If you’re looking for adventure activities in Dubai, you’re in luck. Whether you’re in the mood for thrills or searching for one-of-a-kind experiences you can’t do anywhere else, there are loads of adventurous things to do in Dubai!
Dubai was tailor-made for adventure. Here you can choose between going on a sunrise hot air balloon ride in the desert, jumping out of a plane over Palm Jumeirah island, dangling from the edge of a skyscraper in Downtown Dubai, tackling the world’s longest urban zipline over the Dubai Marina, and so much more.
If you’re craving action-packed and adrenaline-pumping experiences, I’ve got you covered with my top picks for the very best Dubai adventure activities!
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The 8 Best Adventure Activities in Dubai
1. Go on a Hot Air Balloon Ride in the Desert
When it comes to adventure activities in Dubai, taking a hot air balloon ride over the desert is one of the coolest experiences you can have. Doing a sunrise tour is arguably the most popular option, allowing you to see the sea of sand dunes stretched out below you in their best light.
Floating 1,200 meters (3,937 feet) in the air while the sun illuminates the dunes and mountains is a magical experience. And if you’re lucky, you might also spot local wildlife, like camels, Arabian oryx, and Arabian sand gazelles.
If you’re in Dubai for a quick visit, you can also pair your hot air balloon ride with other quintessential Dubai desert activities – think camel rides, falcon demonstrations, quad biking, and sandboarding – to make the most of your time.
2. Skydive Over Palm Jumeirah
For the ultimate in Dubai adventure activities, you’re going to want to add “skydiving over Palm Jumeirah” to your list. This is a definite bucket list experience that will allow you to jump out of a plane 4,000 meters (13,000 feet) in the air and plummet over the famous Palm Jumeirah!
You’ll freefall for 60 seconds at 193 kmph (120 mph) before deploying the parachute and floating blissfully above Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Marina, and the Arabian Gulf for 5 magical minutes. All the while, you’ll have your entire journey documented by a videographer, so you’ll get tons of photos and videos after the fact.
And don’t worry, you won’t be alone. You’ll be skydiving in tandem with an expert who will ensure that your skydiving experience is a safe and fun one!
3. Take a Helicopter Tour
If skydiving’s not your thing, you can always take in bird’s-eye views of the Palm Jumeirah from the comfort of a helicopter.
This is another bucket list Dubai experience that will allow you to glimpse iconic Dubai attractions like the Palm Jumeirah, Atlantis The Palm, Burj Khalifa, Burj Al Arab, Dubai Marina, Ain Dubai observation wheel, and the endless Arabian Gulf.
What you’ll see will depend on the length of the ride (your journey can be as short as 12 minutes or extend up to 17 or even 25 minutes). Whichever option you choose, this is easily one of the most adventurous things to do in Dubai!
4. Go Ziplining Over Dubai Marina
If you’re looking for truly adventurous things to do in Dubai, then I highly suggest going ziplining over the magical Dubai Marina with XLine. This is the “world’s longest urban zipline,” so you know you’re in for something truly memorable!
You’ll get the chance to fly over the Dubai Marina for one kilometer (.62 miles), gaining speeds of up to 80 km/h (50 mph)! While there’s no way you can forget this thrilling experience, the XLine team will also take videos and photos that they’ll send to you, which is a cool added bonus.
Plus, you’ll get killer views (and pictures) of the Dubai Marina, the Ain Dubai, and the Arabian Gulf at the top, before you zip through the marina!
5. Ride a Dune Buggy Through the Desert
If you’re dreaming of exploring the red sand dunes of the Dubai desert on four wheels, then this Dune Buggy and Sandboarding Experience is one of the coolest adventure activities in Dubai for you.
This tour gets rave reviews and allows you to tick off all of the quintessential Dubai desert activities. You’ll be whisked away to the desert, where you’ll have a chance to speed through the dunes in a dune buggy or ATV before going sandboarding, riding a camel, and snapping endless photos.
6. Dare to Try the Sky Views ‘Edge Walk’
For some serious thrills, get tickets for the Sky Views Edge Walk Experience. This experience touts itself as the “most thrilling attraction in Dubai,” and the “city’s highest full circle hands-free walk on a ledge.”
Yep, you’ll be perched 219.5 meters (720 feet) above ground where you’ll use your feet, and only your feet, to traverse the outer rim of the observation deck at The Address Sky View tower in Downtown Dubai.
This experience really is thrilling, as are the views of the Burj Khalifa and the Downtown Dubai skyline. Pay just AED 25 more, and you can also access the Glass Slide, a transparent tube on the exterior of the tower where you’ll slide from Floor 53 to Floor 52 while taking in the mind-boggling city views.
7. Hit the Slopes at Ski Dubai
This is Dubai, so of course we have a ski slope in a mall that’s in the middle of the desert! But this isn’t just any mediocre hill – this is a very unique ski lodge/mountainside experience.
As a longtime snowboarder, I was super skeptical about what the Ski Dubai experience would be like. But step inside this winter wonderland, and it’s tough not to be impressed by what has been created here. It’s quite surreal.
You can ride the ski lift to the very top of the hill and cross-cross your way down the slopes as many times as you’d like with a basic 2-hour pass. There’s also a terrain park where you can try your hand at tricks and jumps if you’re experienced, while beginners can take a ski or snowboard lesson with a professional.
If skiing’s not really your thing, it’s also possible to go bobsledding, zorbing, ride rides, or meet penguins during the Penguin Encounter!
8. Swim with Sharks & Rays at Lost Chambers Aquarium
Located in the famous Atlantis The Palm, the Lost Chambers Aquarium is home to some of the top Dubai adventure activities, including the chance to snorkel with sharks and rays in Ambassador Lagoon!
The lagoon is teeming with 65,000 marine creatures, comprised of 250 species of fish and marine animals. During the Ultimate Snorkel experience, you’ll have the chance to float past huge schools of exotic fish, including parrot fish and spotted snapper, as well as reef sharks and spotted eagle rays.
