Published 10 Oct 2026 · Updated 13 Oct 2026
Dubai is one of the easiest first international trips with children from India: a flight of about three and a half hours, no jet lag worth mentioning, rupee-friendly vegetarian food and an itinerary that works in the heat of the day. Five days is enough, and a family should budget roughly ₹56,000 to ₹87,000 per person including flights. The step to get right first is the visa, because most Indians cannot get one at the airport.
Visa and entry rules for Indians
Most Indian passport holders need a UAE visa before they fly. The route is a visit visa issued through the GDRFA Dubai portal or ICP smart services, or booked via an airline or an agent. GDRFA Dubai’s single-entry tourist visa page lists:
- Fee: AED 200 for a 30-day visa or AED 300 for 60 days, plus 5% VAT, with no security deposit.
- Processing: an expected completion time of 48 hours. Airlines and agents often quote longer, so apply at least a week ahead, and earlier in school holidays.
- Documents: a passport valid for at least six months, one personal photo and a copy of the passport. The page also lists a ticket to continue your journey or leave the UAE, and medical insurance valid in the UAE, among its conditions.
- One visa per traveller, children and infants included.
Visa on arrival exists only for a narrow group. GDRFA’s visa-on-arrival page for Indian citizens covers holders of an ordinary Indian passport with a US green card, or a UK or EU residence visa, and grants 14 days, extendable once for a similar period. The UAE embassy in New Delhi announced in February 2025 that residence permits from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and Singapore also qualify; we could not open that page again today, so confirm with the embassy before relying on it. If you hold none of these, apply in advance.
Apply through the GDRFA Dubai, the ICP or your airline. Look-alike visa sites are common: the official fee is a few hundred dirhams, so be wary of any quote far above what an airline or well-known agent charges, and never send passport copies to an unverified website.
For Indian rupee planning, AED 200 plus VAT is roughly ₹5,000 at ₹24 per dirham. Expect to pay more through an airline or agent. The dirham is pegged to the US dollar, so check the day’s rate.
What it costs in rupees
Per person, for a family of two adults and two children (about 5 to 12 years old), mid-range, five days and four nights.
| Item | Approx. cost |
|---|---|
| Return flight, Mumbai, Delhi or Kochi to Dubai | ₹18,000 – ₹28,000 |
| Visa through an airline or agent | ₹5,000 – ₹8,000 |
| Family room, 4 nights (a quarter of the room cost) | ₹12,000 – ₹20,000 |
| Attractions: Burj Khalifa, Aquarium, desert safari, one more | ₹10,000 – ₹15,000 |
| Food, about ₹1,800 – ₹2,500 a day | ₹7,000 – ₹10,000 |
| Metro, taxis, eSIM, insurance | ₹4,000 – ₹6,000 |
| Total | ₹56,000 – ₹87,000 |
Rooms, airport transfers and a shared data plan don’t multiply by headcount, so a family of four pays less per head than a couple would. Attraction prices change often and vary by date and time slot, so check the operators’ own sites before you book; a Burj Khalifa ticket for a sunset slot costs noticeably more than a mid-morning one.
Day-by-day family itinerary
Day 1: arrive and Dubai Marina
Land, clear immigration and check in near the Marina or JBR, where the beach, the walkway and children’s play areas are within a short walk of hotels. Keep the first day light: a swim, an early dinner at the Marina Walk and bed.
Day 2: Downtown Dubai
Go up the Burj Khalifa early or at sunset, booked online for a fixed slot. In the afternoon, the Dubai Aquarium at Dubai Mall is easy to combine with lunch and shopping. Finish by the Dubai Fountain, which plays in the evening and is free to watch from the lakeside promenade.
Day 3: Old Dubai, the Creek and the Frame
Cross the Creek by abra, the wooden water taxi, for a few dirhams, then walk through the Al Fahidi historic district and the spice and gold souks. Ride the metro or a taxi to Dubai Frame for a view of both old and new Dubai. In the evening, a dhow dinner cruise on the Creek or at the Marina suits children who like boats.
Day 4: desert safari
Book an afternoon-to-evening desert safari with a licensed operator. A typical package includes dune driving, camel rides, a sunset stop and a barbecue dinner with a show. Ask about age and height rules, request a vegetarian dinner when booking, and tell the driver if anyone is prone to motion sickness. Spend the morning at the hotel pool to keep energy up.
