Outdoor Activities and Adventures, Dubai

Dubai is famous world over for its endless stretches of rich, red Arabian sand. A desert safari takes you on an ultimate expedition to the heart of the desert. Get your adrenaline pumping as you hit the desert in a 4x4 vehicle and indulge in some exhilarating dune bashing. An array of exciting desert activities including sandboarding, camel riding, and quad biking. Retire to the Bedouin campsite for a quintessential Emirati experience where a wide range of interesting activities await you. Smoke shisha pipes, dress up in traditional attires, get your hands and feet painted with beautiful henna patterns, and witness a magical sunset. Sit back around a bonfire and watch captivating cultural performances such as Tanura dance show and Belly dancing. Culminate your evening with an indulgent buffet dinner consisting of numerous lip-smacking delicacies. A desert safari is one of the most unique experiences you will have in Dubai

Discover the Burj Khalifa – the world’s tallest building, a global icon and a feat of engineering. Truly a marvel of not just engineering but also imagination and design, the 828m Burj Khalifa has drawn visitors from all over the world since its opening in 2010. This magnificent building is the conceptual heart and soul of the city of Dubai – inspiring the viewer to imagine new possibilities. Inspired by an abstraction of the Hymenocallis flower, the towering structure is essentially three sections arranged around a central core. Viewed from above, it is consistent with the onion-dome design frequently found across a variety of Islamic architecture, albeit on a much smaller scale. The Burj Khalifa boasts not one but two observations decks – the two-storey At the Top on the 124th and 125th floors, as well as the world’s highest observation deck (555m) on the 148th floor. https://www.visitdubai.com/en/pois/burj-khalifa

One of Dubai’s most famous tourist landmarks, the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah often stands among the top five – if not the absolute peak – of the world’s most iconic hotels. Since its opening in late 1999, the hotel with its distinctive sail-shaped silhouette, has thrust Dubai onto the global luxury tourism landscape. Built on a triangular man-made island reclaimed from the sea, the hotel and its billowing sail-like structure rise 321 metres above the sea, offering panoramic views of the Arabian Gulf. Managed by Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts, Burj Al Arab takes accepted standards of luxury to a new level. Guests have access to service on par with royalty and fine dining alike. Gold interiors, lush suites, the finest delicacies – Burj Al Arab’s long list of superlatives cannot be matched. https://www.visitdubai.com/en/pois/burj-al-arab

Al Mamzar Beach Park is another one of Dubai’s hidden gems that's well frequented by residents. The park covers an enormous 106 hectares, adjacent to Mamzar beach near Hamriya Port and Deira. Five separate beaches make up the Mamzar beach area, all surrounding the park. The huge space is packed with family-friendly facilities and entertainment to keep kids of all ages satisfied. Take advantage of more than two-dozen public barbecues, grassy picnic areas, changing rooms, beaches and pools. They’re also monitored by lifeguards with kid-friendly swimming areas. Park yourself by the lagoon, or if you’d like to check out the park in its entirety, hop onboard the Park Train. This takes you around the whole area – another great way to entertain the kids. The park is also equipped with a musical amphitheatre which hosts performances from time to time. Whether you stay just for a few hours or the whole day, you’ll have a great time at Al Mamzar Beach Park. It’s only a short drive past Dubai Creek – perfect for a picnic or family day out. https://www.visitdubai.com/en/pois/al-mamzar-beach-park

Want to explore one of the largest and most stunning aquariums in the world? Don’t miss the giant 10 million-litre tank at the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, which contains more than 33,000 aquatic animals and the largest collection of sand tiger sharks anywhere. Rising to the third floor of The Dubai Mall, the aquarium is home to 140 species of sea life and offers many incredible ways to experience the underwater world. Stroll through a 48m tunnel, with the aquarium enveloping you from overhead and around. It’s a complete fish-eye view, with sand tiger sharks and stingrays swimming overhead. You can also go snorkelling or don an oxygen tank to go swimming with the sharks. https://www.visitdubai.com/en/pois/dubai-aquarium-and-underwater-zoo

Beachgoers, kitesurfers and spectators unite at the popular and well-named Kite Beach. If you’re serious about your watersports and wish to test your skills on one of the best free beaches in Dubai, Kite Beach has the challenge you seek. Located steps from Jumeirah’s main street, you’ll find high quality watersports equipment available along the sand, with kitesurfing, wakeboarding and stand-up paddleboarding gear all ready to go. Head down in the afternoon, as this is when the wind picks up and presents some better conditions. https://www.visitdubai.com/en/pois/kite-beach

Palm Island Dubai (Jumeirah Palm Island) is one of the most ambitious real-estate developments on earth, heralded as the 8th wonder of the world as it can be seen from space. It is one of three islands called the Palm Islands (Palm Jumeirah, Palm Jebel Ali and Palm Deira) which extend into the Persian Gulf. Jumeirah Palm island features themed hotels, villas, apartment buildings, beaches, marinas, restaurants, and a variety of retail outlets. The most popular feature being 5 star aqua themed hotel Atlantis. The best way to visit Palm Jumeirah is to take a taxi to the Palm Gateway Monorail Station, at the base of the Palm, and then the Monorail up to the the top, where most of the attractions are (Atlantis hotel, Aquaventure Waterpark, The Lost Chambers Aquarium... ). This way you can enjoy the view of the Palm from the elevated train. http://www.topdubaiattractions.com/palm-island/

