Dubai, where one great experience leads to another, is one of the fastest-growing cities in the world. It truly is a destination that an entire family can enjoy, offering a wide variety of attractions, beautiful beaches, five-star service, iconic hotels and an abundance of traditional Arabic charm and hospitality.

Dubai is home to the Middle East’s oldest zoo housing more than 230 different species. These include wolves, foxes, hyena, buzzard and eagles. Some endangered species like Bengal tigers and Arabian wolves can also be found here. The surrounding desert is a perfect playground for dune bashing or a desert safari. Caravans of 4x4 vehicles take you on a tour across the dunes followed by a traditional Bedouin dinner under the stars. Or you can go wadi-bashing - exploring wadis (dry beds of streams), sandskiing or sandboarding down the dunes. Dubai is also home to the Wild Wadi Water Park located at Jumeirah Beach. This beautiful water park features waterfalls, cliffs, swimming holes, a tidal pool and loads of waterslides. Look out for the Jumeirah Sceirah – a 33m high slide designed to propel riders at speeds up to 80km an hour downward or the Breakers Bay – a wave machine that creates 1.5m waves.

And to escape the heat, head for Ski Dubai – the first indoor ski resort in the Middle East – where you can find 6,000 tons of snow and it is open seven days a week all year round between 10am and midnight.

If you travel to Dubai between June and September you and your family can enjoy the Dubai Summer Surprises festival, which focuses on families. Children are “number one” during this time as all the major activities at the air-conditioned shopping malls will revolve around them. Dubai also has Children’s City, which is aimed at educating children in a fun and informative way.

Themed zones look at the human body, nature, the environment, space and international culture.

Let’s not forget the shopping, with a plethora of world-class malls offering a full range of consumer goods to the traditional Souks where bargaining for gold and silk are the order of the day.