1. Dubai Frame
Dubai Frame, also known as Berwaz Dubai, is a 2018 addition to Dubai’s kitty of record-breaking structures. Located in Zabeel Park, the frame comprises of 2 towers, 150m each connected by a 93m long bridge at the top. Its glass-bottomed sky deck flaunts a 360-degree view of both old and new Dubai. A museum on its lower floor showcases Dubai’s journey from a humble fishing village to the global microcosm it has grown to today and a futuristic prediction of what Dubai will look like in 2050.
What: Dubai Frame
When: Sun to Mon from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm
Where: Zabeel Par
Also read: You Can Now Enjoy Breakfast At The Dubai Frame As You Watch A Stunning Sunrise; Here’s How
2. Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve
Away from the glam of Dubai lies UAE’s first national park, a pristine reserve that was built to preserve the desert habitat and cultivate a flourishing ecosystem with flora and fauna similar to an actual desert. A trip here starts off with a dune safari, which skilfully drifts through the reserve, spotting animals like gazelles, oryx, and Gordon’s Wildcat, to name a few. During your time here, you can engage in various activities like sand boarding, camel treks, horse rides, a falcon class, or even archery. For a laidback experience, you can lounge on low cushions in the Bedu tents, smoke Sheesha or Hubbly Bubbly, and enjoy a delectable Arabic feast. Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort and Spa, is nestled in this compound, where you can relieve your muscles after an adventurous day.
What: Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve
When: 24 hours
Where: Dubai Desert
3. A Trip To Hatta Mountains
Three hours out of Dubai lies a range of rugged mountains called Hatta, with undulating terrains offering a plethora for adventure enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. You could hike up the meandering hill, go mountain biking, stroll around the Hatta Heritage Village, kayak around the emerald Hatta Lake, sit by the Hatta Dam, and get consumed in its beauty.
What: Hatta Mountains Adventure
When: Sun to Mon from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm
Where: Hatta
4. La Mer
Flanked in between Jumeira Bay and Pearl Jumeri, La Mer (translated to the sea) is a whopping 13.4 million square feet of reclaimed and existing land. This oceanfront getaway is a complete haven for seaside enjoyment, featuring a stunning beach, enticing restaurants, and breathtaking views of Dubai’s iconic skyline. Explore playful murals and art installations that add vibrancy to the area, relax by the beach club, and indulge in watersports such as doughnut riding, flyboarding, and water biking. The destination also houses a waterpark with thrilling slides, a wave simulator, an infinity pool, and more. Include this seaside gem in your Dubai city tour.
What: La Mer
When: Sun to Mon from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm
Where: JBR
5. Dubai Parks And Resorts
Considered Dubai’s Disneyland, this Adventureland has four parts: Riverland, Lego Land, Bollywood Park, and Motion Gate, and it is an Oasis of fun galore. Riverland, the gateway to Dubai Parks & Resorts, is a meandering alley by the river through different past eras showcasing the Boardwalk, Peninsula, India Gate and French Village. An architectural delight with artistic sculptures and mesmerising stories of the past, you’re in for a flight to the past whilst you walk here. Lego Land has a dry arena and a water park specifically designed for kids aged 2-12. With over 20 slides and rides at the waterpark and 40 other theme rides, buildings and shows, kids will have fun building legos and being in a Lego-immersed world.
The booming world-famous Bollywood industry inspires Bollywood Park. Divided into five enthralling zones: Bollywood Boulevard, Mumbai Chowk, Rustic Ravine, Royal Plaza and Bollywood Film Studios, this park showcases the spirit of Bollywood through augmented reality, 4D theatre experiences, live shows and six restaurants encompassing the essence of Indian cuisine. Motiongate is another cinema-inspired park based on Hollywood’s three largest motion picture studios – Columbia Pictures, Lionsgate and DreamWorks Animation. Brace yourselves for acts of creative storytelling, the illusion of filmmaking, roller coasters, play zones and action-packed adventures with your favourite stars coming to life.
What: Dubai Parks And Resorts
When: Sun to Mon from 10:00 am to 11:00 pm
Where: Sheikh Zayed Rd – Dubai
6. IMG Worlds Of Adventure
When I said Dubai is a city of superlatives, I meant it. This state-of-the-art attraction is the largest temperature-controlled themed entertainment destination in the world! Built over an area of 1.5 million square feet with the capacity to accommodate over 20,000 people per day, IMG World is a heart-racing and spine-tingling experience. It is divided into four thematic zones – Marvel Universe, Cartoon Network, Lost Valley – Dinosaur Adventure and IMG Boulevard. It also has themed retail stores, a Novo cinema complex and dining venues. So befriend life-size dinos, get your breath stolen with roller coasters like Velociraptor and walk into the Haunted Hotel for a terrifying 15 minutes.
