Dubai in Winter with Kids: Routes and Best Entertainment

December: 22-27C during the day, 14-18C at night. Sea 24C - ideal for swimming. Khamsin (sandy wind from the desert) occasionally blows but it's rare. The first day of winter (December 21) is marked with festivals in Dubai.

January: 20-25C - the coolest month. Evenings can be windy and cool (14-16C), a light jacket helps. Beaches and pools still operate at full capacity.

February: 22-27C, temperatures begin to rise. The best balance between cool and warm. Days are long and sunny. The last comfortable month before spring heat begins.

Atlantis Aquaventure - the region's best water park, possibly one of the world's best. 17 hectares of slides, lazy river, private beach. Entry: adult 360-420 AED ($98-115), child under 12 - 290-340 AED. Free for kids under 2. Open year-round.

IMG Worlds of Adventure - indoor theme park with Marvel, Cartoon Network, Dinosaur and other zones. Single ticket 345-390 AED. Well-suited for children 5-14 years old.

Legoland Dubai - part of Dubai Parks and Resorts. For children 2-12 - a real paradise. Attractions, Lego builds, interactive zones. Ticket about 250-300 AED.

Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo at Dubai Mall - one of the largest aquariums in the world. Underwater tunnel with sharks and rays, animal feeding. Basic mall entry is free, aquarium - 100-140 AED.

Desert Safari - SUV ride through the dunes, camel rides, dinner at a Bedouin camp. For children 4+. Price with transfer - 150-250 AED per person.

Jumeirah Beach Park - one of the best public beaches. Clean, with toilets, cafes, playgrounds. Entry - 5 AED. Shallow water entry - good for toddlers.

Kite Beach - large beach in Umm Suqeim with playgrounds, skater tracks and street food. Free entry. Nearby - photogenic view of Burj Khalifa.

JBR Beach (Jumeirah Beach Residence) - the most active beach, with a waterfront, restaurants and cafes. For kids - large play zone right on the beach. Free entry.

Important: dress code on public beaches - swimsuits and shorts allowed. Toplessness prohibited. Alcohol prohibited on beaches (only in hotel zones).

Dubai welcomes the New Year with one of the world's most spectacular firework displays. Burj Khalifa is the main stage: 12 minutes of pyrotechnics and light shows on the facade of the tallest building in the world. Best viewing points: the waterfront near Dubai Fountain, Downtown Dubai.

Tickets to special parties - from 200 to 5000+ AED depending on format. Many families simply take a spot at the fountain for free - arrive 3-4 hours early.

Christmas in Dubai is celebrated in all malls: trees, Santas, kids' performances. Makes an impression on children - a contrast with the expectation that "this is a Muslim country."

Dubai is expensive but manageable. Approximate budget for a family of 4 (2 adults + 2 children under 12) for 7 days:

Accommodation: apartments in JBR or Marina - 120-200 EUR/night. 4-star hotel - 150-250 EUR/night. Total for 7 nights - 840-1750 EUR.

Food: breakfast in apartments (supermarket), lunch in a mall (150-200 AED for four), dinner in a restaurant (300-500 AED) - about 80-120 EUR per day, total 560-840 EUR.

Activities: 2 big parks + 1 water park + beaches - about 400-600 EUR.

Transport: metro + taxi - 50-80 EUR for the week.

Total: 1850-3270 EUR (excluding flights). With flights - 3000-5000 EUR for a family of 4.