A tourist takes a photo of the Dubai skyline

10+ Things to Do in Dubai for Adults

Our best ideas for couples and groups of friends

Dubai is a glittering playground for grown up vacations - from sophisticated dinner cruises to adventurous speedboat sightseeing and days spent relaxing at the beach.

Dubai is a glittering, modern city, filled with top-notch attractions to appeal to every interest. Whether you’re interested in exploring the history of this amazing destination or you just want to enjoy the beaches and the sunny weather, you’ll find something delightful to do during your time in Dubai. So, if you’re looking for things to do in Dubai for adults, we made a list of activities that couples and groups of friends will enjoy, including...

  • Hop-On Hop-Off Big Bus Dubai Tour
  • Island Beach Getaway Cruise in Abu Dhabi
  • Burj Khalifa At the Top
  • Royal Safari Experience
  • Ski Dubai Polar Pass
  • RIB Speedboat Sightseeing Tour
  • and more!

Hop-on Hop-off Dubai bus tour

First things first, why not see all the best sights and sounds of Dubai on a comprehensive Big Bus Dubai tour. It’s a good introduction to the city for first-time or infrequent visitors, and there are multiple routes to choose from. Highlights from different routes include the Burj Khalifa, Heritage Village, Spice Souk, City Walk, Mall of Emirates, Pier 7, and many more. Big Bus Dubai gives you the flexibility to hop off and visit the things that catch your interest.

Speedboat sightseeing tour

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Getting out on the water is a must when visiting this sun-soaked desert city. Aboard this hair-raising speedboat ride, you’ll take an adventurous cruise around the Palm and enjoy the magnificent 360-degree views of Dubai's best bits. You'll see the city's shimmering skyline, the luxurious hotels, the Sheiks' palaces, and the stunning, sail-shaped Burj al-Arab. Bring your camera along for those all-important photo opportunities.

At the Top - Burj Khalifa

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Travelers of all stripes won’t want to miss out on the opportunity to see the view from the world’s tallest building – the Burj Khalifa. At the Top: Burj Khalifa is the observation deck of this stunning architectural marvel, located on the 124th and 125th floors. Enjoy interactive media displays on the way up and at the top. Once there, you’ll get panoramic vistas of the city, the beach, and the arid desert that surrounds Dubai. Don't forget your camera!

Activities at Atlantis the Palm

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Kick back and relax at Atlantis the Palm, one of the best resorts in Dubai. And you don’t have to be a guest to enjoy their enchanting offerings. Enjoy a day of exciting splashy fun at Aquaventure Waterpark, packed with exhilarating rides and slides. Or, learn about the countless exotic marine creatures at the Lost Chambers Aquarium, which has 20+ exhibits for you to explore. Then, spend an afternoon relaxing on the beach. Bliss!

Royal Safari Experience

Delight in an evening safari adventure as you roam the Arabian desert and try dune bashing through the shifting sand. Your destination is the Arabian Fortress, where you’ll be greeted with an array of traditional fare, like Arabic coffee and dates. Watch the sun set over the desert (a romantic activity for couples) and enjoy authentic Arabic activities and demonstrations like henna painting and traditional dancing. Then, indulge in a five-star dinner buffet and perhaps some shisha to unwind.

Dubai dinner cruises

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If you’re looking for a romantic excursion or a friends-only adventure in Dubai, a dinner cruise is a safe bet. There are plenty of options to choose from, so it’s just a matter of which sounds the most appealing. A sunset dinner cruise in Dubai Marina is perhaps best for a date where you can see the city come alive while the sun sets. The Dhow dinner cruise has the potential for some couple-centric fun and plenty of opportunities just to enjoy the good food and sightseeing of Dubai Creek.

Arabian Culinary Experience

If a dinner cruise isn't your thing, but you and your significant other still want to sample the tasty local cuisine, then try out this unique Arabian Culinary Experience. Hosted at Al Hallab restaurant (with locations in the Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates), this exciting adventure into international cuisine is sure to please.

