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
By Katie Sagal

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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Safety in Dubai
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Is Dubai Safe to Travel to for Tourists?

Dubai might be a trip out of the ordinary for you. You're not alone: this Emirati nation is often the first trip people take to the Middle East. Here's the lowdown on local laws in Dubai, public affection, general safety, and visa requirements for a stress-free vacation.
Lindsay Eagan
A mother and child explore a museum
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The 9 best museums in Dubai

Keen to portray a modern – and often record-breaking – front to the world, it took Dubai’s rulers some time to realize what a wealth of treasured objects and cultural insights they were keeping under wraps. Thankfully all that has changed, with an increasing emphasis on preserving the region’s history and heritage for future generations. Check it out for yourself with the best museums in Dubai! Dubai Museum The main museum in Dubai, Dubai Museum was also the emirate’s first, opening in 1971 following the United Arab Emirate’s independence from Great Britain. Located in one of the oldest districts of Dubai, it sits within Al Fahidi Fort – both the oldest structure in Dubai and its tallest building for almost 200 years. Its courtyard entranceway contains larger pieces within the national collection, including a full-sized dhow trading boat. From there, visitors are guided through a warren of ancient rooms and passageways filled with important objects, from weapons to musical instruments. They eventually connect with a contemporary section detailing Dubai’s origins as a rest stop for vessels crisscrossing the region’s waterways. The easiest way to find it is by jumping aboard a Hop-On Hop-Off sightseeing bus. Museum of Illusions Just a short distance away from Dubai Museum but very different in scope, the Museum of Illusions is a mind-minding modern equivalent of a circus’ hall of mirrors. Eighty different illusions have been installed to baffle the eye whilst cleverly sneaking in a little of the science that makes it all possible. A museum made for the Instagram generation, visitors are encouraged to get hands on with the illusions and take as many selfies as they can manage. If you’ve ever fancied appearing to hang from the ceiling or look like a giant, this is the place for you. Saruq Al Hadid Archeological Museum Opened in 2016, Saruq Al Hadid Archeological Museum is one of Dubai’s newest. Its collection comes from the archeological site in the desert of the same name, discovered when Dubai's current ruler flew his helicopter across the area. Dating back to the iron age – roughly 2,200 years ago – the finds displayed here include document seals made in ancient Iraq and Egypt, beads from the Indian subcontinent, and gold work any trader in Deira’s Gold Souk would be over the moon to display. When seen as one, they help to piece together life in the region during prehistoric times. Etihad Museum Nothing to do with the airline of the same name – though it surely irritates some of those at Emirates – the Etihad Museum is given over to the culture and history of all seven United Arab Emirates including Dubai. Meaning ‘union’ or ‘alliance’ in Arabic, the Etihad Museum is situated on the shores of the Persian Gulf in a building resembling the UAE’s founding charter. It is sited on the spot where the leaders of Britain’s ‘Trucial Sheikhdoms’ signed the new constitution, the original of which can be found in pavilion seven. Other artefacts include personal belongings of these leaders, shown alongside documentaries describing the history of the new country. Coffee Museum Is this everyday hot drink worthy of a dedicated museum? Come to Dubai’s Coffee Museum and you’ll end up deciding that it does. Love it or hate it as a drink, no one can deny the importance coffee has played in Emirati culture over the centuries. Step through the doors of this modest building in the Al Fahidi neighborhood and you’ll not only discover the legendary origins of the drink – an Ethiopian farmer wondering why his goats were getting excited after eating from a particular plant – and get to taste the results of everything you will have learnt in the onsite café. Elmarsa Gallery Part of an international group of contemporary galleries which started out life in Tunisia, and also features heavily at art fairs in France and Morocco, Elmarsa Gallery showcases the very best artists active today in the Middle East and Arab World. Much of the work on display – including canvases and sculpture – has a subtle political leaning, connecting the region’s traditions with issues facing the whole globe, from immigration to climate change. House of Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum Visible from the dhows that run sightseeing tours along Dubai Creek in the Al Shindagha neighborhood, this building was the home of the Al Maktoum’s, Dubai’s ruling family, from 1896 until it was turned into a museum. A typical upper class Emirati home, including features such as the wind tower intended to funnel cooler air into the building’s interior, it was the main residence of the ruler of Dubai from 1912 until his death in 1958. Also the birthplace of his children and grandchildren, it plays a hugely significant part in the culture of Dubai. As a museum, it contains a variety of objects and photographs of Dubai before the oil boom, divided into nine different galleries. These include some documents dating as far back as 1791, whilst the building’s architecture of gypsum, coral stone and thick teak doors is just as important. Coins Museum The eight room Coins Museum is one of the best museums in Dubai for considering the modern world’s relationship with money. Almost 500 individual coins are used as a means of exploring the history of the region. Amongst them are silver Arab-Sasanian coins dating to only a few years after the Prophet Mohammed’s flight from Mecca to Medina in around 622 AD. Salsali Private Museum Must visit museums in Dubai also include the Salsali Private Museum. You’ll have to head to the former industrial area of Al Quoz to find its collection of roughly 800 modern and contemporary artworks, ranging from pottery and textiles to carvings and photography. If you fancy taking something back home with you, the dedicated Collectors Lounge hosts regular temporary exhibitions curated by artists keen to present their work to new audiences, and that’s surely what a visit to the best museums in Dubai is all about. Exploring the best museums in Dubai You don’t have to have professor in front of your name to enjoy a turn in Dubai’s top museums. Covering the history, culture and traditions of the emirate and its people, the best museums in Dubai are far from the stuffy spaces you might imagine. So don’t miss your chance to delve into their collections. Don’t forget about Go City when traveling to Dubai. Purchase one of our pre-pay passes and you’ll be treated to incredible savings on admission to many of Dubai’s biggest attractions, from the At The Top observation decks of the Burj Khalifa to the roller coasters of MOTIONGATE Dubai.
Ian Packham
A woman points to the opposite side of Dubai Creek
Blog

