Things to do in
Dubai & the UAE
48 experiences across the emirates — desert safaris, dhow cruises, observation decks, water sports and day trips. 23 of these compare every option side by side, so you can see what the price differences actually buy before you book.
Disclosure: bookings are handled on Viator. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Details last reviewed July 2026 — prices, availability and seasonal opening change, so confirm on Viator before booking.
Desert Safaris & Dune Adventures
Dune bashing, quad bikes, camel rides and BBQ dinners in the Dubai desert.
Dubai Desert Safaris Compared — Morning vs Evening vs Sunrise
Six safaris, three completely different experiences. Which one you book matters more than who you book it with.
3–7 hours depending on type
Cruises & Dining
Dhow dinner cruises, yacht charters and high-altitude dining.
Dubai Dhow Cruises Compared — Marina vs Creek vs Canal
Three different waterways, three different evenings. The route matters far more than the boat.
Typically 2 hours
Yacht Charters in Dubai — Shared, Private & Celebration Cruises
From a one-hour shared skyline run to a private yacht with BBQ — what you actually get at each level.
1–4 hours
Dining at Atlantis The Royal — Gastronomy Experiences
Buffet and seated dining at the Palm's most expensive hotel — worth knowing which you are booking.
2–3 hours
Attractions & Tickets
Observation decks, immersive venues, parks and skip-the-line entry.
Burj Khalifa Levels Compared — 124/125 vs The Lounge vs Atmosphere
Several ways up the world's tallest building, at wildly different prices. Only one is worth the premium for most people.
1–3 hours depending on level
Dubai Observation Decks Compared — Frame, The View, Sky Views
Four viewpoints besides the Burj, each showing you a different Dubai.
45 minutes to 2 hours each
La Perle by Dragone — Which Ticket Category to Book
The tiers are about seat position, and the cheap seats are better than you would expect.
Show runs approx. 90 minutes
AYA Universe Dubai Tickets — What It Is and Whether to Add Transfers
An immersive light and projection park in Wafi Mall — twelve zones, roughly ninety minutes, very photogenic.
Allow 1.5–2 hours
Dubai Miracle Garden & Global Village — Seasonal Guide
Both are seasonal and both close for the summer. Getting the timing right matters more than which ticket you buy.
2–3 hours each; half day combined
Dubai Safari Park Tickets — Zones, Timing & What's Included
119 hectares in Al Warqa with drive-through and walk-through zones — and it closes for the summer.
Allow 4–5 hours
Ski Dubai Tickets — Snow Park vs Slope Pass
Indoor snow at Mall of the Emirates. The two ticket types are different experiences — pick wrong and you cannot ski.
2 hours to a full day
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi — Tickets, Rides & Getting There from Dubai
Home of Formula Rossa, the world's fastest rollercoaster — on Yas Island, about 90 minutes from Dubai.
Full day including travel from Dubai
teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi Tickets
A purpose-built teamLab venue on Saadiyat where the artworks respond to the environment and to you.
Allow 2–3 hours
Museum of Illusions Dubai Tickets
Optical illusions, a rotating tunnel and an anti-gravity room in Al Seef — small, cheap and better with company.
Allow 1–1.5 hours
Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo Tickets
The ten-million-litre tank inside Dubai Mall, plus the Underwater Zoo above it.
Allow 1.5–2 hours
Palm Monorail Ticket Dubai — Route, Views & Whether It's Worth It
A 5.4km elevated ride up the trunk of Palm Jumeirah to Atlantis — short, cheap, and a genuinely good view.
Approx. 15 minutes each way
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi Tickets
Forty-odd rides on Yas Island, themed around Emirati pearl-diving heritage.
Full day
Aquaventure Waterpark Dubai Tickets
The largest waterpark in the world, at Atlantis on Palm Jumeirah — over a hundred slides and a private beach.
Full day
Dubai Parks Combo — Motiongate, Bollywood Parks, Legoland & Desert Safari
A multi-park pass bundled with an evening desert safari — a lot of ground across several days.
Multi-day
Adventure & Air
Skydiving, helicopters, balloons and the world's longest zipline.
Skydiving in Dubai — Palm Drop Zone vs Desert Campus
Two drop zones, two very different jumps. The Palm is the famous one and costs considerably more.
Allow 3–4 hours
Private Dubai Helicopter Tour from Palm Jumeirah
A private flight from the Palm heliport over Burj Khalifa, Burj Al Arab, the World Islands and the Marina.
12–40 minutes flight time
Jebel Jais Zipline — World's Longest Zipline, Ras Al Khaimah
2.83km down the UAE's highest mountain at up to 150km/h, flown face-down.
Zipline ~3 minutes; allow a half day
Dubai Hot Air Balloon Ride with Falconry and Breakfast
Sunrise flight over the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, with falconry and breakfast after landing.
Approx. 4 hours door to door
Hot Air Balloon Flight over Ras Al Khaimah
Ballooning over RAK's mountains and desert — a different landscape from the Dubai flights.
Approx. 3–4 hours including transfers
Water Sports & Diving
Jet skis, parasailing, diving, snorkelling and deep-sea fishing.
