How to plan a corporate family day in Dubai

A corporate family day is one of the few company events where employees bring the people they work for: their families. Done well, it says thank you in a way a staff party cannot. Done badly, it is a hot afternoon with a long queue for one bouncy castle.

This guide explains how to plan a corporate family day in Dubai. It covers when to hold it, which kind of venue suits it, what to plan for each age group, a sample running order, safety and permits. It ends with a checklist.

What is a corporate family day?

A corporate family day is a company event for employees and their families. It usually runs for four to five hours at a weekend. Most family days include games and activities, a zone for young children, food, a stage with a host, and a short thank-you from leadership.

The purpose is recognition. Families see where a parent or partner works, meet colleagues, and feel that the company values the time that work takes from home. Keep that purpose in mind when you plan. A family day is not a town hall, so keep speeches short.

When to hold a family day in Dubai

• October to April is the outdoor season. Parks, beaches, sports clubs and hotel lawns all work, and late afternoon into early evening is the most comfortable time.
• May to September is too hot for an outdoor family day. Move indoors to a ballroom, a sports hall or an indoor attraction.
• Ramadan changes the timing. A family event in Ramadan works best as an evening gathering after iftar. Our guide to Ramadan corporate event ideas covers the options.
• School holidays matter. Many families travel in the summer break and over the winter break, so check the school calendar before you fix a date.

Which kind of venue suits a family day?

Parking and arrival are easy to forget. Families arrive in cars, with pushchairs and bags, and many arrive at the same time. Our guide to the venue questions that decide an event budget lists what to ask before you sign.

Activities for every age group

The most common mistake is to plan for one age group. Plan a zone or a set of activities for each of these four:

• Young children, up to about five. A soft play area, face painting, balloon artists and a quiet corner with shade and seating for parents.
• Older children, six to twelve. Inflatable games, races, craft tables, a magic show and simple team games with small prizes.
• Teenagers. Sports challenges, gaming stations, a photo or video booth and anything with a leaderboard.
• Adults. Department team games, a tug of war, a quiz, a good coffee and food area and comfortable seating in the shade.

Add a few activities that families do together, such as a family relay, a treasure hunt or a group photo wall. These are the moments people remember and share. Our guide to corporate event entertainment ideas has more acts and formats.

A sample running order

Adjust the times to the season and to sunset. Our event run of show template shows how to turn a plan like this into a cue-by-cue document for the crew.

Safety, shade and comfort

• Shade and water. Provide shaded seating and free drinking water across the site, not only at the food area.
• First aid. Have a first aid point with trained staff, and make sure everyone on the crew knows where it is.
• A lost-child point. Give children a wristband with a parent's phone number, and brief the host on what to do.
• Supervised inflatables. Every inflatable needs a trained attendant, a limit on numbers and rules on age and height.
• Food allergies. Ask the caterer to label common allergens, and include vegetarian and child-friendly options.
• Access. Check routes for pushchairs and wheelchairs, baby-changing facilities and a prayer room.
• Photo consent. Tell families in the invitation that the event will be photographed, and give them a way to opt out.

Does a family day need a permit?

It depends on where it is held. A private company event inside a hotel or a licensed venue is often covered by the venue's own approvals. An event in a park, on a beach or in another public space is likely to need approval from the authority in charge of that land. Temporary structures such as stages, tents and truss need extra documents.

The Department of Economy and Tourism says its event permit service covers entertainment, sport, charity and corporate events in Dubai. Ask the venue first, then confirm with the authority. Our guide to event permits in Dubai explains who issues what and how long to allow.

Family day planning checklist

• Agree the purpose, the budget and who is invited: staff and immediate family, or extended family too.
• Fix the date around the season, school holidays and Ramadan.
• Collect numbers early, including the ages of children.
• Choose a venue with enough shade, parking and toilets.
• Plan activities for all four age groups, plus a few for whole families.
• Confirm permits and any approvals for structures.
• Book the host, the entertainment and the activity suppliers.
• Plan food with clear labels and enough serving points to avoid queues.
• Set up first aid, a lost-child point and wristbands.
• Keep the leadership message to a few minutes, and end with a group photo.

How Zarak Events can help

We plan and produce corporate events across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, including staff celebrations and on-ground activations. For Keeta, we ran a sports activation with branded team kits, live sports moments and participant coordination. For Ellington, we have delivered community events and seasonal activations. You can see both in our portfolio.

For the events we manage, we plan the layout and the running order, arrange permits, build the stage, sound and lighting, book the host and the acts through our entertainment agency service, and run the day on site. Food comes from the venue or your caterer. We do not offer standalone equipment rental, décor or catering.

See our corporate event management page for how we work. If you are planning a family day, send us an enquiry with your date, expected numbers and preferred area.