Attractions and things to do in Dubai

Camel ride safari

When we think of the middle east and the Bedouin people we think of people riding the sandy dunes in the afternoon. Camels are beautiful animals well adjusted to survive in the harsh desert climate, so it comes as no surprise they have been the primary means of transportation for local nomadic people for as long as can be recalled.

A popular attraction in Dubai is to recreate this experience with camel rides, which are organized on a regular basis. When you have the opportunity why not enjoy this charming experience of a camel safari through the Dubaian desert into the sunset. By booking a ride in advance you can be sure to enjoy this authentic experience.

Quad biking

Dubai is surrounded by endless sandy dunes, which makes it an ideal place for quad biking. Adrenaline freaks who like dune bashing will find everything their heart desires here. Of course quad biking through the dunes can be done at a safe pace and under professional supervision, so it’s open to beginners and experts alike. The desert has never been more spectacular.

Ski Dubai

Ski Dubai might be one of the most exciting family friendly attractions in Dubai, as it is the biggest indoor ski park in the world. It’s hard to phantom how they managed to create this ambitious project in a desert city. But after spending my day skiing and drinking warm chocolate milk at Ski Dubai I have to say it’s a lovely experience.

Ski Dubai can be found in the heart of Dubai, at the Mall of the Emirates, over which it towers with a height of 85 meters. It’s suitable for both beginners and experts, as it has five different slopes in various degrees of difficulty. It’s also possible to learn how to ski or snowboard through the courses that are offered. One of the most unique features of Ski Dubai is that you can book an encounter with real penguins that waddle through the snow park at set times.

If you are looking for things to do in Dubai then skiing in this extravagant ski resort should be on the top of your list. You might want to consider booking a trip to this winter wonderland in advance, as it is truly an experience that’s unique to Dubai that you can’t miss out on.

Dubai Miracle Garden

Another world record breaking attraction is the Dubai Miracle Garden, which is the largest natural flower garden on the planet. The sheer size of this park is impressive, but all the artistic creations in the park truly give it a wow factor. From colorful flower castles, giant cats and elephants to an entire airplane made from flowers.

The Dubai Miracle Garden is perfect for a vibrant day with the whole family, as there is so much to see and do. Everything is well maintained, as you can expect from Dubai, making this extensive flower garden one of the beautiful parks in the world. The theme of the park changes every season, ensuring there are always new surprising things to see. There are also plenty of places to sit down and enjoy a bite and a drink, so all your needs are well taken care of.

The park also has an indoor butterfly garden, which has over 15.000 butterflies to enjoy. Especially kids love to see all these colorful creatures flying around. And if you still have energy left, then you can check out the trampoline park and the souvenir shop of the Dubai Miracle Garden.

The flower park is open for 6 months a year during the winter and spring season, as the summers are a bit too warm for the plants. So if you are in Dubai enjoying one its notoriously pleasant warm winters then you can’t really miss checking out these flourishing flowers in bloom and taking some pictures to create some unforgettable moments.

Renting a Jetski

A beach vacation is not complete without racing over the water on a jetski. With landmark buildings such as the Burj Al Arab in the background jet skiing in Dubai is a dazzling experience. Of course you can jetski at your own pace so beginners are free to take it easy and just enjoy the sights while they propel themselves over the clear blue water. Jet skiing is certainly is one of our favorite activities in Dubai. Its perfect both for thrill seekers and recreational tourists who just want to enjoy the beautiful backdrop.

Dinner cruise on a traditional boat

On vacation you will often find yourself in a restaurant. But if you wish to make your dinner extra special you could consider having a buffet off the coast of Dubai and sailing through the Dubai creek. In Dubai you will find several traditional dhow boats that sail past the Dubai coastline while serving you a nice buffet. With the tall buildings of the Dubai marina in the background under the starry night sky, often paired with on-board performances of authentic Arabic music. Going on a dinner cruise is an interesting way to spice up your evening while staying true to the Dubai vibe.

Dubai city tour

A Dubai city tour allows you to discover all special sights in Dubai with the aid of a professional tour guide. If you enjoy sightseeing and don’t want to miss anything then a local guide can show you around the city. It is always fun to explore the local culture by visiting the old traditional parts of Dubai with a guide. But discovering the modern highlights can be equally rewarding. There are a wide variety of tours available, from regular city tours over land to extensive sightseeing tours over water. So travelers have plenty of options to choose from. A city tour in Dubai is an excellent way to learn more about the city. For a cultural traveler doing a city tour is certainly one of the best things to do in Dubai, as learning about Dubai from a local perspective gives depth to any cultural vacation.

