Adventures in Dubai

Tours of the Burj Khalifa and shopping aside, the emirate of Dubai is also a haven for adventurers looking for their next big thrill. The emirate offers loads of activities that can get your adrenaline pumping and bring the excitement up a notch. From swimming with sharks to dining several feet up in the air and racing Formula 1 race cars, here is our take on the best places for Dubai adventures. 

Dubai adventures on the ground

Let’s kick off our Dubai adventures from the ground. Pleasure seekers looking for thrilling ground-based adventures in Dubai may consider these activities:

Desert safaris and dune bashing

Desert safaris are what most first-time visitors to the emirate love to explore in Dubai. And for good reason.

Tour operators make the most of the deserts by offering customers the chance to explore these areas in comfort with the option to book day or night tours. Adventure junkies will particularly enjoy the dune bashing, sandboarding and quad biking sessions in the sandy desert terrains. You can ride over the challenging terrains and even race your buddies on the sandy course. To take the experience up a notch, add a bit of falconry to your desert safari and revel in the magnificence of the majestic birds. 

Some services also offer additional perks like overnight desert camping, camel rides, brunch and breakfast. For the best experience, book your desert adventures in Dubai at any of the best desert safari companies in Dubai. 

Fat Biking at Al Qudra Lake Sanctuary 

Feel like stretching your legs? Head over to Al Qudra Lake, an area filled with trees, lakes and bushes where you can test your fat biking skills. Start your adventure at the entrance of the sanctuary and head towards the high dunes for a spectacular view of the area. Find your way back around the lake and you might catch a glimpse of a desert antelope. For the best experience, visit the sanctuary early in the morning on weekdays. 

You can contact tour operators such as Arabian Horizons to organise fat bike tours in Dubai. The Bab Al Shams Resort also organises such tours for guests at an added cost. 

Live like the Bedouins 

Bedouins are a desert-dwelling ethnic group in the Arabian Peninsula. Located miles away from the big city in the Dubai desert, Bedouin camps offer visitors a glimpse into what life is like for families living in the harsh desert landscape. Ethnic experiences from tour operators are more comfortable and include everything from staying in Bedouin-style camps to feasting on traditional meals. Such camps are organised by companies offering desert safaris in Dubai. 

Dine at sub-zero temperatures

Beat the scorching heat and experience something that you will tell stories of, at the Chillout Ice Lounge. It’s an extreme adventure in Dubai that is worth a try. Customers at the ice lounge are expected to wear thermal wear and dine at temperatures of -6°C. Unique ice sculptures are placed everywhere and the interior is illuminated by beautiful lights.

The Chillout Ice Lounge is located in Times Square Dubai, and can be contacted on +971-4-341-8121.

Have a snowball fight and ski

A snowball fight in Dubai? It’s possible at Ski Dubai in Mall of the Emirates. Probably the only way to ski down a snowy slope in a land known for deserts, the winter wonderland offers a unique experience. A fantastic addition to your Dubai Adventures to-do list, a visit to Ski Dubai is one for both kids and adults to enjoy. Bookings for desired activities can be made online at the Ski Dubai website. 

Wall Climbing at Mountain Extreme 

Flex your fingers and start climbing the largest indoor climbing wall in the emirate. The place has a bouldering wall and various climbing routes that will test even the toughest of climbers. If however, you’re just starting out, it is recommended that you ask for a coach, who can help you in climbing the wall safely. 

This extreme Dubai adventure is located in Business Bay. Children as young as 4 years old can try their hand at bouldering in this unique location. You can contact the team at +971-4-446-6080.

Paintball

Here is one of the most exciting things to do in Dubai — grab some friends and challenge them to a paintball match. Popular places offering the activity include Battle Park which features around 7 indoor and outdoor themed battlegrounds where opposing teams can test their mettle and strategic skills to win.   

Take a look at some of the best places for paintball in Dubai and the rest of the UAE. 

Encounter sharks

The Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo features a Shark Encounter experience. which is the best way for adrenaline junkies to get up close with the deadliest predators of the sea. Located in The Dubai Mall, the experience has you in a diving cage while sharks swim centimetres in front. 

Shark encounters are among the most extreme adventures in Dubai.

Ride a race car at the Dubai Autodrome

If you have ever dreamt of driving a race car on a professional track, the Dubai Autodrome is the best place to make it come true. For a fee, you can get behind the wheel of a Porsche GT4, McLaren Sprint and more. For extreme adventures in Dubai, we recommend the F1 and Formula DXB Experience. 

Zipline over Dubai Marina

The world’s fastest, longest and steepest urban zipline is located right at Dubai Marina. Take the daredevil in you to new heights by strapping in and speeding across the Marina at over 80kph suspended 70 metres in the air. Those up for the challenge are treated to some spectacular views. 

You can reach out to XDubai to get hands-on experience with this amazing adventure in Dubai. 

