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I have just come back from a few days in the Middle East, kid-free, seeing the resorts for myself so I can tell you the truth rather than the brochure version. Here it is, the good and the less good, because the Middle East has quietly become one of the best winter options for families, and also one of the most misunderstood.

 

Why Families Are Choosing It For Winter Sun

 

When November hits, and the UK turns grey, most families reach for the Canaries out of pure habit. Fair enough, they are reliable. But fly a bit further, and you land somewhere that is genuinely 28 to 30 degrees rather than mild-if-you're-lucky, with only a three or four hour time difference, so nobody's bedtime implodes. Add direct flights, English spoken everywhere, and resorts built from the ground up for families, and you can see why it is winning people over.

 

What Actually Makes It Work With Kids

 

The honest answer is ease. Everything is new, clean and air conditioned. There are pools everywhere, usually with shaded and shallow bits for little ones. The kids' clubs tend to be properly run rather than a telly and a bored teenager. Rooms are generous, lifts and buggies are no drama, and the whole place is set up to make travelling with small children feel less like a military operation. It is, frankly, a soft landing for anyone nervous about a bigger trip with the kids.

 

The Honest Downsides, Because Everywhere Has Them

 

Summer is brutal. We are talking 40 degrees plus, too hot to do much beyond dash from air con to pool, so this is a winter play, roughly November to March.

It is not automatically cheap either, though value swings enormously depending on where and when you book (more on that below).

The flight is longer than Europe, around seven hours, which is grand for many families but a lot for the very littlest at the wrong time of day.

And it is culturally different: modest dress in public areas, and Ramadan timing can change the atmosphere and dining, all easy to work around once you know in advance.

Finally, it is built up and busy. If you want a tiny rustic hideaway, this is not it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or Somewhere Else Entirely


A quick honest steer, because "the Middle East" is not one thing:


Dubai has everything, theme parks, beaches, buzz, endless choice. Brilliant, but it can be the priciest and the busiest.


Abu Dhabi is calmer, often noticeably better value, and still packed with family wins (Warner Bros World, Ferrari World, Yas Island). My quiet favourite for first-timers with young kids.


The Red Sea in Egypt is where the real winter-sun value sits, ultra all-inclusive resorts, reliable heat, a bit more planning required.


Oman is the one for families who want something quieter and more natural, with a bit of culture alongside the pool.
 

Who It Suits, and Who It Doesn't

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It suits families who want guaranteed winter warmth with everything sorted, pools and activities on tap, and minimal faff.

It is less ideal if you are after a tiny quiet escape, travelling on a rock-bottom budget, or dreading a seven-hour flight with a small baby.

Both are completely valid; it is just about the right fit, which is my whole job.

 

 When To Go and What To Check

Go November to March. Before you book, ask whether the pool is heated (yes, it matters even here on winter evenings), the kids' club ages and hours, the real transfer time from the airport, whether you want a beach resort or a city base, and whether anything is being refurbished during your stay. And book early, the good family places for Christmas and February half-term go sooner than people expect.

 

The Bottom Line


The Middle East has gone from "is that not just for couples?" to one of the smartest winter-sun choices a family can make, if you pick the right spot for your family. That last part is the bit worth getting right.


If you'd like my honest shortlist of the family resorts I'd actually book right now, worldwide and across every budget, including my Middle East picks, grab my free guide: comment SHORTLIST on any of my Instagram posts, or get in touch, and I'll send it over. And if you want the exact questions I ask every resort before I book a family in, that's in my free guide What Resorts Won't Tell You.
 

 Get in touch at www.letsgo-travel.co.uk

 

*Jenny Willcock is a luxury family travel specialist and founder of Lets Go Travel. She travels regularly with her three children and books family holidays across Europe, the Middle East and beyond.