Jet Ski Dubai Compared — 30min vs 60min vs 90min Routes
The route decides what you see. Thirty minutes keeps you near the beach; ninety gets you the Burj Al Arab and the Palm.
30–90 minutes
Parasailing in Dubai — JBR vs Jumeirah vs Burj Al Arab View
Ten to fifteen minutes in the air. All three launch points are similar — the difference is what is beneath you.
10–15 minutes airborne; allow 1 hour total
Scuba Diving & Snorkelling in the UAE — Beginner to Certified
Try-dives for beginners, an aquarium dive for the certified, and the east coast for actual reef.
Half day to full day
Deep Sea Fishing Dubai — 4 Hour Charter
A half-day charter out of the Marina for kingfish, queenfish, barracuda and grouper.
4 hours
Kayaking in Dubai — Mangroves & Coastline
Paddling through mangrove channels and along the coast — the quietest thing you can do on Dubai water.
1–3 hours
City Tours & Sightseeing
Guided city tours, hop-on hop-off buses and combo packages.
Dubai City Tours Compared — Private vs Group vs Combo
Half-day group tours, private cars, and combos that bundle entry tickets. The differences are bigger than the listings suggest.
90 minutes to a full day
Big Bus Abu Dhabi Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
Open-top bus with two routes covering the Corniche, Yas Island and the Sky Tower observation deck.
24 or 48 hours
Dubai Luxury Car Showroom Tour — Supercars & Shopping
A guided run through Dubai's supercar dealerships and specialist showrooms.
Approx. 4 hours
Culture & Heritage
Mosques, palaces, museums and Emirati food experiences.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Tours from Dubai — Private vs Group
Entry is free. What you are paying for is the 90-minute transfer each way and someone who can explain what you are looking at.
8–10 hours from Dubai
Qasr Al Watan Abu Dhabi — Tickets, Light Show & What's Inside
A working presidential palace open to visitors — and unlike most palaces, the interior is the point.
Allow 2–3 hours
Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital Tour — Holding a Falcon & Why It Exists
The world's largest falcon hospital, and one of the few UAE experiences genuinely about Emirati culture rather than built for tourists.
Approx. 2 hours
Louvre Abu Dhabi Entry Tickets
Jean Nouvel's domed museum on Saadiyat Island, and its shifting "rain of light".
Allow 2–3 hours
Zayed National Museum Abu Dhabi Tickets
The UAE's national museum on Saadiyat, built around the life of Sheikh Zayed and the country's formation.
Allow 2–3 hours
Qasr Al Hosn Abu Dhabi — Tickets & Guide
Abu Dhabi's oldest stone building — a coral-and-sea-stone fort from the 1760s, restored and open.
Allow 1.5–2 hours
Dinner at Al Hadheerah, Bab Al Shams Desert Resort
An open-air desert restaurant with live grills, falconry and horsemanship — the upmarket alternative to a safari camp.
Approx. 4 hours including transfers
Authentic Emirati Cultural Meal & Talk in Old Dubai
A traditional meal in Al Fahidi with an open question-and-answer session — ask anything.
Approx. 2 hours
Transfers & Transport
Airport transfers, chauffeurs, limousines and bus rental.
Planning Your UAE Trip — Common Questions
When is the best time to visit Dubai for outdoor activities?
November to March. Desert safaris, ballooning, waterparks and boat trips are all far more pleasant in those months, and several attractions — Miracle Garden, Global Village, Dubai Safari Park — are seasonal and closed through the summer entirely. July and August are workable only if you stick to indoor attractions.
Which activities are seasonal or close in summer?
Miracle Garden (roughly November to May), Global Village (roughly October to April) and Dubai Safari Park all close for the hot months. Hot air ballooning runs September to May only. Outdoor waterparks stay open but are uncomfortable at midday. Confirm current dates before booking around any of them.
Do I need to book activities in advance?
For most things a few days is enough. The exceptions worth booking early: skydiving at the Palm drop zone, sunset slots at Burj Khalifa and Dinner in the Sky, and anything at a weekend during peak season. Weather-dependent activities are worth booking early in your trip so there is room to rebook if you get cancelled.
Are desert safaris suitable for everyone?
Dune bashing is genuinely rough and is not advisable if you have back or neck problems, are pregnant, or suffer motion sickness. Morning and sunrise safaris are gentler than the evening ones, and several operators offer desert dining experiences with no dune driving at all if you want the setting without the ride.
How far is Abu Dhabi from Dubai for a day trip?
Around 90 minutes each way by road. The Grand Mosque, Louvre, Qasr Al Watan and Ferrari World are all realistic as day trips from Dubai, but each is a full day once travel is counted. Combining two works if they are close together — the Louvre and Zayed National Museum are both on Saadiyat.
Is there a dress code for mosques and cultural sites?
Yes, and at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque it is strictly enforced — ankles and wrists covered for everyone, hair covered for women. Abayas are lent free at the entrance but queues are long, so bringing your own scarf saves time. Modest dress is appropriate at Qasr Al Watan and heritage sites too.