Dubai Outdoor Activities

The vibrant Emirati city of Dubai offers a myriad of outdoor activities in its breathtaking landscapes. There's an immense amount to see and do in Dubai, so if you like a good time outside of four walls, you won't be short of opportunities. You can enjoy camel rides at sunrise, thrilling jet ski and speedboat rides along the coast, hot air ballooning , tandem jump ing over the city or a professional photo shoot to create unforgettable memories. I'll tell you about all the options in this article.

Any time of year is the best time to travel to Dubai and tour the city' s coastline on a jet ski. This is a popular outdoor experience that allows you to see the city's skyline in a different way.

During this adventure on Dubai's waterfront , you'll see dazzling sights such as the following:

• The city's skyscrapers, such as the Burj Khalifa, IL Primo Tower and Emirates One Tower, among others.
• The 7-star Burj Al Arab hotel, which stands out for its impressive sail-shaped architecture.
• Palm Jumeirah Island, with its elegant hotels and flat towers.
• World Island, an artificial archipelago off the coast of Dubai, accessible only by sea.

This1-hour jet ski tour usually incorporates the company of an instructor, who will teach you how to safely navigate the water. He will also tell you a little about the city and the buildings you see in the distance.

Useful information

• Price: approximately 155€ per person.
• Duration about 1 hour.

Taking a speedboat ride is another one of the best outdoor activities to do in Dubai. This type of speedboat ride in Dubai usually starts from the city's marina. There, you'll put on your life jacket and board a speedboat with an experienced driver who will guide you along the way.

You'll experience a thrilling adventure on a mode of transport that moves faster on water than other types of boats. It is done with a group of up to 9 people, so you can do the activity with your fellow passengers.

As the boat moves away from the shore, you will begin to see an amazing panoramic view of the city, identifying important destinations such as Atlantis The Palm Dubai, the Burj Khalifa and the Burj Al Arab hotel.

You will also hear information about the places of interest that you see during the tour. At some point during the tour you will stop to take in the sights and take a few minutes to capture beautiful photographs.

Information of interest

• Price: around €37 per person.
• Duration: approximately 45 minutes.

If you're looking for outdoor activities in Dubai that will give you a completely different experience, then a good option is to ride across Dubai' s Al Marmoom desert on a camel at sunrise. You'll visit a real Berdu village and connect with its traditions.

You'll hop on a camel and take a ride through the desert, taking in the beautiful views as the sun slowly begins to illuminate the landscape. You will arrive at an oasis in the middle of the desert where a Bedouin or nomadic people live and share a traditional breakfast with the locals.

This sunrise camel ride in Dubai's Al Marmoom Oasis with breakfast is usually guided, so you will be provided with transport to and from your hotel. You will also be provided with some tips for visiting the Dubai desert and clothing to protect you from both the sun and sand.

Useful information

• Price: from €87 per person.
• Duration: The experience usually lasts 5 hours.

If you are an extreme outdoor enthusiast and plan to spend 2 days in Dubai or more, I recommend incorporating a Flyboard experience into your itinerary. You'll get your adrenaline pumping and float above the waters of the Persian Gulf as if you have superpowers.

The adventure takes place in the open sea and you'll have to put a Flyboard on your feet; this is a hoverboard connected to a hose and jet propulsion technology, which will allow you to take off from the water at a minimum height of about 3 metres. Of course, this will depend on your skills.

This 30 minute Flyboard session in Dubai is aimed at beginners and professionals alike. In any case, you will be accompanied by an instructor who will help you to have a unique experience according to your skills.

Useful information

• Price: around 86€ per person.
• Duration: the activity usually lasts 30 minutes.

Dubai is a place with incredible panoramic views, and what better way to enjoy its rich landscape than from a bird's eye view. Take to the skies over the capital of the United Arab Emirates in a hot air balloon at sunrise for an open-air activity that allows you to watch the golden glow of the sun warm the horizon.

You'll soar some 1210 metres above the ground, taking in Dubai as if it were a scale model. You'll be amazed to see desert dunes, camels, the Hajar Mountains, the city skyline and skyscrapers like the Burj Khalifa. All this, through the melting pot of warm colours that form in the sky at sunrise.

For this sunrise balloon flight you won't have to worry about how to get around Dubai to get to the take-off site. The activity usually incorporates a transfer to and from the hotel for your convenience.

Useful information

• Price: from 269€ per person.
• Duration: approximately 4 hours.

If you love adrenaline-fuelled outdoor adventures, then during your 1-day stay in Dubai or longer, you should zip-line across the city. You will enjoy Dubai from above and create a unique memory of your trip.

