For many of us, travelling is the perfect opportunity to try something adventurous. While most of our days are centred around a daily routine that’s familiar, going on vacation is a great time to do something new and exciting.
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And if it’s excitement that you’re looking for, Dubai is the perfect destination. Between the outdoor activities, theme parks and extreme sports offered in this city, there’s something for everyone looking for a little (or some major!) adrenaline rush. Here are 10 exciting activities to do in Dubai for thrill-seekers of all levels.
Note: We’ve categorised the activities according to Mild, Medium, and Ultimate, so you can choose the activities based on your personal preferences.
For mild thrill-seekers
1. At The Top, Burj Khalifa
Starting off our list is a must-do activity in Dubai that’s also perfect for those content with a more mellow level of excitement. At The Top, Burj Khalifa is the observation deck of the current tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa. The location of the deck on the 124th and 125th floors of this 830m-tall building means it’s probably not for those with a significant fear of heights!
We had the opportunity to visit At The Top, Burj Khalifa for ourselves during our visit to Dubai (check out our Dubai itinerary!). The tickets we booked on Klook (which were a combo with the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo) were a great option given that they proved cheaper than booking the attractions separately, and we were able to choose which time slot we wanted to visit. Klook also offers tickets for just At The Top, Burj Khalifa, if you’re not planning to visit the aquarium ?
The 124th floor features an outdoor deck where you can admire the stunning views of Dubai city through the glass panels that run all along the deck. The 125th floor, which is an indoor deck, also has floor-to-ceiling glass windows, allowing you to peer right down to the city-scape below.
Credit: @chcheryl831018 on Instagram
#HHWT Tip: Don’t forget to grab a photo at one of the multiple angel wings imprinted on the glass windows around the deck. The biggest (and probably most impressive) ones pictured above are located on the 125th floor. Check out other Insta-worthy spots in Dubai that you can’t miss here!
Price: From AED141 (SGD53 / MYR161) (General Admission) onwards. Book your tickets for the observation deck on Klook or opt for the combo ticket with Dubai Aquarium for a cheaper price!
Opening hours: 8.30am – 11pm daily
Address: 1 Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (entrance is located in Dubai Mall)
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2. Hot air balloon
Credit: @marcisdubai on Instagram
If At The Top, Burj Khalifa gives you a sky-high view of the modern developments of Dubai, going hot air ballooning in Dubai is a remarkable way to see the beauty of its past in the vast desert. While being so high up in the air in a small basket may require a bit of bravery, the view of the desert sands illuminated by the sun will surely be worth it.
Credit: @mikygetti on Instagram
Book your hot air balloon ride with Klook! This package conveniently includes transportation to and from the desert, a whole hour up in the hot air balloon, and a buffet breakfast in a traditional bedouin camp once you come back down. You’ll also get to ride a vintage Land Rover across the desert sands! And if that wasn’t exciting enough, there’s another feature that will make your hot air balloon experience in Dubai unique to those offered elsewhere in the world - a falcon!
Credit: @ballooning_uae on Instagram
Falconry (the art of keeping and training of falcons for hunting), is a longstanding tradition for Arab tribes of the desert, with the falcon also being the national bird of the UAE. During hot air balloon rides, a falconer will also be present with his feathered friend to provide a falcon show high up in the sky like no other.
Price: AED1,128 (SGD425 / MYR1,283) per person (book on Klook!)
Opening hours: The hot air balloon rides are conducted in the early morning (4am - 5am pickup time from your hotel) for the best weather.
3. Snow activities at Ski Dubai
Credit: Ski Dubai on Facebook
For something requiring a little more activity that's still gently fun and on the milder side of thrilling, a day out at Ski Dubai will do just the trick. This snow and ski resort located in the Mall of the Emirates is a remarkable feat of engineering resulting in a winter wonderland in the middle of the desert city of Dubai.
Credit: @skidxb on Instagram
Here, you’ll be able to indulge in fun snow activities including sledding and plenty of snow fights! You can also go zorbing (rolling downhill while enclosed in a large padded ball). Choose the Snow Park package offered by Ski Dubai to have access to the general snow areas for your snow-filled outing.
#HHWT Tip: You can even ski or snowboard at the park with their Slope package! However, please note that in order to hit the slopes, you need to have existing ski/snowboarding skills (intermediate level 2).
Price: Snow Park tickets start from AED190 (SGD72 / MYR217) (Book on Klook!)