The best neighborhoods in Dubai to explore

Often thought of as one seamless city of towering modern skyscrapers, Dubai is actually made up of a series of distinct neighborhoods. Each offers visitors something different, from historic mansions to what’s possibly the world’s most famous building – the Burj Khalifa. But which are the best neighborhoods in Dubai to explore? Where should you spend your time – downtown, Bur Dubai, d3 or somewhere else completely? A lot will depend on your interests, with this guide designed to help you decide. Downtown Dubai – the one not to miss It may be the neighborhood in Dubai not to miss, but you probably couldn’t even if you wanted to. At its center lies the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building. A structure three times taller than the Eiffel Tower, it’s visible from 95 kilometers away. The emirate’s pride and joy, the Burj’s 124th and 125th floors contain the At The Top observation decks, standing more than 450 meters above the ground and providing unparalleled vistas through floor to ceiling windows. Return to ground level to take in Burj Lake at its best. Created by the same team behind the Bellagio’s fountains in Las Vegas, its jets dance to a jukebox’s worth of international hits every half an hour from 6PM, featuring stars including opera tenor Andrea Bocelli and king of pop Michael Jackson. Right next door is Dubai Mall, which continues the record-breaking theme of downtown by being the world’s largest. Take your pick of more than 1000 stores and 200 places to eat and drink before delving to the bottom of the Earth’s oceans at Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo. Al Barsha – little known but with a huge personality Alongside Barsha Heights, Al Barsha doesn’t trip off the tongue like Dubai Marina or downtown, partly because a lot of it forms quiet low-rise residential dwellings. However, within its bounds you’ll find the Mall of the Emirates. Like Dubai Mall, it’s more than just a place to shop till you drop, being the home of the penguins and snow runs of Ski Dubai, totaling more than 22,000 square meters of indoor snow field in one of the hottest places on Earth. At the southern end of the Al Barsha neighborhood lies another climatic surprise, fittingly called the Miracle Garden. Rather less naturalistic than the other great botanic gardens of the world – there’s a giant topiary form of Mickey Mouse amongst other attractions – it still manages to elicit wows from most of its visitors, since there’s 250 million different plants to see, smell and touch. The same complex contains multiple climate-controlled domes forming an ideal habitat for around 15,000 butterflies belonging to 50 different regional and international species. Though thrilling in their own way, the need for an adrenaline rush can be met at IMG Worlds of Adventure theme park a short distance away. Aquaventure Waterpark at Atlantis The Palm does the same with H2O being the overarching theme – swimwear is the order of the day. Dubai Marina – the best neighborhood in Dubai for nightlife & beaches Water is never far from the center of the action in Dubai, and nowhere epitomizes this better than Dubai Marina. A complex of cafés, stores and high-end apartment buildings edging a completely man made waterway, this traffic-free neighborhood is a good place to relax at any time of day. However, it really comes to life in the evening hours, when expatriate workers returning home take advantage of Dubai’s weather to enjoy a drink or two on an open terrace. One way to enjoy the marina from afar is to drift skyward in one of the plush gondolas of Ain Dubai Ferris wheel. Not to be outdone by the attractions in the other neighborhoods in Dubai, Ain Dubai towers over its international cousins, reaching a maximum height of 250 meters – equivalent to the height of a 75 story building. The wheel is best admired from the Marina’s beaches, facing out into the Persian Gulf. Waterside markets provide further purchase opportunities, whilst the shallows ring with the sound of children having the time of their lives. Cabanas and a range of water sports seal the deal for adults. Bur Dubai – for a sense of old Dubai Is Bur Dubai the coolest neighborhood in Dubai? That’s up to you to decide. Is it one of the best neighborhoods in Dubai to visit to experience its history and culture? There’s nowhere better. Disappearing into residential properties towards its southern end, focus your attention on its northern portions, bounded by Dubai Creek. Stroll along the attractive waterfront at any time of day to disappear back two centuries, or better yet, take to the waters of the creek by kayak to enjoy the sunset in the most evocative part of the city. But to take in one of Bur Dubai’s most important structures, Dubai Museum, you’ll have to stay on dry land. The museum is important not only for its collection of ethnographic objects but also because it occupies Dubai’s oldest building – the Al Fahidi Fort, built in 1787. Not far away a series of historic mansions have also been brought back to their former glory, with several converted into additional museums and public spaces. d3 – Dubai’s design district Tucked into a once unloved semi-industrial area of Dubai enclosed by some of the emirate’s busiest roads, d3 still has the feel of a local secret. The purpose-built home of all manner of independent creatives, its streets are dotted with works of public art and its buildings are crowded with stores, design houses and pop-up exhibitions. This makes d3 a neighborhood in Dubai to escape the hustle and bustle without having to give up those things that make Dubai so special and life worth living, from lazy cups of coffee to November’s Dubai Design Week. Discover Dubai’s neighborhoods with Go City Look beyond the Burj Khalifa and you’ll find neighborhoods in Dubai which tick every box going. It doesn’t matter whether you’re into amusement parks or beaches, history or design, Dubai has a neighborhood worth exploring. Travel with Go City and you can do this whilst saving huge amounts on admission to many of Dubai’s best-loved attractions – including the observation decks of the Burj Khalifa!
Ian Packham

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