Specializing in traditional Lebanese cuisine, Al Hallab features a wide variety of traditional mezze, grilled meats, salads, desserts, and other delicacies. What better way to get an overview of the real flavors of the region?

Ski Dubai Polar Pass

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Who says Dubai is all heat and desert? Slide into the world of Ski Dubai for an unbeatable indoor skiing experience. Your Ski Slope pass offers you the freedom to choose from a number of activities. Whether you want to ski the day away, try your hand at snowboarding, or ride a toboggan, you’ll have the best time enjoying winter sports together. Keep an eye out for some of the park’s more curious visitors with a Snow Classic pass – the Gentoo and king penguins that wander around throughout the day.

RIB Speedboat sightseeing tour

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Another great way to see the city is from the water – a unique perspective that a bus tour simply can’t replicate. The Speedboat Sightseeing Tour is a particularly exciting option for water-borne adventurers, offering insights and commentary at high speeds for 90 minutes. You'll get mesmerizing views of the skyline around Dubai Marina and the surrounding waterfront. 

iFly Indoor Skydiving

stand up paddleboarding Dubai Marina

Soar through the air on a skydiving expedition, without the flight. iFly Indoor Skydiving is a distinctive experience that offers the fun and exhilaration of skydiving and bungee jumping. Don’t be intimidated if you don’t have any experience, either – new skydivers are welcome and the event itself is pretty low-key for first-time flyers. 

Watersports around Dubai Marina

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There are few things more delightful than visiting a beach city with friends or loved ones. Take advantage of Dubai’s amazing beaches with some water activities. Do some active sightseeing by way of stand-up paddleboarding, or try something new with a windsurfing lesson. If you need something more relaxing, just enjoy the scenery on a kayak tour. Whichever option you choose, you’ll get to make the most of the sun and surf of this desert paradise.

Rock Republic climbing walls

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Active couples and friends will want to challenge themselves – and each other! – at Rock Republic Bouldering Gym. They welcome climbers of all levels of experience and fitness, so no need to already be a rock wall junkie to participate, though you're bound to be hooked. Enjoy the freedom to climb a variety of walls at different fitness levels, as long as you’d like.

Go-karting

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Strap in for an electro-powered thrill ride on an awesome go-kart at E-Kart Zabeel. You'll get behind the wheel of the latest generation of electric go-karts and enjoy a blast around a state-of-the-art track. Competitive racers among your party will delight in seeing times shared on the scoreboard at the end. What are you waiting for? Let's ride!

Save up to 50% on Dubai attractions  

Discover our full line-up of Dubai attractions, from At the Top - Burj Khalifa to Dubai Miracle Garden.

🤩 >> If you want to see and do as much as you can, our All-Inclusive Pass is for you.    

😎 >> If you want to pick just a few attractions and visit at your own pace, our Explorer Pass is the perfect option. 

 

Katie Sagal
Go City Travel Expert

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abu dhabi best day trips from dubai
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Best Day Trips From Dubai

