In Dubai, a city full of extremes, there’s no surprise that adventure activities a plenty can be found – within the city itself and within easy day trips from Dubai.
Whether you’re a person who likes to roam around in malls, eat at the finest restaurants, relax in a spa, or indulge in adrenaline-rushing activities, Dubai has something for everyone!
And when it comes to adventure activities in Dubai, you’ll find a huge range. From racing amid the dunes to ziplining and flyboarding, there are plenty of places where you can unleash your venturous spirit!
We have put together 12 of the most famous Dubai adventure activities for an exhilarating experience or to satisfy your inner adrenaline junkie – if you dare!
Pssst, if these all fill a little extreme, don’t worry there are plenty more things to do in Dubai; you may also want to check out:
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12 Awesome Adventures in Dubai & Beyond
Whether you live in Dubai or are visiting it, here are 12 must-do activities in Dubai:
- 1. Cruise Through the Sand with Dubai Desert Safari
- 2. Get Your Dose of High Energy Thrill with Dune Buggy Rides
- 3. Sandboard Your Way Through the Desert
- 4. Have A Scenic View of the Dubai Landscape while Flyboarding
- 5. Skydive to the Stunning View of the Dubai Skyline
- 6. Zip Line Thousands of Feet Above and Across Dubai
- 7. Head to the Mountains to Enjoy the Bounties of Nature
- 8. Swim With the Deadliest Predators
- 9. Ride Across the Dubai Desert in a Hot Air Balloon
- 10. Add Some Fun to Your Life at the Wild Wadi Water Park
- 11. Unleash Your Inner Child at the IMG Worlds of Adventure
- 12. Explore the Sunken City on Your Deep-Diving Adventure
1. Cruise Through the Sand with a Dubai Desert Safari
One of the most renowned adventure things in Dubai is the desert safari. A trip without this activity is incomplete!
At Al-Khayma Desert Camp, you can enjoy a memorable evening cruising through the sandthrill-seekersdrive vehicle and riding on camels to experience the desert like never before. And, after you’re done with all the thrilling activities, you can enjoy an exquisite BBQ buffet that includes a variety of local dishes.
Apart from this, there are other interesting cultural activities at the camp like henna painting, shisha, and hunting. It is a true Bedouin experience that takes you away from the hustle and bustle of the happening Dubai life into the primitive desert life.
Where to Find It?
- Al-Awir, Dubai (pick-ups from your Dubai hotel)
What is the Cost?
Starting from AED 161 per person for 4 hours.
- For longer hours, and even overnight desert camps, the price starts from AED 202.
For more information about timings, bookings, and activities, please visit Al-Khayma Desert Camp.
Some alternative desert adventure camps to try:
- You also won’t want to miss our comparison of the best-priced Dubai Desert Camps – we help explain why some desert camps cost more than others and the difference between desert tours and desert dune bashing safaris
- We’ve also got some top tips here on how to appropriately dress for a Dubai Desert safari
2. Get Your Dose of High Energy Thrill with Dune Buggy Rides
Ride through the desert with the wind in your hair and sand at your feet with the amazing dune buggy and quad bike rides!
If you want to have a true desert experience, riding on a quad bike or dune buggy with no doors, roofs, or windows is one hell of an extreme sport in Dubai. The feeling of traveling through the desert, bumping on the sloping dunes, and holding on for dear life is something that will leave you stoked!
So, buckle up and get ready for the ride of a lifetime with Big Red Adventure Tours, where you can choose from morning, evening, and overnight options for your adventure.
Where to Find It?
- Pick Ups from your accommodation included out ot the desert
What is the Cost?
- 1-seater dune buggy tour starts from AED 800
- 4-seater dune buggy tour starts from AED 1400
- Tour with dinner starts from AED 1300
- Private tours start from AED 6500
For more information about timings, bookings, and activities, please visit Big Red Adventure Tours or book your tickets online with GetYourGuide
Some alternative Dune Buggy experiences to try in Dubai
3. Sandboard Your Way Through the Desert
If you’re a fan of snowboarding, you will love sandboarding!
It’s practically the same thing, except you have sand in place of snow. Use a ski board and head towards the Arabian desert to slide up and down the dunes. The best part of sandboarding is that it can be enjoyed by kids and adults alike; however, the minimum age for most tour operators is 13 years.
So, get your sandboarding gear on to enjoy this extreme sport that you won’t find anywhere other than Dubai!
Where to Find It?
- Various Dubai desert locations – pick-ups from your Dubai accommodation
What is the Cost?
- Starting from AED 163.56
For more information about timings, bookings, and activities, please visit Arabian Desert Safari.
Or try one of these Dubai desert camps with a focus on the sand sports element of your desert safari
4. Have A Scenic View of the Dubai Landscape while Flyboarding
If you’ve had enough of the desert, it’s time to head toward the sea!