Falconry in Dubai

The graceful Falcon is the national animal of the United Arab Emirates. In the UAE millions of dollars are spent every year to protect and preserve these lovely creatures in the wild. Falconry used to play a central aspect in Dubaian culture as it allowed the people to catch small animals to eat. With a falconry trip you will be entertained with an interesting show about the old Dubaian tradition, how falcons are handled and catch their lure prey.

Dubai Autodrome

In the southeast of Dubai you will find the Dubai Autodrome, which is the motorsports circuit of Dubai. This popular race circuit is part of Dubai Motor City where all kind of race events take place.

The circuit of the Dubai Autodrome is 5.39 km (3.35 mi) long and was opened in 2004 to bring the Formula 1 to Dubai. The track has four racing configurations, two additional non-racing sections and is sanctioned by the FIA, which means that Formula 1 races can be held at this circuit. This hasn’t happened yet though, as the Formula 1 race of the United Arab Emirates went to the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.

Although the Formula 1 race doesn’t take place at the Dubai Autodrome, several other important races already do or did take place here, like the FIA GT Championship, the UAE Clio Cup, the A1 Grand Prix, the Dubai 24 Hour, the UAE Touring Car Championship, the Porsche Cup Middle East, the NGK Racing Series, the UAE Clio Cup and the UAE Sportbikes Championship.

If you want to enjoy a racing experience at the circuit of the Dubai Autodrome there are several possibilities available. You can for example book a Renault Clio Cup-race car, a Ferrari GT, or even a Formula 1 like car which you can drive by yourself.

At the Dubai Autodrome you can also find a Kartdrome, where you can go karting. The Dubai Kartdrome has an indoor and outdoor track. The largest track is an impressive outdoor track, which is a 1.2 km (0.75 mi) long international standard karting track with several features such as a bridge and a tunnel. At this track the UAE championship karting is usually being hosted. If you are older than the age of 7, which is likely the case, you can drive a kart yourself at one of these tracks. Suits, helmets, balaclavas and gloves are included when you book a kart-session.

Helicopter flight in Dubai

Dubai is known for its iconic skyscraper rich skyline and record breaking architecture. Enjoying the Palm Islands from the air is something few people get to experience. But this once in a lifetime experience is actually available to everyone with the ambition to see these modern wonders. Taking a helicopter tour in Dubai is one of the most memorable experiences you can take home from Dubai. The aerial view is truly stunning and unique on this planet so taking a helicopter flight is truly one of the best things to do in Dubai.

Indoor skydiving (iFly Dubai)

Skydiving is one of the ultimate rushes. And with indoor skydiving you can experience the closest thing to flying as superman and defying gravity as you can safely get. Thanks to the use of a wind tunnel you can keep falling for extended periods of time. It’s done in a safe and controlled environment, with a nearby instructor, so it’s family friendly and can be done by almost everyone. It’s certainly a recommended thing to do at least once in your life.

Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo

The Dubai Aquarium is the biggest aquarium in the world and part of the Dubai Underwater Zoo, with tens of thousands of animals of seventy different species. You can find this gigantic attraction at the Dubai Mall.

You can walk through a 48 meter glass tunnel through the aquarium to have yourself immersed with the aquatic world all around you. But it’s also possible to go shark diving into the aquarium, between sharks, stingrays and schools of fish and experience the animals up close. For the less adventurous among us it’s also possible to go snorkeling in the aquarium inside a steel cage, so there is something for everyone.

You can see a large part of the aquarium from the Dubai Mall, but if you wish to go inside the immersive glass tunnel or if you desire to go diving inside the aquarium then you need tickets for the Dubai Underwater Zoo. The Dubai Underwater Zoo is an immersive attraction filled with cool animals like the 5 meter King Croc, Giant Octopus and more.

Desert Safari

In Dubai a desert safari is off-road racing over the dunes in a 4×4 car. For a thrill seeker it is as fun as it sounds. You can go exploring the desert, while drifting over the sandy dunes with an experienced driver ensuring you stay safe and speedy during the wild ride. And during your journey you’ll get the opportunity to take some beautiful pictures. Most desert safari’s also end with a nice barbecue or a traditional buffet in the desert to recover from all the excitement.

Seaplane flight over Dubai

Dubai is known for its extravagant luxury experiences. Taking a seaplane tour over the city of Dubai certainly is one of them. As you take the skies you will get to enjoy an unrivaled panoramic view of the cities futuristic skyline and it’s seaside skyscrapers. Soak in the beautiful coast line, the man-made Islands and one of the tallest buildings in the world, the Burj Khalifa, from an unmatched aerial view that you normally only get to see on television. From the air you can see how the city comes alive as the traditional boats sail below you from one of the biggest ports in the world. It’s a pretty wondrous experience.

