Dubai isn’t just about skyscrapers, luxury shopping, and desert safaris, it’s a playground for thrillseekers who are craving adrenaline pumping activities!
Whether you like skydiving or looking for activities like dune bashing, Dubai stands out not just because of its wide range of adventure options, but also for the world-class safety standards it upholds across every experience. So if you want to experience these activities, there’s no better place!
In this Borderline Nomad blog, we are going to discuss over 20 experiences and activities, ranging from mild thrilling adventures to extreme thrilling activities—so you can find the best experiences for your intensity level. So let’s get started!
Mild Adventure: Exciting Yet Accessible Experiences
Not all adventures are meant to push your limits! So if you love mildly adventurous experiences, here are some experiences perfect for you:
Ski Dubai
Who would’ve imagined that you could experience winter sports in the middle of Dubai? Located inside the Mall of the Emirates, Ski Dubai offers real snow and features 5 ski runs of incremental difficulty levels, starting at beginner slopes and ending at a 400 metre course with a 60 metre vertical drop!
Apart from skiing, Ski Dubai offers snowboarding, tobogganning, and even feeding the resident penguins during designated timeslots! Even if you’re a complete beginner at winter sports, there are instructors ready to teach you the correct techniques and assist you with the equipment.
If you’re looking for an adventure while escaping the Dubai heat, then Ski Dubai is the place to go!
Hot Air Balloon Ride
Looking for a peaceful yet thrilling experience? Then hop on to an early morning Hot Air Balloon Ride, where you can view the desert and Dubai’s skyline in a completely different way.
The Hot Air Balloon experience by trusted providers will have certified pilots flying you over the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, which houses a wide variety of native wildlife that you can see from 4000 feet above!
The experience begins a short while before sunrise to allow you to witness the sun rising over the sand dunes, whilst seeing the skyline of Dubai on the horizon. The experience lasts about an hour, and almost always includes hotel pickup, dropoff, and refreshments. Can’t start your day any better than this!
Desert Camping with Stargazing
Desert camping with stargazing offers you a chance to experience the natural beauty of Dubai’s desert landscape after dark!
The experience typically begins in the late afternoon with activities like camel riding and sandboarding before settling into a Bedouin-style camp for the evening.
As the sun sets, the sky reveals thousands of stars, planets, and constellations, and tour providers offer telescopes and guide you to line up the telescope to spot them! Most packages include hotel pickup/dropoff, traditional Arabic dinner around a campfire, cultural entertainment like belly dancing or falcon shows, and breakfast the following morning.
The temperature can drop significantly at night, so warm clothing is either provided or recommended. Desert Camping with Stargazing is one of the best adventure activities you can find in Dubai!
Book your Desert Camping experience with Camel Trek, BBQ Dinner, and Stargazing here!
Dubai Marina Dinner Cruise
The Dubai Marina Dinner Cruise offers one of the most unique perspectives to view Dubai and have a fun evening at the same time! The boarding takes place at Dubai Marina harbour, and the cruise boats are traditional wooden dhow boats that have been modernised with air conditioning and comfortable seating.
The cruise takes you through the Dubai Marina Canal, which is surrounded by skyscrapers and landmarks, offering you a completely different perspective of Dubai’s skyline.
The Dinner Cruise, specifically, serves an awesome buffet that comprises both international and local dishes, with some cruises providing an open bar, and there are almost always live music and dance performances for an entertaining evening!
The entire experience lasts about 90 minutes and up to a couple of hours, and is worth every AED!
Aquaventure World
Located in Atlantis – The Palm, Aquaventure World stands as the world’s largest waterpark! Offering over 105 different slides, attractions, experiences, and even dolphin experiences, this water park is a must-visit if you’re looking for some thrills and want to escape the Dubai heat at the same time!
Featuring slides such as The Leap of Faith – where you reach speeds of up to 60km/h, and Shark Attack – where you go through a transparent tube slide inside a lagoon filled with real sharks, and even an artificial 700-metre-long river where you can float and relax, Aquaventure World offers some of the best adventure that Dubai can provide!
You can either book tickets just for Aquaventure World, or get the Super Pass that allows you to visit Aquaventure World, The Lost Chambers Aquarium, and meet the resident dolphins up close!