Flyboarding is another adventure sport in Dubai famous among the locals and tourists. It is a combination of flying and swimming and involves a fly board that takes you almost 100 feet above the water at a speed of 150 km/h.
It is an exciting sport that is sure to give you an adrenaline rush! The fly board not only takes you up high, but you can also dive underwater and experience the thrill of deep-sea diving with this water propulsion device. This activity is available at multiple places in Dubai, including Nemo Water Sports.
Where to Find It?
- Various locations around Palm Jumeirah and Jumeirah Beach
What is the Cost?
- AED 400 for a 30-minute session.
For more information about timings, bookings, and activities, please visit Nemo Water Sports.
Or try one of these reputable water sports companies offering flyboarding experiences in Dubai:
5. Skydive to the Stunning View of the Dubai Skyline
We’ve enjoyed desert activities and water activities. How about some extreme air sports, like skydiving?
Nothing can beat the thrill of freefalling from a dropzone at 120 miles per hour! Skydive Dubai offers freefalling from 2 locations: The Palm dropzone, from where you can have the mesmerizing view of the Palm Jumeriah island, and the Desert dropzone, from where you can view the dunes of the Arabian desert. And, once you’re done with the skydiving, you can pay to receive a 1-minute video of your skydiving experience.
All-in-all, skydiving is one of the best adventure sports in Dubai that gives you a thrilling experience to remember!
Where to Find It?
- Skydive Dubai, Al Seyahi St – Dubai Marina – Dubai
What is the Cost?
- AED 2299 for skydiving from the Palm Dropzone and AED 1799 from the Desert Dropzone.
For more information about timings, bookings, and activities, please visit Skydive Dubai or book online with free cancellation possible on GetYourGuide
6. Zip Line Thousands of Feet Above and Across Dubai
Talking about extreme air sports, how can we miss out zip lining, one of the most adventurous things to do in Dubai?
Famous for being the world’s longest urban zip-lining activity, XLine takes you on an adrenaline-rushing adventure 1800 feet above the Dubai Fountains. While zip-lining at almost 70 km/h, you get a gorgeous view of Dubai and its monumental skyscrapers and structures. The zip line lasts for almost 40 seconds, but the view combined with the feeling of gliding over the city beats everything!
So, get ready to get enthralled; get ready to zip line your way across Dubai!
Where to Find It?
- XLine, Level P, Dubai Marina Mall
What is the Cost?
- AED 600 for one zip line.
For more information about timings, bookings, and activities, please visit XLine Dubai.
7. Head to the Mountains to Enjoy the Bounties of Nature
If you’re a nature-lover, hiking and biking through the mountains must be pure joy!
Located in the middle of the Hajar Mountains, near Hatta Lake, Hatta Wadi Hub offers a variety of activities, including mountain climbing, hiking, mountain biking, archery, kayaking, and even zorbing. What’s zorbing, you may ask? Imagine rolling down a hill in a transparent orb, taking in the beauty around you.
With so many adventurous activities, the Hatta Wadi Club is a must-go place for all tourists and locals looking for extreme sports in nature.
Where to Find It?
- Hatta Wadi Hub, Off Dubai-Hatta Road
What is the Cost?
- Starting from AED 60, the prices vary for different activities.
For more information about timings, bookings, and activities, please visit Hatta Wadi Hub or check out our complete guide to exploring Hatta in the Hajar Mountains.
8. Swim With the Deadliest Predators
Take your adventure spirit up a notch and shark dive with the deadliest predators of all time – The 300 razor-sharp-toothed sharks!
Shark diving is just like scuba diving, the gear, and everything, but you have death lurking around you! Are you up for the challenge? Are you ready to test your survival skills? Then gear up and swim with the mighty sharks in the same tank!
The Dive Mahara at the Dubai Mall offers this hair-raising experience for brave-hearted people. Get up close and personal with the sharks, but don’t end up being the prey!
Where to Find It?
- Dive Mahara, Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo Dubai Mall
What is the Cost?
- AED 750 for certified divers and AED 1150 for non-certified divers with instructor
Learn more about planning a visit to Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo or contact divemahara.com
9. Ride Across the Dubai Desert in a Hot Air Balloon
Dubai is known for its magnificent skyscrapers and artificial islands. What is a better way to take in the view of both these man-made wonders at the same time than riding in a hot air balloon across Dubai?
Enjoy the scenic view of the Dubai landscape, Burj Khalifa, Burj Al Arab, the Arabian desert, the Persian Gulf, and the beautiful mountain ranges on the outskirts of Dubai from 4000 feet above ground level!
So, book a hot air balloon ride now for the refreshing feel of the cool morning air on your face and through your hair!
