Abu Dhabi & Dubai 2024: Waterparks, Desert Buggies and the Burj Khalifa

Our October 2024 trip had two halves, Kenya and the Maldives, and the United Arab Emirates was the hinge between them. We stopped in Abu Dhabi on the way from Nairobi to the Maldives, and came back through Abu Dhabi and Dubai on the way home.

Yas Island, Abu Dhabi

Our flight from Nairobi was delayed, so we landed in Abu Dhabi just before 1 am on October 17 and checked in to The WB Abu Dhabi, a Warner Bros. themed hotel on Yas Island. Later that day we went to Yas Waterworld, also on Yas Island. The next morning we flew Etihad to the Maldives.

A night in the desert: Arabian Nights Village

On the way back from the Maldives we spent a night at Arabian Nights Village, a desert resort out in the dunes of Abu Dhabi. We stayed in their Tower Suite, which had plenty of room for a family of five.

The kids rode quad buggies over the dunes and rode camels, and both were highlights. The staff kept everything safe and still fun.

Dinner came with live oud music and traditional dancing, and the kids joined in. Dinner and breakfast were both excellent.

The top of the Burj Khalifa, Dubai

Our last stop was Dubai, where on October 27 we went up to At the Top, the observation deck of the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. The next day we flew home from Dubai.