Dubai adventures in the air

The city of Dubai has much to offer adventurers in the air as it does on the ground. From skydiving over The Palm to balloon rides over the desert and 

Skydiving over the Palm

Nothing says adventure more than jumping off a plane with nothing but the wind keeping you afloat hundreds of feet in the air. That’s why skydiving is often on every adventurer’s bucket list on a trip to Dubai. The emirate of Dubai is famed for offering skydiving, the most popular being Skydive Dubai UAE which offers both tandem experiences and a solo skydiving course. A typical dive occurs 4,000 metres up in the air and customers are treated to stunning sights like the Palm Islands and World Islands. 

Ride a balloon over the desert

A hot air balloon ride in Dubai is ideal for those looking for Dubai adventures that are less extreme but provide the same thrills. Visitors are spoilt for choice in terms of companies that offer balloon rides and the service packages offered. Depending on personal preferences and the number of people in your party, a package may include everything from falconry to a desert safari and breakfast to helping the crew prepare your balloon for flight. So, make sure that balloon adventures in Dubai are part of your plans. 

Take a helicopter ride

The Dubai skyline is considered one of the best in the world and a helicopter ride over the city is a great way to admire it — architectural landscape, ocean views and all. It gives you a chance to get up close and take pictures of the tallest skyscrapers in the city as well as other sights like the stunning Dubai coastline. A typical flight, from Atlantis Helicopter Tours, for instance, lasts around 15 minutes, but that is more than enough time for thrill-seekers who want to make the best of their visit to the emirate. 

Take off from the water on a seaplane

We are used to planes taking off from the ground. So riding a plane that takes off and lands on water is an experience that must be on your list of Dubai adventure tours. There are several tour operators that offer seaplane flights in Dubai. Amongst all, Seawings Seaplane Tours is more popular in which customers can opt for the 45-minute to a shorter and cheaper 20-minute trip. 

Have dinner in the sky

It’s hard to focus on a meal when you are dangling several feet up in the air — but it’s an experience that adventure seekers will relish. Located near Skydive Dubai, the Dinner in the Sky experience allows a maximum of 22 diners to feast on chosen dishes on a dinner table which is hoisted 50 metres up in the air with a crane.

• Location: Al Sufoh, Skydive – Dubai 
• Contact: +971-2-650-8808

Dubai adventures on the sea

From jet-skiing to diving and sailing — when it comes to marine activities, Dubai offers it all. More than 50 km of pristine coastline make the emirate an ideal spot for watersport enthusiasts. Make the most of your Dubai adventure by cutting the waters on a jet-ski or taking a more relaxing dhow cruise. For a better idea, here are some great water adventure in Dubai:

Flyboarding 

Probably the closest thing to flying freely above the water, flyboarding is a unique activity that every adventurer in Dubai must try at least once. The water-propelled flyboard accommodates one person and is only recommended for those who can keep their balance. An exhilarating experience, every go at a flyboard is supervised by trained instructors with several vendors offering the service. Many of the beaches in Dubai including JBR Beach offer this activity. 

Jet Skiing 

Dubai is famed for its beaches. And while many people love spending lazy days relaxing on its white sandy shores, thrill-seekers take on the waves on jet skis. The watersport is pretty popular in the emirate and its many beaches duly accommodate enthusiasts interested in the activity. The best places for jet skiing in Dubai include La Mer beach, JBR beach, and the Dubai Marina. 

Parasailing and wakeboarding

Both of these activities drag you behind a speedboat. The only difference is that one of them launches you in the air while the other keeps you on the water with nothing but a rope, wakeboard and your balancing skills keeping you afloat. The best of Dubai adventure sports, parasailing and wakeboarding must be on your adventure itinerary in Dubai. 

Kite Surfing

All you have to do is visit Kite Beach in Dubai to know how much visitors and residents love kite surfing. Thanks to plenty of rental facilities and lessons, the activity is available for both amateurs and professionals. Requiring riders to grip a parachute which can be used to change direction or increase speed, kite surfing on a beach in Dubai is a wild ride. 

Deep-sea fishing

Ever wanted to catch a Barracuda in the middle of the ocean? Well, you can in Dubai. The activity is a long-standing tradition in the emirate and can be done all year round. The Persian Gulf is home to large schools of different fish species like Kingfish, Barracuda, Cobias and Groupers as well as others. Several services in Dubai offer deep sea fishing with options like Trolling to Casting which enables customers to reel in topwater predators. Whatever you choose, keep in mind, having a license is necessary for anyone interested in the activity in Dubai. 

We hope these Dubai adventures encourage you to visit the emirate and make the best of it. Have you tried your hand at adventure tourism in Dubai? We love to hear about your own experiences, so drop us a comment below.

Looking for other activities in the city? Our extensive list of things to do in Dubai can help you find the best tourist attractions and activities here. Do you plan on visiting the city during winter months? Check out our overview of winter activities in Dubai before you plan a visit.

Apart from Dubai, there are some exciting activities and places to visit in the smaller cities across the UAE. For example, Al Hayer Oasis in Al Ain is one of the recently opened tourists spots in the country and is already gaining tremendous popularity.

For more updates on new adventures in Dubai, stay tuned to MyBayut.