Where to Find It?
- Balloon Adventures, 1303 Control Tower, Motor City, Dubai
What is the Cost?
- AED 1250, including a hot air balloon ride, falconry, and breakfast.
For more information about timings, bookings, and activities, please visit Balloon Adventures Dubai.
See these further tours and overnight adventures offering an opportunity to take a hot air balloon ride in Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve:
10. Add Some Fun to Your Life at the Wild Wadi Water Park
While riding across the desert in a dune buggy or freefalling from atop the highest building are famous extreme activities in Dubai, you can never get enough rides at Wild Wadi Water Park!
The Wild Wadi Water Park is one of the most adventure-filled places in Dubai, where you can enjoy various thrilling water rides and 17 different water slides. The various rides and slides include the Jumeriah Sceirah, the Burj Surj, Tantrum Alley, Action River, Juha’s Dow and Lagoon, and many other spine-tingling rides.
So, if you’re looking for a fun-filled day with your family enjoying adventure sports in Dubai, the Wild Wadi Water Park is the place to go!
Where to Find It?
- Jumeirah Street, Next to Burj Al Arab Jumeirah 2, Dubai
What is the Cost?
- Starts from AED 299 to AED 249 for kids
Please visit Wild Wadi Water Park for more information about timings, bookings, and activities [presently closed for renovations over the winter]
You can also catch more theme park thrills in Dubai and the UAE at these locations:
11. Unleash Your Inner Child at the IMG Worlds of Adventure
If you’ve had enough of nature but still want to have provocative adventures in Dubai, it’s time you went to an indoor theme park.
The IMG Worlds of Adventure is the largest and the coolest indoor theme park in Dubai, where you can find something for everyone! It has 3 sections: Cartoon Network, Marvel, and Lost Valley.
Cartoon Network has various cartoon-themed rides for the kids, including Powerpuff Girls and Ben 10. As you can guess from the name, the Marvel section has Spiderman, Hulk, and Avengers-themed rides that Marvel fans of all ages can enjoy. For all the dino-fanatics, there’s the Lost Valley.
IMG also has the Haunted Hotel for a more chilling adventure. In short, you can have the time of your life at IMG Worlds of Adventure, unlike the other theme parks in Dubai, you’ll find IMG is more geared to thrill seekers.
Where to Find It?
E311 Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Rd – City of Arabia – Dubai
What is the Cost?
- For residents, AED 195
- For young residents, AED 175
- For non-residents, AED 245
- For non-resident kids, AED 225
For more information about timings, bookings, and activities, please visit IMG Worlds of Adventure or grab a ticket deal here:
12. Explore the Sunken City on Your Deep-Diving Adventure
Let’s wrap up this article with something that takes you on an adventure-filled journey through time!
At Deep Dive Dubai, you get a chance to go deep-sea diving in one of the deepest pools in the world, more than 60 feet deep! With the water temperature set at 30 degrees, the pool is open all year round and has perfect diving conditions.
The attractions in the pool are exploring the deepest darkest corners of the pool and swimming around discovering the hidden secrets of the sunken city. All this with diving experts and guides keeping a watch over you.
There are large windows all around the pool for hydrophobic people, from where they can see their friends and family dive and explore the pool.
If you’re ready to get wowed and wide-eyed with wonder, go deep-diving at Deep Dive Dubai!
Where to Find It?
- Nad Al Sheba 1, Dubai
What is the Cost?
- Scuba diving starts from AED 1800
- Snorkeling starts from AED 400
- Freediving starts from AED 1100
For more information about timings, bookings, and activities, please visit Deep Dive Dubai
Ready for a Dubai Adrenaline Adventure?
If you’re looking for Dubai adventure activities, you’ll find a ton! But we have hand-picked the best and most adventurous things to do in Dubai so you can make the most out of your time in the Emirates.
- You may also want to check out these adrenaline-pumping activities at Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi
- This are the best outdoor adventures in Dubai to enjoy over winter 2023
- Or why not head north to the UAE’s adventure capital Ras Al Khaimah to take on the world’s longest zipline, Via Ferrata and the Sky Maze, to mention just a few adrenaline-based adventures? You’ll see why this is where all the local thrill-seekers head in winter!
Before you go… More important things you should know when planning a trip to Dubai
- Pop into our essential planning information page, it includes everything you need to know about getting around Dubai, a handy guide on what to pack, and top tips for first-timers on the do’s and don’ts, laws, and customs to be aware of.
- Check out this incredible list of 150+ places you should visit when you’re in Dubai.
- Pick up a Dubai Pass from iVenture or a Go City Dubai Pass to save up to 50% on top Dubai attractions.
- Don’t forget to pack your travel insurance!!!
- Discover the best areas to stay in Dubai, or bag a bargain on your accommodation here:
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