For this XLine zip line experience in Dubai Marina an expert will teach you all you need to know to make the most of the descent in a safe way. You will then strap on your harness and launch yourself from the Amwaj Towers to the marina, descending over the modern Dubai Marina district at a speed of approximately 80km per hour.

During the descent, you'll enjoy the city's urban and natural scenery. You will get a breathtaking view of the paradisiacal coastline, the Cayan Tower and the city's towering skyscrapers.

Useful information

• Price: 161€ per person.
• Duration: 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Dubai has many outdoor activities that combine adrenaline and breathtaking scenery, one of them being a tandem skydive over The Palm. If thrill-seeking is your thing, this variation of skydiving is a must-do adventure during your 1-7 day visit to Dubai or longer.

You will fly over the city by helicopter and jump over Dubai's breathtaking landscape, experiencing a thrilling 60-second freefall. You will be attached via a double harness to a highly qualified instructor, who will assist you when deploying the parachute and throughout the experience.

This tandem skydive at The Palm will give you a sweeping view of the Dubai desert, coastline and urban area. You will see places such as:

• The island complex (Palm Jumeirah), which is notable for its palm tree shape.
• The artificial archipelago of the World Islands, which groups together more than 300 developed islands.
• Burj Khalifa, the world's largest skyscraper.
• The Burj Al Arab hotel, which stands out for its sail-like shape.
• The Ain Dubai Ferris wheel, which reaches a height of around 210 metres.

Useful information

• Price: around €641 per person.
• Duration: at least 60 minutes.

One of the most popular outdoor activities is the Dubai desert excursion. You'll escape the hustle and bustle of the city and connect with the local culture in a mind-blowing tropical desert atmosphere. You can go quad biking and sand boarding in the dunes .

With this activity you don't have to worry about anything but having fun. Once in the desert, you'll start the experience with a quad adventure. You will start off at full speed and take your adrenaline to the max driving this all-terrain motorbike. Beforehand, your guide will give you some tips for safe riding.

Then you'll go sandboarding in the dunes of the Dubai desert, a sport similar to skateboarding or snowboarding, but instead of sliding on the pavement or snow, you'll be doing it on the sand. To finish off this quad biking and sandboarding desert tour you'll relax a little by taking a leisurely camel ride that will make you feel like a local.

Useful information

• Price: about 72€ per person.
• Duration: about 4 hours.

Whether you're visiting Dubai in January, mid-year or during the December season, a ride on the sightseeing bus is always a good idea. You'll get a glimpse of the city, its landmarks and some of the attractions from a comfortable open-top bus while being exposed to the fresh air.

Some of the best sightseeing buses in Dubai are as follows:

Sightseeing Bus with Free Stops

When you book the unlimited non-stop City Sightseeing bus you will have 2 routes: the Red route (which passes by the Museum of the Future and the Queen Elizabeth II Museum) and the Blue route (which covers the marina area). You'll see the city's coastline and the cruise ships in the Marina in the distance. You'll also see the Mall of the Emirates, the Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, the Atlantis Aquaventure and many other destinations from the outside. You'll also have access to a non-stop panoramic night tour to appreciate the sunset lights and the artificial lights that adorn the city.

• Price: from €62 per person. But the price will depend on the option selected for 1, 2 or 3 days in Dubai.
• Duration: The tour lasts about 70 minutes for the red route and up to 130 minutes for the blue route.

Night Sightseeing Bus

The Big Bus Night Bus is ideal if you just want to get a glimpse of Dubai at night. You'll listen to recorded commentary as you take in the most recognisable landmarks with their night-time illumination. You'll see the Dubai Marina, the Burj Khalifa skyscraper, the Madinat souk market, the Dubai Mall fountains and more.

• Price: from €30 per person.
• Duration: about 2 hours.

A professional photo shoot is another must-do outdoor activity in the city. Dubai's Old City has many postcard-worthy locations that you can use as backdrops for your photographs. You will be able to create memorable and lasting memories of your trip.

In this professional photo shoot in the Old City you will walk with the photographer in search of the best locations, some of them being the following:

• The Gold & Spice Souk. This is a picturesque and historic place located in the Deira district, an old commercial area.
• The Al seef district. It is an entertainment area with a lively atmosphere and a privileged view of Dubai.
• Al Fahidi Heritage Fort. This is a fort built in 1787 and one of the major tourist attractions to see in Al Fahidi. This is a heritage district and one of Dubai's must-see neighbourhoods.

Useful information

• Price: from 34€ per person.
• Duration: approximately 2 hours.