Moderate Thrills: Stepping Up The Adrenaline
Want to take the thrill up a notch? Us too. Here are some moderately thrilling experiences that offer a perfect balance of adventure, adrenaline, and fun:
Sunset Desert Safari with Dune Bashing
Have you even visited Dubai if you did not try one of its most iconic experiences? The Sunset Desert Safari with Dune Bashing takes you far away from Dubai and deep into the desert in an SUV (don’t worry, hotel pickup and drop-offs from Dubai are always included for this one), where a professional will aggressively climb over and slide the sand dunes, even driving off dune ramps and achieving air-time!
The experience begins with your guide picking you up at your hotel in an SUV and then driving you for about an hour to reach the desert entry point. Upon reaching here, a professional driver will deflate the car’s tyres for better grip on the sand and head into the desert, and the experience begins!
All cars are mandated by authorities to be equipped with a roll-cage to ensure your safety. The Sunset Desert Safari with Dune Bashing is often provided in the form of a package which includes a BBQ Dinner and live performances at a Bedouin camp after sunset, and is absolutely a must-visit if you’re in Dubai!
Book your Sunset Desert Safari with Dune Bashing, Camel Ride, and BBQ Dinner here!
Dune Buggy and Quadbike Experience
Want to drive over the dunes yourself with the assistance of a professional? Then hop onto a buggy or a quadbike and head into the desert! The buggy/quadbike journey can last anywhere between 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on your package, and you get to see various landmarks in the desert and learn to drive and perform stunts over the dunes!
You can either opt only for the buggy/quadbike experience, or if you’re already booking the Sunset Desert Safari with Dune Bashing, you will get the opportunity to book a buggy or a quadbike directly at the desert reporting point. We had opted for the latter for the added convenience of completing all desert activities in a single day.
Even if you’re booking only the buggy/quadbike experience, be assured that the experience almost always includes hotel pickup and dropoff.
Sandboarding
Sandboarding in Dubai provides a desert adventure similar to snowboarding, but on the desert’s sand dunes instead of snowy slopes! Provided as an add-on in most desert experiences, such as dune bashing and buggy/quadbike experiences, sandboarding is an easy to learn, hard to master sport, where you can reach breathtaking speeds down the sand dunes!
Tour operators provide all necessary equipment and professionals will guide you with the proper technique. If you’re heading to the desert, be sure to try sandboarding!
Watersports
Had enough of the heat and looking to cool down in the water? Then head to one of the Dubai beaches with watersports activities and indulge in some adventure! There are numerous watersports to try with varying thrill levels. Here are our recommended ones:
Jet Ski
Jet skiing in Dubai offers high-speed excitement on the crystal-clear waters surrounding Dubai’s coastline. Popular locations to rent Jet Skis include Kite Beach, Jumeirah Beach, Palm Jumeirah, and Dubai Marina.
Most rental companies provide brief safety training and require participants to wear life jackets, with guided tours available for those wanting to explore specific routes. The activity is suitable for beginners and experienced riders alike, with modern jet skis that are easy to handle and can reach thrilling speeds across the calm Arabian Gulf waters.
Book your 45-minute Jet Ski Adventure with Burj Khalifa and Burj Al Arab views here!
Flyboarding
Flyboarding is a relatively new watersport that uses powerful water jets to propel you high above the water surface up to 15 metres, and you can perform aerial maneuvers like Iron Man!
For experiencing Flyboarding, you can head to Jumeirah Beach Residence, Palm Jumeriah, or Dubai Marina, where professional instructors provide comprehensive training and safety equipment, as these sports require balance and coordination to master.
Most sessions last 15-30 minutes and take place in controlled environments with certified operators, and are a must-try if you’re looking for some unique thrills!
Parasailing
Parasailing combines the thrill of flight with panoramic views of Dubai’s spectacular coastline and skyline. You will be harnessed to a parachute and lifted high above the water by a speedboat, enjoying peaceful gliding while taking in bird’s-eye views of landmarks like the Palm Jumeirah and Dubai Marina.
Flights typically last 10-15 minutes with the ability to accommodate single riders or tandem pairs, and require no special expertise or experience, making it perfect for couples or friends wanting to share the adventure!
Book your Parasailing experience with Palm and Jumeirah Beach View here!
Scuba Diving
Out of all watersports, Scuba Diving might offer the most rewarding adventure you can find! Nothing beats the feeling of learning in depth about the diving equipment, breathing technique, and communication, and then applying it in a practical setting in the open water whilst swimming alongside marine life.