Shopaholics will rejoice at The Dubai Mall - the world’s largest destination for shopping, entertainment and leisure located next to the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. Located in the heart of the prestigious Downtown Dubai is The Dubai Mall, the world’s largest and most-visited retail and entertainment destination, which welcomes more than 80 million visitors annually. With a total internal floor area of 5.9 million sq ft, The Dubai Mall has 3.77 million sq ft of gross leasable space, over 1,300 retail outlets including two anchor department stores – Galeries Lafayette and Bloomingdale’s – and over 200 food and beverage outlets. https://thedubaimall.com/

The magic of India’s prolific film industry can be experienced in Dubai at the world’s first Bollywood-inspired theme park. Bollywood Parks Dubai recreates the charm of old-school Mumbai and brings to life some of the industry’s top blockbusters. Located in Dubai Parks and Resorts, get ready for a whole lot of thrills, exciting family entertainment and plenty of surprises along the way. https://www.visitdubai.com/en/articles/ultimate-guide-to-bollywood-parks-dubai

Dubai Marina offers plenty of entertainment for families, friends and couples. This impressive outdoor entertainment development launched in 2014 directly opposite JBR's The Walk and it's been a hive of activity ever since. Its modern, low-rise design elevates the enviable beachside location and there are now more than 70 shopping and dining options. https://www.visitdubai.com/en/articles/dubai-marina-highlights

Lights, camera action: Hollywood comes to life at Motiongate Dubai, located in Dubai Parks and Resorts. This thrilling theme park features epic rides and attractions based on some of the most memorable and successful movie franchises of recent years. Meet your favourite characters in real life and grab a photo to take home. Expect to see a few Hollywood favourites at Motiongate Dubai, including favourites from Ghostbusters, Kung Fu Panda, The Hunger Games, The Smurfs, Shrek and Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs. Strap in for a ride on some adrenaline-pumping rollercoasters such as The Green Hornet’s High-Speed Chase and the Madagascar Mad Pursuit, or drop-down vertically in the high-speed Zombieland Blast-Off. For an in-depth experience, explore one of the top attractions in Dubai with the Backlot Tour. You can see how these amazing movies grow from a simple idea, all the way to becoming a blockbuster motion picture. Or, check out a show at the Kung Fu Panda Academy or Operation Penguin Shake. Every day you’ll find a great schedule of entertainment, and some may invite you to take part on the stage. https://www.visitdubai.com/en/pois/motiongate-park-dubai

As the name suggests, Creek Park sits right on the edge of Dubai Creek – making it really stand out from the other green spaces in the city. It’s also the second largest park in Dubai, featuring vast acres of lawns, botanical gardens and children’s play areas. Although this retreat is in the centre of the city, you can enjoy sprawling lawns and endless views of the creek. Stroll along the paved promenade, watch the dhows bobbing in the water, or enjoy a show at the theatre. You can even explore the park by renting a bike for just a few dirhams. Popular with picnickers, there are plenty of barbecue spots spread across – just one of the many free facilities you can enjoy at the park. Families will especially appreciate the mini golf, a go-kart track and numerous playgrounds designed to keep the little ones happy. https://www.visitdubai.com/en/pois/creek-park

Mushrif Park in Dubai is so big that you can actually drive through it. It is the ideal spot for family picnics, and strolls under shady trees. Mushrif Park was opened to public in 1982 by the Dubai Municipality, and spans 5.25 square kilometres in the eastern part of the Dubai city in Deira. It is 15kms away from the Dubai city centre on airport road, leading to Khawaneej area. Mushrif Park has an international village, comprising 13 models of Arabic and English houses. The park also includes entertainment services such as electronic games, barbecue and trip areas, pool services, child games areas, sport playground (including basketball, volleyball and handball), walking and bicycle tracks, prayer rooms, green areas, restaurants, canteens, train ride services, camel and horse riding, park theatre, and facilities for people with special needs. The horse and camel riding areas introduces visitors to the traditional life pattern, wherein there are camels, horses, Bedouin tents, goat, well etc. Visitors get to ride camels and horses and will get to know the Bedouin lifestyle, while enjoying a picnic. The Park’s theatre can accommodate 500 people where musical concerts are performed during holidays, Eid and other special occasions. http://www.dubai.ae/en/Lists/Topics/DispForm.aspx?ID=35&category=Home

Ski Dubai is the first indoor ski resort in the Middle East and offers an amazing snow setting to enjoy skiing, snowboarding and tobogganing or just playing in the snow. Young or old, there is something for everyone, from the beginner to the snow sport enthusiast. Also come and meet the incredible Ski Dubai Snow Penguins! Say hello to the cute colony of Gentoo and King Penguins who call Ski Dubai home. Enjoy a rare and personal encounter with these wonderful creatures by booking one of our amazing Snow Penguin packages. Meeting our Snow Penguins is one of the top things to do in Dubai. This is definitely one experience you will treasure forever! https://www.skidxb.com/