Opening Hours: Sun - Thu (10am - 11pm); Fri (9am - 12am), Sat (9am - 11pm)
Address: Mall of the Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Rd, Dubai
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For Medium thrill-seekers
4. Indoor Skydiving
Credit: @iflydubai on Instagram
Have you ever considered the idea of sky-diving but aren’t quite ready to bring yourself to take that leap (literally)? That doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the chance to feel what it’s like to float in the air. Cue indoor skydiving!
Credit: @iflydubai on Instagram
Indoor skydiving is an activity that is gaining popularity throughout the world. IFLY is easily one of the most recognisable operators of this unique sport, with iFLY centres open in over 70 countries worldwide. Try your hand at ‘falling’ without the scary factor of having to jump out of a moving aeroplane at iFLY Dubai!
You’ve probably seen videos or pictures of how it works: you’ll be taken into a wind tunnel that pushes air at a rate as fast as 200km per hour, enough to lift you up off the ground so you’ll be suspended mid-air!
You’ll be defying gravity, but don’t worry, you'll have an instructor on hand at all times to guide you through the process so it’s a safe and fun experience. Please note that there are weight and height requirements to enjoy this activity: you must weigh less than 105kg if you are below 180cm, or less than 115kg if you are above 180cm.
Price: From AED220 (SGD83 / MYR251) (for first-time flyers). Book on Klook!
Opening hours: Sun - Thu (12pm - 10pm); Fri - Sat (10am - 11pm)
Address: Third Floor, Play Nation Area, City Centre Mirdif، Ghoroob, Sheikh Mohammed Zayed Road, United Arab Emirates
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5. Desert safari
No trip to Dubai is complete without an excursion to the desert, which also happens to be an amazing place to indulge in some adrenaline-pumping activities.
When we visited Dubai, we had booked a desert safari with Klook, which included a whole host of activities such as a barbecue dinner in the desert, performances, and camel-riding. But the highlight of the excursion was easily the dune bashing (an off-road adventure where you ride in 4x4 vehicles over the sand dunes), which was surprisingly a lot more exciting than we bargained for!
After careening through the desert sands, we also got to try riding ATV vehicles, which was a fun way to spend our time enjoying the desert setting.
P.S. The safari we booked on Klook also includes pick-up and drop-off straight to your hotel, which makes it super convenient!
Price: From AED115 (SGD44 / MYR131) (based on the tour we booked with Klook)
Opening hours: Excursions available daily, beginning from 2.30pm and lasting until night
6. Shark-diving
Credit: Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo by Emaar on Facebook
Sharks are creatures that are fascinating, regal, and intimidating. Getting up close to these formidable predators would be a thrilling experience and at Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, you can!
This aquarium located within The Dubai Mall is home to a variety of sharks that live in the impressive 10 million-litre tank that’s the centrepiece of the mall. It also has the largest collection of Sand Tiger sharks in the world!
Credit: Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo by Emaar on Facebook
Currently, the aquarium offers a Shark Encounter, where you’ll be able to be in the water as the sharks get fed, with trained staff luring the sharks close with fish. And the best part? You won’t even need to know how to swim or use diving equipment! You’ll be in a caged enclosure, wearing specialised headgear that enables you to breathe regularly (please note that you’ll need to be at least 152cm tall, with a shoulder-width of at least 33cm). The experience, which lasts for 30 minutes, will also include a tour of the aquarium’s shark-breeding facilities.
P.S. Even if you’re not planning on going for the Shark Encounter, the Dubai Aquarium is still a wonderful place to explore! For those who want to visit the aquarium, you can book your tickets on Klook (or opt for the combo ticket with At The Top Burj Khalifa!)
Price: AED630 (SGD240 / MYR719) for the Shark Encounter (includes free admission to the Aquarium Tunnel and Underwater Zoo)
Opening hours: 10am – 12am daily
Address: Dubai Mall, Financial Center Rd, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Website | Facebook | Instagram
For Ultimate thrill-seekers
7. Skydiving
Credit: @skydivedubai on Instagram
There’s a reason why skydiving is on many people’s bucket list. What bigger thrill is there than hurling yourself out of a plane and freefalling to earth before parachuting down the rest of the way? And in Dubai, you’ll be able to have this ultimate thrilling experience while witnessing some of the most incredible views.
Credit: @skydivedubai on Instagram
Skydive Dubai is the city’s notable skydiving operator, offering a school for those looking to earn their skydiving license, while also catering to those looking to do a tandem skydive with one of their professional instructors.
