# Arriving in Dubai early with kids: how to book a room you can use

Written 2026-10-12 by Play Day. Hotels by the Dubai airport, at Financial Centre and Downtown for a family on an early flight, and how to have a bed waiting when you land.

Dubai does everything bigger: the tallest building in the world, an aquarium inside a mall, skiing in the desert. Plenty of flights land before breakfast. To walk straight into a bed, reserve from the night before and have the hotel hold it for your morning arrival.

Some families take one night by the airport before the main stay. Others go straight to a suite at Financial Centre or a hotel near Dubai Mall.

## At the airport

### [Premier Inn Dubai International Airport](https://ourplayday.com/places/premier-inn-dubai-international-airport-dubai)

Area: Opposite Terminal 3

The Premier Inn runs a free shuttle from the terminals, its rooftop pool looks out over the runways, and the restaurant does kids' meals.

One night here, then a taxi to the main stay after breakfast, means nobody has to cross the city on no sleep.

- Book: Family Room
- Beds: A double, a sofa bed and a pull-out
- Check-in: 2 p.m.
- Airport shuttle: Terminals 1 (drop-off only) and 3

## Financial Centre

### [Staybridge Suites Dubai Financial Centre](https://ourplayday.com/places/staybridge-suites-dubai-financial-centre-dubai)

Area: Sheikh Zayed Road

Staybridge has suites of up to three bedrooms with a kitchen and a washer-dryer. It's a minute from Financial Centre metro and one stop from Dubai Mall and the [Burj Khalifa](https://ourplayday.com/places/burj-khalifa-at-the-top-dubai).

There's a heated pool for guests, and [The Green Planet](https://ourplayday.com/places/the-green-planet-dubai-dubai), an indoor rainforest, is a short taxi ride away.

- Book: Two-Bedroom Suite
- Check-in: 3 p.m.

## Downtown

### [Rove Downtown](https://ourplayday.com/places/rove-downtown-dubai)

Area: Al Mustaqbal Street, Zabeel

Rove Downtown is built for a family of three: every room has a sofa bed for one child under 16, and there's a pool and a self-service laundry downstairs.

[Dubai Aquarium](https://ourplayday.com/places/dubai-aquarium-and-underwater-zoo-dubai) and Dubai Mall are about ten minutes' walk, with [KidZania](https://ourplayday.com/places/kidzania-dubai-dubai) inside the mall for the older ones.

- Book: Rover Room
- Sleeps: Two adults and one child under 16
- Check-in: 4 p.m.

## The message to send before you book

"Our flight lands on [date] at [time]. We'd like to reserve from the night before and arrive around [time]. Please confirm you'll hold our [room type] for that morning arrival rather than mark us as a no-show. We are [adults] adults and [children] children, ages [ages]."

Page: https://ourplayday.com/guides/united-arab-emirates/dubai/early-arrival-hotels-with-kids