What: IMG World Adventure
When: Sun to Thurs from 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm & Fri-Sat from 12:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Where: City of Arabia, along Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road
7. A Souq Walk
A souq is defined as a marketplace or commercial quarter in Western Asian and North African cities. On the banks of Deira Creek lie various souqs surrounded by traditional barejeels and ornate wooden roofs. These are the top 3 souqs to look out for. Bur Dubai Souq- Name a fabric, and you can find it here. Nicknamed the Textile Souq, you can buy anything ranging from pashminas to velvets to raw silk to cotton, all at affordable prices. Spice Souq- It’s hard to miss this one with the aroma of spices wafting by your nose, magnetically pulling you to see sacks and sacks of spices, dried nuts, incense burners, shisha, henna etc arranged fashionably in snug shops.
Gold Souq- Even if you don’t intend to buy gold, a walk by the Gold Souq is a soulful experience. Shops here are teeming with gold, pearls, diamonds, platinum and practically everything that glitters, and a walk down this long stretch of 300 jewellery retail stores is sure to fill up a lot of memory on your camera roll. Funnily enough, you can even haggle for gold prices here. While at the Souq, ride on the Abra or Dhow and glide across the glistening Dubai Creek.
What: Souq Walk
Where: Gold Souq, Bur Dubai Souq &Spice Souq
8. Sky Diving
Jumping off a helicopter and free-falling into a splendid aerial view of palm-shaped Jumeirah islands and the sky-piercing skyline of Dubai is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for adrenaline junkies. Dubai has some of the best skydiving facilities worldwide, and you can easily find one that suits your courage and budget. If you’re not up for taking off from such a height but still want to experience the thrill of this sport, you could engage in indoor skydiving, which simulates a similar scenario and is less risky and less scary. Dubai Indoor Skydiving and iFly Dubai are your best bets for indoor skydiving. For outdoor skydiving, Skydive Dubai is touted to be the best.
What: Sky Diving
Where: Skydive Dubai, Dubai Indoor Skydiving and iFly Dubai
9. Dubai Miracle Garden
Located near the Arabian Ranches, Miracle Garden is the world’s largest natural flower garden, with over 60 million flowers grown in 72,000 square meters. These floral patterns and structures are changed every season to give repeat customers a different experience every time they visit. Petunias, Marigolds, Geraniums and many more varieties are dolled in intricate sculptures and designs, a truly vibrant treat for your eyes. This art exhibit is a miracle, whether it is the ceiling of colourful umbrellas, the record-breaking wall of flowers, or the life-size floral replica of Emirates Airbus A380. Don’t forget to step into the Dubai Butterfly Garden, Dubai’s first indoor butterfly sanctuary, while you’re here. These gardens are closed during summer.
What: Miracle Garden
When: Mon to Fri from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm & Sat-Sun from 9:00 am to 11:00 pm
Where: Al Barsha
10. Al Fahidi Historic District
A 2-hour tour of the Al Fahidi Historical District will likely transport you to the 1800s when Dubai was a sleepy trade town. Bordering Dubai Creek, this restored area formerly known as camel-coloured barejeels, museums, quaint courtyard cafes, boutique hotels, art galleries, and craft shops flank the Bastakia Quarter. In the labyrinth of these lanes are hidden gems best explored on foot. Walk around and soak in stories of traditions and Arabic yore from the then desert-clad Dubai and a glimpse into the life of early Bedouins.
What: Al Fahidi Historical District
When: Sun to Mon from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm
Where: Al Fahidi, Dubai
11. Museum Of The Future
The Museum of the Future, located in Dubai’s Financial District, is a torus-shaped building featuring windows inscribed with a poem about the future by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Founded by the Dubai Future Foundation, it officially opened on February 22, 2022, a palindrome date chosen for its symbolic significance. The museum showcases innovative and futuristic ideologies.
What: Museum of the Future
When: Sun to Mon from 9:30 am to 8:30 pm
Where: Dubai’s Financial District
12. AlSerkal Avenue
Alserkal Avenue in Dubai’s Al Quoz is an arts district with galleries and facilities. It includes “Concrete”, designed by the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA), and it’s the first UAE project for OMA. Inaugurated in March 2017, it offers a multidisciplinary space with flexible configurations, double-height ceilings, movable walls, and a unique translucent facade.
