu, Greece.
As a fairly well-travelled long-time resident and relatively new mum, I concur.
My data does not include strength of the sea's tides, but these are my reasons for believing Dubai is a veritable family playground.
A 'melting pot' of nationalities
The term "melting pot" is thrown around way too often, but if anywhere is a good example of such a cauldron of communities, it's Dubai.
Walk around any bustling public place and snippets of an enormous range of languages will reach your ears.
I grew up in Bahrain, which is similarly multicultural, albeit much smaller, and I truly appreciate what growing up around people of all different backgrounds did for my general world view.
For my daughter to experience the same on a much grander scale, is a real privilege.
Friendly, sprawling residential communities
We live in Dubai Hills Estate, where the majority of houses are taken up by families. Every week or so you'll spot a newborn being strolled around the foliage-paved pathways by new mothers and fathers enjoying their comparatively easy introduction to parenthood.
See inside the newly opened Dubai Hills Mall
The trials and tribulations of having a new baby, giving birth in Dubai, the community you live in – these are all great icebreakers and make it very easy to strike up conversations with strangers (and potential friends), if you're so inclined.
The nationalities of these people, of course, will also span the planet.
Leave your doors unlocked
This is more figurative than literal, as I do still advise families to lock their doors at night, but if you don't it's unlikely you'll need to ring the police the next morning, as you undoubtedly would in other parts of the world.
Dubai, just as with much of the rest of the Gulf, is a safe place to live, and offers enviable security to resident and visiting families.
Scroll through the gallery below to see a Dh160,000 family villa in the 'happiest part of the emirate'
Attractions galore
This is perhaps the most obvious reason, but it deserves a mention all the same. There is just so much for families to do in Dubai.
From one of the world's largest waterparks – Aquaventure Atlantis – to child-friendly theme parks and myriad soft play centres, weekends are never dull. Expensive, maybe. Boring, never.
Everyone wants to visit
This can be a pro or a con depending on how you look at it, but I personally enjoy the fact that my family and friends back home are always up for a visit to Dubai (pandemic notwithstanding).
I've lived in countries where they'd rather not visit and so the burden was always on me to fly to England more frequently. Now I can invite people to stay with us and enjoy their company without having to take on the stress (and cost) of flights and home visits. And my daughter gets to spend more time with them, too.
It also gives us a good excuse to go into full tourist mode, visiting all the places we might not have the time – nor inclination – to head to on a regular occasion, from The Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa to the many beaches.
Authentic culinary experiences
This is akin to it being a melting pot of nationalities, but the fact that in the city you can find restaurants serving most cuisines is a real plus point in my view, so I can introduce my daughter to all the flavours of the world.
From Indian and Filipino street food, to fine dining and all the best Middle Eastern spots, I love that she's going to grow up not turning her nose up at "unusual" dishes and will know what real hummus should taste like (not the shop-bought stuff in the UK).
A world of education at your fingertips
For most Dubai residents who have come from afar, if they were back home there would be one, maybe two or three, options in terms of your child's education.
In the emirate, and the rest of the UAE, there are all sorts of schools offering varying curriculums and classes, and it's not a case of one size fits all.
There are similar threads throughout, overseen by the city's Knowledge and Human Development Authority, such as inclusion, but in terms of general ethos or particular syllabuses, you have your pick.
From eco-friendly institutions to places that don't give homework or those that offer bilingual options, there's plenty to choose from (perhaps even too much, if you're anything like me and get overwhelmed by choice).
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Name: Peter Dicce
Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
THREE
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Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
SM Town Live is on Friday, April 6 at Autism Rocks Arena, Dubai. Tickets are Dh375 at www.platinumlist.net
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
Napoleon
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David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
The bio
Studied up to grade 12 in Vatanappally, a village in India’s southern Thrissur district
Was a middle distance state athletics champion in school
Enjoys driving to Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah with family
His dream is to continue working as a social worker and help people
Has seven diaries in which he has jotted down notes about his work and money he earned
Keeps the diaries in his car to remember his journey in the Emirates
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Company profile
Name: Back to Games and Boardgame Space
Started: Back to Games (2015); Boardgame Space (Mark Azzam became co-founder in 2017)
Founder: Back to Games (Mr Azzam); Boardgame Space (Mr Azzam and Feras Al Bastaki)
Based: Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Industry: Back to Games (retail); Boardgame Space (wholesale and distribution)
Funding: Back to Games: self-funded by Mr Azzam with Dh1.3 million; Mr Azzam invested Dh250,000 in Boardgame Space
Growth: Back to Games: from 300 products in 2015 to 7,000 in 2019; Boardgame Space: from 34 games in 2017 to 3,500 in 2019
Francesco Totti's bio
Born September 27, 1976
Position Attacking midifelder
Clubs played for (1) - Roma
Total seasons 24
First season 1992/93
Last season 2016/17
Appearances 786
Goals 307
Titles (5) - Serie A 1; Italian Cup 2; Italian Supercup 2
UAE%20ILT20
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