In general flights with a seaplane last longer than helicopter flights, but they are also a bit more expensive. So it’s certainly something we consider a luxury experience, albeit a beautiful and unforgettable one. At Meet The Cities we still have fond memories of our trip. It’s something you will carry with you for the rest of your life.

Dubai Dolphinarium

Dolphins are one of our favorite and most intelligent friends from the ocean. Visiting dolphin shows is a great way to spend your time with your whole family. At the Dubai Dolphinarium you will be treated on a show with bottlenose dolphins and seals. They will touch the audience with their acrobatics and playfulness. The show is filled with plenty of action and is guaranteed to create some positive memories.

At the Dolphinarium it’s also possible to separately arrange photo moments and even child friendly meet and greet swimming experiences with the dolphins, where they tow their guest around.

Abra water taxi

Right through the heart of Dubai passes the Dubai Creek, also known as Khor Dubai. This river separates the Deira district, where several popular markets are located, and the Bur Dubai district, which is a historic center. Luckily there is a very fun, fast and cheap way to cross this creek, namely by water taxis called Abras. Abras are small traditional boats that can ferry you across for a fee. For many locals this is a daily trip, but for tourists it’s a cool experience in Dubai culture. Some Abras also offer a water tour over the length of the creek. When you are in Dubai you should take a water taxi for the experience. Especially for it’s low price this activity in Dubai is highly recommended.

Skydiving

Over the skyline of the world city Dubai must be one of the most sensational places in the world to skydive. Dubai as a coastal city, with many unique sights, like the tallest building in the world, the beautiful Palm Islands is a breathtaking scene to behold. It’s no surprise this is a very popular destination for skydivers. And the popularity of the location has attracted much skydiving expertise to Dubai. The unique skyline Dubai offers has ensured skydiving is a very popular attraction in Dubai. You can find the skydive center next to the Palm Island, Palm Jumeirah. If you jump together with an instructor you can spend all your energy on enjoying this once in a lifetime experience. If you wish to enjoy a beautiful view, the freedom of flying, a good thrill and beautiful memories to take home you will find all that and more here.

Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary

The Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary is a small paradise for birds and other native animals in Dubai. Ras Al Khor can be found at the end of the Dubai Creek. The wildlife park has been mostly fenced off so animals can thrive there in peace within the urban area of Dubai. Animal friends and bird spotters are welcome to check out one of the three birding hides from which you can look into the park. For tourists the park is mostly known for the feeding of it’s native birds, such as flamingoes. And the best part is that it’s absolutely free. A hidden gem of Dubai.

Horse riding

Taking a peaceful stroll through the desert of Dubai on your own horse is a pretty relaxing experience. Clearing your mind and enjoying the scenery as you stroll over the dunes is something everyone can relate to. Novices are also able to join up as horse riding instructions are given to beginners. If you enjoy animals then horse riding under the watch of a professional instructor can be a pretty fun activity in Dubai. Although it’s often underrated by many people a tranquil morning or evening walk over the dunes of Dubai is certainly quite a pleasant experience.

Diving among exotic fish

In the landmark hotel Atlantis The Palm you will find one of the biggest aquariums around, the Ambassador Lagoon, filled with exotic fish species. This aquarium is not only one of the biggest eye catchers of the hotel, but you can also book a dive into it. There are different diving plans available for people of different skill levels. Novices can swim among the exotic and colorful fish in one of the largest open air aquariums in the world. While scuba certified divers can book to swim among more than dozen different predatory sharks and even hand feed them. Of course under the guidance of a professional instructor. Diving among these exotic animals is joy for the adventurous swimmers among us.

Global village

One of the largest open air amusement parks in the world is Global Village. The park is open five months a year, as it tends to be closed during the warm summer. The characteristics of Global Village resemble that of a huge city fair, with bumper cars, boats, shows, a rollercoaster and a ferris wheel and rides suitable for the entire family. It’s also a haven for shoppers as cultures from across the world are represented in their own pavilions containing entertainment, shops and stalls from that respective culture. There are also many restaurants from a diverse array of exotic cultures from the middle east and asia. The park is certainly a recommended visit for families of all ages staying in Dubai.

Ice skating at the Dubai Ice Rink

Within the gigantic Dubai Mall you will find the olympic sized ice skating rink, that is also used by professional sporters. Here everyone from beginners to experts can book some time for fun leisure riding on their ice skates. There are also professional coaches, who give both group and private lessons, that can help you learn how to master the ice. There are also special events at the ice rink, like disco parties on ice, foam parties and skating with snow fall. Perfect for an afternoon of fun with the kids.