What: Alserkal Avenue
When: Sun to Mon from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
Where: Al Quoz
13. Air Maniax Dubai
Air Maniax in Al Quoz, Dubai, offers an indoor aerial assault course with high-tech features to capture your moments of adventure. The facility has various zones catering to bounce, zip, crash, and excitement levels. It’s a fun-filled experience for falling over and jumping into things in the city.
What: Air Maniax
When: Mon to Fri from 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm & Sat-Sun from 9:00 am to 10:00 pm
Where: The Palm Jumeirah
14. Enjoy A Dinner Underwater
Ossiano, located in Atlantis The Palm on Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, offers a unique dining experience with tables overlooking the famous aquarium. Guests can enjoy watching the fish while indulging in a meal, creating an unparalleled culinary experience.
What: Dinner at Ossiano
When: Sun to Mon from 6:00 pm to 1:00 am
Where: The Palm Jumeirah
15. Al Seef
Opened in late 2017, Al Seef pays homage to Dubai Creek’s history as a pearl diving centre. The 1.8km stretch along the creek’s edge encompasses a 2.5 million square foot development, divided into two distinct sections. One highlights old architecture in a heritage area, while the other features more contemporary structures, blending the past and present along the shoreline.
What: Al Seef
When: 24 hours
Where: Dubai Creek, Bur Dubai
Also Read: Dubai’s Al Seef Has A Brand-New Starbucks & It’s A HIT On The Gram
16. Ski Dubai
In the heart of the desert, Ski Dubai at the Mall of the Emirates in Barsha offers a unique snow experience. Whether learning to ski, chilling with penguins, or enjoying a hot chocolate at the snow cinema, it provides a cool escape from the sun. It ranks among the best activities in Dubai for a snowy adventure.
What: Ski Dubai
When: Mon to Fri from 10:00 am to 11:00 pm & Sat-Sun from 9:00 am to 12:00 am
Where: Mall of the Emirates, Al Barsha
17. Deep Dive Dubai
Deep Dive Dubai, the world’s deepest swimming pool, plunges 60 meters into the depths with 14 million litres of fresh water. Opened in July 2021, it mimics an underwater city equipped with furnished rooms and submerged vehicles and even functions as an underwater film studio. This unique attraction surpassed Italy’s Y-40, The Deep Joy, solidifying its place as a must-visit site in Dubai for aquatic and film enthusiasts alike.
What: Deep Dive Dubai
When: Sun to Mon from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
Where: NAS Sports Complex, Dubai
18. X Line Dubai Marina
Dubai’s XLine, situated in Dubai Marina, is the world’s longest urban zipline. Soar up to 170 meters high and travel 1 kilometre at an average 80 km/h speed. Two parallel zip lines allow you to share this adrenaline-pumping experience with a friend or loved one. It’s a must-try adventure for thrill-seekers in Dubai. Strap in and take the plunge!
What: X line Dubai Marina
When: Sun to Mon from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Where: Dubai Marina Mall
19. Global Village
Global Village, located at Exit 37, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, is a vast outdoor attraction in Dubai featuring representations from 78 countries. Alongside fairground amusements, visitors can enjoy international cuisine, shows, shops, and even explore an oddities museum. It’s important to note that this attraction is best visited during the cooler months, as it closes over the summer. Tuesdays at the venue are dedicated to families and ladies, with special access, excluding public holidays.
What: Global Village
When: Sun to Wed from 4:00 pm to 12:00 am
Thurs to Sat & Public Holidays from 4:00 pm to 1:00 am
Where: Exit 37, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road
20. TopGolf
Topgolf Dubai at Emirates Golf Club is a three-level, 60,000 sq ft entertainment venue with a rooftop terrace. It features interactive golf games, dining, and live music. With 96-hitting bays, three restaurants, VIP suites, sports viewing, and stunning Dubai Marina views, it suits golf enthusiasts and beginners. It is a versatile destination for fun, events, and relaxation.
What: Top Golf
When: Mon to Fri from 10:00 am to 2:00 am & Sat-Sun from 9:00 am to 2:00 am
Where: Emirates Golf Club
If you make a trip to Dubai this year, tick these off your list for sure.
With inputs from Priyanka Fernandes and Lakshmi Menon,
Cover Image Courtesy: Air India
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