There are two areas where you can have your skydiving experience - the first being the Desert Dropzone, where you’ll jump and land over the desert dunes of Dubai, about 35km outside of the city. The second and more iconic area is the Palm Dropzone, where you’ll jump in full view of the magnificent Palm Jumeirah. The Palm Dropzone costs more, but given the stunning view and the fact it’s often referred to as one of the best places in the world to skydive, the price may just be worth it!
Credit: @skydivedubai on Instagram
Please note that there are weight limits for participating in this activity, namely a weight of 90kg or less for women or 100kg or less for men.
In addition, if you are female and would prefer a female tandem instructor, Skydive Dubai will do their best to cater to your needs - just let them know when you’re checking in for your skydive ? (if you’re jumping at the Desert Dropzone you’ll need to request this from staff at least 48 hours prior to your skydive using the Contact Us form on their website).
Price: AED1,699 (SGD643 / MYR 1,938) for Desert Dropzone; AED2,199 (SGD832 / MYR2,508) for Palm Dropzone
Opening hours: Slots for skydiving available between 10am - 2.45pm
Address: Al Seyahi St, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Website | Facebook | Instagram
9. Dubai’s amazing theme parks
Theme parks are an easy and accessible avenue to get your fill of thrilling activities, and
Dubai has a whole host of them! When we visited Dubai, we were able to try some of them for ourselves when we visited MOTIONGATE (located at Dubai Parks and Resorts), Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark and IMG Worlds of Adventures.
Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark
Credit: @roberta_boccia on Instagram
For those looking for some major thrills, there’s every type of ride out in Dubai to suit your fancy. And believe it or not, some of the most exciting rides are located in Dubai’s water parks. We were pleasantly surprised by how adrenaline-pumping some of the water slides at Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark (the water park located on Palm Jumeirah Island) are!
We booked our tickets on Klook and were able to skip queues by heading to their express ticket counters for those with online bookings. For an exciting ride, try The Leap Of Faith, a near-vertical water slide that’s definitely not for the faint-hearted! Another must-try is Poseidon’s Revenge. Check out this epic video of Suzana taking the ride - she was dropped from a standing platform into a waterslide ?
Price: Starts from AED320 (SGD121 / MYR365) for adults and AED260 (SGD98 / MYR297) for a 1 Day pass which includes access to The Lost Chambers aquarium (Book on Klook for cheaper prices!)
Opening Hours: 10am – 6pm daily
Address: Atlantis The Palm, Crescent Rd, Dubai
Wild Wadi Waterpark
Credit: Wild Wadi Waterpark on Facebook
Wild Wadi Waterpark is another water theme park (and also one of Dubai’s first!) which remains a popular favourite. Jumeirah Sceirah is one of their most popular slides which operates in a similar fashion to Poseidon’s Revenge, with a dropping platform. Other exciting slides include the Burj Surj and Tantrum Alley, which both feature downhill slides that you go down using a floatation tube.
Price: Starts from AED270 (SGD102 / MYR308) for adults and AED220 (SGD83 / MYR251) for kids for an Full Day Pass (Book on Klook!)
Opening Hours: Sun - Wed (10am - 7pm); Thu (10am - 6pm); Fri (10am - 10pm); Sat (10am - 8pm)
Address: Jumeirah Street, Next to Burj Al Arab, Jumeirah 2, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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IMG Worlds of Adventure and MOTIONGATE
Credit: N.Chirag on Facebook
If it’s good old roller coasters that you’re looking for, IMG Worlds of Adventures has The Velociraptor, a breathtakingly fast rollercoaster that really blew us away when we tried it. MOTIONGATE at Dubai Parks and Resorts also had some really good ones, namely The Capitol Bullet Train and The Madagascar Mad Pursuit. When we visited, we booked our tickets on Klook (for both MOTIONGATE and IMG Worlds of Adventure) which was convenient because not only were they cheaper, but we were able to bypass queues and head straight into the park with our printed tickets (you can use mobile tickets too!).
IMG Worlds of Adventure
Price: AED285 per person (SGD107 / MYR325) (Book on Klook for cheaper prices!)
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm on weekdays, 11am – 11pm on weekends (hours may be subject to change, check the IMG website ahead of your visit for latest hours)
Address: E311, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Rd, Dubai
Website | Facebook | Instagram
MOTIONGATE
Price: From AED245 (SGD93 / MYR 106) per person for 1 Day 1 Park ticket (Book on Klook for cheaper tickets!)
