Dubai water parks | enjoy some family fun in the sun

Set upon a man-made island in the shape of a palm in the middle of the desert, there’s nowhere quite like Atlantis The Palm. The luxurious facilities live up to its aquatic theme: take yoga classes set in an underwater aquarium or try seafood dishes such as black cod with miso at the famous Nobu restaurant, one of 23 places to dine.

The hotel’s award-winning Aquaventure Water Park is spread over an enormous 170,000 square metres, with a nine-storey tall mega-slide and inner tubes that travel through an underwater world filled with sharks (safely behind glass). You can also get up close with dolphins and sea lions.

After all that excitement, you’ll be glad of the comforts of your room, from the subtle nautical detailing to deep, free-standing bathtubs. Admire views of the Dubai cityscape or the glittering ocean from the comfort of a sun lounger on your balcony. Or, for the experience of a lifetime, why not book an underwater suite and wake up to floor-to-ceiling windows filled with majestic sea creatures?

This relaxing Polynesian-themed hotel is just made for unwinding. While children make friends in the kids’ club, luxuriate in the seawater pool or try a soothing, coconut-infused Polynesian hammam. When you want a change of pace, the incredible, twisting Anaconda waterslide at Aquaventure Water Park is just a four-minute drive away.

Sate afternoon appetites at poolside restaurant Maui Beach, with familiar favourites like Margherita pizzas for the children or exotic dishes such as South Asian crispy beef for more adventurous tastes. In the evening, feast on classics including aged steaks, burgers or lobster in the Porterhouse’s romantic, sophisticated dining room.

Your bedroom or suite is decorated with a distinct Pacific flair, with exotic woods, flowing fabric and stone detailing. Wake up to your favourite tunes playing on the Bose sound system, jump in the invigorating rain shower or take a long soak in the spacious bathtub. Once reinvigorated, head to your private balcony overlooking The Palm or the glittering sea to plan the next day.

You’ll find both hotel rooms and self-serviced apartments at the Arabian Park Hotel. It’s located just five minutes’ drive from Wafi Mall – a complex of shops, restaurants and bars where you can explore a recreation of a 14th-century Arabian souk or sample global cuisine in a building styled after the Egyptian pyramids.

Inside the hotel, your room is decorated in sleek contemporary style, with vibrant abstract art and plush king-sized beds with padded headboards. Go self-catering with an apartment and cook up your own meals, or just head to the Cheers Pub for international dishes such as a chicken quesadilla.

The two seawater swimming pools are an ideal antidote to the desert heat. But to make a real splash, head to the slides of Laguna Water Park, just a 20 minute drive away. There you can experience a moment of zero-gravity before splashdown on the twists and turns of the Manta, or take a leap in the dark in the Constrictor, where mind-bending optical illusions flash as you speed past.

The JA Palm Tree Court is a laid-back, beachy hotel where you’re always surrounded by shimmering water. Not only are you just a short stroll from the warm sea of the Persian Gulf, but there are also four pools and a luxurious holistic spa with its traditional Moroccan hammam. Discover the swim-up bar and sip on a Bellini in the infinity pool.

Three kids’ clubs covering all ages are packed with fun activities, from table football tournaments to exploring the adventure playground. To give youngsters a real treat, head to Legoland Water Park less than 20 minutes’ drive away. There are 20 fun slides and attractions designed for under-12s: build your own Lego raft and take it on the lazy river.

Each suite is decorated with a serene palette of neutral, earthy tones and palm frond artwork. Giant french windows lead out onto your private terrace, where you can start your holiday looking over the sea or gardens, nibbling on the fresh fruit and rich chocolates you’ll receive on arrival.

It could hardly be easier to get to the Wild Wadi Water Park from stately Jumeirah Al Qasr: it’s less than five minutes’ drive away and entrance is included. Inspired by the Arabic folklore hero Juha, the park features 30 rides and attractions. Plunge down the 32m Jumeirah Sceirah at 80kph then catch your breath on the soothing flow of Juha’s Journey.