Dubai offers multiple PADI-certified diving sites with varying difficulty levels, and there are numerous reputable dive shops that offer scuba diving packages for both beginners and seasoned divers, and even PADI certification courses.
For beginners, the most suitable and popular diving spot is at La Mer Beach, where you get to swim alongside marine life at up to 10 metres depth with expert guidance. For seasoned divers, most diving trips begin at Port Rashid.
Scuba Diving requires preparation on both your end and the operator’s end, hence we recommend booking your activity online in advance for convenience.
Indoor Skydiving at iFly Dubai
Do you want to experience the adrenaline rush of skydiving without the risk in a safe, controlled environment? Then trying Indoor Skydiving at iFly Dubai might be your best bet!
Located in Mirdif City Centre, iFly Dubai features a state-of-the-art vertical wind tunnel with powerful fans that generate winds at up to 200km/h, creating an upward airflow that allows you to float and fly inside a padded glass chamber!
The experience begins with a comprehensive safety briefing and training session where certified instructors will teach you proper body positioning, hand signals, and safety procedures. The activity is suitable for ages 3 and up, making it a popular family adventure that allows children and adults to experience skydiving without jumping from an airplane.
As this is a highly popular activity, we recommend booking your experience online in advance to avoid any last-minute hassles.
Helicopter Tours by HeliDubai
Helicopter Tours by HeliDubai provide the most stunning views of Dubai’s famous landmarks and architectural marvels! Operating from multiple helipads, including Dubai Festival City and Atlantis – The Palm, HeliDubai offers various helicopter routes ranging from a 12-minute Scenic Tour to a 40-minute Odyssey tour, which is a comprehensive exploration of Dubai.
Regardless of which route you choose, you will surely get to see these landmarks: Burj Al Arab, Palm Jumeirah, The World Islands, Jumeirah Coastline, Burj Khalifa, Godolphin, and Business Bay, and there will be a guide to provide interesting information about each sight to you!
The helicopter tours accommodate different group sizes and maintain strict safety standards with internationally certified aircraft and commercially licensed pilots.
As this activity is highly sought after, we strongly recommend booking your tour in advance, as the tours operate on a fixed schedule and getting a last-minute booking is quite difficult.
Dubai Autodrome
Located in the Motor City in Dubai, Dubai Autodrome hosts global racing series like the FIA GT Championship and GP2 Asia, but it’s most famous for the Dubai 24 Hour endurance race, where legends like Sebastian Vettel, Nico Rosberg, and Fernando Alonso have competed!
While the track hosts numerous professional events during the year, it doubles as a motorsports experience and training centre during other times. Dubai Autodrome seems to offer something for every kind of motorsport there is—ranging from Karting racing lessons to even Formula racing training (yes, the track is FIA-sanctioned!).
Moreover, they even offer top-of-the-line racing simulation experiences where you can perfect your skills before heading out to the track!
We especially recommend trying the BMW M240i Driving Experience at Dubai Autodrome, where a professional racing instructor will guide you to reach top speeds on the track in a high-performance car! You can read much more about our experience in our honest review of Dubai Autodrome racing experience.
Extreme Challenges: Ultimate Adrenaline Rushes
Still looking for more thrill and extreme challenges? At this point you are just an adrenaline junkie, and we love it! Here are some of the most extreme activities you can find in Dubai, which will give you adrenaline rushes like no other:
Tandem Skydiving over Palm Jumeirah
We believe that free-falling down thousands of feet is the pinnacle of thrill-seeking, and Skydiving over Palm Jumeirah offers the rare ultimate adrenaline rush you’re looking for, where you will get to witness breathtaking views of Dubai’s most iconic man-made island.
This tandem skydiving experience will take you up to 13,000 feet above the Arabian Gulf, where you will leap from the aircraft attached to a certified instructor with thousands of jumps on their belt.
The freefall itself lasts approximately 60 seconds, reaching speeds of up to 200 km/h while offering stunning aerial views of the Palm Jumeirah, luxury resorts, and Dubai’s glittering coastline.
Safety is the top priority, with all equipment regularly inspected and instructors holding international certifications from recognized skydiving institutions.
As this is an extreme activity, booking online in advance is highly recommended. Book your Tandem Skydiving Experience over Palm Jumeirah here!