Opening Hours: Sat - Wed (2pm – 9.30pm); Thu - Fri (2pm - 10.30pm). Timings may change according to seasons, so do check their website ahead of your visit for timings.
Address: Dubai Park and Resorts, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Website | Facebook | Instagram
P.S. Check out our article on Dubai’s best theme parks to learn more about what they have to offer!
9. Zipline through Dubai Marina
Imagine soaring through the city head-first as you hang from a zipline, going at speeds of around 80km per hour.
Credit: XLine on Facebook
If that sounds like your cup of tea, prepare to take the world’s longest urban zipline at XLine Dubai Marina! XLine is the mastermind behind the zipline ride in Downtown Dubai that went viral in 2015. The zipline was a temporary attraction that sadly ended back in 2016, but the company came back with XLine Dubai Marina which opened in late 2017.
Credit: XLine on Facebook
The latest incarnation of XLine’s thrilling zip ride is 1km long (twice as long as the one in Downtown Dubai). You’ll take off from Amwaj Towers (at a height of 170m!), gliding downwards at an incline of 16 degrees across land and sea.
Credit: Xline on Facebook
Given the popularity of XLine Downtown Dubai, XLine Dubai Marina also has more lines available, which means you can also go down at the same time with a friend! It’ll be an experience to remember for sure. Please note that to ride the Xline, you’ll need to be between 12 to 65 years of age, taller than 130cm, weigh 50 to 100kg and in good medical health.
#HHWT Tip: While the XLine Dubai Marina is usually priced at AED650, they’re currently having a summer special until end September 2019, with prices slashed to AED399!
Price: AED650 (SGD242 / MYR741). Currently undergoing a summer special, with rides priced at AED399 (SGD159 / MYR480) until Sep 2019. Book on Klook!
Opening hours: 9am - 5pm daily (please note that timings are subject to change based on season, weather and public holidays. Check their Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates)
Address: XLine Dubai Marina, Dubai Marina Mall, Sheikh Zayed Rd, United Arab Emirates
Website | Facebook | Instagram
10. Dubai Autodrome
Do you have a need for speed? Ever wondered what it would be like to take a lap or two around the race track in a Ferrari GT? Your dreams may very well come true at the Dubai Autodrome, the city’s motorsports sports facility and racing circuit.
Credit: @dubaiautodrome on Instagram
The facility regularly hosts racing championships and events such as at UAE Procar Championship and the Hankook 24H Dubai. When it’s not the venue for such events, it has an array of activities open to the public, including Track Days (where you can bring your own car to test its full potential on the track) and days where cyclists and runners are permitted to ride or run on the track.
Credit: @dubaiautodrome on Instagram
But the most relevant activity for thrill-seekers in Dubai is their supercar experiences. The Dubai Autodrome allows you the chance to get behind the wheel of cars such as the Ferrari GT, the Porsche GT4, the Mclaren Sprint, the Renault Clio Cup Race Car and more. After a safety and instructional briefing, you’ll have the chance to drive the cars for laps around the circuit before being presented with a certificate to commemorate the once-in-a-lifetime experience.
If you’re not really interested in driving but still want to feel what’s like going in a race car, the facility also offers passenger ride experiences. Ride prices start from AED350 per person but do note it gets pricier if you choose to drive yourself and if you opt for the premier cars (for example, if you choose to drive the Ferrari GT, the experience costs just shy of AED3,000). It’s also worth noting that the Dubai Autodrome even offers the experience of driving F1 vehicles, but at a price of around AED9,995, it’s probably only for those with really, really deep pockets ?
Credit: @dubaiautodrome on Instagram
If you aren’t quite prepared to shell out that amount of cash but still want an exciting experience to walk away with, don’t worry. The Dubai Autodrome also has the Kartdrome, an impressive go-karting facility with an indoor as well as outdoor track. And don’t think it’ll be a tame experience either - you’ll be fully kitted out in racing gear and helmet, driving their karts that are powered by Honda engines.
Price: Car experiences start from AED350 (SGD132, MYR400). Kartodrome sessions start from AED105 (SGD40, MYR120)
Opening hours: 8am - 5pm daily
Address: MotorCity, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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Dubai is continuously pushing to become the go-to destination for some of the most amazing experiences. And with the list we’ve shared above, there’s definitely something for everyone! Whether you’re looking for mild levels of excitement or something that will give the ultimate adrenaline rush, the city has got you covered. So it’s time to start planning your Dubai trip with Klook! Check out our Dubai itinerary and our Muslim-friendly guide to the city to get you started.