Awe-inspiring Dubai is a dream come true for anyone craving incredible outdoor activities.

This spellbinding Arabian Gulf destination is brimming with sensational things to do, with everything from water sports action and fabulous desert adventures to thrills in the sky and amazing animal attractions. There’s never a dull moment in dazzling Dubai, a captivating getaway which is home to glorious sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters, rich culture, fabulous food and world-famous landmarks. Extreme sporting challenges, superb theme parks and water parks, adrenaline-pumping experiences and breathtaking natural wonders are among the delights which await. Here’s your guide to the major outdoor activities on offer in Dubai, which has been named the world's top destination in the Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards 2023.

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Aquatic Escapades

A splashing time is assured in Dubai, with a plethora of water-themed activities to help deliver the ultimate holiday experience. Swim with dolphins in Dolphin Bay, scuba dive beneath the waves or head out to sea on a catamaran cruise. Popular water sports include wakeboarding, jet skiing, kneeboarding and waterskiing, while other activities in the gulf include pedalos, banana boat rides, fishing and traditional dhow boat trips. The emirate is also blessed with a host of magnificent aqua parks, including Aquaventure Waterpark home to the world’s longest water slide. Many of the city’s opulent 5-star hotels boast their own private beaches for fun on the sands and in the sea. A choice of excellent public beaches are a magnet for water sports enthusiasts, while the popular Jumeirah Beach Residence is a haven of pleasure, with its inflatable aqua park and lively beach clubs.

Desert Adventures

Swap the bright lights of the city for the rolling sands of the desert where an array of fun-packed activities await. Hold on tight during a dune drive in a jeep, take to a quad bike for some high-powered thrills on the sands or strap a sandboard to your feet and glide down the giant dunes. There’s also the chance to enjoy an exciting camel ride, spend a romantic night under the stars with the love of your life in a traditional Bedouin camp or set off in an all-terrain vehicle for a VIP safari experience where you’ll get the chance to look out for native wildlife including Arabian oryx, sand cats and gazelles. The Dubai desert is also the place to dine alfresco in a unique eco restaurant at Sonara Camp, take in an engrossing falconry display or observe jaw-dropping sunrises and sunsets.

The Sky’s The Limit

Dubai is the place to enjoy an array of exhilarating activities which let you take your holiday experience to new heights. Get a bird’s eye view of the vast desert during a thrilling sunrise hot air balloon ride, soar above the sand dunes at sunset in a powered paraglider or take to the sky during a helicopter tour offering stunning panoramic views of the city and gulf waters. Adrenaline junkies can rise to the challenge of riding the XLine at Dubai Marina, the world’s longest urban zipline which will see you whizzing at speeds of up to 50 miles per hour, more than 170 metres above the ground. Skydive Dubai is a hugely-popular attraction which can really take you to the dizzy heights, with a range of heart-racing activities on offer including tandem skydiving, where you’ll freefall at more than 120 miles per hour above the Palm Jumeirah while harnessed to an experienced instructor.

Sensational Sports

Dubai is a sports lover’s paradise, with a range of fabulous outdoor venues, facilities and activities to enjoy. Golf fanatics can take to the greens in a choice of superb 18-hole championship courses which are home to major events including the DP World Tour Championship and the Dubai Desert Classic. There’s also the chance to practice your swing at Topgolf Dubai, an amazing high-tech outdoor golf range at the Emirate Golf Club. Tennis 360 Academy at The Meydan Hotel features 8-floodlit courts, beach tennis courts and shaded mini courts for children. The Hatta inland enclave is a haven of sporting pleasure, with hiking, kayaking and mountain biking in actual mountains among the activities you’ll discover. An impressive choice of outdoor extreme sports in Dubai include shark diving, flyboarding, jetpacking, jetovator riding, bungee jumping and seabreacher rides. Other popular sporting activities in the city include basketball, rugby, netball, table tennis, padel tennis, swimming and archery.

Animal Magic

Dubai is a great choice for a fabulous family holiday experience, with a myriad of wonderful outdoor animal and wildlife attractions. Dubai Safari Park is a great place where giraffe feeding, bird shows and a kids farm are among the delights, while Dubai Dolphinarium features mesmerising dolphin and seal shows, with the chance to interact with the playful creatures. Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve is a beautiful haven for nature where families can observe birds, mammals and reptiles in their natural environment, and the turtle sanctuary in Turtle Lagoon, in Jumeriah Al Nassem, lets young holidaymakers get up close to these endearing protected creatures. Other wonderful animal attractions include Dubai Crocodile Park, the Green Planet bio-dome, Sea Lion Point at Atlantis Aquaventure and Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, a wetland reserve which is home to wild flamingos, small mammals and many types of fish.

Dubai’s warm and sunny climate creates conditions which are perfect for hours of exciting outdoor activities and adventures. The emirate, which has a desert climate, has two distinct seasons of summer and winter and enjoys an average of 8 to 10 hours of daily sunshine. It’s crucial to wear suitable clothing to keep cool and carry plenty of sunscreen when exploring outdoors and visiting the major attractions. Temperatures are at their highest from May to August, with the mercury hovering around 30°C, but sometimes rising to 45°C, so this is not the ideal time for getting out and about to discover the wonders of the emirate. The best time for outdoor thrills and spills is between September and April when temperatures are often around a comfortable 25°C. Dubai experiences very little rainfall, recording an average of just 68mm annually.

“Dubai is a playground of outdoor pleasure, with the chance to head into the rolling desert for a host of activities, take to the skies for some thrilling action high above the ground or enjoy a round of golf and other sporting pursuits in the pleasant sunshine.

“There’s also the opportunity for hours of fun in the inviting Arabian Gulf.

“Dubai’s wonderful climate is ideal for getting out and about, but It’s essential to protect yourself from the sun, so ensure you should pack an adequate supply of sunscreen in your case.

“There’s so much to see and do outdoors in the emirate, with more and more amazing attractions opening each year – it really is no surprise that this marvellous getaway has been named the world’s top destination in the Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards 2023.”

Andaz Dubai The Palm

Surround yourself with luxury, elegance and style at this opulent 5-star haven of relaxation and pleasure on the iconic Palm Jumeirah. Soak up the sun on the pristine private beach, tantalise your taste buds in world-class dining venues and spend heavenly nights in lavish ultra-modern accommodation. A host of other fabulous amenities include a sumptuous spa, shimmering swimming pools, a cutting-edge fitness centre and a peaceful yoga terrace.

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Sofitel Dubai The Palm

Live the good life at this sensational 5-star beachfront retreat which boasts fashionable design, luxurious decor and a touch of French elegance. Dine like royalty in an array of gourmet restaurants, enjoy head to toe pampering in the plush spa and take to the sea for a feast of water sports action. This magnificent family-friendly getaway, one of Dubai’s premier hotels, also boasts indoor and outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts, a state-of-the-art fitness centre and lively clubs for young guests.

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JA Lake View Hotel

Jet off and get in the swing of things at this exquisite 5-star hideaway where a superb 9-hole championship golf course is among the wonderful attractions you’ll discover. Catch some rays on the 800-metre private beach, sip cocktails in the relaxing swim-up bar or practice your backhand on the outdoor tennis courts. Other amenities which help make this fabulous escape a great choice for the holiday of a lifetime include a private marina, kids club, fitness centre, calm spa and top-class dining venues.

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