Searching for Dubai hotels, 5-star, all-inclusive, family-friendly — and with a clear price — quickly reveals a problem: very few Dubai resorts are all-inclusive in the way Turkish or Caribbean resorts are. Most five-stars sell rooms with breakfast, half board or full board, and call a dining package "all-inclusive" when it may exclude drinks, à la carte restaurants or the waterpark. This guide explains what you actually get and what it costs.
True all-inclusive vs "dine-around" plans
A true all-inclusive plan covers breakfast, lunch and dinner, snacks, soft and alcoholic drinks, the minibar, the kids' club and daytime activities. Dubai's best-known example is Rixos The Palm Dubai, where dining across the restaurants and bars and the Rixy Kids Club are included. Elsewhere, the typical offer is a dine-around package: set meals in selected restaurants, with premium drinks, specialty dining and attractions charged separately.
- All-inclusive: best when your family will spend most days at the resort.
- Full board / dine-around: flexible, often cheaper, but drinks are extra.
- Half board: right if you plan to explore Dubai every day.
Best five-star family resorts to compare
Rixos The Palm Dubai — Palm Jumeirah
The benchmark for all-inclusive in Dubai: private beach, family pools, kids' club and entertainment, with most food and drink in the rate. Best for families who want predictable costs and minimal planning on the ground.
Atlantis The Palm — Palm Jumeirah
The iconic family choice because in-house guests enjoy Aquaventure Waterpark and The Lost Chambers Aquarium. Meal plans are sold separately, so it suits families who value the waterpark above an all-in board basis. See our full Atlantis The Palm guide.
Rixos Premium Dubai JBR
A beach tower on JBR with branded restaurants and The Walk outside the door. An all-inclusive option is available, though it is more an add-on than the full Rixos resort concept — ideal for families with older children who want a livelier scene.
Sofitel Dubai Jumeirah Beach and the JBR beachfront
Five-star rooms and family rooms on The Walk, usually sold with breakfast or half board. A strong-value base for families combining beach days with city sightseeing.
Resorts on the Jumeirah coast and Jebel Ali
Larger, low-rise resorts with extensive gardens, multiple pools and quieter beaches. Several include waterpark or attraction access in selected packages — we check the current inclusions for your dates.
Dubai 5-star all-inclusive family prices (2026, indicative)
Per night for two adults and two children under 12, in one family room or suite:
- Summer (June–September): about £300–£600
- Shoulder (October, April–May): about £350–£700
- Peak winter (November–March): about £500–£1,000
- Festive and school holidays: £650–£1,300+, with minimum stays
A seven-night family holiday including flights from the UK or Europe and private transfers typically costs £6,000–£14,000, depending on season, room category and plan. These ranges are a guide only; live rates and child policies change daily and are confirmed on your quote.
Child policies, rooms and hidden costs
- Children-stay-free offers usually apply to under-6s or under-12s sharing parents' room.
- Teenagers are often charged at or near adult rates on all-inclusive plans.
- Connecting rooms are requests, not guarantees, until confirmed in writing.
- Tourism Dirham fees are charged per room, per night locally.
- Spa, specialty dining, premium drinks and attractions may be excluded.
When to go
November to March is the most comfortable for beach and outdoor parks. Summer is very hot but can halve rates, which suits pool-centred, all-inclusive holidays. Book festive and February half-term stays four to six months ahead.
How we put your family quote together
Tell us your dates, the ages of each child, preferred board basis and budget. We compare two or three suitable resorts side by side, with child policies, inclusions and private airport transfers clearly shown. Planning wider travel? See our Maldives all-inclusive resorts guide for a twin-centre idea.
Frequently asked questions
Illustrative image. Prices are indicative and do not constitute an offer.