Day 5: spare day, or Abu Dhabi
If your flight is late, use the day for Abu Dhabi, about 90 minutes by road: the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque (modest clothing required, covered shoulders and knees, and a head covering for women) and, for theme-park fans, Yas Island. Otherwise, visit a mall or the beach, and leave for the airport at least three hours before the flight.
Tips for families from India
- Food: vegetarian, Jain and Indian restaurants are everywhere, and hotels cater to Indian breakfast preferences. Ask when booking a safari or cruise.
- Money: use a forex or multi-currency card, and carry some dirhams for abras, taxis and small stalls. UPI works at some larger merchants but isn’t dependable.
- Plugs: the UAE uses the Type G (UK-style) plug, so pack an adapter.
- Transport: the Dubai Metro and trams are clean and cheap; buy a Nol card at any station. Taxis and ride-hailing apps are plentiful, and a family of four rarely needs a rental car.
- SIM: buy a tourist eSIM or SIM at the airport, or turn on an international roaming pack before you leave.
- Rules: public conduct is regulated: dress modestly in malls and mosques, don’t photograph strangers without asking, and keep medicines in their original packaging with the prescription. Check the current import rules for any prescription drug.
Best time to go
November to March is the sweet spot: warm, dry and comfortable for the beach and the desert. Rates peak around Christmas and New Year, and the Diwali week is also expensive. October and March are cheaper and still pleasant. From June to September the heat makes outdoor plans hard with small children, so if you must go in summer, choose indoor attractions and shift outings to the evening.
Getting there from India
Emirates, flydubai, Air India, IndiGo and Air Arabia fly to Dubai from most Indian metros and many smaller cities, usually in three to four hours. If you are weighing a similar family city break, read our Singapore with kids plan, or for an easy beach add-on, our Maldives budget trip. For a quieter Gulf road trip with forts, wadis and dunes, see our Oman road trip plan. For a shorter, visa-free Gulf city break, see our Doha long weekend. See also the UAE hub.
Frequently asked questions
Do Indians need a visa for Dubai?
Yes, in most cases. Indian passport holders need a UAE visa arranged before travel, through the GDRFA Dubai portal, the ICP smart services, an airline such as Emirates or flydubai, or an agent. Only Indians who hold a valid US, UK or EU visa, residence permit or green card, or a residence permit from Japan, South Korea, Australia, Canada, Singapore or New Zealand, can get a visa on arrival, and that one is for 14 days.
How much does a Dubai tourist visa cost for Indians?
GDRFA Dubai's single-entry tourist visa page lists AED 200 for 30 days and AED 300 for 60 days, plus 5% VAT, with no security deposit. At roughly ₹24 per dirham that is about ₹5,000 for 30 days. Airlines and agents add their own service charge, so the price you are quoted will be higher; compare two or three quotes.
Do children need their own UAE visa?
Yes. Every traveller, including infants, needs a separate visa and a passport valid for at least six months. Apply for the whole family in one go so the approvals arrive together.
How many days are enough for Dubai with kids?
Five days is comfortable: one day for the beach and Marina, one for Downtown and the Aquarium, one for Old Dubai, one for a desert safari, and a spare day for Abu Dhabi or a theme park. With toddlers, drop to four days and keep afternoons free.
What is the best time to visit Dubai with children?
November to March. Days are warm rather than punishing, and beaches, parks and open-air attractions are pleasant. Hotel rates peak from December to February, so October-November and March are often better value. From June to September temperatures are very high and outdoor plans become hard with young children.
Is Dubai good for vegetarian Indian families?
Very. Dubai has a large Indian population, so full vegetarian and Jain-friendly restaurants are easy to find, especially in Bur Dubai, Karama and Al Barsha. Most hotels also label vegetarian dishes, and many desert safari camps offer a vegetarian dinner if you ask when booking.
Can I use UPI or Indian cards in Dubai?
Indian debit and credit cards with international usage enabled work at most shops and attractions. UPI acceptance exists at some large malls and merchants through NPCI's international tie-ups, but it is not universal, so carry a forex card and a little cash for taxis and small stalls.