Dubai is all well and good. After all, you did decide to vacation there, and you are, of course, infallible. But what lies beyond Dubai's bright and brilliant walls? Well, explore the lands beyond on one of the best day trips from Dubai! Read on, and discover our top picks. Including: Abu Dhabi Qasr Al Watan Desert BBQ experience Quad Bike rides Camel-top travels and more! Best Day Trips from Dubai - Abu Dhabi One of the best day trips from Dubai is easily a tour of Abu Dhabi. The UAE's capital city, it's one of the most historic cities in the entire region. Compared to the modern decadence of Dubai, it's certainly a city with less of a focus on experiences. But that doesn't mean it isn't worth experiencing, if you catch our drift. Kicking off on the coast, you'll pass by famous spots such as the vast Jebel Ali Port, the National Exhibition Centre, Etihad Towers, the Louvre Museum, and Emirates Palace. Snap-worthy landmarks, if ever we saw some! With the perfect mix of culture, history, and modernity, it's the perfect place to hop out and explore. So, take this day trip from Dubai and see all of Abu Dhabi's best bits! Best Day Trips from Dubai - Visit Qasr Al Watan One of the biggest draws of taking a vacation abroad is exploring new cultures and learning about their customs. You might not get much of that in Dubai, as it's a city built for industry and tourism. So, if you want to explore Arabic culture, as well as the region's historical significance, with a trip to Qasr Al Watan? On the outside, you'll be treated to a magnificent white palace housed in the Presidential Palace compound. On the inside, you'll learn all about Arab heritage and culture and how it evolved over millennia. For centuries, the region was at the forefront of science and medicine, all while the rest of Europe was deep in the Dark Ages. Then, explore the Qasr Al Watan Library, which culture vultures will love to dive into. All in all, Qasr Al Watan makes for one of the most fascinating day trips from Dubai. Best Day Trips from Dubai - Desert Safari and BBQ Dinner You don't even need to venture too far from Dubai's city limits to experience one of the city's best day trips. Thanks to this delightful desert tour of the dunes, you can get a beautiful barbeque at your backdoor. Well, not literally. From the very start, you'll be treated like a VIP. Festivities begin as soon as you leave your hotel, when a deluxe 4x4 will pick you up. You'll travel in style and comfort into the desert surrounding Dubai, where you can take photos and admire the beauty of the setting sun. Then, you'll reach your basecamp, where you'll find the grill piping hot. Then, indulge in a whole host of BBQ treats, from grilled meats and veg to other local delights. When you've eaten your fill, prepare for an evening of entertainment! With belly dancing, a traditional Egyptian dance show, some smoky shisha, sandboarding, camel riding, henna painting, and more on offer, you're in for a great night! Then, when the festivities wind down, you'll hop back in the 4x4 and get a lift back to your hotel. The perfectly pampered end to a perfectly pampered evening! Best Day Trips from Dubai - Bug out in Dubai's desert! Switching gears now to something a bit more adrenaline-pumping. If you've never ridden over the dunes outside Dubai in a dune buggy, you've never truly lived. Change all that, and get behind the wheel on this amazing day trip out of Dubai. Like the BBQ evening, you'll get a ride in a 4x4 from your hotel to basecamp. Then, you'll board your metal hog and take the beast for a spin. For 30 glorious minutes, you'll do donuts, skids, and other buggy-related moves. And your guide will be on hand to ensure you don't blow up - or anything less explosive. If you've never boarded a dune buggy and, let's face it, you probably haven't, then give it a go on one of the best day trips from Dubai! Best Day Trips from Dubai - burn rubber atop a Quad Bike! If dune buggies don't quite do it for you, why not try a quad bike instead? These four-wheeled wonders can make quick work of Dubai's dunes, so consider hopping aboard and tearing up the desert like nobody's business. After your ride drops you at camp, you'll kick off your desert escapades by boarding a four-legged camel to take a more methodical tour of the surroundings. After your camel is sick of the sight of you, you'll reach a specially designed track nestled deep in the beautiful dunes. And then, well, it's time to ride, baby. You'll have plenty of time to ride around, squealing with glee. No one can hear your squealing out here, so let it all out. Then, when you've ridden your wheels down to the bone, hop back in your 4x4 and head right back to your hotel room. Excellent. Best Day Trips from Dubai - camel action! And finally, if the thought of riding a camel seems a lot more exotic than anything with an engine, don your best headwrap and live out your Laurence of Arabia dreams on this fauna tour of the dunes. Like the above, you'll be escorted in comfort - and air conditioning - to a camp deep in the dunes. From there, you'll saddle up and ride your two-humped friend for 30 gloriously bizarre minutes. Try and take some pics aboard a camel that cares not for your social media following. Good luck with that. Then, when you're done, you'll be taken back to camp, where you can refuel, relax, and enjoy complimentary coffee, tea, dates, and more before heading back to the city. Very nice. And those were our picks for the best day trips from Dubai! If you're looking for more fun within the city, check out Go City. With our All-Inclusive Pass or Explorer Pass, you can see all of Dubai's best bits when and how you want.
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