With its palatial appearance, striking fountains and expansive terraces, the hotel is a masterclass in luxury. Settle into a room inspired by a traditional sheik’s summer residence with decorative carved wood, accents of gold and jewel tones. Recline on your king-sized bed beside ornate lanterns or watch the sunset over Dubai from your private balcony.

The 40 restaurants and bars mean you can indulge any craving, from meat feasts at the North American-inspired the Hide to crispy Sicilian pizza at Kalsa Pool Bar. Colourful and informal Tortuga is ideal for kids, with a menu of dishes like chicken quesadillas tailored for younger tastes.

With its sun-kissed, palm tree-lined private beach and two large swimming pools, JA Jebel Ali is ideal for a getaway of splashing and playing. For more thrills and spills in the water, take a 20-minute drive to AquaFun where the whole family can tackle dozens of inflatable obstacles and games on the sea.

There are nine restaurants and bars to choose from once you’ve worked up an appetite. Ibn Majed offers informal dining – just the thing for children to fill up on Italian favourites or Tex Mex delights. Or try the catch of the day at the floating restaurant, Divaz, as you admire views of the Persian Gulf from full-length windows.

Rooms here take nature as their inspiration, with splashes of fresh botanical colour, floral patterns and abstract art of the sea and sky. Family rooms offer interconnecting bedrooms for both privacy and togetherness: gather everyone on the balcony to see the sun set over manicured gardens or the ocean.

The Jumeirah Zabeel Saray – its grand, domed reception hall covered in gold and sparkling with fountains – is inspired by the architecture of the Ottoman Empire. Inside your bedroom, you’ll find intricately carved wooden canopies over the beds, as well as Turkish-style baths fully enrobed in marble for pure luxury.

At the Al Nafoorah restaurant, introduce the whole family to Lebanese food. Soft Arabic music and carved wood décor create a magical atmosphere as you sample a banquet of regional delights, like aromatic za’atar salad and fried lamb dumplings served with pine nuts.

Children are especially welcome here thanks to the Sinbad Kids’ Club, where they can play in the mini water park, with slides, splash pools and a friendly whale. Meanwhile, you can discover a traditional hammam at the Talise Ottoman Spa, a richly scented and candle-lit oasis which has won international awards. For more aquatic thrills, guests also get free entry to the Wild Wadi Water Park just 20 minutes’ drive away.

Grosvenor House is an ideal mix of urban excitement and coastal relaxation. Its two soaring towers overlook two outdoor pools, and the hotel boasts access to a nearby private beach. The central location also means it’s easy to reach the Aquaventura Water Park, with its gravity-defying Zoomerango slide or the 60kph plunge of Poseidon’s Revenge.

Start the day by skimming through your complimentary newspaper – just the thing with your morning coffee on the balcony. Lounge in soft bathrobes in your room, decorated in a restful palette of earth tones, before heading to the marble bathroom. For deep tranquillity, seek out the B/Attitude Spa: decorated with ornate Eastern lattice screens, marble and carved wood, it offers personalised massages tailored to fulfil all your relaxation dreams.

Dining options span the east and west of the globe. Indego serves refined Indian cuisine such as macadamia-crusted sea bass by Michelin-starred chef Vineet Bhatia. Or watch the chefs at work in the open kitchen at Sloane’s, before tucking into everything from pizza to lavish seafood dishes such as lobster.

Decked in soothing tones with splashes of marine colour, your room at the Hilton Dubai Jumeirah is a haven for relaxing and recharging. Lie back in the softness of 250 thread count sheets, slip into ultra-comfortable slippers and take in the view from your balcony of the ocean or The Walk, Dubai’s shopping and dining promenade.

Step outside and you’re well placed to discover everything this glittering metropolis has to offer. Located on the Marina, the hotel is just moments from the Beach Mall with its 27,000 square metres of shops and restaurants, and Marina Beach, where the whole family can tackle a hilarious inflatable obstacle course at AquaFun.

If you’re craving some serious ‘you time’, take an afternoon to yourself at the spa. Candles flicker in lanterns, casting mesmerising patterns around the room as an expert therapist pampers you. Revitalize your skin with the Salt of the Earth treatment, which infuses the body with 72 trace minerals from the Great Salt Lake in Utah.