Dubai Launched A World-Cup Stopover Program. Here’s A 3-Day Family-Friendly Itinerary

The highly-anticipated 2022 FIFA World Cup will be the first ever held in the Middle East and the Arab world. From November 20 to December 18, 2022, soccer fans will flock to Doha, Qatar, to watch their country’s team face off. But, if you’re going to travel all that way, you might as well make the most of the trip by adding a stopover in Dubai. And the city is making it easier than ever.

Just a 90-minute flight from Doha, travelers can take advantage of Dubai’s World-Cup Stopover Program. For example, you can take advantage of flydubai’s 30 daily Dubai-to-Doha roundtrips, which include complimentary transportation from the airport to any tournament-use Qatar football stadium and back. Meanwhile, Emirates and United combined to offer customers flying into Chicago, San Francisco, and Houston an easy connection onto United flights to and from about 200 cities across the U.S. on a single ticket.

Plus, several fan zones are complete with small bites and drinks at venues like Basrati, Zero Gravity, Soul Beach, Dubai Media City Amphitheatre, and Jumeirah Emirates Tower Arena. But, if you’re making the trip, you might as well make the most of The City of Gold, especially if you have the family in tow. So here’s an itinerary for three perfect family-friendly days in Dubai.

Day 1

After your quick flight from Doha, check into Jumeirah Mina A’Salam, located on a pristine shoreline. The luxury hotel is ideal for families as the rooms are large (you could even opt for a suite with a separate sleeping area), and it’s connected to Dubai’s Madinat Jumeirah, a series of three resorts connected by waterways. So, you can access 50 food and beverage options, multiple pools, and a long stretch of white sand beach without ever leaving the vicinity.

After settling, head to the lobby restaurant, where they host a classic afternoon tea. Then take the three-minute walk to Souk Madinat Jumeirah, a traditional Middle Eastern-style bazaar with stalls selling local wares. After picking up a few items and returning them safely to your room, make your way downstairs for an Abra (traditional wooden boat) tour of Madinat Jumeirah’s waterways. On the tour, you’ll see over-the-top villas where stars like Tom Cruise once stayed, many waterfront restaurants, and get incredible views of the Burj Al Arab.

Upon your return to the dock, pop over to Tortuga, a Mexican restaurant perched on the water’s edge. There you can enjoy dishes like watermelon ceviche, tableside guacamole, and spicy fish tacos before calling it a night. Finally, if you have room (and time), pop over to Margaux for Parisian-inspired desserts.

Day 2

Today is going to be about balancing action with relaxation. To start, you can’t miss the hotel’s insane buffet with every type of cuisine you can imagine. After, it’s time to take the little ones to the famous Wild Wadi Waterpark. You can spend hours zipping down the waterslides, getting drenched with buckets of water, and playing in the wave pool. Honestly, adults will love it too.

Since you’re already in swim gear, pop over to beachside restaurant Shimmers for top-rated Mediterranean delicacies. Then it’s time for the adults to enjoy the spa while the kids can head to the onsite kid’s club.

The Al Qasr Talise Spa can be reached via boat, making for a uniquely relaxing entry. Inside, an attendant will show you the facilities that include hot and cold plunge pools, a steam room, a sauna, and an intimate outdoor pool. For your treatment—which includes everything from massages and facials to holistic experiences—you’ll be in a private villa where you can customize the music and scent.

After the zen session, it’s time to shower for a night of action again. That’s because you will enjoy the sunset and dinner in the desert.

Sonara Camp is located about 45-minutes from the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve hotel. When you arrive at the entrance, a Jeep will take you on a winding drive through the sand dunes, where you’ll arrive at the tented camp. A host will take you to a dedicated spot with comfortable couches to enjoy some light bites and drinks before the sunset. During those couple of hours, you can take a camel ride, go sandboarding, try soft archery, play volleyball, and pose for a family photo shoot at sunset.

Once it’s dark, you’ll head down the dune to a tent made from twinkling lights, where a table is set up alongside a stage. Expect a family-style feast and entertainment like fire breathers and belly dancers there. The kids have a separate area complete with toys, games, and an outdoor movie theater.

By 10 pm, it’s time to head back to the hotel for some much-needed sleep.

Day 3

If you take a night flight back to Doha, there’s still plenty of time to pack in on your last day. After breakfast, take a taxi to the Atlantis, The Palm Dubai. The iconic resort is home to Aquaventure Waterpark, the world’s largest waterpark. Spend hours testing your bravery on the Surfs Up wave rider or 105 record-breaking slides.

Dry off and go to The Lost Chambers Aquarium to see the incredible marine life up close before popping over to Gordon Ramsay’s Bread Street Kitchen for some classic British fare like fish n’ chips for lunch.

After taking the 20-minute drive back to Jumeirah Mina A’Salam, soak in the sun on the beach or at one of the pools before an early dinner at French Riviera. The Southern-France-inspired restaurant is ideal for truffle lovers as many of their dishes feature the delicacy.

Lastly, pop over to the Bahri cocktail lounge before jetting to the airport. They serve up Instagram-worthy cocktails with smoke machines, cages, and lanterns, with views of the Burj Al Arab glittering in the background. It’s the perfect way to end the quick trip.