ActionFlight G-Force Aerobatic Flight Experience
Did you recently watch Mission Impossible: Final Reckoning and want to experience the G-Forces sustained on a stunt plane like Tom Cruise did? Operating from Al Ain Airport, ActionFlight provides thrilling aerobatic flights in high-performance aircraft designed for extreme maneuvers like barrel rolls, loops, hammerheads, and inverted flying (like Top Gun!).
These flights can cause intense G-forces that can reach up to 6Gs, as a professional stunt pilot performs various flight maneuvers with you in the backseat!
The experience lasts around 20-30 minutes and has a mandatory safety briefing before the flight, where you will learn breathing techniques, G-Force preparation, emergency procedures, and you will be required to wear a specialised flight suit designed to handle high-stress maneuvers.
Are you ready for one of the most memorable experiences of your life?
XLine Dubai Marina Zipline Experience (World’s Longest Urban Zipline)
XLine Dubai Marina Zipline Experience holds the Guinness World Record as the world’s longest urban zipline, stretching over one kilometer from a 170-meter high launch platform.
Located at the top of the Amwaj Towers in Dubai Marina, this zipline experience launches you across Dubai Marina at 80km/h speed, and finishes at a designated landing platform near Dubai Marina Mall!
Booking in advance is highly recommended to avoid any last-minute hassle.
Book your XLine Dubai Marina Zipline Experience with complimentary photos and videos here!
This concludes our curated list of adventurous things to do in Dubai. Whether you’re looking for some mild adventure, moderate thrills, or extreme adrenaline rushes, Dubai offers some of the best adventure-filled activities that you can find in a single city!
Did you like our curation of adventure activities? Below is a curated list of the best hotels in Dubai, according to your budget. If you are looking to book one and are overwhelmed with the options, consider one of these hotels!
Best Hotels in Dubai
Looking for a great stay during your adventure-filled vacation but struggling to choose among so many hotel options? Here are our recommended hotels in Dubai, ranging from quality budget and mid-range stays up to luxurious retreats.
Budget to Mid-Range Hotels
Here are the best budget to mid-range hotels in Dubai:
Al Seef Heritage Hotel Dubai, Curio Collection by Hilton
Located in Old Dubai next to the Dubai Creek, Al Seef Heritage Hotel Dubai provides one of the most authentic ways to experience the traditional Emirati lifestyle. Featuring traditional and comfortable wooden furniture, each design element in this hotel is carefully chosen to represent traditions. Access to superior amenities such as swimming pool, spa, and fitness centre is available at Canopy by Hilton Dubai Al Seef with complimentary transportation to and from the hotel.
Book your stay at Al Seef Heritage Hotel Dubai, Curio Collection by Hilton here!
FORM Hotel Dubai
FORM Hotel Dubai offers the most bang-for-the-buck stay that you can get in Dubai! Featuring superior amenities, stylish rooms, rooftop swimming pool, an exceptional breakfast, and a great location, FORM Hotel Dubai provides basically everything that you might be looking for at a great price!
Book your stay at FORM Hotel Dubai, a member of Design Hotels here!
Ramada by Wyndham Downtown Dubai
Ramada by Wyndham Downtown Dubai offers a superior stay in one of the most prime areas in Dubai. Featuring great amenities, chic rooms with amazing views, and a large outdoor pool, you can’t go wrong by staying here!
Luxury Hotels
Enjoy a luxurious stay in Dubai in any of these hotels:
Palazzo Versace Dubai
Featuring 16th century Italian architecture with hints of Arabian style, Palazzo Versace Dubai offers one of the most aesthetic stays in Dubai. Located at Al Jadaf Waterfront, this hotel features multiple restaurants, a beautiful outdoor pool, and luxurious rooms with creek views.
Andaz Dubai The Palm, by Hyatt
Located on the Palm Jumeirah island and next to Nakheel Mall, Andaz Dubai The Palm offers superior luxury rooms with sea views, great amenities, and a magnificent outdoor pool. Plus, it’s near Aquaventure Park, and all watersports activities are just a short ride away!
The Biltmore Villas Hotel and Spa
Located in Al Barsha near the Mall of the Emirates, The Biltmore Villas Hotel and Spa was designed from the ground up to provide the utmost amount of luxury and comfort a hotel could offer. Featuring two, three, and five-bedroom villas, each villa has a large rooftop, a bar, an outdoor pool with a jacuzzi, and even an indoor cinema theatre! You can’t get a more luxurious stay than this!
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